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:
- 1932. Preliminary descriptions of new forms of South African Reptilia and Amphibia, from the Vernay-Lang Kalahari Expedition, 1930.
- 1933. Description of five new lizards from the Transvaal and Southern Rhodesia.
- 1938. Transvaal Museum Expedition to South-West Africa and Little Namaqualand, May to August 1937.
- 1939. Descriptions of some new species and subspecies of lizards from South Africa.
- 1941. Descriptions of some new lizards from South Africa and a frog from southern Rhodesia.
- 1943. The lizards of South Africa. (Reprinted 1970).
- 1948. Descriptions of two new frogs from Natal and a gecko from Astove Island.
- 1958. with Charles Kimberlin Brain (1931–). A Short account of the Reptiles of the Kalahari Gemsbok National Park.
- 1959. Some new reptiles from southern Africa and southern Angola.
- 1962. Snakes of Southern Africa.
- 1970. A Field Guide to the Snakes of South Africa.
Notable posts
- Director of the Transvaal Museum 1946 - 1966
- President of the South African Museums Association in 1955[6]
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
- Vhembelacerta rupicola. French language Wikipedia.
- Namazonurus campbelli. French language Wikipedia.
- "Vivian Fitzsimons". South African History Online.
Notes and References
- Adler, Kraig (editor) (1989). Contributions to the History of Herpetology. St. Louis, Missouri: Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles. p. 121.
- Web site: FitzSimons, Vivian Frederick Maynard (1901-1975) . 16 October 2014.
- Web site: Vivian Fitzsimons . South African History Online (SAHO) . 16 October 2014.
- Web site: FitzSimons, Vivian Frederick Maynard (1901-1975) . 16 October 2014.
- Web site: South African History Online: Vivian Fitzsimons . 27 February 2014.
- Web site: FitzSimons, Vivian Frederick Maynard (1901-1975) . 16 October 2014.
- Web site: The Reptile Database . 17 October 2014.
- 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.
- [species:Bo Beolens|Beolens, Bo]