Tiger Shovelnose Catfish

Tiger Shovelnose Catfish

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

The fish originally described as Platystoma tigrinum is now recognized as Pseudoplatystoma tigrinum. Its common name is the Tiger Sorubim, also known as the Tiger Shovelnose Catfish. This species is native to the Amazon Basin and is known for its striking striped pattern and elongated body.

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.