Scientific Illustration

smithsonian:

Vampire Squid Illustration, 1889

This Smithsonian Snapshot celebrates the Halloween season with this 1889 scientific illustration of a vampire squid from Smithsonian Libraries.

Its jet-black skin, the caped appearance of the webbing between its arms and eyes that appear red under some light conditions are what gave the vampire squid its name.

In 1889, Prince Albert I of Monaco began writing the series Résultats des campagnes scientifiques accomplies sur son yacht. The series, including the volume with this vampire squid illustration, is held for research at the Smithsonian Institution Libraries.

In the early 1900s, the prince’s strong interest in protecting the world’s oceans and discovering new species led him to establish the Fondation Albert Ier. The foundation promoted his research in the field of oceanography and marine biology.

The vampire squid (Vampyroteuthis infernalis) is the single living representative of the cephalopod group known as the Vampyromorpha. It is a small, deep-sea species found at depths of at least 2,000 to 3,000 feet in the temperate and tropical oceans of the world.

It reaches a maximum total length of around 30 centimeters with a 15-centimeter gelatinous body similar to a jelly fish. It shares similarities with both squid and octopuses. In 1903, it was classified as an octopus by German teuthologist Carl Chun, but later reassigned to a new order.

To learn more about the vampire squid in the wild, visit the Encyclopedia of Life.

This object is one of 137 million artifacts, works of art and specimens in the Smithsonian’s collection. It is currently not on display but is digitized in the Biodiversity Heritage Library. To learn more about this item, visit the Smithsonian Institution Libraries website.

n390_w1150 by BioDivLibrary on Flickr.

American spiders and their spinningwork. V.3
Academy of natural sciences of Philadelphia,1889-93.
biodiversitylibrary.org/page/4493021

n382_w1150 by BioDivLibrary on Flickr.

American spiders and their spinningwork. V.3
Academy of natural sciences of Philadelphia,1889-93.
biodiversitylibrary.org/page/4493013

n414_w1150 by BioDivLibrary on Flickr.

American spiders and their spinningwork. V.3
Academy of natural sciences of Philadelphia,1889-93.
biodiversitylibrary.org/page/4493045

n410_w1150 by BioDivLibrary on Flickr.

American spiders and their spinningwork. V.3
Academy of natural sciences of Philadelphia,1889-93.
biodiversitylibrary.org/page/4493041

caitibug757:

Illustration of Argopistes woodleyi for the Smithsonian Natural History Museum (2011)

Graphite

Adobe illustrator

Photoshop

caitibug757:

Illustration of Lactica suturalis for the Smithsonian Natural History Museum (2011)

Graphite

Adobe illustrator

Photoshop

jomobimo:

Pluvianellus Sociabilis, The birds of Tierra del Fuego, 1907

NewPerischusHabitusCropA by USDAgov on Flickr.

“Scientific illustrator on staff with the Systematic Entomology Lab, in the Plant Sciences Institute, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Research Service (ARS) at the Smithsonian Institution’s Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C. Taina Litwak created this painting of a new species of tiny parasitic wasp in the genus Perischus, done in 2011 for Dr. Matt Buffington. The painting starts with a pencil drawing done through the microscope of a dead pinned specimen. Details for this painting were included which only are visible in scanning electron microphotographs, as the species is so very small. The painting itself is done digitally in Adobe Photoshop. The species was first collected in South America in 2010 and is involved with parasitizing a species complex of flies which lay eggs in cucurbit plants (melon, cucumber and squash family). USDA image.”

jomobimo:

Thersisticus Melanopsis, The birds of Tierra del Fuego, 1907