François Marie Daudin (; 29 August 1776 in
Paris
Paris () is the capital and most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,165,423 residents in 2019 in an area of more than 105 km² (41 sq mi), making it the 30th most densely populated city in the world in 2020. Si ...
– 30 November 1803 in Paris) was a French
zoologist
Zoology ()The pronunciation of zoology as is usually regarded as nonstandard, though it is not uncommon. is the branch of biology that studies the animal kingdom, including the structure, embryology, evolution, classification, habits, and d ...
.
With legs paralyzed by childhood disease, he studied
physics
Physics is the natural science that studies matter, its fundamental constituents, its motion and behavior through space and time, and the related entities of energy and force. "Physical science is that department of knowledge which ...
and
natural history, but ended up being devoted to the latter.
Daudin wrote ' (Complete and Elementary Treatise of Ornithology) in 1799–1800. It was one of the first modern handbooks of
ornithology
Ornithology is a branch of zoology that concerns the "methodological study and consequent knowledge of birds with all that relates to them." Several aspects of ornithology differ from related disciplines, due partly to the high visibility and t ...
, combining
Linnean binomial nomenclature
In Taxonomy (biology), taxonomy, binomial nomenclature ("two-term naming system"), also called nomenclature ("two-name naming system") or binary nomenclature, is a formal system of naming species of living things by giving each a name compos ...
with the anatomical and physiological descriptions of
Buffon. While an excellent beginning, it was never completed.
In 1800, he also published ''Recueil de mémoires et de notes sur des espèces inédites ou peu connues de mollusques, de vers et de zoophytes'' (Collection of memories and notes on new or little-known species of
mollusc
Mollusca is the second-largest phylum of invertebrate animals after the Arthropoda, the members of which are known as molluscs or mollusks (). Around 85,000 extant species of molluscs are recognized. The number of fossil species is est ...
s,
worm
Worms are many different distantly related bilateral animals that typically have a long cylindrical tube-like body, no limbs, and no eyes (though not always).
Worms vary in size from microscopic to over in length for marine polychaete wor ...
s and
zoophyte
A zoophyte (animal-plant) is an organism thought to be intermediate between animals and plants, or an animal with plant-like attributes or appearance. In the 19th century they were reclassified as Radiata which included various taxa, a term super ...
s).
Daudin found his greatest success in
herpetology
Herpetology (from Greek ἑρπετόν ''herpetón'', meaning "reptile" or "creeping animal") is the branch of zoology concerned with the study of amphibians (including frogs, toads, salamanders, newts, and caecilians ( gymnophiona)) and ...
. He published ''Histoire naturelle des reinettes, des grenouilles et des crapauds'' (Natural history of
tree frogs,
frog
A frog is any member of a diverse and largely Carnivore, carnivorous group of short-bodied, tailless amphibians composing the order (biology), order Anura (ανοὐρά, literally ''without tail'' in Ancient Greek). The oldest fossil "proto-f ...
s and
toad
Toad is a common name for certain frogs, especially of the family Bufonidae, that are characterized by dry, leathery skin, short legs, and large bumps covering the parotoid glands.
A distinction between frogs and toads is not made in scient ...
s) in 1802, and ''Histoire naturelle, générale et particulière des reptiles'' (Natural History of Reptiles) (8 volumes) in 1802–1803. This latter work contained descriptions of 517 species, many for the first time, based on examining over 1100 specimens.
He was assisted by his wife "Adèle" (Adélaïde Geneviève de Grégoire de Saint-Sauveur, born 1774), who drew the illustrations. Although his books were commercial failures the couple did not live in poverty, due to the family fortune. She died of
tuberculosis
Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease usually caused by '' Mycobacterium tuberculosis'' (MTB) bacteria. Tuberculosis generally affects the lungs, but it can also affect other parts of the body. Most infections show no symptoms, ...
in late 1803, and he followed shortly thereafter, also of tuberculosis, not yet 30 years old.
Taxonomic credits
Despite his short life, Daudin made a lasting contribution to
taxonomy
Taxonomy is the practice and science of categorization or classification.
A taxonomy (or taxonomical classification) is a scheme of classification, especially a hierarchical classification, in which things are organized into groups or types. ...
.
Birds
* ''
Accipiter minullus'', little sparrowhawk
* ''
Accipiter tachiro
The African goshawk (''Accipiter tachiro'') is an African species of bird of prey in the genus ''Accipiter'' which is the type genus of the family Accipitridae.
Description
The African goshawk is a medium-sized to large ''Accipiter'' which is m ...
'', African goshawk
* ''
Anhinga rufa'', African darter
* ''
Anthochaera paradoxa'', yellow wattlebird
* ''
Ciccaba huhula
The black-banded owl (''Strix huhula'') is a species of owl in the family Strigidae. Entirely nocturnal, this midsized black and white neotropical bird is a resident species, therefore never migrates out of its native South America. Its natural ...
'', black-banded owl
* ''
Circus ranivorus
The African marsh harrier (''Circus ranivorus'') is a bird of prey belonging to the harrier genus ''Circus''. It is largely resident in wetland habitats in southern, central and eastern Africa from South Africa north to South Sudan.
Description
...
'', African marsh harrier
* ''
Coracias naevius
:''The name "purple roller" can also refer to the azure dollarbird (''Eurystomus azureus'') of Indonesia.''
The purple roller (''Coracias naevius''), or rufous-crowned roller, is a medium-sized bird widespread in sub-Saharan Africa. Compared wi ...
'', Purple roller
* ''
Corvus leucognaphalus
The white-necked crow (''Corvus leucognaphalus'') is the largest of the four Caribbean corvids. It is endemic to the island of Hispaniola (split between Haiti and the Dominican Republic); it was formerly also extant on Puerto Rico, but has been ex ...
'', white-necked crow
* ''
Crypsirina temia'', black racket-tailed treepie
* ''
Falco chicquera
The red-necked falcon (''Falco chicquera'') is a bird of prey in the falcon family with two disjunct populations, one in India and the other in Africa. This medium-sized falcon has bluish grey wings and upper body, a chestnut red cap with short c ...
'', red-necked falcon
* ''
Falco rufigularis
The bat falcon (''Falco rufigularis'') is a falcon that is a resident breeder in tropical Mexico, Central and South America, Trinidad. It was long known as ''Falco albigularis''; the names ''Falco fusco-coerulescens'' or ''Falco fuscocaerulesce ...
'', bat falcon
* ''
Falco tinnunculus rupicolus'', rock kestrel
* ''
Gymnasio nudipes'', Puerto Rican owl
* ''
Haliaeetus vocifer'', African fish eagle
* ''
Lamprotornis ornatus'', Principe glossy-starling
* ''
Lophaetus occipitalis'', long-crested eagle
* ''
Lophostrix cristata'', crested owl
* ''
Loxigilla portoricensis'', Puerto Rican bullfinch
* ''
Malimbus malimbicus'', crested malimbe
* ''
Melanerpes portoricensis'', Puerto Rican woodpecker
* ''
Melierax gabar'', Gabar goshawk
* ''
Morphnus guianensis'', crested eagle
* ''
Onychognathus nabouroup'', pale-winged starling
* ''
Paradisaea rubra'', red bird-of-paradise
* ''
Phaethon lepturus'', white-tailed tropicbird
* ''
Ploceus baglafecht'', baglafecht weaver
* ''
Polemaetus bellicosus
The martial eagle (''Polemaetus bellicosus'') is a large eagle native to sub-Saharan Africa.Ferguson-Lees & Christie, ''Raptors of the World''. Houghton Mifflin Company (2001), . It is the only member of the genus ''Polemaetus''. A species of t ...
'', martial eagle
* ''
Saltator fuliginosus'', black-throated grosbeak
* ''
Seleucidis melanoleucus'', twelve-wired bird-of-paradise
* ''
Spizaetus ornatus
The ornate hawk-eagle (''Spizaetus ornatus'') is a fairly large bird of prey from the tropical Americas. Formerly, some authorities referred to this species as the crested hawk-eagle, a name that may cause some confusion as it is more commonly us ...
'', ornate hawk eagle
* ''
Sporopipes frontalis'', speckle-fronted weaver
* ''
Sturnus melanopterus'', black-winged starling
* ''
Terathopius ecaudatus'', bateleur
Reptiles
* Genus ''
Acanthophis'', death adders
* Genus ''
Bungarus'', kraits
* Genus ''
Corallus'', tree boas
* Genus ''
Eryx
Eryx is a French short-range portable semi-automatic command to line of sight (SACLOS) based wire-guided anti-tank missile (ATGM) manufactured by MBDA France and by MKEK under licence. The weapon can also be used against larger bunkers and smaller ...
'', Old World sand boas
* Genus ''
Lachesis'', bushmasters
* Genus ''
Pelamis'',
yellow-bellied sea snakes
* Genus ''
Python'', pythons
* Genus ''
Ophisaurus'', glass lizards
* Genus ''
Takydromus
''Takydromus'' is a genus of lizards, commonly called grass lizards or oriental racers. Species of the genus ''Takydromus'' are endemic to a large part of Asia. Members of this genus are noticeable because of their slender appearance and the ...
'', Oriental racers
* ''
Alligator mississippiensis'', American alligator
* ''
Anolis auratus'', anole, no common name
* ''
Anolis punctatus'', Amazon green anole
* ''
Atretium schistosum'', split keelback (snake)
* ''
Bitis cornuta
The many-horned adder (''Bitis cornuta'') is a viper species. It is found in certain rocky desert areas, mostly along the Atlantic coast of southern Africa, in western South Africa and southwestern Namibia. It has characteristic tufts of "horn ...
'', many-horned adder
* ''
Boa constrictor imperator'', common northern boa
* ''
Caiman latirostris'', broad-snouted caiman
* ''
Caiman yacare'', yacare caiman
* ''
Clelia clelia'',
mussurana
* ''
Coronella girondica
:''Common names:'' southern smooth snake, Riccioli's snake.''
''Coronella girondica'' is a species of harmless snake in the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to southern Europe and northern Africa. No subspecies are recognized as being v ...
'', southern smooth snake
* ''
Cuora amboinensis amboinensis'', Malayan box turtle
* ''
Dendrelaphis tristis'', bronzeback (snake)
* ''
Disteira nigrocincta'', no common name, venomous sea snake
* ''
Dracaena guianensis'', caiman lizard
* ''
Elaphe helena
The common trinket snake (''Coelognathus helena'') is a nonvenomous constrictor species of colubrid snake native to south Central Asia.
Etymology
The specific name of this snake, ''helena'', is thought to be a reference to Helen of Troy, con ...
'', trinket snake
* ''
Enhydrina schistosa
''Enhydrina schistosa'', commonly known as the beaked sea snake, hook-nosed sea snake, common sea snake, or the Valakadeyan sea snake, is a highly venomous species of sea snake common throughout the tropical Indo-Pacific. This species is implic ...
'', beaked sea snake
* ''
Eumeces schneiderii'', Schneider's skink
* ''
Gopherus polyphemus'', Florida gopher tortoise
* ''
Hemidactylus triedrus'', termite hill gecko
* ''
Hydrophis cyanocinctus'', annulated sea snake
* ''
Hydrophis mamillaris'', Bombay sea snake
* ''
Hydrophis obscurus'', Russell's sea snake
* ''
Kentropyx striata'', striped ''
Kentropyx'' (lizard)
* ''
Lacerta bilineata'', western green lizard
* ''
Lycodon capucinus
''Lycodon capucinus'', also known as the Oriental wolf snake, is a species of colubrid snake, which is commonly found in the Indo-Australian Archipelago. Named after their enlarged front teeth, which gives them a muzzled appearance similar to can ...
'', common wolf snake
* ''
Lycodon nympha'', common bridal snake
* ''
Micrurus psyches'', carib
coral snake
Coral snakes are a large group of elapid snakes that can be divided into two distinct groups, the Old World coral snakes and New World coral snakes. There are 16 species of Old World coral snakes, in three genera (''Calliophis'', ''Hemibungarus ...
* ''
Oxybelis fulgidus
''Oxybelis fulgidus'', commonly known as the green vine snake or the flatbread snake (not to be confused with green-colored species in the genus ''Ahaetulla'', which are also referred as "green vine snake"), is a species of long, slender, arbore ...
'', green vine snake
* ''
Pituophis melanoleucus'', pine snake
* ''
Rafetus euphraticus'', Euphrates softshell turtle
* ''
Ramphotyphlops braminus
''Indotyphlops braminus'', commonly known as the brahminy blind snake and other names, is a non-venomous blind snake species found mostly in Africa and Asia, but has been introduced in many other parts of the world. They are completely fossori ...
'', brahminy blind snake
* ''
Rhinoclemmys punctularia'', spot-legged turtle
* ''
Sceloporus undulatus undulatus'', eastern fence lizard
* ''
Scelotes gronovii
Gronovi's dwarf burrowing skink (''Scelotes gronovii'') is a species of skink, a lizard in the family Scincidae. The species is endemic to South Africa.
Etymology
Both the specific name, ''gronovii'', and the common name are in honor of Dutch ...
'', Gronovi's dwarf burrowing skink
* ''
Siphlophis compressus'', red vine snake
* ''
Takydromus sexlineatus'', Asian grass lizard
* ''
'', no common name, family
Teiidae (whiptails)
* ''
Timon lepidus
The ocellated lizard or jewelled lizard (''Timon lepidus'') is a species of lizard in the family Lacertidae (wall lizards). The species is endemic to southwestern Europe.
Common names
Additional common names for ''T. lepidus'' include eyed liz ...
'', ocellated lizard
* ''
Tripanurgos compressus'', mapepire de fe (snake)
* ''
Varanus albigularis
The rock monitor (''Varanus albigularis'') is a species of monitor lizard in the family Varanidae. The species is endemic to Central, East, and southern Africa. It is the second-longest lizard found on the continent, and the heaviest-bodied; loc ...
, rock monitor
* ''
Varanus bengalensis'', Bengal monitor
* ''
Varanus griseus
The desert monitor (''Varanus griseus'') is a species of monitor lizard of the order Squamata found living throughout North Africa and Central and South Asia. The desert monitor is carnivorous, feeding on a wide range of vertebrates and invert ...
'', desert monitor
* ''
Varanus indicus'', mangrove monitor
* ''
Xenoxybelis argenteus
''Xenoxybelis argenteus'', the striped sharpnose snake or diurnal vine snake, is a species of snake in the family, Colubridae. It is found in Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Brazil, Guyana, Bolivia, French Guiana, and Suriname
Suriname (; s ...
'', green striped vine snake
Amphibians
* ''
Caecilia albiventris'', no common name,
Caecilian
* ''
Cryptobranchus alleganiensis'', hellbender (salamander)
* ''
Elachistocleis surinamensis'', sapito apuntado de Surinam
* ''
Hoplobatrachus tigerinus'', Indian bullfrog
* ''
Hyla surinamensis'' (''
nomen dubium
In binomial nomenclature, a ''nomen dubium'' (Latin for "doubtful name", plural ''nomina dubia'') is a scientific name that is of unknown or doubtful application.
Zoology
In case of a ''nomen dubium'' it may be impossible to determine whether a s ...
'')
2007 IUCN Red List – Search
/ref>
* ''Pelodytes punctatus
The common parsley frog (''Pelodytes punctatus'') is a species of frog in the genus '' Pelodytes''. It lives in the Iberian region in south-western Europe.
Description
The common parsley frog (''Pelodytes punctatus'') is a very small and sle ...
'', common parsley frog
* '' Phyllomedusa hypochondrialis'', rana lemur de flancos rojos
* '' Pseudacris ocularis'', little grass frog
* '' Sphaenorhynchus lacteus'', rana fantasma (tree frog)
* ''Xenopus laevis
The African clawed frog (''Xenopus laevis'', also known as the xenopus, African clawed toad, African claw-toed frog or the ''platanna'') is a species of African aquatic frog of the family Pipidae. Its name is derived from the three short claws o ...
'', African clawed frog
Molluscs
* Genus '' Spiroglyptus'', wormsnails, family Vermetidae
* Genus '' Vermetus'', wormsnails, family Vermetidae
Annelids
* Genus '' Spirorbis'', hard tube worms
Taxa named in Daudin's honour
* ''Aldabrachelys gigantea daudinii
''Aldabrachelys'' is the recognised genus for the Seychelles and Madagascan radiations of giant tortoises, including the Aldabra giant tortoise (''Aldabrachelys gigantea'').
Naming
This name is problematic in that the type specimen is actually r ...
'' – Daudin's giant tortoise (extinct, Seychelles
Seychelles (, ; ), officially the Republic of Seychelles (french: link=no, République des Seychelles; Creole: ''La Repiblik Sesel''), is an archipelagic state consisting of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean. Its capital and largest city, ...
)
References
External links
Zoologica
Göttingen State and University Library
The Göttingen State and University Library (german: Niedersächsische Staats- und Universitätsbibliothek Göttingen or SUB Göttingen) is the library for Göttingen University as well as for the Göttingen Academy of Sciences and is the state l ...
{{DEFAULTSORT:Daudin, Francois Marie
French zoologists
French taxonomists
1776 births
1803 deaths
French herpetologists
French ornithologists
18th-century French zoologists
19th-century French zoologists
Scientists from Paris