Vivian Frederick Maynard FitzSimons explained

Vivian Frederick Maynard FitzSimons
Birth Date:7 February 1901
Birth Place:Pietermaritzburg, Colony of Natal
Death Place:Pretoria, South Africa
Fields:Herpetology, Plant collector
Workplaces:Transvaal Museum, Namib Desert Research Station
Alma Mater:Rhodes University
Footnotes:[1]

Vivian Frederick Maynard FitzSimons, born in Pietermaritzburg, was a notable herpetologist in South Africa. Also, he contributed to the collection of spermatophyte samples for the National Herbarium which has become part of the South African National Biodiversity Institute at the Pretoria National Botanical Garden.[2] In 1937, together with Anna Amelia Obermeyer, he collected some of the earliest plant specimens from the Eastern Highlands of Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe).

Later, as director of the Transvaal Museum, he together with Charles Koch[3] helped to establish the Namib Desert Research Institute in Gobabeb[4]

Family

Vivian FitzSimons came from a family of naturalists. His father, Frederick William FitzSimons, and his mother Patricia Henrietta (née Russell), both immigrated to South Africa from Ireland.[5]

His brother was Desmond Charles Fitzsimons, who in 1939 founded the Fitzsimons Snake Park (Durban) and was a leading distributor of snake antivenoms in South Africa.

Vivian FitzSimons attended the prestigious Grey High School in Port Elizabeth.

List of written works

Some of his writings include:

Notable posts

Species described

As a leading herpetologist at the Transvaal Museum, Vivian was involved in the original description of as many as 41 South African reptiles, including the following species.[7]

Eponyms

Vivian FitzSimons is commemorated in the scientific names of four reptiles.[9]

External Articles

Notes and References

  1. Adler, Kraig (editor) (1989). Contributions to the History of Herpetology. St. Louis, Missouri: Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles. p. 121.
  2. Web site: FitzSimons, Vivian Frederick Maynard (1901-1975) . 16 October 2014.
  3. Web site: Vivian Fitzsimons . South African History Online (SAHO) . 16 October 2014.
  4. Web site: FitzSimons, Vivian Frederick Maynard (1901-1975) . 16 October 2014.
  5. Web site: South African History Online: Vivian Fitzsimons . 27 February 2014.
  6. Web site: FitzSimons, Vivian Frederick Maynard (1901-1975) . 16 October 2014.
  7. Web site: The Reptile Database . 17 October 2014.
  8. Descriptions of new South African Reptilia and Batrachia, with distribution records of allied species in the Transvaal Museum collection. FitzSimons VF. Annals of the Transvaal Museum. 1930. 14. 20–48.
  9. [species:Bo Beolens|Beolens, Bo]