Peter Grubb (zoologist)
Encyclopedia
Peter Grubb was an English zoologist. He often collaborated with Colin Groves
and described several new mammal taxa including Felis margarita harrisoni
(a subspecies of the Sand Cat
), the Bornean Yellow Muntjac
, the Nigerian White-throated Guenon, Cephalophus nigrifrons hypoxanthus, the White-legged Duiker, Cephalophus silvicultor curticeps, Cephalophus weynsi lestradei, the Kashmir Musk Deer
, and the Niger Delta Red Colobus
.
Grubb was born in Ealing
, West London
. His father William Grubb was research chemist at the Imperial Chemical Industries
and later worked as science teacher in Scotland. His mother Anne Sirutis was a school teacher from Lithuania
. His younter sister Katrina is an artist. After his BSc
graduation in Zoology at the University College London
Grubb was research assistant in the Wellcome Institute of the Zoological Society of London. In the early 1960s he went to St Kilda, Scotland
for three years where he studied Soay sheep
s for his PhD
thesis. For this work he received the Thomas Henry Huxley Award of the Zoological Society of London in 1968. In the same year he took part at the Royal Society
expedition to Aldabra
where he worked particularly on the Giant tortoise
s. Subsequently he lectured on the University of Ghana
for twelve years. Furthermore his main research field was the taxonomy and distribution of African mammals.
In 1993 and 2005 he contributed to the publication Mammal Species of the World
where he wrote the Artiodactyla and Perissodactyla sections. He also contributed to Mammalian Species
, the journal of the American Society of Mammalogists
. He published checklists of West African mammals (for instance for Sierra Leone, Gambia, and Ghana) and wrote several revisions, including on warthogs, gerenuks and buffalo. In 1993 he co-edited the IUCN publication Pigs, Peccaries, and Hippos: Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan. In June 2006 he was honored with the Stamford Raffles Award
of the Zoological Society of London
. After two surgeries Peter Grubb died from cancer
in December 2006. He was married and had two children.
In 1977 botanist Francis Raymond Fosberg
named the Portulaca
variety Portulaca mauritiensis var. grubbii from Cosmoledo
after Grubb.
Colin Groves
Colin Peter Groves is Professor of Biological Anthropology at the Australian National University in Canberra, Australia.Born in England on 24 June 1942, Colin Groves completed a Bachelor of Science at University College London in 1963, and a Doctor of Philosophy at the Royal Free Hospital School of...
and described several new mammal taxa including Felis margarita harrisoni
Felis margarita harrisoni
Felis margarita harrisoni is a subspecies of the Sand Cat.This species of Sand cats are seen as Near Threatened animals.These carnivorous mammals are found in the desert areas of Arabia and Jordan....
(a subspecies of the Sand Cat
Sand Cat
The sand cat , also referred to as the "sand dune cat", is a small wild cat distributed over African and Asian deserts. The Sand cat lives in arid areas that are too hot and dry even for the African Wildcat: the Sahara, the Arabian Desert, and the deserts of Iran and...
), the Bornean Yellow Muntjac
Bornean yellow muntjac
The Bornean yellow muntjac is restricted to the moist forests of Borneo where it lives alongside the common muntjac. It is similar to its much more common cousin and was only recently recognised as a separate species. Apart from the color difference, its antlers, which are just in length, are...
, the Nigerian White-throated Guenon, Cephalophus nigrifrons hypoxanthus, the White-legged Duiker, Cephalophus silvicultor curticeps, Cephalophus weynsi lestradei, the Kashmir Musk Deer
Kashmir Musk Deer
The Kashmir Muskdeer is an endangered species of musk deer native to Afghanistan, India, and Pakistan. This species was originally described as a subspecies to the Alpine Musk Deer, but is now classified as a separate species....
, and the Niger Delta Red Colobus
Niger Delta Red Colobus
The Niger Delta red colobus is a species of colobus monkey. From the time it first became known to science in 1993 until 2007 or 2008 it was considered a subspecies of the western red colobus, Procolobus badius and more recently Pennant's colobus, Procolobus pennantii, and its trinomial name was...
.
Grubb was born in Ealing
Ealing
Ealing is a suburban area of west London, England and the administrative centre of the London Borough of Ealing. It is located west of Charing Cross and around from the City of London. It is one of the major metropolitan centres identified in the London Plan. It was historically a rural village...
, West London
West (London sub region)
The West is a sub-region of the London Plan corresponding to the London Boroughs of Brent, Ealing, Hammersmith and Fulham, Harrow, Hillingdon and Hounslow. The sub region was established in 2004 and was adjusted in 2008 to include Kensington and Chelsea. The west has a population of 1.6 million and...
. His father William Grubb was research chemist at the Imperial Chemical Industries
Imperial Chemical Industries
Imperial Chemical Industries was a British chemical company, taken over by AkzoNobel, a Dutch conglomerate, one of the largest chemical producers in the world. In its heyday, ICI was the largest manufacturing company in the British Empire, and commonly regarded as a "bellwether of the British...
and later worked as science teacher in Scotland. His mother Anne Sirutis was a school teacher from Lithuania
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
. His younter sister Katrina is an artist. After his BSc
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
graduation in Zoology at the University College London
University College London
University College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and the oldest and largest constituent college of the federal University of London...
Grubb was research assistant in the Wellcome Institute of the Zoological Society of London. In the early 1960s he went to St Kilda, Scotland
St Kilda, Scotland
St Kilda is an isolated archipelago west-northwest of North Uist in the North Atlantic Ocean. It contains the westernmost islands of the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. The largest island is Hirta, whose sea cliffs are the highest in the United Kingdom and three other islands , were also used for...
for three years where he studied Soay sheep
Soay sheep
The Soay sheep is a primitive breed of domestic sheep descended from a population of feral sheep on the island of Soay in the St. Kilda Archipelago, about from the Western Isles of Scotland...
s for his PhD
PHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
thesis. For this work he received the Thomas Henry Huxley Award of the Zoological Society of London in 1968. In the same year he took part at the Royal Society
Royal Society
The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
expedition to Aldabra
Aldabra
Aldabra, the world's second largest coral atoll, is in the Aldabra Group of islands in the Indian Ocean that form part of the Seychelles. Uninhabited and extremely isolated, Aldabra is virtually untouched by humans, has distinctive island fauna including the Aldabra Giant Tortoise, and is...
where he worked particularly on the Giant tortoise
Aldabra Giant Tortoise
The Aldabra giant tortoise , from the islands of the Aldabra Atoll in the Seychelles, is one of the largest tortoises in the world....
s. Subsequently he lectured on the University of Ghana
University of Ghana
The University of Ghana is the oldest and largest of the thirteen Ghanaian universities and tertiary institutions. It is one of the best universities in Africa and by far the most prestigious in West Africa...
for twelve years. Furthermore his main research field was the taxonomy and distribution of African mammals.
In 1993 and 2005 he contributed to the publication Mammal Species of the World
Mammal Species of the World
Mammal Species of the World, now in its 3rd edition, is a standard reference work in zoology giving descriptions and bibliographic data for the known species of mammals.An updated Third Edition of Mammal Species of the World was published late in 2005:...
where he wrote the Artiodactyla and Perissodactyla sections. He also contributed to Mammalian Species
Mammalian Species
Mammalian Species is a peer-reviewed scientific journal published by the American Society of Mammalogists. The journal publishes accounts of 25–35 mammal species yearly. The articles summarize the current literature about each mammal and its systematics, genetics, fossil history, distribution,...
, the journal of the American Society of Mammalogists
American Society of Mammalogists
The American Society of Mammalogists was founded in 1919. Its primary purpose is to encourage the study of mammals and professions studying mammals. There are over 4,500 members of this society, and they are primarily professional scientists who emphasize the importance of public policy and...
. He published checklists of West African mammals (for instance for Sierra Leone, Gambia, and Ghana) and wrote several revisions, including on warthogs, gerenuks and buffalo. In 1993 he co-edited the IUCN publication Pigs, Peccaries, and Hippos: Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan. In June 2006 he was honored with the Stamford Raffles Award
Stamford Raffles Award
Stamford Raffles Award is an award of the Zoological Society of London. It is "For distinguished contributions to zoology, open to amateur zoologists or, to a professional zoologist in recognition of contributions which are outside the scope of his professional activities and principal...
of the Zoological Society of London
Zoological Society of London
The Zoological Society of London is a charity devoted to the worldwide conservation of animals and their habitats...
. After two surgeries Peter Grubb died from cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
in December 2006. He was married and had two children.
In 1977 botanist Francis Raymond Fosberg
Francis Raymond Fosberg
Francis Raymond "Ray" Fosberg was an American botanist. A prolific collector and author, he played a significant role in the development of coral reef and island studies.-History:...
named the Portulaca
Portulaca
Portulaca is the type genus of the flowering plant family Portulacaceae, comprising about 40-100 species found in the tropics and warm temperate regions. They are also sometimes known as Rose Moss or more commonly Moss Roses....
variety Portulaca mauritiensis var. grubbii from Cosmoledo
Cosmoledo
Cosmoledo is an atoll of the Aldabra Group and belongs to the Outer Islands of the Seychelles. The atoll is 14.5 km long east-west, and 11.5 km north-south. The total land area is about 5.2 km², while the lagoon measures 145 km² in area . It is located at . The closest island is Astove Island,...
after Grubb.