Posts tagged George Shaw

Goliath birdeater - Theraphosa blondi The Goliath birdeater spider is the second-largest spider in the world, in terms of legspan, and probably the largest in terms of mass. Despite its name, it doesn’t often eat birds in the wild, if only because the webs of this species are upon the ground. Reptiles (including venomous snakes), amphibians, and small rodents are caught far more often. These spiders are tarantulas, and have the skin-piercing fangs and urticating hairs of that genus. However - unlike most other tarantulas - the males of this species don’t have “tibial spurs” (used to keep females in place while mating). Their pedipalps are sharpened at the end in a “palpal bulb”, which is used to hold both the females and prey. Vivarium Naturae, or: the Naturalist’s Miscellany. George Shaw, 1790.

Goliath birdeater - Theraphosa blondi

The Goliath birdeater spider is the second-largest spider in the world, in terms of legspan, and probably the largest in terms of mass. Despite its name, it doesn’t often eat birds in the wild, if only because the webs of this species are upon the ground. Reptiles (including venomous snakes), amphibians, and small rodents are caught far more often.

These spiders are tarantulas, and have the skin-piercing fangs and urticating hairs of that genus.

However - unlike most other tarantulas - the males of this species don’t have “tibial spurs” (used to keep females in place while mating). Their pedipalps are sharpened at the end in a “palpal bulb”, which is used to hold both the females and prey.

Vivarium Naturae, or: the Naturalist’s Miscellany. George Shaw, 1790.

biomedicalephemera: “Great Beast” (Megatherium) skeleton, from George Shaw’s Zoological Lectures delivered at the Royal Institution, 1800.  Megatherium americana was one of the few species of South American megafauna to not die out soon after the Great American Interchange at the beginning of the Pliocine era, and there’s evidence that it was encountered and hunted by early humans, especially after it expanded northwards into southern North America. The size of a bull elephant, Megatherium were largely quadrupeds, but could use their massive tail as a tripod-like base to allow themselves to stand on their hind legs and pull down the choicest branches of leaves. Their somewhat smaller (rhino-sized) ancestor Promegatherium is believed to be a direct ancestor of both Megatherium and modern-day sloths. 

biomedicalephemera:

“Great Beast” (Megatherium) skeleton, from George Shaw’s Zoological Lectures delivered at the Royal Institution, 1800. 

Megatherium americana was one of the few species of South American megafauna to not die out soon after the Great American Interchange at the beginning of the Pliocine era, and there’s evidence that it was encountered and hunted by early humans, especially after it expanded northwards into southern North America.

The size of a bull elephant, Megatherium were largely quadrupeds, but could use their massive tail as a tripod-like base to allow themselves to stand on their hind legs and pull down the choicest branches of leaves. Their somewhat smaller (rhino-sized) ancestor Promegatherium is believed to be a direct ancestor of both Megatherium and modern-day sloths. 

The Giant Amazonian Centipede - Scolopendra gigantea Like the other members of Scolopendra, the giant Amazonian centipede is predatory and venomous. The first body segment has a pair of modified legs terminating in sharp claws, called forcipules (you know, like forceps), which it uses to pull its prey to its mouthparts, where it injects its venom. Though typically non-fatal to humans (excepting those allergic to the venom toxins), giant centipede bites are incredibly painful and can cause symptoms for days on end. This venom is what allows them to hunt prey as large as small mammals and birds, without itself being eaten. I have no idea what people are thinking when they buy one of these, but they’re apparently a big thing in exotic insect circles. They’re known to be jumpy, nervous, and very aggressive both in the wild and in captivity, and can often escape enclosures that aren’t well-sealed. I mean, come on. Even tarantulas can be docile and friendly. And mantises are fun to watch and not venomous! And there are so many other options! Why a giant centipede? Vivarium Naturae; or, the Naturalist’s Miscellany. George Shaw, 1790.

The Giant Amazonian Centipede - Scolopendra gigantea

Like the other members of Scolopendra, the giant Amazonian centipede is predatory and venomous. The first body segment has a pair of modified legs terminating in sharp claws, called forcipules (you know, like forceps), which it uses to pull its prey to its mouthparts, where it injects its venom.

Though typically non-fatal to humans (excepting those allergic to the venom toxins), giant centipede bites are incredibly painful and can cause symptoms for days on end. This venom is what allows them to hunt prey as large as small mammals and birds, without itself being eaten.

I have no idea what people are thinking when they buy one of these, but they’re apparently a big thing in exotic insect circles. They’re known to be jumpy, nervous, and very aggressive both in the wild and in captivity, and can often escape enclosures that aren’t well-sealed. I mean, come on. Even tarantulas can be docile and friendly. And mantises are fun to watch and not venomous! And there are so many other options! Why a giant centipede?

Vivarium Naturae; or, the Naturalist’s Miscellany. George Shaw, 1790.

Reproduction of the Edible Snail (Helix pomatia) Like most gastropods, Helix pomatia is hermaphroditic - that is, they have the reproductive organs of both genders. They still engage in sexual reproduction, and the mating rituals of some land snails are truly bizarre. When two sexually mature snails meet and determine that they’re going to mate, “love darts” will often be exchanged in a pre-mating ritual. However, these darts are not part of the insemination process; mating takes place after this exchange. Darts don’t always hit their target (the other snail), and snails don’t always go into this “battle” with a dart prepared - snails who have never mated previously cannot create a dart, as the dart sac is not yet primed to lay down the chitin that the darts are comprised of. However, a snail who manages to hit their mate with a dart prior to mating have been shown to cause their mate to create a significantly higher number of eggs, and of those eggs, a higher percentage successfully hatch. The Naturalists Miscellany. George Shaw, 1790.

Reproduction of the Edible Snail (Helix pomatia)

Like most gastropods, Helix pomatia is hermaphroditic - that is, they have the reproductive organs of both genders. They still engage in sexual reproduction, and the mating rituals of some land snails are truly bizarre.

When two sexually mature snails meet and determine that they’re going to mate, “love darts” will often be exchanged in a pre-mating ritual. However, these darts are not part of the insemination process; mating takes place after this exchange.

Darts don’t always hit their target (the other snail), and snails don’t always go into this “battle” with a dart prepared - snails who have never mated previously cannot create a dart, as the dart sac is not yet primed to lay down the chitin that the darts are comprised of. However, a snail who manages to hit their mate with a dart prior to mating have been shown to cause their mate to create a significantly higher number of eggs, and of those eggs, a higher percentage successfully hatch.

The Naturalists Miscellany. George Shaw, 1790.

Duck-billed Platypus From Shaw’s 1807 lecture at the Royal Institution: “If we rank this animal according to the Linnaean arrangement of quadrupeds, it must of necessity belong to the order Bruta, being destitute of teeth; but if we rank it according to its general habit or appearance, it might find a place among the Seals and other web-footed quadrupeds. The fact however is, that it may be questioned whether it really and properly belongs to the tribe of Mammalia or not; since no examination hitherto made, of such specimens as have been brought over, preserved in spirits, have exhibited the least appearance of teats for suckling the young…” Platypuses are curious creatures when it comes to lactation - we now know that they do indeed lactate and provide milk for their young, but not from “teats”. The mammary glands under the skin along a short line on the female’s stomach secrete milk when stimulated, and this milk gathers on a tough, fibrous hair. The puggles can then consume it in a manner that looks much like a duck drinking water or eating crumbs in a lake. It’s a very odd sight. Zoological Lectures Delivered at the Royal Institution in the Years 1806 and 1807 by George Shaw. Pub. 1809.

Duck-billed Platypus

From Shaw’s 1807 lecture at the Royal Institution:

“If we rank this animal according to the Linnaean arrangement of quadrupeds, it must of necessity belong to the order Bruta, being destitute of teeth; but if we rank it according to its general habit or appearance, it might find a place among the Seals and other web-footed quadrupeds. The fact however is, that it may be questioned whether it really and properly belongs to the tribe of Mammalia or not; since no examination hitherto made, of such specimens as have been brought over, preserved in spirits, have exhibited the least appearance of teats for suckling the young…”

Platypuses are curious creatures when it comes to lactation - we now know that they do indeed lactate and provide milk for their young, but not from “teats”. The mammary glands under the skin along a short line on the female’s stomach secrete milk when stimulated, and this milk gathers on a tough, fibrous hair. The puggles can then consume it in a manner that looks much like a duck drinking water or eating crumbs in a lake. It’s a very odd sight.

Zoological Lectures Delivered at the Royal Institution in the Years 1806 and 1807 by George Shaw. Pub. 1809.

biomedicalephemera: When George Shaw first described a specimen of platypus brought to him by Captain John Hunter, the second governor of New South Wales, he (along with most naturalists of the time) thought it was a hoax. In his first description of it in 1799, he noted that it was “impossible not to entertain doubts as to its genuine nature”, and even took scissors to the dried skin sent to him in order to check for stitches.  However, by the time he gave his lecture series at the Royal Institution, he had no doubts of its authenticity, though it still baffled him as to its true nature as an animal. From Zoological lectures delivered at the Royal Institution. George Shaw, 1809.

biomedicalephemera:

When George Shaw first described a specimen of platypus brought to him by Captain John Hunter, the second governor of New South Wales, he (along with most naturalists of the time) thought it was a hoax. In his first description of it in 1799, he noted that it was “impossible not to entertain doubts as to its genuine nature”, and even took scissors to the dried skin sent to him in order to check for stitches. 

However, by the time he gave his lecture series at the Royal Institution, he had no doubts of its authenticity, though it still baffled him as to its true nature as an animal.

From Zoological lectures delivered at the Royal Institution. George Shaw, 1809.

Ok, here’s a less-mean-looking animal. I think this flamingo is the American Flamingo, just from a quick glance at the features and size. They’re Caribbean birds, living on the islands and through the Yucatan peninsula of Mexico. Interestingly, they also live on the Galapagos islands.  Musei Leveriani explicatio, anglica et latina.Translation of works by George Shaw, 1742.

Ok, here’s a less-mean-looking animal. I think this flamingo is the American Flamingo, just from a quick glance at the features and size. They’re Caribbean birds, living on the islands and through the Yucatan peninsula of Mexico. Interestingly, they also live on the Galapagos islands. 

Musei Leveriani explicatio, anglica et latina.Translation of works by George Shaw, 1742.

My batch editing program vomited all over my image files, and is taking forever to re-compile. So, in the mean time, admire this mean-ass sea otter. Musei Leveriani explicatio, anglica et latina. Translation of works by George Shaw, 1742.

My batch editing program vomited all over my image files, and is taking forever to re-compile. So, in the mean time, admire this mean-ass sea otter.

Musei Leveriani explicatio, anglica et latina. Translation of works by George Shaw, 1742.

A selection from Zoological lectures delivered at the Royal Institution. George Shaw, 1809.

A selection from Zoological lectures delivered at the Royal Institution. George Shaw, 1809.

When George Shaw first described a specimen of platypus brought to him by Captain John Hunter, the second governor of New South Wales, he (along with most naturalists of the time) thought it was a hoax. In his first description of it in 1799, he noted that it was “impossible not to entertain doubts as to its genuine nature”, and even took scissors to the dried skin sent to him in order to check for stitches.  However, by the time he gave his lecture series at the Royal Institution, he had no doubts of its authenticity, though it still baffled him as to its true nature as an animal. From Zoological lectures delivered at the Royal Institution. George Shaw, 1809.

When George Shaw first described a specimen of platypus brought to him by Captain John Hunter, the second governor of New South Wales, he (along with most naturalists of the time) thought it was a hoax. In his first description of it in 1799, he noted that it was “impossible not to entertain doubts as to its genuine nature”, and even took scissors to the dried skin sent to him in order to check for stitches. 

However, by the time he gave his lecture series at the Royal Institution, he had no doubts of its authenticity, though it still baffled him as to its true nature as an animal.

From Zoological lectures delivered at the Royal Institution. George Shaw, 1809.

General Zoology. Volume VI - Part 1. Insects. George Shaw, 1806

General Zoology. Volume VI - Part 1. Insects. George Shaw, 1806

“Great Beast” (Megatherium) skeleton, from George Shaw’s Zoological Lectures delivered at the Royal Institution, 1800.  Megatherium americana was one of the few species of South American megafauna to not die out soon after the Great American Interchange at the beginning of the Pliocine era, and there’s evidence that it was encountered and hunted by early humans, especially after it expanded northwards into southern North America. The size of a bull elephant, Megatherium were largely quadrupeds, but could use their massive tail as a tripod-like base to allow themselves to stand on their hind legs and pull down the choicest branches of leaves. Their somewhat smaller (rhino-sized) ancestor Promegatherium is believed to be a direct ancestor of both Megatherium and modern-day sloths. 

“Great Beast” (Megatherium) skeleton, from George Shaw’s Zoological Lectures delivered at the Royal Institution, 1800. 

Megatherium americana was one of the few species of South American megafauna to not die out soon after the Great American Interchange at the beginning of the Pliocine era, and there’s evidence that it was encountered and hunted by early humans, especially after it expanded northwards into southern North America.

The size of a bull elephant, Megatherium were largely quadrupeds, but could use their massive tail as a tripod-like base to allow themselves to stand on their hind legs and pull down the choicest branches of leaves. Their somewhat smaller (rhino-sized) ancestor Promegatherium is believed to be a direct ancestor of both Megatherium and modern-day sloths. 

openlibrary.org

George Shaw’s illustration of Apteryx australis, the brown kiwi, from 1813. Or rather, an illustration of what he believed a live one would look like. Shaw based his illustration off of a kiwi skin brought to him by Captain Andrew Barclay, who received it from a sealer in Port Jackson (now Sydney Harbour).  The actual kiwi is stouter and much more horizontally-postured.

George Shaw’s illustration of Apteryx australis, the brown kiwi, from 1813. Or rather, an illustration of what he believed a live one would look like. Shaw based his illustration off of a kiwi skin brought to him by Captain Andrew Barclay, who received it from a sealer in Port Jackson (now Sydney Harbour). 

The actual kiwi is stouter and much more horizontally-postured.