Bicuda

Bicuda

Offered for sale is an approximate 4” by 6” hand colored lithograph from Fishes of British Guiana edited by William Jardine and published between 1841 and 1843.  The print comes matted and mounted in acid free archival materials.

The fish Xiphostoma ocellatum is now recognized as Boulengerella cuvieri. Its common name is the Bicuda, a species of pike-characin in the family Ctenoluciidae. This freshwater fish is native to the Amazon and Orinoco river basins, where it inhabits fast-flowing waters. Known for its elongated body and predatory nature, the Bicuda preys on smaller fish and is a skilled swimmer.

The specific artist credited with illustrating Fishes of British Guiana was Edward Angelo Goodall. In 1841, Goodall was appointed by the British government as the official artist for the Guyana (then British Guiana) Boundary Expedition under Sir Robert Schomburgk. During that expedition, he produced a wealth of watercolours and sketches documenting the region’s natural environment, including its vibrant aquatic life. These detailed images later formed a crucial part of the work edited by Sir William Jardine, helping to bring the ichthyological diversity of British Guiana to a wider audience.