Histoire naturelle des poissons

work by Lacépède

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July 16, 2026

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Histoire naturelle des poissons is a five-volume work by French naturalist Étienne de La Ville-sur-Illon, comte de Lacépède, published between 1798 and 1803. This work was part of a larger series, Histoire naturelle, initiated by Georges-Louis Leclerc, comte de Buffon.12

Lacépède's contribution focused on the study of fishes and reptiles. Although it contained some inaccuracies due to limited research materials at the time, Histoire naturelle des poissons was recognized as a significant and original text on the subject. Following this, Lacépède also published Histoire naturelle des cétacés in 1804.1

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Étienne de La Ville-sur-Illon, comte de Lacépède
…Garden, where he completed the Histoire naturelle des poissons, 5 vol. (1798–1803; “Natural History of Fishes”). Although the work contained a number of errors because of insufficient research materials, it was recognized as the most original text on the subject at that time. The Histoire naturelle des cétacés (1804; “Natural…
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…Garden, where he completed the Histoire naturelle des poissons, 5 vol. (1798–1803; “Natural History of Fishes”). Although the work contained a number of errors because of insufficient research materials, it was recognized as the most original text on the subject at that time. The Histoire naturelle des cétacés (1804; “Natural…
Read More