Carl Adolf Otth
Encyclopedia
Carl Adolf Otth (April 2 1803, Bern - May 16 1839) was a Swiss physician and naturalist
who was a native of Bern.
In 1822 he studied medicine in Bern, and afterwards attended classes on natural history
in Geneva
, where he had as instructors- Augustin Pyramus de Candolle (1778-1841) and Nicolas Charles Seringe
(1776-1858). Later he studied medicine at the Universities of Kiel
and Berlin, where in 1828 he received his doctorate. After six months in Paris
, he returned to Bern.
In 1836 as a naturalist, he journeyed to Dauphiné
and Provence
in France, the Balearic Islands
and Algeria
. From these travels he collected a large number of insect, reptile and amphibian species. In 1837 he was the first to describe the frog genus Discoglossus
based on the Mediterranean Painted Frog
(Discoglossus pictus).
In 1838 he published a book with thirty lithographs based on a trip to Algiers, titled Esquisses africaines, dessinées pendant un voyage a Alger et lithographiées par Adolphe Otth. In 1839 during a journey to the Middle East
, he died in Jerusalem at the age of 36.
Naturalist
Naturalist may refer to:* Practitioner of natural history* Conservationist* Advocate of naturalism * Naturalist , autobiography-See also:* The American Naturalist, periodical* Naturalism...
who was a native of Bern.
In 1822 he studied medicine in Bern, and afterwards attended classes on 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...
in Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
, where he had as instructors- Augustin Pyramus de Candolle (1778-1841) and Nicolas Charles Seringe
Nicolas Charles Seringe
Nicolas Charles Seringe was a French physician and botanist who was a native of Longjumeau.He studied medicine in Paris, and subsequently served as a military surgeon. In this role he was involved in the German campaign under General Jean Victor Marie Moreau...
(1776-1858). Later he studied medicine at the Universities of Kiel
University of Kiel
The University of Kiel is a university in the city of Kiel, Germany. It was founded in 1665 as the Academia Holsatorum Chiloniensis by Christian Albert, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp and has approximately 23,000 students today...
and Berlin, where in 1828 he received his doctorate. After six months in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, he returned to Bern.
In 1836 as a naturalist, he journeyed to Dauphiné
Dauphiné
The Dauphiné or Dauphiné Viennois is a former province in southeastern France, whose area roughly corresponded to that of the present departments of :Isère, :Drôme, and :Hautes-Alpes....
and Provence
Provence
Provence ; Provençal: Provença in classical norm or Prouvènço in Mistralian norm) is a region of south eastern France on the Mediterranean adjacent to Italy. It is part of the administrative région of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur...
in France, the Balearic Islands
Balearic Islands
The Balearic Islands are an archipelago of Spain in the western Mediterranean Sea, near the eastern coast of the Iberian Peninsula.The four largest islands are: Majorca, Minorca, Ibiza and Formentera. The archipelago forms an autonomous community and a province of Spain with Palma as the capital...
and Algeria
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
. From these travels he collected a large number of insect, reptile and amphibian species. In 1837 he was the first to describe the frog genus Discoglossus
Discoglossus
Discoglossus is a genus of frogs in the Discoglossidae family found in southern Europe, northwestern Africa, Israel, and perhaps Syria.-Species:...
based on the Mediterranean Painted Frog
Discoglossus pictus
The Mediterranean Painted Frog, Discoglossus pictus, is a species of frog in the Discoglossidae family. It has 3 different subspecies, Discoglossus pictus pictus or Mediterranean Maltese Painted Frog, found at altitudes up to 1500m, Discoglossus pictus scovazzi or Mediterranean Moroccan Painted...
(Discoglossus pictus).
In 1838 he published a book with thirty lithographs based on a trip to Algiers, titled Esquisses africaines, dessinées pendant un voyage a Alger et lithographiées par Adolphe Otth. In 1839 during a journey to the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
, he died in Jerusalem at the age of 36.