Six-banded or yellow armadillo. Engraving created in 1700s for renowned work on mammals by German naturalist, Johann Christian Daniel von Schreber, the multi-volume 'Die Saugthiere in Abbildungen nach der Natur mit Beschreibungen' ('The Mammals in Accordance with Illustrations of Nature with Descriptions'), published from 1775 to 1792. Collectively, the mammals featured by Schreber in this work have come to be known as 'Schreber's Fantastic Beasts'. The engraving was later coloured by hand.
Image details
Contributor:
Terence Kerr / Alamy Stock PhotoImage ID:
2BBMK7RFile size:
445 MB (18.1 MB Compressed download)Releases:
Model - no | Property - noDo I need a release?Dimensions:
15190 x 10240 px | 128.6 x 86.7 cm | 50.6 x 34.1 inches | 300dpiDate taken:
22 July 2006Location:
In natural habitatMore information:
This image could have imperfections as it’s either historical or reportage.
Hand-coloured antique engraving. It depicts a six-banded or yellow armadillo and was created by an unknown artist for a renowned work on mammals by the German naturalist, Johann Christian Daniel von Schreber (1739-1810). The word 'armadillo' means 'little armoured one' in Spanish and refers to the bony plates that cover the back, head, legs and tail of most of them. They are the only living mammals with such shells. The three-, six-, and nine-banded armadillos are named for the number of movable bands in their armour. The six-banded or yellow armadillo (euphractus sexcinctus) is found in South America, from Brazil and southern Suriname in the north east to northern Argentina in the south east. It is between 16 and 20 inches (40 and 50 cm) long. Johan Christian Daniel Von Schreber (often styled I.C.D. von Schreber) studied in Germany and Sweden and worked as a medical doctor before beginning his most famous work, his multi-volume 'Die Saugthiere in Abbildungen nach der Natur mit Beschreibungen' ('The Mammals in Accordance with Illustrations of Nature with Descriptions'), published from 1775 to 1792. It was illustrated by about 800 plates of the different mammals. The hand coloured engraving of a six-banded or yellow armadillo was Plate LXXI.B. (71B) in a Schreber volume printed c. 1785. Many of the animals were being given scientific names for the first time, according to the binomial system pioneered by the Swedish zoologist, Carl Linnaeus. It is likely that none of the artists responsible had actually seen any of the exotic animals they drew, relying instead on descriptions from explorers. Not surprisingly, many of the pictures are quite a long way from zoological reality. Collectively, they have come to be known as 'Schreber's Fantastic Beasts'. D1164.B3904