Antique scientific plate, a decoration that combines beauty and natural knowledge - Smoky Amphisbaena by Charles d'Orbigny

Engraving reproduction of: Smoky Amphisbene (Amphisbæna fuliginosa, Lin.), Philippine Uropeltis (Uropeltis Philippinus, Cuv.), Typhlops earthworm (Typhlops lumbricalis, Schn.)

Illustration taken from the Universal Dictionary of Natural History, written under the direction of Charles Henry Dessalines d'Orbigny (1806-1876) and published from 1841 to 1849.

This work, considered one of the major achievements of the 19th century in terms of scientific synthesis and quality popularization, wonderfully illustrating the great beauty and impressive diversity of the biological world, was supplemented by a certain amount of scientific information, some extracts of which are reproduced below.

Scientific classification and description of the species present in the engraving:

Class Reptiles
Order of the Amphisbaenians
Fig. 1. Smoky Amphisbene (Amphisbæna fuliginosa, Lin.)

Class Reptiles
Order of the Ophidians
Typhlopsian family
Fig. 3. Typhlops lumbricalis (Typhlops lumbricalis, Schn.)

Class Reptiles
Order of the Ophidians
Plectrurian Family
Fig. 2. Philippine Uropeltis (Uropeltis Philippinus, Cuv.)

Important note: The scientific classification elements of the time have been preserved as they were and may of course be obsolete today. The current name of the individual shown in Fig. 1 is Half-mourning amphisbaena (Amphisbæna fuliginosa), of the individual shown in Fig. 3 is Large shield-tailed snake (Rhinophis saffragamus) and of the individual shown in Fig. 2 is identical