Carl Semper
Encyclopedia
Carl Gottfried Semper was a German
ethnologist and animal ecologist. He achieved a Ph.D.
in zoology
from the University of Würzburg
in 1856. He traveled to the Philippines
and Palau
two years later, staying in the region until 1865 in association with Museum Godeffroy
. Semper published several works detailing his observations and experiences among Pacific peoples. In addition to his written work, he delivered lectures at the Lowell Technological Institute (now merged into the University of Massachusetts Lowell
) near Boston
and maintained a large collection of animal specimens. His work in Palau is especially noted as comprising one of the very few reliable accounts of cultural practices that are today severely diminished by Westernization
. Semper is also praised for his humane and even-handed attitude toward indigenous cultures.
Semper suffered a major stroke in 1887 and died a few years later.
A species of Philippine sea snake he first collected, Hydrophis semperi
was named in his honor. http://www.haribon.org.ph/?q=node/view/153
Semper's organ
discovered by Carl Semper in 1856 the head of some gastropods is named after him.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
ethnologist and animal ecologist. He achieved a Ph.D.
Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
in zoology
Zoology
Zoology |zoölogy]]), is the branch of biology that relates to the animal kingdom, including the structure, embryology, evolution, classification, habits, and distribution of all animals, both living and extinct...
from the University of Würzburg
University of Würzburg
The University of Würzburg is a university in Würzburg, Germany, founded in 1402. The university is a member of the distinguished Coimbra Group.-Name:...
in 1856. He traveled to the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
and Palau
Palau
Palau , officially the Republic of Palau , is an island nation in the Pacific Ocean, east of the Philippines and south of Tokyo. In 1978, after three decades as being part of the United Nations trusteeship, Palau chose independence instead of becoming part of the Federated States of Micronesia, a...
two years later, staying in the region until 1865 in association with Museum Godeffroy
Museum Godeffroy
The Museum Godeffroy was a museum in Hamburg, Germany, which existed from 1861 to 1885.The collection was founded by Johann Cesar VI. Godeffroy, who became a wealthy shipping magnate a few years after the expansion of the his trade towards Australia and the South Seas. His expert collectors and...
. Semper published several works detailing his observations and experiences among Pacific peoples. In addition to his written work, he delivered lectures at the Lowell Technological Institute (now merged into the University of Massachusetts Lowell
University of Massachusetts Lowell
The University of Massachusetts Lowell is a public university in Lowell, Massachusetts, and part of the University of Massachusetts system...
) near Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
and maintained a large collection of animal specimens. His work in Palau is especially noted as comprising one of the very few reliable accounts of cultural practices that are today severely diminished by Westernization
Westernization
Westernization or Westernisation , also occidentalization or occidentalisation , is a process whereby societies come under or adopt Western culture in such matters as industry, technology, law, politics, economics, lifestyle, diet, language, alphabet,...
. Semper is also praised for his humane and even-handed attitude toward indigenous cultures.
Semper suffered a major stroke in 1887 and died a few years later.
A species of Philippine sea snake he first collected, Hydrophis semperi
Hydrophis semperi
Hydrophis semperi, known in some circles as Garman's sea snake, is a rare sea snake found only in a single lake on the island of Luzon in the Philippines. It is noted for being one of two known species of sea snake that is known to be found almost-exclusively in freshwater.H...
was named in his honor. http://www.haribon.org.ph/?q=node/view/153
Semper's organ
Semper's organ
The Semper's organ is an anatomical structure of molluscs, a gland located in the head of some pulmonate gastropods.This organ was named after the German zoologist Carl Gottfried Semper, who first published information about this anatomical structure in 1856....
discovered by Carl Semper in 1856 the head of some gastropods is named after him.
External links
; public domain- works by Carl Semper at Internet ArchiveInternet ArchiveThe Internet Archive is a non-profit digital library with the stated mission of "universal access to all knowledge". It offers permanent storage and access to collections of digitized materials, including websites, music, moving images, and nearly 3 million public domain books. The Internet Archive...
- other works by Carl Semper at Internet Archive