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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🌸 Medicinal plants: .
Philadelphia: J.C. Yorston, 1892..

[Source]
Illustration of a Viola tricolor (pansy) plant with green, lobed leaves and two flowers featuring dark purple and yellow petals. The plant’s root system and a horizontal stem are shown, along with detailed smaller sketches of the flower parts, seed, and root structure numbered 2 through 5. The botanical style is precise, emphasizing the plant’s morphology for medicinal study. The page is from an 1892 publication titled "Medicinal plants," highlighting the pansy’s botanical and therapeutic relevance.
December 3, 2025 at 9:23 PM
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🦞 Recherches sur la faune carcinologique de la Nouvelle-Calédonie
Paris, Masson et Cie.1872-74?

[Source]
Historical scientific illustration depicting detailed anatomical views of five crustacean species: Leucosia neocaledonica, L. elata, L. margaritata, Philyra longimana, and Nucia tuberculosa. The page features full dorsal views of crabs with variations in claw size and body texture, close-ups of claws and carapace sections, and ventral plates. Each species is numbered with separate focus on specific body parts, highlighting distinctions in exoskeleton shape, claw structure, and segmentation. The delicate pencil or ink drawings emphasize morphological details for taxonomic study, typical of 19th-century marine fauna research from New Caledonia.
December 3, 2025 at 7:23 PM
biodiversitypix.bsky.social
🛡 The natural history of quadrupeds, and cetaceous animals
Bungay, [England]: Printed and published by Brightly and Co, 1811.

[Source]
Historical illustration from 1811 depicting two banded armadillos. The left armadillo, labeled "Eighteen Banded Armadillo," shows segmented, armor-like bands along its elongated body and tail, with a detailed textured shell and small legs. The right armadillo, labeled "Three Banded," has a rounder body with three prominent armored bands across its back and intricate hexagonal patterns on its shell. Both animals are set against a natural background of foliage and a rocky ground, highlighting their distinctive protective shells and claws used for digging. The illustration emphasizes the unique armored exteriors typical of armadillos.
December 3, 2025 at 5:23 PM
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🦴 The Silurian system, founded on geological researches in the counties of Salop, Hereford, Radnor, Montgomery, Caermarthen, Brecon, Pembroke, Monmouth, Gloucester, Worcester, and Stafford
London: John Murray, Albemarle Street, 1839.

[Source]
Illustration titled "Llandeilo Flags (Shells)" from an 1839 geological publication, depicting detailed black-and-white engravings of various fossilized shells embedded in rock. The fossils include spiraled ammonite-like shells, bivalve shells with ridged patterns, and other marine shell fragments, each labeled with numbers and arranged systematically. The image showcases the diversity of fossil shapes and textures found in the Silurian rock formations across several British counties, highlighting their preservation in sedimentary rock. The detailed engravings emphasize the intricate ridges, coils, and segments characteristic of these ancient marine fossils.
December 3, 2025 at 3:23 PM
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🐧 Natural History Reports / British Antarctic ("Terra Nova") Expedition, 1910-13.
London: BM(NH)

[Source]
Black and white historical photograph depicting a group of Adélie penguins on a rocky Antarctic terrain. Several penguins are seen tending to nests made of variously sized stones arranged in small circular formations. The scene highlights the natural nesting behavior of the species during the 1910-13 British Antarctic ("Terra Nova") Expedition, illustrating both adult penguins standing and sitting near their nests scattered across the barren landscape. The image is part of a natural history report by the British Museum (Natural History) documenting wildlife from the expedition.
December 3, 2025 at 1:23 PM
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📯 Histoire naturelle d'une partie d'oiseaux nouveaux et rares de l'Amerique et des Indes /.
A Paris: Chez J.E. Gabriel Dufour, libraire, rue de Tournon, no. 1126 ;an IX (1801).

[Source]
Illustration of a black and white hornbill perched on a branch, titled "Le Calao licorne." The bird features a large, curved horn-like beak with a prominent casque on top. Its body is predominantly black with white underparts, and it grips the branch with strong, curved claws. The detailed drawing highlights the bird's distinctive horn-shaped bill, emphasizing its rarity and exotic nature. The background is plain with aged paper texture and light foxing spots, characteristic of early 19th-century natural history prints.
December 3, 2025 at 11:23 AM
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🐢 The gigantic land tortoises of the Galapagos Archipelago
San Francisco, Britton & Rey, 1914.

[Source]
Tortoise illustration from historical archives
December 3, 2025 at 9:23 AM
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🏔 Wild flowers of the North American mountains /
New York: R.M. McBride, 1915.

[Source]
Historical botanical illustration titled "Wild flowers of the North American mountains," Plate XLVI, showing Red Wintergreen (Pyrola asarifolia var. incarnata) and Green-flowered Wintergreen (Pyrola chlorantha). The image features several slender flower stalks with small, bell-shaped blooms and round, veined leaves at their base. The flowers and leaves are arranged vertically against a plain background, highlighting their delicate structure. This early 20th-century depiction showcases mountain wildflowers known for their distinct floral clusters and leaf shapes, useful for botanical study and identification in mountainous regions.
December 3, 2025 at 7:23 AM
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🦘 A hand-book to the marsupialia and monotremata
London: E. Lloyd, 1896.

[Source]
Historical colored illustration titled "Black-Tailed Wallaby" showing two wallabies in natural vegetation. The larger wallaby sits upright, leaning against a fallen tree branch, with dark fur, an orange-brown chest, and a distinct black tail curling on the ground. The smaller wallaby, with similar coloration, is mid-hop among tall grass and reddish flowering plants. The scene captures detailed fur texture and natural Australian habitat typical of marsupials, from the 1896 book "A hand-book to the marsupialia and monotremata."
December 3, 2025 at 5:23 AM
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🐜 Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London..
London: Academic Press, [etc.], 1833-1965..

[Source]
Illustration of a Tamandua tetradactyla anteater standing on all fours in a natural setting with foliage and rocks. The anteater features a long, curved tail, a pointed snout with a visible extended tongue, and dense fur with a black and beige pattern along its body. The scene has a muted, earthy color palette typical of 19th-century zoological illustrations, emphasizing the anteater’s distinctive markings and physical characteristics for scientific observation.
December 3, 2025 at 3:23 AM
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🧜‍♀️ Historiae naturalis de quadrupedibus libri: .
Amstelodami: Apud Ioannem Iacobi Fil. Schipper, MDCLVII [1657].

[Source]
Historical illustration from 1657 depicts four fantastical creatures labeled with Latin names. The top figure is a dragon-like sea creature with a fish tail, open mouth, and flowing fins resembling a mythical sea serpent. Below it is a winged creature with bat-like wings and a bird-like head, posed as if in flight. The third figure is a dinosaur-like quadruped with a long tail, scales, a crowned head, and a fierce expression, described as living in Africa. At the bottom are two smaller head studies of reptilian or bird-like creatures with exaggerated features and open mouths. The drawing style is detailed line engraving typical of early natural history books blending myth and observation.
December 3, 2025 at 1:23 AM
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🍒 The cherries of New York, .
Albany, J. B. Lyon company, state printers, 1915..

[Source]
Illustration of a cluster of large, deep red Montmorency cherries attached to a brown stem with several green leaves showing detailed veins and serrated edges. Two cherry seeds are depicted separately above the cluster. The artwork, from 1915, highlights the rich color and smooth texture of the cherries alongside the natural foliage.
December 2, 2025 at 11:23 PM
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🍄 Taschenbuch für Pilzsammler: Leipzig: Hesse & Becker, 1918.

[Source]
Historical illustration from a 1918 German mushroom guide showing three types of mushrooms growing in grass. At the top left are "Wiesen-Ellerling," with broad, fan-shaped caps in shades of orange and a small bright red mushroom nearby. To the right are "Nelken-Schwindling," featuring several mushrooms with brownish-orange convex caps and slender stems. At the bottom left are "Tränender Hautkopf," depicted with smooth, rounded beige caps and a smaller mushroom beside them. Text in German identifies each mushroom and notes edibility: the first two are edible ("Essbar"), while the third is inedible ("Ungenießbar"). The style is detailed and naturalistic.
December 2, 2025 at 7:23 PM
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🦅 Aves de rapiña y su caza
Madrid [Spain]: S. A. Blass, [1918?]

[Source]
Illustration of a griffon vulture (Gyps fulvus) perched on a rock, showing its large body with brown and beige feathers, a featherless pale neck, and a hooked beak. The bird is depicted against a faint background of mountains, emphasizing its natural habitat. The text below identifies it as "BUITRE LEONADO (GYPS FULVUS)." The image highlights the vulture's powerful talons and detailed plumage, typical of a historical ornithological plate from early 20th century Spain, focusing on birds of prey.
December 2, 2025 at 5:23 PM
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😸 Dogs, jackals, wolves, and foxes
London R.H. Porter 1890

[Source]
Illustration of two Arctic foxes (Canis lagopus) on a rocky surface by the water. One fox stands with white winter fur, while the other lies down with dark summer fur. Both have alert, amber eyes and pointed ears. The background suggests a cold, coastal environment with muted sky and water tones. The drawing, part of a 1890 London publication on canines including jackals, depicts seasonal coat variations in the species.
December 2, 2025 at 3:23 PM
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🌱 Observations on the structure of fruits and seeds /
London: John Harding, 1819.

[Source]
Illustration from 1819 showing detailed scientific sketches of various seeds and fruit structures. The image includes cross-sections, whole seeds, and developmental stages, each numbered and labeled with fine lines indicating specific parts. The drawings highlight textures, shapes, and internal anatomy, such as seed coats, embryos, and root sprouts, emphasizing botanical morphology. The style is monochrome with fine shading and stippling, typical of early 19th-century botanical art. The layout is organized with each element carefully spaced on a beige background, showing both external and internal seed views for study.
December 2, 2025 at 1:23 PM
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🦓 Annual report of the Director to the Board of Trustees for the year ... /.
Chicago, U.S.A.: Field Columbian Museum, 1895-1905..

[Source]
Black and white illustration depicting a group of Transvaal zebras (Equus burchelli transvaalensis) standing closely together. The zebras showcase their distinctive striped patterns, with some facing forward and others sideways, highlighting variations in stripe arrangements. The image is labeled from the Field Columbian Museum, dated between 1895 and 1905, and credited to photographer C.H. Carpenter and taxidermist C.E. Akeley. The zebras are shown on a plain background, emphasizing their natural features and physical form.
December 2, 2025 at 11:23 AM
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🦴 Dinocerata: .
Washington: G.P.O., 1886..

[Source]
Illustration of nine fossil bones of the Dinoceras mirabile, including long limb bones and smaller joint fragments, arranged on a plain background. The bones are detailed with texture and shading, numbered for identification, and labeled at the bottom with the species name. The image is a scientific plate from 1886 depicting parts of the prehistoric mammal’s skeleton.
December 2, 2025 at 9:23 AM
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🐢 The gigantic land-tortoises (living and extinct) in the collection of the British Museum
London: Printed by order of the Trustees, 1877.

[Source]
Detailed black-and-white illustration of the head and neck of a gigantic land tortoise labeled "Testudo microphyes." The tortoise's head is covered in large, distinct hexagonal and irregular scales, with textured, wrinkled skin along its thick neck. The eye is prominent and round, showing a glossy surface. The drawing emphasizes the rough, scaly texture and folds of the skin, highlighting the tortoise's massive size and ancient, rugged appearance. The image is part of an 1877 collection from the British Museum showcasing living and extinct giant land tortoises.
December 2, 2025 at 7:23 AM
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🦁 Lions, tigers, &c., &c
London: H. G. Bohn [etc.]1846?

[Source]
Historical black and white illustration of a standing male lion in profile facing right. The lion has a large, detailed mane extending from its head down to its shoulders and chest. Its body is muscular with fine texturing indicating fur, and its tail curves downward with a tufted tip. The background shows a simple landscape with faint outlines of distant hills and sparse vegetation, including a few palm trees. The illustration emphasizes anatomical features with careful line work typical of 19th-century natural history art.
December 2, 2025 at 5:23 AM
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🦎 The White River Badlands
Rapid City, S.D., 1920.

[Source]
Black and white historical scientific plate from South Dakota School of Mines Bulletin No. 13, Plate No. 48, showing four images. Top two images depict views of a petrified egg of a supposed anatine (duck-like) bird from the Oligocene age, found by Farrington in 1899. The lower two images show the fossilized shell of Stylemys nebrascensis, the most common fossil turtle of the Big Badlands, illustrated by Leidy in 1853. The turtle shells display detailed segmented patterns, one showing the top (carapace) and the other the underside (plastron). The illustration relates to reptiles and fossil findings from Rapid City, South Dakota, circa 1920.
December 2, 2025 at 3:23 AM
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🌲 Annual report
[Albany, N.Y.: The Commission, 1903]-1911

[Source]
Black and white historical illustration showing two uprooted young trees with roots exposed. The top image depicts a Norway spruce, 4 years old, once transplanted, with needle-like leaves and a dense root system. The bottom image shows a Norway pine of similar age and treatment, with longer, more clustered needles and an extensive root network. Both specimens are presented in natural size and labeled as from the New York State Nurseries, illustrating early growth and root development of these transplanted conifers.
December 2, 2025 at 1:23 AM
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🦤 Dodo-studiën
Amsterdam, J. Müller, 1917.

[Source]
Historical illustration titled "Dodo-studiën" from 1917 showing two detailed pencil sketches of dodos. The left figure (Fig. 27) depicts a standing dodo with a curved beak, short wings, prominent legs, and a slightly puffed chest, set against a faint background of palm trees and another bird. The right figure (Fig. 28) features a younger or differently feathered dodo with fluffier plumage, smaller wings, and a similarly curved beak, standing on rocky ground. Both images emphasize anatomical features and textures, providing comparative views of the extinct bird species.
December 1, 2025 at 11:23 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]
Detailed scientific illustration from the 1839-1843 publication of "The Zoology of the Voyage of H.M.S. Beagle," showing various amphibian skulls and jaws. The image features multiple views, including dorsal, ventral, and lateral perspectives of skulls, along with close-ups of jawbones and teeth arrangements. The drawings highlight anatomical features such as the shape of the cranium, the positioning of eye sockets, and the structure of teeth, illustrating skeletal variations among amphibian species studied during the voyage. The style is precise and delicate, typical of early scientific zoological plates.
December 1, 2025 at 5:23 PM
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🦃 Les pigeons
Paris, [1808-]1811.

[Source]
Illustration of a pigeon standing on a small patch of grass. The bird has a light gray body with a pinkish chest, deep brown wings, and a gray head with green iridescent feathers around the neck. It has a red eye surrounded by a white ring and a pale beak. The pigeon’s legs and feet are pink. The image is detailed and set against a plain, lightly aged background, with a faint inscription in the bottom right corner. The illustration is from an early 19th-century Paris publication titled "Les pigeons."
December 1, 2025 at 3:23 PM