François Marie Daudin (; 29 August 1776 in

Paris Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, largest city of France. With an estimated population of 2,048,472 residents in January 2025 in an area of more than , Paris is the List of ci ...

– 30 November 1803 in Paris) was a French

zoologist Zoology ( , ) is the scientific study of animals. Its studies include the structure, embryology, classification, habits, and distribution of all animals, both living and extinct, and how they interact with their ecosystems. Zoology is one ...

Biography

With legs paralyzed by childhood disease, he studied

physics Physics is the scientific study of matter, its Elementary particle, 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 whi ...

and

natural history Natural history is a domain of inquiry involving organisms, including animals, fungi, and plants, in their natural environment, leaning more towards observational than experimental methods of study. A person who studies natural history is cal ...

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, from Ancient Greek ὄρνις (''órnis''), meaning "bird", and -logy from λόγος (''lógos''), meaning "study", is a branch of zoology dedicated to the study of birds. Several aspects of ornithology differ from related discip ...

, combining Linnean

binomial nomenclature In taxonomy, binomial nomenclature ("two-term naming system"), also called binary nomenclature, is a formal system of naming species of living things by giving each a name composed of two parts, both of which use Latin grammatical forms, altho ...

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 a phylum of protostome, protostomic invertebrate animals, whose members are known as molluscs or mollusks (). Around 76,000 extant taxon, extant species of molluscs are recognized, making it the second-largest animal phylum ...

worm Worms are many different distantly related bilateria, bilateral animals that typically have a long cylindrical tube-like body, no limb (anatomy), limbs, and usually no eyes. Worms vary in size from microscopic to over in length for marine ...

s and

zoophyte A zoophyte (animal-plant) is an obsolete term for 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 vario ...

s). Daudin found his greatest success in

herpetology Herpetology (from Ancient Greek ἑρπετόν ''herpetón'', meaning "reptile" or "creeping animal") is a branch of zoology concerned with the study of amphibians (including frogs, salamanders, and caecilians (Gymnophiona)) and reptiles (in ...

. He published ''Histoire naturelle des reinettes, des grenouilles et des crapauds'' (Natural history of

tree frog A tree frog (or treefrog) is any species of frog that spends a major portion of its lifespan in trees, known as an arboreal state. Several lineages of frogs among the Neobatrachia suborder have given rise to treefrogs, although they are not clos ...

frog A frog is any member of a diverse and largely semiaquatic group of short-bodied, tailless amphibian vertebrates composing the order (biology), order Anura (coming from the Ancient Greek , literally 'without tail'). Frog species with rough ski ...

s and

toad Toad (also known as a hoptoad) 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. In popular culture (folk taxonomy ...

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), also known colloquially as the "white death", or historically as consumption, is a contagious disease usually caused by ''Mycobacterium tuberculosis'' (MTB) bacteria. Tuberculosis generally affects the lungs, but it can al ...

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 image:Hierarchical clustering diagram.png, 280px, Generalized scheme of taxonomy Taxonomy is a practice and science concerned with classification or categorization. Typically, there are two parts to it: the development of an underlying scheme o ...

Birds

* '' Accipiter minullus'', little sparrowhawk * '' Accipiter tachiro'', African goshawk * '' Anhinga rufa'', African darter * ''

Anthochaera paradoxa The yellow wattlebird (''Anthochaera paradoxa'') is a species of bird in the honeyeater family Meliphagidae. Other names include the long wattlebird or Tasmanian wattlebird. Taxonomy French zoologist François Marie Daudin described the yellow w ...

'', yellow wattlebird * '' Ciccaba huhula'', black-banded owl * ''

Circus ranivorus The African marsh harrier (''Circus ranivorus'') is a bird of prey belonging to the harrier (bird), harrier genus ''Circus''. It is largely resident in wetland habitats in southern, central and eastern Africa from South Africa north to South Sudan ...

'', 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 and Saint Croix ...

'', white-necked crow * ''

Crypsirina temia The racket-tailed treepie (''Crypsirina temia'') is an Asian treepie, a member of the crow family, Corvidae. It has a velvety-black forehead of short, plush black feathers with the rest of the bird being an oily green colour, though appearing b ...

'', 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 bird of prey in the family Falconidae, the falcons and caracaras. It is found in Mexico, Central America, Trinidad, and every mainland South American country except Chile and Uruguay.Remsen, J. V., J ...

'', bat falcon * '' Falco tinnunculus rupicolus'', rock kestrel * '' Gymnasio nudipes'', Puerto Rican owl * '' Haliaeetus vocifer'', African fish eagle * ''

Lamprotornis ornatus The Principe starling (''Lamprotornis ornatus''), also known as the Príncipe glossy-starling, is a species of starling in the family Sturnidae. It is endemic to São Tomé and Príncipe. Its natural habitat In ecology, habitat refers t ...

'', 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 The gabar goshawk (''Micronisus gabar'') is a small species of African and Arabian bird of prey in the family Accipitridae. Description The gabar goshawk is polymorphic and occurs in two distinct forms which fluctuate in relative abundance acro ...

'', Gabar goshawk * '' Morphnus guianensis'', crested eagle * '' Onychognathus nabouroup'', pale-winged starling * '' Paradisaea rubra'', red bird-of-paradise * ''

Phaethon lepturus The white-tailed tropicbird (''Phaethon lepturus'') or yellow-billed tropicbird is a tropicbird. It is the smallest of three closely related seabirds of the tropical oceans and smallest member of the order Phaethontiformes. It is found in the tro ...

'', 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 The speckle-fronted weaver (''Sporopipes frontalis'') is a species of bird in the family Ploceidae. It is found in Africa from Mauritania and Gambia in the west to Ethiopia and Tanzania in the east. Its natural habitat is dry savanna A sava ...

'', speckle-fronted weaver * '' Sturnus melanopterus'', black-winged starling * '' Terathopius ecaudatus'', bateleur

Reptiles

* Genus ''

Acanthophis ''Acanthophis'' is a genus of Elapidae, elapid snakes. Commonly called ''death adders'', they are native to Australia, New Guinea and nearby islands, and are among the most venomous snakes in the world. Despite their common name, they are not ...

'', death adders * Genus ''

Bungarus ''Bungarus'' (commonly known as kraits ) is a genus of venomous snakes in the family Elapidae. The genus is native to Asia. Often found on the floor of tropical forests in South Asia, Southeast Asia and Southern China, they are medium-sized, hig ...

'', kraits * Genus '' Corallus'', tree boas * Genus ''

Eryx Eryx may refer to: * Eryx (Sicily), an ancient city in Sicily, the modern Erice, Italy * Mount Eryx, upon which the city stood, the modern Mount Erice * Eryx (mythology), a mythological king of the Sicilian city of Eryx, and boxer killed by Herac ...

'', Old World sand boas * Genus ''

Lachesis Lachesis ( ; ; from , 'to obtain by lot, by fate, or by the will of the gods'), in ancient Greek religion, was the middle of the Three Fates, or Moirai; the others were her sisters, Clotho and Atropos. Normally seen clothed in white, Laches ...

'', bushmasters * Genus '' Pelamis'', yellow-bellied sea snakes * Genus ''

Python Python may refer to: Snakes * Pythonidae, a family of nonvenomous snakes found in Africa, Asia, and Australia ** ''Python'' (genus), a genus of Pythonidae found in Africa and Asia * Python (mythology), a mythical serpent Computing * Python (prog ...

'', pythons * Genus ''

Ophisaurus ''Ophisaurus'' (from the Greek 'snake-lizard') is a genus of superficially snake-like legless lizards in the subfamily Anguinae. Known as joint snakes, glass snakes, or glass lizards, they are so-named because their tails are easily broken; li ...

'', glass lizards * Genus ''

Takydromus ''Takydromus'' is a genus of lizards, commonly called grass lizards or oriental racers. Species of the genus ''Takydromus'' are Endemism, endemic to a large part of Asia. Members of this genus are noticeable because of their slender appearance ...

'', Oriental racers * '' Alligator mississippiensis'', American alligator * ''

Anolis auratus ''Anolis auratus'', the grass anole, is a species of lizard in the Family (biology), family Dactyloidae. The species is found in Costa Rica, Panama, Venezuela, Colombia, French Guiana, Guyana, and Brazil."''Anolis auratus'' ". The Reptile Databas ...

'', anole, no common name * '' Anolis punctatus'', Amazon green anole * ''

Atretium schistosum ''Atretium schistosum'', also known commonly as the split keelback and the olive keelback wart snake, is a species of snake in the subfamily Natricinae of the family Colubridae. The species, which is the sole species in the genus ''Atretium'', ...

'', split keelback (snake) * '' Bitis cornuta'', many-horned adder * ''

Boa constrictor The boa constrictor (scientific name also ''Boa constrictor''), also known as the common boa, is a species of large, non-venomous, heavy-bodied snake that is frequently kept and bred in captivity. The boa constrictor is a member of the Family (b ...

imperator'', common northern boa * '' Caiman latirostris'', broad-snouted caiman * ''

Caiman yacare The yacare caiman (''Caiman yacare''), also known commonly as the jacare caiman, Paraguayan caiman, piranha caiman, red caiman, and southern spectacled caiman, is a species of caiman, a crocodilian in the family Alligatoridae. The species is end ...

'', yacare caiman * ''

Clelia clelia Clelia may refer to: * Clelia (given name) (includes a list of people with the name) *Cloelia Cloelia () was a legendary woman from the early history of ancient Rome. Biography She was one of the women taken hostage by Lars Porsena as a part of ...

'', black mussurana * '' Coronella girondica'', southern smooth snake * ''

Cuora amboinensis The Amboina box turtle or Southeast Asian box turtle (''Cuora amboinensis'') is a species of Asian box turtle widely distributed across Southeast Asia. It is native to the Asian mainland from northeast India, through Bangladesh, Burma and Thail ...

amboinensis'', Malayan box turtle * ''

Dendrelaphis tristis ''Dendrelaphis tristis'' (Common bronzeback or Daudin's bronzeback) is a species of colubrid tree-snake found in South Asia. It is not venomous, and harmless to humans. Taxonomy ''Dendrelaphis tristis'' belongs to the genus ''Dendrelaphis'', w ...

'', bronzeback (snake) * '' Disteira nigrocincta'', no common name, venomous sea snake * ''

Dracaena guianensis The northern caiman lizard (''Dracaena guianensis'') is a species of lizard found in northern South America. Appearance The northern caiman lizard is built similarly to its cousin the tegu, with a large heavy set body and short but powerful lim ...

'', caiman lizard * '' Elaphe helena'', trinket snake * '' Enhydrina schistosa'', beaked sea snake * ''

Eumeces schneiderii ''Eumeces schneiderii'', Common name, commonly known as Schneider's skink, is a species of lizard in the Family (biology), family Scincidae. The species is Endemism, endemic to Central Asia, Western Asia, and North Africa. There are five recogniz ...

'', Schneider's skink * ''

Gopherus polyphemus The gopher tortoise (''Gopherus polyphemus'') is a species of tortoise in the Family (biology), family Testudinidae. The species is native to the southeastern United States. The gopher tortoise is seen as a keystone species because it digs burrow ...

'', Florida gopher tortoise * '' Hemidactylus triedrus'', termite hill gecko * ''

Hydrophis cyanocinctus ''Hydrophis cyanocinctus'', commonly called the annulated sea snake or the blue-banded sea snake, is a species of venomous sea snake in the family Elapidae. Description Head moderate. Diameter of eye less than its distance from the mouth in the ...

'', annulated sea snake * '' Hydrophis mamillaris'', Bombay sea snake * '' Hydrophis obscurus'', Russell's sea snake * ''

Kentropyx striata ''Kentropyx striata'', known commonly as the striped whiptail, is a species of lizard in the family Teiidae. The species is endemic to northern South America. Geographic range ''K. striata'' is found in Brazil, Colombia, French Guiana, Guyana, ...

'', striped ''

Kentropyx ''Kentropyx'' is a genus of whiptail lizards in the family Teiidae. The genus is endemic to South America including Trinidad and Barbados. Species There are nine valid species in this genus (listed alphabetically by specific name).Lacerta bilineata The western green lizard (''Lacerta bilineata'') is a lizard of the family Lacertidae. Etymology The genus name ''Lacerta'' and the species name ''bilineata'' are Latin words respectively meaning “lizard” and “with two lines”, with refer ...

'', western green lizard * '' Lycodon capucinus'', common wolf snake * '' Lycodon nympha'', common bridal snake * ''

Micrurus psyches ''Micrurus psyches'', the northern coral snake, or the Carib coral snake, is a species of coral snake in the family Elapidae. Specimens have been identified in Guyana, French Guiana, Suriname, Venezuela, Brazil, Trinidad, and Colombia Co ...

'', 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 27 species of Old World coral snakes, in three genera ('' Calliophis'', '' Hemibungar ...

* ''

Oxybelis fulgidus ''Oxybelis'' is a genus of colubrid snakes, endemic to the Americas, which are commonly known as vine snakes. Though similar in appearance to the Asian species of vine snakes of the genus '' Ahaetulla'', they are not closely related, and are an ...

'', green vine snake * ''

Pituophis melanoleucus ''Pituophis melanoleucus'', Common name, commonly known as the eastern pine snake, is a species of nonvenomous snake in the Family (biology), family Colubridae. The species is native to the southeastern United States. Three subspecies are traditi ...

'', 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, and has been introduced in many other parts of the world. It is a completely fossoria ...

'', brahminy blind snake * '' Rhinoclemmys punctularia'', spot-legged turtle * ''

Sceloporus undulatus The eastern fence lizard (''Sceloporus undulatus'') is a medium-sized species of lizard in the family Phrynosomatidae. The species is found along forest edges, rock piles, and rotting logs or stumps in the eastern United States. It is sometimes r ...

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 honour of Dutc ...

'', Gronovi's dwarf burrowing skink * ''

Siphlophis compressus ''Siphlophis compressus'' the tropical flat snake, is a snake found in tropical Central America, Central and South America and Trinidad and Tobago. It feeds on small lizards, other snakes, small mammals and probably on frogs and nestling birds, ...

'', red vine snake * '' Takydromus sexlineatus'', Asian grass lizard * ''

Teius teyou ''Teius teyou'', the four-toed tegu,''Teius t ...

'', no common name, family

Teiidae Teiidae is a family of lacertoidean lizards native to the Americas. Members of this family are generally known as whiptails or racerunners; however, tegus also belong to this family. Teiidae is sister to the Gymnophthalmidae, Gymnopthalmidae, and ...

(whiptails) * ''

Timon lepidus The ocellated lizard or jewelled lizard (''Timon lepidus'') is a species of lizard in the Family (biology), family Lacertidae (wall lizards). The species is Endemism, endemic to southwestern Europe. Common names Additional common names for ''T. l ...

'', 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 Sub-Saharan Africa, where, on average it is the largest lizard found on the continent. It is called ''leguaan'' or ''likk ...

'', 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 inverteb ...

'', 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, offic ...

'', green striped vine snake

Amphibians

* '' Caecilia albiventris'', no common name,

Caecilian Caecilians (; ) are a group of limbless, vermiform (worm-shaped) or serpentine (snake-shaped) amphibians with small or sometimes nonexistent eyes. They mostly live hidden in soil or in streambeds, and this cryptic lifestyle renders caecilians ...

* ''

Cryptobranchus alleganiensis The hellbender (''Cryptobranchus alleganiensis''), also known as the hellbender salamander, is a species of aquatic giant salamander endemic to the eastern and central United States. It is the largest salamander in North America. A member of the ...

'', hellbender (salamander) * ''

Elachistocleis surinamensis ''Elachistocleis surinamensis'' is a species of frog in the family Microhylidae. It is found in Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela, and possibly Guyana. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, moist savanna, ...

'', sapito apuntado de Surinam * ''

Hoplobatrachus tigerinus ''Hoplobatrachus tigerinus'', commonly known as the Indian bullfrog, is a large species of fork-tongued frog found in South and Southeast Asia. A relatively large frog, it is normally green in color, although physiological traits vary between p ...

'', 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 ...

'')2007 IUCN Red List – Search
/ref> * '' Pelodytes punctatus'', common parsley frog * ''

Phyllomedusa hypochondrialis ''Pithecopus hypochondrialis'', the northern orange-legged leaf frog or tiger-legged monkey frog, is a species of frog in the subfamily Phyllomedusinae found in South America. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests, subtro ...

'', rana lemur de flancos rojos * '' Pseudacris ocularis'', little grass frog * ''

Sphaenorhynchus lacteus ''Sphaenorhynchus lacteus'', the Orinoco lime treefrog, is a species of frog in the family Hylidae. It is a widely distributed species found in the Orinoco and Amazon basins in Venezuela, the Guianas (Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana), Colombia, B ...

'', rana fantasma (tree frog) * ''

Xenopus laevis The African clawed frog (''Xenopus laevis''), also known as simply 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 short black ...

'', African clawed frog

Molluscs

* Genus '' Spiroglyptus'', wormsnails, family

Vermetidae The Vermetidae, the worm snails or worm shells, are a taxonomic family of small to medium-sized sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs in the clade Littorinimorpha. The shells of species in the family Vermetidae are extremely irregular, and do n ...

* Genus ''

Vermetus ''Vermetus'' is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Vermetidae, the worm snails or worm shells. The genus ''Vermetus'' is very ancient: it occurs in the fossil record from the Jurassic to the Quaternary (age range: fr ...

'', wormsnails, family

Annelids

* Genus ''

Spirorbis ''Spirorbis'' is a genus of very small () polychaete worms, usually with a white coiled shell. Members of the genus live in the littoral, lower littoral and Sublittoral zone, sublittoral zones of rocky shores. ''Spirorbis'' worms usually live att ...

'', hard tube worms

Taxa named in Daudin's honour

* '' Aldabrachelys gigantea daudinii'' – Daudin's giant tortoise (extinct,

Seychelles Seychelles (, ; ), officially the Republic of Seychelles (; Seychellois Creole: ), is an island country and archipelagic state consisting of 155 islands (as per the Constitution) in the Indian Ocean. Its capital and largest city, Victoria, ...

) * ''Gonatodes daudini'' POWELL & HENDERSON, 2005, Union Island Clawed Gecko

References

External links

Zoologica

Göttingen State and University Library The Göttingen State and University Library ( or SUB Göttingen) is the library for Göttingen University as well as for the Göttingen Academy of Sciences and is the state library for the German State of Lower Saxony. One of the largest German ...

{{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