[Sphargis coriacea / The Luth, or Leathery Turtle]

Description

Rare Australian lithograph of the Leatherback sea turtle, from Frederick McCoy’s, Prodromus of the Zoology of Victoria.

McCoy arrived in Melbourne in 1854 to assume the inaugural Professorship of Natural Science at the recently established University of Melbourne. Over the ensuing four decades, he played a central role in the scientific community of the colony. Serving as the first Director of the newly established National Museum of Victoria. McCoy played a pivotal role in the museum’s rapid growth and the expansion of its collection. He meticulously curated an exceptional natural history and geological collection, incorporating mining models and drawing on his extensive knowledge of international sources. In 1870, the Museum of Natural and Applied Sciences, Melbourne, was placed under the oversight of the Public Library trustees. Despite persistent challenges in securing funds and navigating plots to relocate the museum, McCoy’s steadfast defence and solace lay in the institution’s popularity and scientific reputation.

Common names: Leatherback sea turtle, lute turtle, leathery turtle
Modern binomial name: Dermochelys coriacea
First described: Vandelli, 1761
Distribution: Australia wide

From McCoy, Prodromus of the Zoology of Victoria.

Collections:
National Library Australia: Bib ID: 850045
State Library New South Wales: Call Number: DSM/Q591.992/M
State Library Victoria: RARELT 591.9945 M13
State Library South Australia: 591.9945 M131 b
Smithsonian Institution: Call Number QL339.V6 M12
Royal Collection Trust UK: RCIN 1055668