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Common caiman, Caiman crocodilus
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Common caiman, Caiman crocodilus
Common caiman, Caiman crocodilus. Le grand lezard ecaille, Lezard-Crocodile de Surinam. Handcoloured copperplate engraving by Johann Friedrich Schmidt after an illustration by Johann Christoph Keller from Georg Wolfgang Knorrs Deliciae Naturae Selectae of Kabinet van Zeldzaamheden der Natuur, Blusse and Son, Nuremberg, 1771. Specimens from a Wunderkammer or Cabinet of Curiosities owned by P.L. Muller
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Media ID 23184770
© Florilegius/Mary Evans
Auserlesenes Caiman Common Deliciae Georg Kabinet Knorr Naturae Naturalien Cabinet Oder Selectae Surinam Suriname Wolfgang Zoological Crocodilus Lezard
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This exquisitely detailed hand-colored copperplate engraving depicts a Common Caiman (Caiman crocodilus), also known as the Surinam Crocodile or Grand Lacertus Ecaille, a large prehistoric-looking reptile native to the tropical regions of South America. The illustration, created by Johann Christoph Keller and engraved by Johann Friedrich Schmidt, is taken from Georg Wolfgang Knorr's Deliciae Naturae Selectae, or Select Rarities of Nature, published in Nuremberg in 1771. The Common Caiman is a versatile and adaptable species, found in various habitats including swamps, marshes, and rivers. They are characterized by their powerful jaws, long, muscular tails, and distinctive elongated snout. Their scales are rough and bumpy, providing excellent camouflage in their natural environment. This illustration is a beautiful example of the naturalistic artistry and scientific curiosity that characterized the Wunderkammer, or Cabinet of Curiosities, a precursor to modern natural history museums. The specimen shown in the engraving is believed to have been part of the collection of P.L. Muller, a prominent figure in the natural history community of the time. The intricate details of the Common Caiman's anatomy, as well as its lifelike expression, are a testament to the skill and artistry of the illustrator and engraver. This image offers a glimpse into the natural world as it was understood during the Age of Enlightenment, a time when exploration and discovery were driving forces in the development of scientific knowledge.
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