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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🦟 British dragonflies (Odonata)
London, L.U. Gill, 1900.

[Source]
Illustration of two British dragonflies labeled "Æschna isosceles" displayed side by side with wings spread. Both dragonflies have detailed, transparent veined wings with small orange markings near the tips, large green compound eyes, and segmented brown bodies. The image shows natural size and highlights the fine anatomical details such as wing structure, body segmentation, and legs. The background is plain with text indicating the species name and plate number "XIX."
February 10, 2026 at 3:23 PM
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🎣 Histoire naturelle des zoophytes.
Paris, Librairie encyclopédique de Roret, 1843.

[Source]
Historical scientific illustration showing four detailed colored drawings of zoophytes related to jellyfish. At the top, two elongated oval organisms labeled 1 and 2 depict La Velette mutique with textured bodies and radiating hair-like structures around the edges; the first is blue-green with internal grid patterns, the second is orange with darker outer edges. Below, two circular organisms labeled 3 and 4 show La Porpite géante with fine, radiating lines and a textured center; one is a concentric ringed pattern, the other has a central floral-like structure surrounded by fringed extensions. The image is from "Histoire naturelle des zoophytes," Paris, 1843.
February 10, 2026 at 1:23 PM
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🙊 A natural history of birds
London: Printed for the author, at the College of Physicians in Warwick-Lane, MDCCXLIII-MDCCLI [1743-1751, i.e. 1750-1776?]

[Source]
Illustration of a mongoose climbing a vertical rocky surface. The mongoose is depicted with a long, tapered tail, short legs with sharp claws gripping the rock, and textured fur with subtle stripes. Its head is raised, showing a pointed snout and small rounded ears. Surrounding the mongoose are plants with broad green leaves and grass-like foliage at the base of the rock. The background is plain, emphasizing the animal and natural setting. The style reflects an 18th-century natural history engraving with detailed, hand-colored shading.
February 10, 2026 at 11:23 AM
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🦋 The Lepidoptera of Ceylon
London, L. Reeve & co., 1880-1887.

[Source]
Historical illustration titled "The Lepidoptera of Ceylon" (1880-1887), depicting five stages and views of butterflies native to Ceylon (Sri Lanka). The top left shows a green butterfly with intricate black lines and small red spots. To its right, a side view of a pale butterfly with muted stripes and orange spots is depicted. Below, a green caterpillar and its chrysalis are shown on a twig, illustrating metamorphosis. At the bottom, two brown butterflies with subtle patterned wings and white markings are presented with wings spread. The detailed, hand-colored drawings highlight different life stages and wing patterns of these butterflies.
February 10, 2026 at 9:23 AM
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🍍 Nouveau voyage aux isles de l'Amerique
A Paris, au palais: Chez Theodore le Gras ..., 1742.

[Source]
Historical botanical illustration from 1742 titled "Nouveau voyage aux isles de l'Amerique" depicting a pineapple plant labeled "Ananas." The detailed etching shows a fully grown pineapple fruit with its distinctive rough, hexagonal-patterned rind and leafy crown. The pineapple grows amidst long, pointed, spiky leaves. Above it is a separate smaller illustration labeled "Caratas," showing two elongated seed pods and a cluster of long, serpentine leaves with serrated edges. The style is typical of 18th-century botanical drawings, rendered in fine black linework on aged, yellowed paper. The page is marked "Tome 1. page 426."
February 10, 2026 at 7:23 AM
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🐺 Brehm's Life of animals: Volume 1, Mammalia
Chicago: Marquis, 1895.

[Source]
Historical black-and-white illustration from "Brehm's Life of Animals: Volume 1, Mammalia" (1895) showing a wolverine attacking a large stag in a snowy forest setting. The wolverine is depicted with shaggy dark fur and sharp claws, standing over the fallen stag with antlers, biting its neck. Surrounding the animals are snow-covered rocks, leafless branches, and tree trunks, emphasizing a cold northern habitat. The image highlights the wolverine's fierce predatory nature and powerful build within its rugged wilderness environment.
February 10, 2026 at 5:23 AM
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🌲 Catalogue North American mammals with drawings and proof of plates
[1856?]

[Source]
Historical illustration titled "Catalogue North American mammals with drawings and proof of plates [1856?]" showing detailed black and white drawings of various mammal teeth arranged in a grid-like format. Each tooth is labeled with a unique number. The teeth differ in shape and size, indicating different species. The page is marked “U.S.P.R.R. Ex. & Surveys” and “Mammals: Plate LIV” with the artist’s name, R. Metzeroth, at the bottom right. The illustration focuses on morphology of teeth relevant to North American mammals, with no depiction of pine trees or cones despite the keyword "pine."
February 10, 2026 at 3:23 AM
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🐊 Reptiles and batrachians
London, J. M. Dent & sons, ltd.: [1914]

[Source]
Historical black and white illustration presenting four images: (a) a single oval alligator egg with a smooth surface; (b) a Chinese alligator (Alligator sinensis) lying on a flat surface, showing a textured, scaled body and short limbs; (c) a West African crocodile (Osteolaemus tetraspis) on grass, displaying a broader snout and rough skin; (d) an African crocodile (Crocodilus niloticus) resting on grassy ground with a long, powerful tail and distinct scales. The images highlight differences in appearance among these reptiles and their egg.
February 10, 2026 at 1:23 AM
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🐉 The common objects of the country /.
London: George Routledge and Sons, 1894. What do Dragonflies, Snails, Water Scorpions, Whirligig Beetles & Gnat Eggs have in common? Find out in #bhlib

[Source]
Historical illustration titled "The common objects of the country" from 1894, showing various detailed drawings of insects and mollusks. Main subjects include dragonflies with delicate, veined wings in yellow and blue-green tones, water scorpions, whirligig beetles, snails with spiraled shells, and gnat eggs. Each creature is numbered and colored realistically, emphasizing intricate body parts like segmented legs, antennae, and shell patterns. The image highlights natural diversity and is related to the keyword "dragon," likely referencing the dragonflies prominently displayed.
February 9, 2026 at 9:23 PM
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🐳 A book of whales
London, J. Murray;1900.

[Source]
Historical illustration titled "Plate II" from "A Book of Whales" (London, J. Murray, 1900) depicting three detailed black-and-white drawings: the top image shows an embryo of the whale species Neomeris with visible curved body and dorsal dermal plates; the middle image displays a close-up portion of a porpoise's dorsal fin highlighting dermal ossicles; the bottom image presents a zoomed-in section of Neomeris skin, emphasizing a grid-like pattern of dermal ossicles. Each figure is captioned with scientific notes referencing Kükenthal.
February 9, 2026 at 7:23 PM
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🦋 Catalogue of the Lepidoptera Phalænæ in the British museum
London: Printed by Order of the Trustees, 1898-1920

[Source]
Historical scientific illustration from the "Catalogue of the Lepidoptera Phalænæ in the British Museum" (1898-1920) displaying 32 detailed moth specimens. Each moth is numbered and shown with wings either spread or closed, revealing a variety of patterns and colors including shades of brown, yellow, orange, and green. Notable features include distinctive wing markings such as bands, spots, and eyespots. The moths vary in size and shape, demonstrating diversity within the species. The illustration is labeled with volume and plate numbers and credited to Horace Knight and West/Newman for lithography and chromolithography.
February 9, 2026 at 5:23 PM
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🌱 Lovett's illustrated catalogue of fruit and ornamental trees and plants for the autumn of 1891..
Little Silver, N.J.: J.T. Lovett, [1891].

[Source]
Black and white detailed illustration of a cluster of ripe strawberries labeled "Beebe," showing large, textured berries attached to stems with leaves. The strawberries are depicted with numerous seeds on their surface, highlighting the seed characteristic. Below the image is descriptive text praising the variety's size, flavor, productivity, and shipping quality, noting its origin as a chance seedling from 1885 and its deep scarlet color when ripe. The text also includes promotional information and pricing for purchasing the plants by the dozen or hundred.
February 9, 2026 at 3:23 PM
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🧽 Die Kalkschwämme..
Berlin, G. Reimer, 1872..

[Source]
Historical scientific illustration from 1872 titled "Die Kalkschwämme," showing detailed, labeled drawings of calcareous sponge spicules. The image features four distinct sets of elongated, branching skeletal elements with sharp, pointed extensions and tubular structures, each marked with small alphabetical and numerical annotations. The spicules vary in shape, with some having comb-like or fan-like branches, while others are more linear with multiple sharp protrusions. The overall style is precise and technical, emphasizing the intricate and delicate architecture of sponge skeletons for study. The background is a plain, aged paper texture with small spots and staining.
February 9, 2026 at 1:23 PM
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🌲 Nezashi takara
Ōsaka: Shibukawa Kiyoemon, Enkyō 2 [1745]

[Source]
Two-page historical Japanese ink illustration from 1745 titled "Nezashi takara," showing tall, detailed evergreen trees with textured bark and layered branches. The left page depicts two large tree trunks with dense foliage extending leftward, while the right page features several trees of varying heights, including a bushy one in front. Vertical columns of Japanese text accompany the image on the right page’s right side, providing contextual information. The monochrome woodblock style emphasizes natural forms and textures, capturing the intricate details of tree bark, needles, and the forest floor in a traditional Edo-period artistic manner.
February 9, 2026 at 11:23 AM
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🌴 The history of the Caribby-islands
London: Printed by J.M. for Thomas Dring and John Starkey ..., 1666.

[Source]
Historical black-and-white illustration from 1666 depicting five distinct Caribbean fish species. The top fish is elongated with a prominent eye and fin detail. Below it is the "Flying fishes," notable for its large, wing-like pectoral fins extended as if gliding. The middle fish labeled "Sea-Parrat" has dense, diamond-shaped scales and a spiny dorsal fin. Below is "A Rock-fish," featuring a rounded head and spotted pattern. The bottom fish, "Bonite," shows a streamlined body with fine fin and scale detailing. Each fish is labeled with old-style script and scientific references, presenting a detailed natural history study from the 17th century.
February 9, 2026 at 9:23 AM
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🦈 Shadows in the sea
Philadelphia, Chilton Books[1963] Look Ma! I caught a Galeocerdo cuvieri, aka Tiger Shark, so big that it can't even fit on this #bhlpod #SharkWeek

[Source]
Black-and-white photo showing a man standing beside and touching the head of a massive, 13-foot Tiger shark (Galeocerdo cuvieri) hanging vertically by a crane. The shark’s mouth is open, displaying sharp teeth. The man, identified as Honolulu businessman Bill Wills, wears a hat and short-sleeved shirt, examining the 1,200-pound shark caught off Nanakuli, Oahu, Hawaii.
February 9, 2026 at 7:23 AM
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🌺 The Cambridge British flora /
Cambridge: University Press ;1914-

[Source]
Black and white botanical illustration of Marsh Marigold (Caltha palustris var. vulgaris) from 1914. The drawing shows multiple views of the plant including detailed flowers with prominent stamens, several broad, rounded leaves with visible veins, and slender stems. Different parts of the plant are labeled a through g, highlighting leaf shapes and flower structures for identification. The image is simple, clear, and scientific in style, intended for educational use in a flora publication.
February 9, 2026 at 5:23 AM
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❄ The Coleoptera of the British islands: .
London: L. Reeve & co., 1887-1913..

[Source]
Illustration from "The Coleoptera of the British Islands" (1887-1913) showing thirteen detailed drawings of Arctic beetle species arranged in rows on a cream background. Each beetle is depicted with distinct body shapes, segmented antennae, and variations in coloration including black, orange, yellow, and brown tones. The beetles have elongated bodies with visible segmented abdomens and legs. Fine details highlight textures, such as smooth, shiny carapaces and ridged exoskeletons. Small scale bars accompany each specimen for size reference. The plate is marked "Supt. Plate 8" and credited to E.C. Knight and Vincent Brooks, Day & Son Ltd.
February 9, 2026 at 3:23 AM
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🐍 Gemeinnüzzige Naturgeschichte des Thierreichs bd. 4 plates
Berlin ;bei Gottlieb August Lange, 1780-1789.

[Source]
Illustration of a cobra serpent (Coluber Naja, Linn.) from an 18th-century natural history text. The snake's elongated, sinuous body is covered with detailed, scale-like patterns. Its hood is expanded, showing distinctive circular markings resembling spectacles on the back of the neck. The head is small and pointed, with visible eyes and forked tongue extended. The illustration is sepia-toned, labeled with scientific and German names, and framed with a thin border, reflecting the period's scientific engraving style.
February 9, 2026 at 1:23 AM
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🐼 The mammals of Illinois and Wisconsin
Chicago, 1912.

[Source]
Illustration from 1912 showing two views of the Varying Hare (Lepus americanus phaeonotus) found in Illinois and Wisconsin. The top hare is depicted in its white winter coat, while the bottom hare is shown in its darker summer fur. Both hares are in a side profile, highlighting seasonal color variation. The image is detailed with shaded textures to represent fur and anatomy.
February 8, 2026 at 9:23 PM
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🌊 Voyage autour du monde sur la frégate la Vénus
Paris: Gide et J. Baudry, 1846 [atlas]-1855 [text]

[Source]
Historical illustration titled "Voyage autour du monde sur la frégate la Vénus" from 1846-1855, depicting nine detailed, colored drawings of Pacific sea shells. The shells vary in shape and size, with prominent spiral and elongated forms. Labels and scientific names identify three main types: Fusus Petit-Thouarsii, Fusus Bulbosus, and Pleurotoma Turris. The shells are shown from different angles including side views and cross-sections, emphasizing their textures, ridges, and natural coloration, with tones of brown, beige, and pink. The arrangement is symmetrical on a plain, aged paper background with French titles and scientific annotations.
February 8, 2026 at 7:23 PM
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🏝 A history of the fishes of the British Islands
London: G. Bell, 1877-1878.

[Source]
Illustration from the 1877-1878 book "A history of the fishes of the British Islands" showing two elongated fish species side by side on a plain background. Both fish have smooth, tapered bodies with dorsal and tail fins running lengthwise, and prominent whisker-like barbels around their mouths. The left fish is labeled "Five-bearded rockling," the right fish "Four-bearded rockling," indicating subtle differences in their facial barbels. The illustration is detailed with brown and tan coloration, emphasizing the anatomy and fin structure of these marine species found around the British Isles.
February 8, 2026 at 1:23 PM
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🔭 The zoology of the voyage of H.M.S. Beagle, under the command of Captain Fitzroy, R.N., during the years 1832 to 1836
London: Published by Smith, Elder and Co., 65 Cornhill, 1839-1843.

[Source]
Illustration from the H.M.S. Beagle expedition depicting two small, brown rodents with rounded bodies, short limbs, and long tails. One rodent is positioned upright, appearing alert, while the other is shown in profile on the ground. Fine details highlight their fur texture and delicate features. The background includes subtle earth tones, with faint sketches of natural elements. The image captures early scientific documentation of animal species encountered during the 1832-1836 voyage, emphasizing the expedition's focus on zoological discovery.
February 8, 2026 at 9:23 AM
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🦌 Histoire des arbres forestiers de l'Amérique septentrionale, .
Paris, L. Haussmann, 1812-13..

[Source]
Illustration of Acer striatum (Moose Wood) featuring two large, detailed maple leaves—one bright green and one dark green—attached to a reddish-brown twig. Below the leaves hang clusters of pale yellow-green winged seeds (samaras). To the right, two small rectangular swatches show bark textures in blue-gray and brown colors. The style is botanical and vintage, from an 1812-13 French publication on North American forest trees.
February 8, 2026 at 5:23 AM
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🕸️ British Oribatidæ /.
London: The Ray Society, 1884-1888..

[Source]
Illustration plate showing detailed black and white scientific drawings of two British Oribatid mites, Damæus nitens and D. suffixus, from an 1884-1888 London publication. The larger mites are depicted with segmented legs covered in fine hairs, distinct rounded bodies, and textured dorsal surfaces. Additional smaller sketches highlight anatomical parts like claws, hairs, and mouthparts with fine line work. The illustration includes labels with numbers for each figure and detailed morphological features, emphasizing the mites' microscopic structures within the Arachnida class. The style is typical of 19th-century natural history engravings focusing on taxonomy and species identification.
February 8, 2026 at 3:23 AM