Manfred Reichel
Encyclopedia
Manfred Reichel was a Swiss
micropaleontologist
best known for his work on the morphology of foraminiferans, especially alveolinids
. He taught as a professor at the University of Basel
for almost forty years, where he became the school's first Professor of Paleontology
in 1940. Lukas Hottinger
studied under him during this time. Trained in zoology
, Reichel also had a keen interest in the flight mechanics of birds, pterosaurs and bat
s, about which he published several papers.
Reichel was also an accomplished artist, and his heavily detailed style lent itself well to illustrating complex foraminiferal structures. His pen and ink drawings of pterosaur
s and the early bird Archaeopteryx
remain some of his most well-known work today.
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
micropaleontologist
Micropaleontology
Micropaleontology is the branch of paleontology that studies microfossils.-Microfossils:...
best known for his work on the morphology of foraminiferans, especially alveolinids
Alveolinidae
The Alveolinidae is a family of spheroidal to fusiform milioline foraminfera with multiple apertures and complex interiors in which chambers are subdivided into chamberlets and subfloors interconnected by passageways. As with all Miliolina, the test wall in alveolinids is porecelaneous and...
. He taught as a professor at the University of Basel
University of Basel
The University of Basel is located in Basel, Switzerland, and is considered to be one of leading universities in the country...
for almost forty years, where he became the school's first Professor of Paleontology
Paleontology
Paleontology "old, ancient", ὄν, ὀντ- "being, creature", and λόγος "speech, thought") is the study of prehistoric life. It includes the study of fossils to determine organisms' evolution and interactions with each other and their environments...
in 1940. Lukas Hottinger
Lukas Hottinger
Lukas Hottinger has been a paleontologist, biologist and geologist. Hottinger collaborated with the Natural History Museum of Basel ....
studied under him during this time. Trained 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...
, Reichel also had a keen interest in the flight mechanics of birds, pterosaurs and bat
Bat
Bats are mammals of the order Chiroptera "hand" and pteron "wing") whose forelimbs form webbed wings, making them the only mammals naturally capable of true and sustained flight. By contrast, other mammals said to fly, such as flying squirrels, gliding possums, and colugos, glide rather than fly,...
s, about which he published several papers.
Reichel was also an accomplished artist, and his heavily detailed style lent itself well to illustrating complex foraminiferal structures. His pen and ink drawings of pterosaur
Pterosaur
Pterosaurs were flying reptiles of the clade or order Pterosauria. They existed from the late Triassic to the end of the Cretaceous Period . Pterosaurs are the earliest vertebrates known to have evolved powered flight...
s and the early bird Archaeopteryx
Archaeopteryx
Archaeopteryx , sometimes referred to by its German name Urvogel , is a genus of theropod dinosaur that is closely related to birds. The name derives from the Ancient Greek meaning "ancient", and , meaning "feather" or "wing"...
remain some of his most well-known work today.