Reptiles - Part V - The Zoology of the Voyage of H.M.S Beagle

This final volume of the monumental Zoology series, published in 1843, documents the herpetological specimens collected by Charles Darwin during the five-year expedition of H.M.S. Beagle (1832-1836).

The work provides the scientific descriptions and classifications of the amphibians and reptiles gathered from various global stopping points, most notably the coasts of South America and the Galapagos Islands. This collection included tortoises, lizards, and frogs, many of which were new to Western science.

As with the other volumes, Darwin served as the editor and supervisor of the entire work. He integrated detailed information from his original field labels and notes into the text, providing crucial context regarding the habits, coloration, and geographical distribution of the species while they were observed in life. This careful documentation of distinct varieties inhabiting separate islands, such as the famous Galapagos marine iguana, became essential evidence for his later revolutionary thinking on the modification and geographical succession of species.

Contents include:

Alsodes Monticola
Amblyrynchus Cristatus
Ameiva Longicauda
Borborocaetes Bibronii
Bufo Chilensis
Centrura Flagellifer
Cyclodus Casuarinae
Cystignathus Georgianus
Diplolaemus Bibronii, etc.


Reptiles, Part V concludes the comprehensive zoological catalog of the voyage, marking the completion of one of the most significant publications in the history of natural science.