History Ichthyology

1 history

1.1 1500 bc–40 ad
1.2 335 bc–80 ad
1.3 european renaissance
1.4 16th–17th century
1.5 modern era

history

fish represent approximately 8% of figurative depictions on mimbres pottery.

the study of fish dates upper paleolithic revolution (with advent of high culture ). science of ichthyology developed in several interconnecting epochs, each various significant advancements.

the study of fish receives origins human s desire feed, clothe, , equip useful implements. according michael barton, prominent ichthyologist , professor @ centre college, earliest ichthyologists hunters , gatherers had learned how obtain useful fish, obtain them in abundance, , @ times might available . cultures manifested these insights in abstract , identifiable artistic expressions.

1500 bc–40 ad

informal, scientific descriptions of fish represented within judeo-christian tradition. old testament laws of kashrut forbade consumption of fish without scales or appendages. theologians , ichthyologists believe apostle peter , contemporaries harvested fish today sold in modern industry along sea of galilee, presently known lake kinneret. these fish include cyprinids of genera barbus , mirogrex, cichlids of genus sarotherodon, , mugil cephalus of family mugilidae.

335 bc–80 ad

aristotle incorporated ichthyology formal scientific study. between 335 bc–322 bc, provided earliest taxonomic classification of fish, accurately describing 117 species of mediterranean fish. furthermore, aristotle documented anatomical , behavioral differences between fish , marine mammals. after death, of pupils continued ichthyological research. theophrastus, example, composed treatise on amphibious fish. romans, although less devoted science, wrote extensively fish. pliny elder, notable roman naturalist, compiled ichthyological works of indigenous greeks, including verifiable , ambiguous peculiarities such sawfish , mermaid respectively. pliny s documentation last significant contribution ichthyology until european renaissance.

european renaissance

the writings of 3 sixteenth century scholars, hippolito salviani, pierre belon, , guillaume rondelet, signify conception of modern ichthyology. investigations of these individuals based upon actual research in comparison ancient recitations. property popularized , emphasized these discoveries. despite prominence, rondelet s de piscibus marinis regarded influential, identifying 244 species of fish.

16th–17th century

the incremental alterations in navigation , shipbuilding throughout renaissance marked commencement of new epoch in ichthyology. renaissance culminated era of exploration , colonization, , upon cosmopolitan interest in navigation came specialization in naturalism. georg marcgrave of saxony composed naturalis brasilae in 1648. document contained description of 100 species of fish indigenous brazilian coastline. in 1686, john ray , francis willughby collaboratively published historia piscium, scientific manuscript containing 420 species of fish, 178 of these newly discovered. fish contained within informative literature arranged in provisional system of classification.

frontipiece ichthyologia, sive opera omnia de piscibus peter artedi

the classification used within historia piscium further developed carl linnaeus, father of modern taxonomy . taxonomic approach became systematic approach study of organisms, including fish. linnaeus professor @ university of uppsala , eminent botanist; however, 1 of colleagues, peter artedi, earned title father of ichthyology through indispensable advancements. artedi contributed linnaeus s refinement of principles of taxonomy. furthermore, recognized 5 additional orders of fish: malacopterygii, acanthopterygii, branchiostegi, chondropterygii, , plagiuri. artedi developed standard methods making counts , measurements of anatomical features modernly exploited. associate of linnaeus, albertus seba, prosperous pharmacist amsterdam. seba assembled cabinet, or collection, of fish. invited artedi utilize assortment of fish; unfortunately, in 1735, artedi fell amsterdam canal , drowned @ age of 30.

linnaeus posthumously published artedi s manuscripts ichthyologia, sive opera omnia de piscibus (1738). refinement of taxonomy culminated in development of binomial nomenclature in use contemporary ichthyologists. furthermore, revised orders introduced artedi, placing significance on pelvic fins. fish lacking appendage placed within order apodes; fish containing abdominal, thoracic, or jugular pelvic fins termed abdominales, thoracici, , jugulares respectively. however, these alterations not grounded within evolutionary theory. therefore, take on century until charles darwin provide intellectual foundation permitted perceive degree of similarity in taxonomic features consequence of phylogenetic relationship.

modern era

close dawn of nineteenth century, marcus elieser bloch of berlin , georges cuvier of paris made attempts consolidate knowledge of ichthyology. cuvier summarized of available information in monumental histoire naturelle des poissons. manuscript published between 1828 , 1849 in 22 volume series. documental describes 4,514 species of fish, 2,311 of these new science. remains 1 of ambitious treatises of modern world. scientific exploration of americas advanced our knowledge of remarkable diversity of fish. charles alexandre lesueur student of cuvier. made cabinet of fish dwelling within great lakes , saint lawrence river regions.

adventurous individuals such john james audubon , constantine samuel rafinesque figure in faunal documentation of north america. these persons traveled 1 another. rafinesque wrote ichthyologia ohiensis in 1820. in addition, louis agassiz of switzerland established reputation through study of freshwater fish , first comprehensive treatment of paleoichthyology, poissons fossiles. in 1840s, agassiz moved united states, taught @ harvard university until death in 1873.

albert günther published catalogue of fish of british museum between 1859 , 1870, describing on 6,800 species , mentioning 1,700. considered 1 of influential ichthyologists, david starr jordan wrote 650 articles , books on subject serving president of indiana university , stanford university.