Pike Characin

Pike Characin

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 Hydrocyon microlepis is now recognized as Acestrorhynchus microlepis. Its common name is the Pike Characin. This species is native to South American river systems, including the Amazon and Orinoco basins. Known for its elongated body and sharp teeth, the Pike Characin is a predatory fish that primarily feeds on smaller fish.

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.