René-Édouard Claparède (1832–1871), Pioneer Protozoologist and Comparative Anatomist

Abstract

The pioneer Swiss naturalist René-Édouard Claparède (1832–1871), professor at the University of Geneva, left important contributions to diverse areas of natural science, biology, and comparative anatomy, including the structure of infusoria, annelids, and earthworms, the evolution of arthropods, and the embryology of spiders. He also published observations on marine invertebrates. This essay presents a brief overview of his academic life and work and makes the distinction from his nephew with the same name, the neurologist and educational psychologist Édouard Claparède (1873–1840).

Keywords

• comparative anatomy
• history of biology
• neuroscience
• zoology