The Linnean Society of London announced an ichthyological treat yesterday. 168 of Linnaeus’s original fish specimens, of which the Linnean Society are custodians, have been preserved for posterity in an online archive.

A digital fish, yesterday.

The fishy database joins existing digital archives that boast 1513 insect specimens and over 14,000 herbarium items.

The project was funded from unusual sources, with His Majesty the Emperor of Japan coughing up much of the cost. Emperor Akihito is one of the world’s leading experts on the taxonomy of gobioid fishes, and an Honorary Fellow of the Society. Further cash came from The Worshipful Company of Fishmongers. Bet you never considered applying there for funding.

Read the full account, and background to the Linnean fish collection here.