natural science

Small tortoiseshell Aglais urticae butterfly at rest with wings only slightly open.

Broken-belted bumble bee Bombus soroeensis, showing the bumble bee in flight, male bee

Broken-belted male bumblebee in flight.  Illustration for Swedish packaging company

Wood melick Melica uniflora with detail of ligule and individual floret

Short-eared owl Asio flammeus in heather

Flik flak spider Cabrennus rechenbergi facing us. Illustration from “30 Animals that made us smarter” by Patrick Ayree (BBC Books)

Flik flak spider cartwheel diagram,  showing Cabrennus rechenbergi and its unusual movement. Illustration from “30 Animals that made us smarter” by Patrick Ayree (BBC Books)

DNA showing unravelling strands.  Pen and ink diagram.

Animal cell which is dissected to show key organelles and the nucleus.  Pen and ink diagram. Illustration from “30 Animals that made us smarter” by Patrick Ayree (BBC Books)

Dissecting microscope diagram.  Pen and ink line drawing. Illustration from “30 Animals that made us smarter” by Patrick Ayree (BBC Books)

Compound microscope illustration.  Line diagram Illustration from “30 Animals that made us smarter” by Patrick Ayree (BBC Books)    

Tabby Cat Felis catus looking at the viewer and sitting on grass. Illustration from “30 Animals that made us smarter” by Patrick Ayree (BBC Books)

Bactrian camel Camelus bactrianus with a kneeling Dromedary Camelus dromedarius. Illustration from “30 Animals that made us smarter” by Patrick Ayree (BBC Books)

Electric eel Electrophorus electricus; complete animal and longditudinal cross section showing the three electric organs; namely Sach’s, Hunter’s and Main organ. Illustration from “30 Animals that made us smarter” by Patrick Ayree (BBC Books)

Electric eel Electrophorus electricus; complete animal and longditudinal cross section showing the three electric organs; namely Sach’s, Hunter’s and Main organ. Illustration from “30 Animals that made us smarter” by Patrick Ayree (BBC Books)

Pangolin Manis javanica on a log with background foliage, searching for ant nests to destroy and eat. Illustration from “30 Animals that made us smarter” by Patrick Ayree (BBC Books)

Waterloo International Station diagram showing how the roof echoes the curve of a pangolin Illustration from “30 Animals that made us smarter” by Patrick Ayree (BBC Books)

European lobster Homarus gammarus with eye detail showing curved lens Illustration from “30 Animals that made us smarter” by Patrick Ayree (BBC Books)

European lobster Homarus gammarus Illustration from “30 Animals that made us smarter” by Patrick Ayree (BBC Books)  

Common or Peleides blue morpho butterfly Morpho peleides with colour top wash.  Butterfly is on a leaf with magnified detail of the structure of the wing scales.  These ridges cause iridescence.  Illustration from “30 Animals that made us smarter” by Patrick Ayree (BBC Books).

Reef Manta ray Manta alfredi showing two animals swimming with mouths open, filter-feeding. Illustration from “30 Animals that made us smarter” by Patrick Ayree (BBC Books)

Arapaima with scales Arapaima gigas Illustration from “30 Animals that made us smarter” by Patrick Ayree (BBC Books)

Arapaima gigas fish showiung its distinctive scales and “etched” head Illustration from “30 Animals that made us smarter” by Patrick Ayree (BBC Books)

Venus’s Flower basket Euplectella aspergillum with inset showing the lattice work of structural details. Illustration from “30 Animals that made us smarter” by Patrick Ayree (BBC Books)