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 Salt and Freshwater Neighbors
Salt Intro | Image: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

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Goldfish (Carassius auratus)
Hand-colored etching after Krüger
From: Marcus Elieser Bloch, Ichthyologie ou histoire naturelle … des poissons (Allgemeine Naturgeschichte der Fische). Translated by J. C. Thibault de Laveaux. Vol. 3 of 6 (Berlin, 1785–97

Originating in China, Goldfish have long been popular as pets in home aquariums. They are also common residents of New York City ponds and lakes, where they thrive and breed successfully, even under winter ice.

Krüger's portrait was made for what is considered the most magnificently illustrated ichthyology (fish book) ever published. More than 400 hand-colored plates (some enhanced with silver or gold to emulate the sheen of fish scales) illustrate specimens acquired from America, Europe, and Asia.