Famous American Zoologists

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 1 
Dian Fossey
(Zoologist, Conservationist)
Dian Fossey
12
Birthdate: January 16, 1932
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: San Francisco, California, United States
Died: December 26, 1985
Zoologist, primatologist, and conservationist Dian Fossey conducted research on mountain gorillas in Rwanda from 1966 until she was murdered in 1985. She was part of the Trimates assigned to study apes by paleoanthropologist Louis Leakey. She wrote Gorillas in the Mist, which was later turned into a film.
 2 
James Watson
(Molecular Biologist Who Co-discovered the Double Helix Structure of DNA With Francis Crick)
James Watson
8
Birthdate: April 6, 1928
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois, United States

James Watson is a geneticist, molecular biologist, and zoologist. He is credited with co-authoring the academic paper that propounded the double helix structure of nucleic acids such as DNA for which he was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1962. In 1977, he was honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. In 1997, he was awarded the National Medal of Science.

 3 
Alfred Kinsey
(American Biologist Who Founded The Institute for Sex Research at Indiana University)
Alfred Kinsey
4
Birthdate: June 23, 1894
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Hoboken, New Jersey, United States
Died: August 25, 1956

Alfred Kinsey was an American biologist, sexologist, and professor of zoology and entomology. He is credited with founding the Indiana University's Institute for Sex Research in 1947. Kinsey's research on human sexuality and his other works have influenced cultural and social values in the USA as well as internationally. In 2012, Kinsey was inducted into Chicago's Legacy Walk.

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 4 
Thomas Hunt Morgan
(Geneticist)
Thomas Hunt Morgan
4
Birthdate: September 25, 1866
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Lexington
Died: December 4, 1945

Thomas Hunt Morgan was an evolutionary biologist, geneticist, and embryologist. He won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1933. He worked extensively on the role that the chromosome plays in heredity and demonstrated that genes are carried on chromosomes. In his later career, he established the division of biology at the California Institute of Technology. 

 5 
Louis Agassiz
(Geologist)
Louis Agassiz
4
Birthdate: May 28, 1807
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Montier
Died: December 14, 1873

Louis Agassiz was a biologist and geologist. He was famous as a scholar of Earth's natural history. Born in Switzerland, he completed his education in Europe and emigrated to USA. He was appointed a professor of zoology and geology at Harvard University. He later founded the Museum of Comparative Zoology at the Lawrence Scientific School.  

 6 
Marlin Perkins
(American Zoologist)
Marlin Perkins
4
Birthdate: March 28, 1905
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Missouri
Died: June 14, 1986
 7 
Edward Drinker Cope
(American Zoologist and Paleontologist)
Edward Drinker Cope
3
Birthdate: July 28, 1840
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Died: April 12, 1897
 8 
Ernest Everett Just
3
Birthdate: August 14, 1883
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Charleston, South Carolina, United States
Died: October 27, 1941

Ernest Everett Just was an African-American biologist and academic. He is credited with recognizing the fundamental role of the cell surface in the development of organisms. As a black boy growing up in the late 19th century, he had to face enormous challenges before he could establish himself in his career. He co-founded the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.  

 9 
Paul R. Ehrlich
(Entomologist, Zoologist, University teacher)
Paul R. Ehrlich
4
Birthdate: May 29, 1932
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Philadelphia

Paul R. Ehrlich is a biologist best known for the 1968 book The Population Bomb, which he co-authored with his wife, Anne. He kindled controversy for his views on the consequences of population growth in a world with limited resources. He has been called an "irrepressible doomster” by his critics, while his supporters credit him for spreading concern about overpopulation. 

 10 
David Starr Jordan
(Botanist, Peace activist, Zoologist, Autobiographer, Ichthyologist)
David Starr Jordan
3
Birthdate: January 19, 1851
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Gainesville (village), New York
Died: September 19, 1931

Remembered as the first president of the Leland Stanford Junior University, now known as Stanford University, David Starr Jordan was a reputed ichthyologist. An anti-war activist, too, who opposed America’s participation in World War I, he spent his later years as the chief director of the World Peace Foundation.

 11 
Karl Patterson Schmidt
(American Herpetologist)
Karl Patterson Schmidt
3
Birthdate: June 19, 1890
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Lake Forest, Illinois, United States
Died: September 26, 1957

Karl Patterson Schmidt was a herpetologist. He studied biology and geology at Cornell University and realized his keen interest in herpetology. He later worked as a scientific assistant in herpetology at the American Museum of Natural History. He undertook many collecting expeditions for the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago. He died after being bitten by a boomslang snake. 

 12 
Mary J Rathbun
(Zoologist)
Mary J Rathbun
5
Birthdate: June 11, 1860
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Buffalo, New York, United States
Died: April 4, 1943
 13 
Martin William Kratt
(Zoologist, Actor)
Martin William Kratt
0
Birthdate: December 23, 1965
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Warren, New Jersey, United States
Height: 5'8" (173 cm)
 14 
PZ Myers
(Biologist, Zoologist, Blogger, University teacher)
PZ Myers
3
Birthdate: March 9, 1957
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Kent

PZ Myers is a biologist known for founding the Pharyngula science blog. His blog is one of the top-ranked blogs by a scientist. A "science geek" from an early age, he obtained a Ph.D. in biology from the University of Oregon. As an academician, he has taught at the University of Oregon, the University of Utah, and Temple University.  

 15 
Jim Cronin
(American Zookeeper & Co-Founder of 'The Monkey World Ape Rescue Centre')
Jim Cronin
3
Birthdate: November 15, 1951
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Yonkers, New York, United States
Died: March 17, 2007

Jim Cronin was an American zookeeper best remembered for co-founding the Monkey World Ape Rescue Centre in Dorset, England, in 1987. The centre works as a sanctuary for neglected and abused primates. Jim Cronin was celebrated for his expertise in the rescue and rehabilitation process of abused primates.

 16 
Dixie Lee Ray
(Politician)
Dixie Lee Ray
3
Birthdate: September 3, 1914
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Tacoma, Washington, United States
Died: January 2, 1994
 17 
Robert T. Paine
(Ecologist)
Robert T. Paine
3
Birthdate: April 13, 1933
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States
Died: June 13, 2016
 18 
Charles Henry Turner
(Zoologist)
Charles Henry Turner
3
Birthdate: February 3, 1867
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
Died: February 14, 1923
 19 
Roger Tory Peterson
(US Ornithologist and a Leading Figure of the 20th-Century Environmental Movement)
Roger Tory Peterson
3
Birthdate: August 28, 1908
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Jamestown, New York, United States
Died: July 28, 1996

US ornithologist, environmentalist, and wildlife artist Roger Tory Peterson was one of the leading figures of the environmental movement of the 20th century. Known for his iconic books such as Wild America and the Peterson Field Guide Series, he received countless honors and awards, too, such as the US Medal of Freedom.

 20 
Eugenie Clark
(American Ichthyologist Known for Her Research on Sharks)
Eugenie Clark
3
Birthdate: May 4, 1922
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: New York City, New York, United States
Died: February 25, 2015

Popularly known as The Shark Lady, American ichthyologist Eugenie Clark is remembered for her pathbreaking studies on shark behavior and poisonous fishes. A marine conservationist too, she had established the Mote Marine Laboratory. She also taught at the University of Maryland and authored 2 widely-appreciated books.

 21 
James Dwight Dana
(US Mineralogist and Geologist Who Conducted Pioneering Research on Volcanoes, Corals, Continents, and Mountains)
James Dwight Dana
2
Birthdate: February 12, 1813
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Utica, New York, United States
Died: April 14, 1895

Copley Medal-winning US geologist and mineralogist James Dwight Dana is remembered for his path-breaking studies on topics such as mountain building, marine life, coral reefs, volcanic activity, and continents. A System of Mineralogy and Manual of Mineralogy are 2 of his iconic works, the latter of which became a standard text.

 22 
Edmund Beecher Wilson
(American Zoologist and Geneticist Known for His Researches in Embryology and Cytology)
Edmund Beecher Wilson
5
Birthdate: October 19, 1856
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Geneva, Illinois, United States
Died: March 3, 1939

Edmund Beecher Wilson was an American geneticist and zoologist. He is credited with writing a textbook titled The Cell which is widely regarded as one of the most influential and important books in modern biology. Regarded as America's first cell biologist, Wilson is also credited with discovering the XY sex-determination system which is used to classify several mammals, including humans.

 23 
Clinton Hart Merriam
(Father of Mammalogy)
Clinton Hart Merriam
2
Birthdate: December 5, 1855
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: New York, New York, United States
Died: March 19, 1942

Clinton Hart Merriam was an American mammalogist, zoologist, ornithologist, ecologist, entomologist, geographer, ethnographer, physician, and naturalist. Referred to as the father of mammalogy, Merriam owned a private collection of mammal specimens. Clinton Hart Merriam is also credited with co-founding the National Geographic Society and the American Ornithologists' Union.

 24 
Willy Burgdorfer
(Scientist)
Willy Burgdorfer
2
Birthdate: June 27, 1925
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Basel, Switzerland
Died: November 17, 2014
 25 
Thomas Say
(Entomologist)
Thomas Say
4
Birthdate: June 27, 1787
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Died: October 10, 1834
 26 
Donald Griffin
(American Zoology Professor Who Conducted Seminal Research in Animal Behaviour)
Donald Griffin
2
Birthdate: August 3, 1915
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Southampton, New York, United States
Died: November 7, 2003

Donald Griffin was an American educator who worked as a professor of zoology at several universities. As part of his work, Griffin conducted seminal research in animal navigation, animal behavior, sensory biophysics, and acoustic orientation. In 1938, Donald Griffin started studying bats' navigational method, which he recognized as animal echolocation. 

 27 
Theophilus Painter
(American Zoologist Best Known for His Work on the Structure and Function of Chromosomes)
Theophilus Painter
2
Birthdate: August 22, 1889
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Salem, Virginia, United States
Died: October 5, 1969

Zoologist Theophilus Painter made some groundbreaking studies on chromosomes, with special focus on the X and Y chromosomes and chromosomes of the salivary glands of the Drosophila fly. The Yale alumnus was associated with the University of Texas, where he eventually became the president.

 28 
Ross Granville Harrison
(Zoologist)
Ross Granville Harrison
2
Birthdate: January 13, 1870
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Germantown, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Died: September 30, 1959
 29 
Libbie Hyman
(Zoologist)
Libbie Hyman
2
Birthdate: December 6, 1888
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Des Moines, Iowa, United States
Died: August 3, 1969
 30 
Victor Ernest Shelford
(Zoologist)
Victor Ernest Shelford
1
Birthdate: September 22, 1877
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Chemung, New York, United States
Died: December 27, 1968
 31 
Warder Clyde Allee
(Ecologist)
Warder Clyde Allee
1
Birthdate: June 5, 1885
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Bloomingdale, Indiana, United States
Died: March 18, 1955
 32 
Frank Rattray Lillie
(Zoologist)
Frank Rattray Lillie
1
Birthdate: June 27, 1870
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Toronto, Canada
Died: November 5, 1947
 33 
James Hall
(Geologist, Paleontologist)
James Hall
0
Birthdate: September 12, 1811
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Hingham, Massachusetts, United States
Died: August 7, 1898

Best known for his contribution to the geosynclinal theory of mountain building, paleontologist and geologist James Hall had also taught at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and worked at the Geological Survey of New York. The National Academy of Sciences member had also penned works such as The Paleontology of New York.

 34 
Addison Emery Verrill
(Zoologist)
Addison Emery Verrill
1
Birthdate: February 9, 1839
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Greenwood, Maine, United States
Died: December 10, 1926
 35 
Alpheus Hyatt
(American Zoologist and Palaeontologist)
Alpheus Hyatt
1
Birthdate: April 5, 1838
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Washington, D.C., United States
Died: January 15, 1902

Alpheus Hyatt was an American paleontologist and zoologist. He is credited with co-founding a scientific journal named The American Naturalist for which he served as the editor between 1867 and 1870. He also served as the professor of zoology and paleontology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology where he taught for 18 years.

 36 
Edwin Conklin
(Biologist)
Edwin Conklin
1
Birthdate: November 24, 1863
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Waldo, Ohio, United States
Died: November 20, 1952
 37 
Orator F. Cook
(Entomologist, Botanist, and Agronomist Known for His Work on Rubber and Cotton Cultivation)
Orator F. Cook
0
Birthdate: May 28, 1867
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Clyde, New York, United States
Died: April 23, 1949

Orator F. Cook was an American entomologist, botanist, and agronomist. He is best remembered for his work on rubber and cotton cultivation. He is credited with coining the word speciation to describe a process where existing species give rise to new ones. Orator F. Cook published almost 400 articles on topics like genetics, sociology, evolution, anthropology, and geography.

 38 
John Henry Comstock
(Researcher)
John Henry Comstock
1
Birthdate: February 24, 1849
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Janesville, Wisconsin, United States
Died: March 20, 1931
 39 
Clarence Erwin McClung
(Zoologist)
Clarence Erwin McClung
1
Birthdate: April 5, 1870
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Clayton, California, United States
Died: January 17, 1946
 40 
Herbert Spencer Jennings
(American Zoologist and Geneticist Who Was One of the First Scientists to Study the Behaviour of Individual Microorganisms)
Herbert Spencer Jennings
1
Birthdate: April 8, 1868
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Tonica, Illinois, United States
Died: April 14, 1947

Renowned zoologist and geneticist Herbert Spencer Jennings is best known for his research on microorganisms and the genetic processes in single-celled organisms. The Harvard alumnus had also penned valuable texts such as Behaviour of the Lower Organisms and Life and Death: Heredity and Evolution in Unicellular Organisms.

 41 
Margaret Morse Nice
(American Ornithologist Who is Remembered for His Extensive Study of Song Sparrow)
Margaret Morse Nice
1
Birthdate: December 6, 1883
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Amherst, Massachusetts, United States
Died: June 26, 1974

Margaret Morse Nice was an American ornithologist, child psychologist, and ethologist. She is best remembered for her extensive study of song sparrow. Nice is credited with writing Studies in the Life History of the Song Sparrow. Over the course of her career, Margaret Morse Nice wrote almost 250 papers on birds. She also wrote several books, including Birds of Oklahoma.

 42 
Cornelia Clapp
(Zoologist)
Cornelia Clapp
1
Birthdate: March 17, 1849
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Montague, Massachusetts, United States
Died: December 31, 1934
 43 
Marston Bates
(Zoologist)
Marston Bates
1
Birthdate: July 23, 1906
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Michigan, United States
Died: April 3, 1974
 44 
E. Newton Harvey
(Zoologist)
E. Newton Harvey
1
Birthdate: November 25, 1887
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Germantown, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Died: July 21, 1959
 45 
Peter Marler
(British-born American Zoosemiotician and Ethologist)
Peter Marler
0
Birthdate: February 24, 1928
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Slough, United Kingdom
Died: July 5, 2014

Peter Marler was a British-born American zoosemiotician and ethologist. He is best remembered for his research on the science of bird song and animal sign communication. Peter Marler is also remembered for his association with the University of California, Davis, where he was emeritus professor of physiology, neurobiology, and ethology.

 46 
Elwyn L. Simons
(American Paleontologist and Paleozoologist Known for His Discovery of Some of Humankind’s Earliest Antecedents)
Elwyn L. Simons
0
Birthdate: July 14, 1930
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Lawrence, Kansas, United States
Died: March 6, 2016

Regarded widely as the father of modern primate paleontology, Elwyn L. Simons, is best remembered for his discovery of the Aegyptopithecus, the earliest common forebear of man, apes, and monkeys. An enthusiastic wildlife conservationist, too, he worked for the preservation of rare primates such as lemurs and lorises.

 47 
William Keith Brooks
(Zoologist)
William Keith Brooks
0
Birthdate: March 25, 1848
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Cleveland, Ohio, United States
Died: November 12, 1908
 48 
Charles Manning Child
(Zoologist)
Charles Manning Child
0
Birthdate: February 2, 1869
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Ypsilanti, Michigan, United States
Died: December 19, 1954
 49 
Samuel L. Leonard
(Zoologist)
Samuel L. Leonard
0
Birthdate: November 26, 1905
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Elizabeth, New Jersey, United States
Died: November 11, 2007
 50 
Charles Atwood Kofoid
(Zoologist)
Charles Atwood Kofoid
0
Birthdate: October 11, 1865
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Illinois, United States
Died: May 30, 1947