Eduard Rüppell
Encyclopedia
Wilhelm Peter Eduard Simon Rüppell (20 November 1794 - 10 December 1884) was a German
naturalist
and explorer. Rüppell is occasionally transliterated to "Rueppell" for the English alphabet.
Rüppell was born at Frankfurt-on-Main, the son of a very prosperous banker. He was originally destined to be a merchant, but after a visit to Sinai
in 1817 he developed an interest in natural history. He attended lectures at the University of Pavia
and University of Genoa
in botany
and zoology
.
Rüppell set off on his first expedition in 1821, accompanied by surgeon Michael Hey as his assistant. They travelled through the Sinai desert, and in 1822 were the first Europe
an explorers to reach the Gulf of Aqaba
. They then proceeded to Alexandria
via Mount Sinai
. In 1823 they travelled up the Nile
to Nubia
, collecting specimens in the area south of Ambukol, returning to Cairo
in July 1825. A planned journey through Ethiopia
only reached as far as Massawa
, where the party suffered ill health.
Rüppell returned to Europe in 1827. During his absence Philipp Jakob Cretzschmar
had used specimens sent back by Rüppell to produce the Atlas zu der Reise im nordlichen Afrika (Atlas of Travels in northern Africa) (1826).
In 1830 Rüppell returned to Africa, and became the first naturalist to traverse Ethiopia.
Rüppell also published an account of his travels, entitled, Travels in Abyssinia.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
naturalist
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...
and explorer. Rüppell is occasionally transliterated to "Rueppell" for the English alphabet.
Rüppell was born at Frankfurt-on-Main, the son of a very prosperous banker. He was originally destined to be a merchant, but after a visit to Sinai
Sinai Peninsula
The Sinai Peninsula or Sinai is a triangular peninsula in Egypt about in area. It is situated between the Mediterranean Sea to the north, and the Red Sea to the south, and is the only part of Egyptian territory located in Asia as opposed to Africa, effectively serving as a land bridge between two...
in 1817 he developed an interest in natural history. He attended lectures at the University of Pavia
University of Pavia
The University of Pavia is a university located in Pavia, Lombardy, Italy. It was founded in 1361 and is organized in 9 Faculties.-History:...
and University of Genoa
University of Genoa
The University of Genoa is one of the largest universities in Italy.Located in Liguria on the Italian Riviera, the university was founded in 1471. It currently has about 40,000 students, 1,800 teaching and research staff and about 1,580 administrative staff.- Campus :The University of Genoa is...
in 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...
and 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...
.
Rüppell set off on his first expedition in 1821, accompanied by surgeon Michael Hey as his assistant. They travelled through the Sinai desert, and in 1822 were the first 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...
an explorers to reach the Gulf of Aqaba
Gulf of Aqaba
The Gulf of Aqaba is a large gulf located at the northern tip of the Red Sea. In pre twentieth-century and modern sources it is often named the Gulf of Eilat, as Eilat is its predominant Israeli city ....
. They then proceeded to Alexandria
Alexandria
Alexandria is the second-largest city of Egypt, with a population of 4.1 million, extending about along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea in the north central part of the country; it is also the largest city lying directly on the Mediterranean coast. It is Egypt's largest seaport, serving...
via Mount Sinai
Mount Sinai
Mount Sinai , also known as Mount Horeb, Mount Musa, Gabal Musa , Jabal Musa meaning "Moses' Mountain", is a mountain near Saint Catherine in the Sinai Peninsula of Egypt. A mountain called Mount Sinai is mentioned many times in the Book of Exodus in the Torah and the Bible as well as the Quran...
. In 1823 they travelled up the Nile
Nile
The Nile is a major north-flowing river in North Africa, generally regarded as the longest river in the world. It is long. It runs through the ten countries of Sudan, South Sudan, Burundi, Rwanda, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania, Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda and Egypt.The Nile has two major...
to Nubia
Nubia
Nubia is a region along the Nile river, which is located in northern Sudan and southern Egypt.There were a number of small Nubian kingdoms throughout the Middle Ages, the last of which collapsed in 1504, when Nubia became divided between Egypt and the Sennar sultanate resulting in the Arabization...
, collecting specimens in the area south of Ambukol, returning to Cairo
Cairo
Cairo , is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world and Africa, and the 16th largest metropolitan area in the world. Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, Cairo has long been a centre of the region's political and cultural life...
in July 1825. A planned journey through Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
only reached as far as Massawa
Massawa
Massawa, also known as Mitsiwa Massawa, also known as Mitsiwa Massawa, also known as Mitsiwa (Ge'ez ምጽዋዕ , formerly ባጽዕ is a city on the Red Sea coast of Eritrea. An important port for many centuries, it was ruled by a succession of polities, including the Axumite Empire, the Umayyad Caliphate,...
, where the party suffered ill health.
Rüppell returned to Europe in 1827. During his absence Philipp Jakob Cretzschmar
Philipp Jakob Cretzschmar
Philipp Jakob Cretzschmar was a German physician.Cretzschmar was born at Sulzbach and studied medicine at the University of Würzburg. He taught anatomy and zoology at the Senckenberg Medical Institute of Frankfurt....
had used specimens sent back by Rüppell to produce the Atlas zu der Reise im nordlichen Afrika (Atlas of Travels in northern Africa) (1826).
In 1830 Rüppell returned to Africa, and became the first naturalist to traverse Ethiopia.
Rüppell also published an account of his travels, entitled, Travels in Abyssinia.
Eponymy
Species bearing his name include:- Rüppell's Broad-Nosed BatRüppell's Broad-nosed BatRüppell's Broad-Nosed Bat is a species of vesper bat in the Vespertilionidae family found in Australia.-Source:* Chiroptera Specialist Group 1996. . Downloaded on 09 July 2007....
, Scoteanax rueppellii - Rüppell's BustardRüppell's BustardThe Rüppell's Bustard is a species of bird in the family Otididae. It is native to southwestern Africa in Angola and Namibia, occurring in semi-desert habitats.It is a small bustard, only 60 cm long...
, Eupodotis rueppellii - Rüppell's Chat, Myrmecocichla melaena
- Rüppell's FoxRüppell's FoxRüppell's fox , also spelled Rueppell's fox and also called the sand fox, is a species of fox living in North Africa and the Middle East, from Morocco and the Sahel region to the Afghanistan hills. and SW Pakistan It is named after the German collector Eduard Rüppell...
, Vulpes rueppellii - Rüppell's Glossy-starling,Lamprotornis purpuroptera
- Rüppell's Horseshoe BatRüppell's Horseshoe BatRüppell's Horseshoe Bat is a species of bat in the Rhinolophidae family found in Africa. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests, dry savanna, moist savanna, caves, and subterranean habitats .-References:* Jacobs, D., Cotterill, F.W., Taylor, P. & Griffin, M. 2004. . ...
, Rhinolophus fumigatus - Rüppell's Parrot, Poicephalus rueppellii
- Rüppell's Pipistrelle, Pipistrellus rueppellii
- Rüppell's Robin-chat, Cossypha semirufa
- Rüppell's Snake-Eyed Skink, Ablepharus rueppellii
- Rüppell's VultureRüppell's VultureRüppell's Vulture is a large vulture that occurs throughout the Sahel region of central Africa. The current population of 30,000 is in decline due to ongoing loss of habitat and other pressures...
, Gyps rueppellii - Rüppell's WarblerRüppell's WarblerThe Rüppell's Warbler is a typical warbler of the genus Sylvia. It breeds in Greece, Turkey and neighbouring islands. It is migratory, wintering in north east Africa. This is a rare vagrant to western Europe. The name is occasionally cited as "Rueppell's Warbler".It is a typical "sylvia" warbler,...
, Sylvia rueppelli - Rüppell's Weaver, Ploceus galbula