Paolo Savi
Encyclopedia
Paolo Savi was an Italian
geologist
and ornithologist.
Savi was born in Pisa
, son of Gaetano Savi
, professor of Botany
at the University of Pisa
. The younger Savi became assistant-lecturer on zoology
at the university in 1820, was appointed professor in 1823, and lectured also on geology
. He devoted great attention to the museum of the university (Museo storia naturale di Pisa
), and formed one of the finest natural history
collections in Europe
-see http://www.stsn.it/serB110/16Bedini-Garbari.pdf
Savi was regarded as the father of Italian geology. He studied the geology of Monti Pisani and the Apuan Alps, explaining the metamorphic
origin of the Carrara
marble
; he also contributed essays on the Miocene
strata and fossils of Monte Bamboli, the iron-ores of Elba
and other subjects. With Giuseppe Meneghini (1811–1889) he published memoirs on the stratigraphy
and geology of Tuscany
(1850–1851).
Savi also became eminent as an ornithologist
, and was the author of Ornitologia Toscana (1827–1831) and Ornitologia Italiana (1873–1876). In the autumn of 1821 he obtained specimens of an unstreaked, dark, rufous-brown warbler which was new to science. He published a full description of the bird in 1824, and it became commonly known as Savi's Warbler
.
Savi was buried in Pisa cemetery and his statue now stands in the Orto botanico di Pisa
.
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
geologist
Geologist
A geologist is a scientist who studies the solid and liquid matter that constitutes the Earth as well as the processes and history that has shaped it. Geologists usually engage in studying geology. Geologists, studying more of an applied science than a theoretical one, must approach Geology using...
and ornithologist.
Savi was born in Pisa
Pisa
Pisa is a city in Tuscany, Central Italy, on the right bank of the mouth of the River Arno on the Tyrrhenian Sea. It is the capital city of the Province of Pisa...
, son of Gaetano Savi
Gaetano Savi
Gaetano Savi was an Italian naturalist.He was born in Florence and studied with Giorgio Santi and Adolfo Targioni Tozzetti...
, professor of Botany
Botany
Botany, plant science, or plant biology is a branch of biology that involves the scientific study of plant life. Traditionally, botany also included the study of fungi, algae and viruses...
at the University of Pisa
University of Pisa
The University of Pisa , located in Pisa, Tuscany, is one of the oldest universities in Italy. It was formally founded on September 3, 1343 by an edict of Pope Clement VI, although there had been lectures on law in Pisa since the 11th century...
. The younger Savi became assistant-lecturer on 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...
at the university in 1820, was appointed professor in 1823, and lectured also on geology
Geology
Geology is the science comprising the study of solid Earth, the rocks of which it is composed, and the processes by which it evolves. Geology gives insight into the history of the Earth, as it provides the primary evidence for plate tectonics, the evolutionary history of life, and past climates...
. He devoted great attention to the museum of the university (Museo storia naturale di Pisa
Museo storia naturale di Pisa
Museo storia naturale di Pisa is an Italian natural history museum at Pisa. It is part of the University of Pisa and is now located in Pisa Charterhouse 10 km from the city of Pisa in the comune of Calci....
), and formed one of the finest natural history
Natural history
Natural history is the scientific research of plants or animals, leaning more towards observational rather than experimental methods of study, and encompasses more research published in magazines than in academic journals. Grouped among the natural sciences, natural history is the systematic study...
collections in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
-see http://www.stsn.it/serB110/16Bedini-Garbari.pdf
Savi was regarded as the father of Italian geology. He studied the geology of Monti Pisani and the Apuan Alps, explaining the metamorphic
Metamorphic rock
Metamorphic rock is the transformation of an existing rock type, the protolith, in a process called metamorphism, which means "change in form". The protolith is subjected to heat and pressure causing profound physical and/or chemical change...
origin of the Carrara
Carrara
Carrara is a city and comune in the province of Massa-Carrara , notable for the white or blue-grey marble quarried there. It is on the Carrione River, some west-northwest of Florence....
marble
Marble
Marble is a metamorphic rock composed of recrystallized carbonate minerals, most commonly calcite or dolomite.Geologists use the term "marble" to refer to metamorphosed limestone; however stonemasons use the term more broadly to encompass unmetamorphosed limestone.Marble is commonly used for...
; he also contributed essays on the Miocene
Miocene
The Miocene is a geological epoch of the Neogene Period and extends from about . The Miocene was named by Sir Charles Lyell. Its name comes from the Greek words and and means "less recent" because it has 18% fewer modern sea invertebrates than the Pliocene. The Miocene follows the Oligocene...
strata and fossils of Monte Bamboli, the iron-ores of Elba
Elba
Elba is a Mediterranean island in Tuscany, Italy, from the coastal town of Piombino. The largest island of the Tuscan Archipelago, Elba is also part of the National Park of the Tuscan Archipelago and the third largest island in Italy after Sicily and Sardinia...
and other subjects. With Giuseppe Meneghini (1811–1889) he published memoirs on the stratigraphy
Stratigraphy
Stratigraphy, a branch of geology, studies rock layers and layering . It is primarily used in the study of sedimentary and layered volcanic rocks....
and geology of Tuscany
Tuscany
Tuscany is a region in Italy. It has an area of about 23,000 square kilometres and a population of about 3.75 million inhabitants. The regional capital is Florence ....
(1850–1851).
Savi also became eminent as an ornithologist
Ornithology
Ornithology is a branch of zoology that concerns the study of birds. Several aspects of ornithology differ from related disciplines, due partly to the high visibility and the aesthetic appeal of birds...
, and was the author of Ornitologia Toscana (1827–1831) and Ornitologia Italiana (1873–1876). In the autumn of 1821 he obtained specimens of an unstreaked, dark, rufous-brown warbler which was new to science. He published a full description of the bird in 1824, and it became commonly known as Savi's Warbler
Savi's Warbler
The Savi's Warbler, Locustella luscinioides, is an Old World warbler in the grass warbler genus Locustella. It breeds in southern Europe into temperate western Asia. It is migratory, wintering in sub-Saharan Africa....
.
Savi was buried in Pisa cemetery and his statue now stands in the Orto botanico di Pisa
Orto botanico di Pisa
The Orto botanico di Pisa, also known as the Orto Botanico dell'Università di Pisa, is a botanical garden operated by the University of Pisa, and located at via Luca Ghini 5, Pisa, Italy...
.