Paraná River Pacu

Paraná River Pacu

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 historically referred to as Myletes pacu is now recognized as Piaractus mesopotamicus. Its common names include the Small-scaled Pacu or Paraná River Pacu. This species is native to the Paraguay-Paraná River basin in South America and is known for its robust, laterally flattened body and omnivorous diet.

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.