Lesser Lamprey, Petromyzon fluvialitis
1803
Edward Donovan’s 1803 illustration captures the Lesser Lamprey in all its slippery, eel-like glory, showcasing the creature's distinctive row of gill pores along its side. Created during a boom in natural history publishing, this hand-colored print was part of Donovan's ambitious project to document British wildlife for a curious public. The charmingly naive style reflects an era when scientific illustration was as much about artistic flair as biological accuracy, making these old field guides a delight to look at today.
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