Biodiversity Pics
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Biodiversity Pics
@biodiversitypix.bsky.social
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The Biodiversity Heritage Library contains thousands of historical illustrations of flora and fauna. This unaffiliated bot shares random images from the collection.
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😸 Die Säugthiere in Abbildungen nach der Natur /.
Erlangen: Expedition des Schreber'schen säugthier- und des Esper'schen Schmetterlingswerkes [etc., 1774]-1846..

[Source]
Historical illustration of a platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) depicted in profile near water, standing on a grassy, sandy bank beside a cluster of reeds. The platypus has dark brown fur, webbed feet with visible claws, and a distinctive duck-like bill with detailed texture. Surrounding the main image are scientific sketches including a close-up of the bill, a claw, and a skull viewed from the side showing its unique bone structure. The drawing highlights the platypus's distinctive anatomical features, emphasizing its unusual bill and skeletal form, typical of natural history illustrations from the late 18th to mid-19th century.
November 28, 2025 at 11:23 AM
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🐔 Yeah, we have witches in #bhlib. Check out "Mother Carey and her Chickens"

[Source]
Historical illustration titled "Mother Carey and Her Chickens" depicts a witch-like figure flying over a stormy sea on a broomstick. She wears a long dress and a pointed hat, extending one arm forward. Surrounding her in the turbulent sky and sea are numerous seabirds, known as "Mother Carey's chickens," flying amidst swirling clouds and frothy waves. The scene is dramatic and atmospheric, with a sepia-toned color palette emphasizing the dark, ominous weather and the mythical connection between the witch and the birds.
November 28, 2025 at 9:23 AM
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🐞 Report of work of the Experiment Station of the Hawaiian Sugar Planters' Association
Honolulu: Hawaiian Sugar Planters' Association, 1905-1909

[Source]
Illustration from the 1905-1909 Hawaiian Sugar Planters' Association report, depicting detailed black-and-white line drawings of an insect and its anatomical parts. The main subject is a cicada-like insect shown with extended wings, segmented body, and large eyes. Surrounding the full insect are multiple close-up views of various features, including detailed wing structures, head, mouthparts, legs, and abdominal segments. Each part is labeled with numbers and magnification scales, highlighting the intricate veins of the wings and body segmentation. The drawing serves as a scientific study of insect morphology relevant to agricultural research on pests.
November 28, 2025 at 5:23 AM
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🎨 Entomology Philpott, Alfred - Sketch book Moths
1925

[Source]
Pencil sketches of four moths on aged paper, showing detailed wing patterns and body segments. The moths are labeled "Hydriomena aeltoidata" with three annotated as "var." to indicate variations. The drawings emphasize symmetrical wings with distinct banding and spot markings, with delicate antennae extending from the heads. The minimalistic composition leaves ample blank space on the right side. The style reflects careful scientific observation typical of early 20th-century entomological sketchbooks.
November 28, 2025 at 3:23 AM
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🏔 Wild flowers of the North American mountains /
New York: R.M. McBride, 1915.

[Source]
Black and white historical illustration of the White Moccasin Flower (Cypripedium passerinum), a mountain wildflower native to North America. The image shows multiple stems with elongated, broad leaves and distinctive pouch-shaped blossoms resembling moccasins. The flowers appear to hang slightly, with rounded, bulbous lower parts and a small petal extending above. The detailed rendering highlights the plant’s texture and structure, emphasizing its delicate blooms and tall, narrow leaves typical of mountain flora. The illustration is labeled "Plate XV" from a 1915 publication on North American mountain wildflowers.
November 28, 2025 at 1:23 AM
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🌄 Manuel de l'ornithologiste préparateur
Grenoble: Chez H. Bouteille, 1845.

[Source]
Historical black-and-white illustration from 1845 depicting five insectivorous birds from the woods, each perched on a small branch. The birds are labeled with numbers and scientific names: 1) Pie-grièche grise (Lanius excubitor), 2) Pie-grièche méridionale (Lanius meridionalis), 3) Pie-grièche à poitrine rose (Lanius minor), 4) Pie-grièche rousse (Lanius rutilus), and 5) Pie-grièche écorcheur (Lanius collurio). Each bird shows distinctive markings and shapes, highlighting species differences within the shrike family, including variations in plumage patterns and beak shapes suited for insectivory. The style is detailed and scientific, intended for ornithological study.
November 27, 2025 at 11:23 PM
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🐆 The class Mammalia
London: Printed for Geo. B. Whittaker, 1827.

[Source]
Historical black and white illustration of a jaguar, depicted in profile resting on the ground with its body curved and head raised. The jaguar features distinct rosette-shaped spots covering its muscular body, a thick tail with dark rings, and detailed fur texture. The animal's paws are raised as if clutching tufts of grass shown behind it. The style is finely detailed with delicate line work typical of 19th-century scientific plates. Text beside the image identifies it as "The Jaguar" with scientific notes and publication details from London, 1827.
November 27, 2025 at 9:23 PM
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🐬 Gemeinnüzzige Naturgeschichte des Thierreichs bd 2 plates
Berlin ;bei Gottlieb August Lange, 1780-1789.

[Source]
Historical illustration of a dolphin labeled "Delphinus Orca Linn." showing a dark gray, stocky body with lighter, cream-colored underbelly. Notably, the dolphin has large, rounded pectoral fins resembling ears, a prominent dorsal fin with a jagged edge, and a tail fin. The head is exaggerated with sharp, pointed teeth and a distinctively sculpted face, including a pronounced brow ridge and a green eye. A water spout arches above the dolphin’s head, indicating its aquatic nature. The style is detailed and textured, typical of 18th-century natural history engravings.
November 27, 2025 at 7:23 PM
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🐧 The birds of North America
New York: Published under the auspices of the Natural Science Association of America, 1903.

[Source]
Historical illustration titled "The birds of North America" from 1903, depicting a group of seabirds including puffins and other species. The main subjects are several puffins recognizable by their black and white plumage with distinctive, colorful, large triangular bills. They are shown perched on rocky outcrops by the sea. Around them are other seabirds like auk-like birds with dark bodies, white underparts, and orange feet, and a couple of larger, gray and white waterfowl with orange legs. The background shows a cloudy sky over a calm ocean. Each bird is numbered for identification, emphasizing a naturalistic depiction suitable for scientific study.
November 27, 2025 at 5:23 PM
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🐼 Plants of the coast of Coromandel: .
London: Printed by W. Bulmer and Co. for G. Nicol, Bookseller, 1795-1819..

[Source]
Historical botanical illustration titled "Pandanus odoratissimus" from "Plants of the coast of Coromandel" (1795-1819). The image depicts a detailed watercolor of a pandanus plant with long, narrow green leaves that have serrated edges and taper to pointed tips. Additional detailed views show the plant’s fruit structure, a cluster of fibrous, elongated parts, and botanical reproductive elements. The background is plain beige, and the style is scientific and precise, focusing on plant morphology for study. The image does not depict any panda animals despite the keyword.
November 27, 2025 at 1:23 PM
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🦈 Shadows in the sea
Philadelphia, Chilton Books[1963]

[Source]
Black and white historical photo showing a large Great Hammerhead shark (Sphyrna tudes) lying on a wooden deck surrounded by her 22 smaller pups arranged in a row beneath her. The image captures the size difference between the mother and her offspring. The setting appears to be a fishing vessel’s deck following their capture in the Gulf of Campeche by the trawler Silver Bay.
November 27, 2025 at 9:23 AM
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🌲 Atlas der baumarten von Java: Lieden: Buch- und Steindruckerei, 1913-18.

[Source]
Historical botanical illustration from "Atlas der Baumarten von Java" (1913-18) depicting detailed studies of Polyscias javanica and Polyscias obtusa trees from the Araliaceae family. The image shows multiple intricately drawn parts including full leaflets, fruiting branches, flower clusters, flower buds, flowers with internal structures, seed pods, seeds, and a habitus of a fruiting shrub. Each part is labeled with letters and scale indicators, highlighting the morphological features used for scientific identification and analysis. The illustration combines whole-plant views with magnified sections of reproductive organs for botanical study.
November 27, 2025 at 7:23 AM
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🐃 The animal kingdom: .
London: Printed for G.B. Whittaker, 1827-1835..

[Source]
Illustration of a Cape buffalo (Bos caffer) standing in profile facing right. The buffalo has a stocky body covered in dense, wavy fur, short legs, and a tufted tail. Its curved horns rise upward from the head, framing a detailed face with prominent eyes and a slightly open mouth. The drawing is finely detailed with textured fur and shading, set against a plain, unembellished background. The style is typical of early 19th-century scientific illustrations. The image includes the title "The Cape Buffalo" and the species name "Bos Caffer" beneath the animal.
November 27, 2025 at 5:23 AM
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🌲 Birds of the Pacific coast
New York, G. P. Putnam's sons, 1923.

[Source]
Illustration of two birds perched on cedar tree branches, identified as a Bohemian Waxwing on the left and a Cedar Waxwing on the right. Both birds have crested heads with black face masks, brownish bodies, and distinctive markings: the Bohemian Waxwing shows more vivid wing and tail colors with white, red, and yellow accents, while the Cedar Waxwing has subtler markings with a yellow-tipped tail. The cedar branches display green needles and small brown cones. The artwork, signed by R. Bruce Horsfall in 1921, captures the birds' features and natural habitat on the Pacific Coast.
November 27, 2025 at 3:23 AM
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🌸 Deutschlands flora in abbildungen nach der natur
Nurnberg: Gedruckt auf kosten des verfassers, 1798-[1862]

[Source]
Historical botanical illustration from "Deutschlands flora in abbildungen nach der natur," depicting different views of Echinella fasciculata var. The image includes a small, dense tuft of needle-like green leaves labeled "a," a central green stem with multiple segmented, striped branches labeled "A," and a close-up of three segmented, green and white banded structures labeled "B." The detailed, hand-colored drawing highlights the plant’s distinctive segmented and banded morphology, typical of early scientific botanical documentation. The page is marked with Roman numerals and handwritten scientific names in cursive.
November 27, 2025 at 1:23 AM
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🦗 Natuurlijke en naar het leven nauwkeurige gekleurde afbeeldingen en beschrijvingen der spoken, wandelende bladen, zabelspringhanen, krekels, trekspringhanen en kakkerlakken: Amsterdam: J.C. Sepp, 1813.

[Source]
Historical illustration depicting three insects related to crickets. The largest insect, numbered 16, is shown in a top-down view with wings spread; it has green outer wings and vibrant purple inner wings with visible veins, red antenna tips, and red accents on its legs. Below and to the right, insect 16.A resembles a cricket with folded green wings, spiny legs, and red-tipped antennae and limbs. To the left, a smaller insect numbered 17 has brown upper wings and yellow lower wings, with thin black legs and antennae. The detailed and colored drawing highlights anatomical features for scientific study from an 1813 Amsterdam publication.
November 26, 2025 at 11:23 PM
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🐍 Iconographie générale des ophidiens
Milan: chez l'auteur [etc.]1860-1881.

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Historical scientific illustration titled "Potamophiliens" from "Iconographie générale des ophidiens" (1860-1881), showing detailed black-and-white drawings of three snake species: Hypsirhina alternans (two snakes with patterned bodies) and Campylodon Prevostianum (one snake). The image includes close-ups of snake heads, scale patterns, and cross-sections, highlighting anatomical features like head scales, body markings, and scale arrangement for identification and study. The illustration is labeled with numbers and letters corresponding to each detail, reflecting 19th-century herpetological documentation.
November 26, 2025 at 9:23 PM
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🐋 The animal kingdom; based upon the writings of the eminent naturalists, Audubon, Wallace, Brehm, Wood and others. New York: Johnson & Bailey, 1897.

[Source]
Historical illustration titled "Plate XXVIII Cetacea" depicting three marine mammals: a narwhal with a long, spiraled tusk swimming near the surface, a large rorqual whale showing pleated throat grooves, and a white whale (beluga) resting near rocky shorelines. In the background, a person in a kayak with a spear is visible, along with additional whales spouting water. The scene features a muted color palette with detailed textures emphasizing the distinctive shapes and markings of each cetacean. The image reflects 19th-century naturalist artistic style and scientific observation.
November 26, 2025 at 7:23 PM
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🪲 De metamorphosi eleutheratorum observationes: .
Kjøbenhavn: Thieles Bogtrykkeri, 1861-72..

[Source]
Detailed sepia-toned historical scientific illustration from "De metamorphosi eleutheratorum observationes" (1861-72), depicting various anatomical parts of insects (Insecta). The image features multiple labeled drawings showing insect heads, segmented larval bodies, antennae, legs, and mandibles with fine hair-like structures. Central is a top-view of a segmented larva; surrounding it are close-ups of heads with complex eyes, sharp mandibles, jointed legs with spines, and detailed exoskeleton textures. Each part is finely detailed to show morphology, useful for studying insect development and anatomy in entomology. The layout is organized with numerical labels for reference.
November 26, 2025 at 5:23 PM
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🐸 Toadstools at home
London ;Gowans & Gray, 1906

[Source]
Black and white historical illustration titled "Toadstools at home" from 1906, depicting a cluster of irregularly shaped, wrinkled fungi (Coryne sarcoides) growing on a textured ground surface. The fungi have a brain-like appearance with folded, lobed structures. Surrounding the cluster are small patches of moss or similar ground vegetation, adding context to their natural habitat. The image is labeled with scientific classification and a page number (59) at the top.
November 26, 2025 at 3:23 PM
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🪱 Illustrations of the Linnaean genera of insects
London: W. Wood, 1821.

[Source]
Illustration from an 1821 entomology book depicting a centipede labeled "Scolopendra." The main subject is a detailed, colorized drawing of a segmented centipede with a reddish-brown body and multiple pairs of legs along its length. It has prominent antennae and a slightly curved posture. To the left, a magnified, segmented part of the appendage marked "a" is shown separately. The background is plain beige, with the title "SCOLopendra." printed at the top center and scientific name "S. coleoptrata." below the centipede. The image is simple and scientific, focusing on anatomical details.
November 26, 2025 at 1:23 PM
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🌳 On the vegetation of the Carboniferous period, as compared with that of the present day / .
c.1850.

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Historical botanical illustration depicting various detailed views of Lepidostrobus ornatus, a plant fossil from the Carboniferous period. Central to the image is a large, textured cone-shaped fossil embedded in rock. Surrounding this are smaller detailed sketches including cross-sections, cellular structures, and different angles of the plant parts. The artwork, labeled under the Geological Survey of the United Kingdom circa 1850, highlights structural features of ancient vegetation for scientific comparison to modern flora.
November 26, 2025 at 11:23 AM
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🌊 Treubia
Batavia: G. Kolff, 1919-

[Source]
Historical black-and-white illustration of an abnormally shaped bandeng fish (Chanos chanos) displayed flat with its head at the bottom and tail forked at the top. The fish has a smooth, slightly rounded body with visible scales and fins extended outwards. It measures approximately 10 cm in length according to the scale near the left edge. The image, labeled Plate XVII, is from a 1919 publication related to marine life in Batavia sea-fish ponds. The focus is on the unusual form of this milkfish specimen documented for scientific observation.
November 26, 2025 at 9:23 AM
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🐖 Birds
Chicago, Ill.: Nature Study Publishing Co., 1897-1898.

[Source]
Illustration of a Bartramian Sandpiper standing on one leg on a patch of earth. The bird has a long, slender, slightly curved bill, orange eyes, and intricately patterned brown and white feathers with speckled markings. The background is a soft gradient of pale blue sky, suggesting an outdoor natural habitat. The bird's detailed plumage and posture are shown life-size, emphasizing its delicate, long legs and streamlined body. This historical 1897-1898 print comes from the Nature Study Publishing Co. in Chicago. The image focuses on the bird’s naturalistic appearance and stance.
November 26, 2025 at 5:23 AM
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🐞 Insectes de la Sibérie
Saint-Petersbourg: Académie impériale des sciences, 1844.

[Source]
Historical scientific illustration titled "Insectes de la Sibérie" from 1844, showing 16 detailed line drawings of beetles from Siberia arranged in a grid. Each beetle is drawn from a dorsal view, with slender bodies, segmented antennae, and distinct legs. Next to each beetle is a partial side view focusing on the curved shape and patterns of the elytra (wing covers). One beetle near the center is colored reddish-brown with darker markings, while the others are monochrome. The drawings are labeled with numbers and accompanied by handwritten notes, reflecting early entomological study and classification of Siberian beetle species.
November 26, 2025 at 3:23 AM