Edward Harrison Taylor
Encyclopedia
Edward Harrison Taylor was an American
herpetologist from Kansas
.
He was born in Maysville, Missouri
and studied at the University of Kansas
in Lawrence, Kansas
, graduating with a B.A.
in 1912. Subsequently, he went to the Philippines
, where at first he held a teacher's post in a village in central Mindanao
. He collected and studied the local herpetofauna extensively and published many papers. Between 1916 and 1920 he returned briefly to Kansas to finish his M.A.
Back on the Philippines, he was appointed Chief of Fisheries in Manila
. On his many survey trips he continued collecting and studying fish
es and reptile
s of the islands.
In 1927, back in the U.S.
, he became the head of the zoology
department of the University of Kansas at Lawrence. From 1929 to 1936, he studied the taxonomy of the genus Eumeces
(a common skink
). Subsequently, he focused on Mexican
herpetofauna, which he explored on many field trips from 1937 to 1948. In the following years, his explorations took him to Costa Rica
, Sri Lanka
and Thailand
, and he published extensively on all these countries. In 1965, he turned his attention onto Caecilian
s after having discovered a new species on an island in the Sea of Celebes.
Sixteen reptile named in E.H.Taylor’s honor are still recognized as valid: Turtles: Trachemys taylori (Cuatrocienegas Slider, from Coahuila, Mexico); Lizards: Anolis taylori (Taylor’s Anole, from Guerrero, Mexico), Cyrtodactylus edwardtaylori (Badulla Bow-fingered Gecko, from Sri Lanka), Dibamus taylori (Lesser Sunda Blind Lizard, from Lombok to Wetar), Gekko taylori (Taylor’s Gecko, from Thailand), Hemidactylus taylori (Taylor’s Somali Half-toed Gecko, from Somalia) Hemitheconyx taylori (East African Fat-tail Gecko, from Somalia, Ethiopia & Kenya), Lankascincus taylori (Taylor’s Tree Skink, from Sri Lanka), Latastia taylori (Taylor’s Long-tail Lizard, from Somalia), Sceloporus edwardtaylori (Taylor’s Spiny Lizard, from Oaxaca, Mexico), Sphenomorphus taylori (Taylor’s Wedge Skink, from Bougainville, Papua New Guinea), Xenagama taylori (Taylor’s Strange Agama, from Ethiopia & Somalia); Snakes: Agkistrodon taylori
(Ornate Cantil, from Tamaulipas, Mexico), Coluber taylori (Taylor’s Racer, from Somalia, Ethiopia & Eritrea), Lycophidion taylori (Taylor’s Wolfsnake, from Cen. & E.Africa), Pseudorabdion taylori (Taylor’s Reedsnake, from Mindanao, Philippines).
Eleven reptile subspecies named in E.H.Taylor’s honor are still recognized as valid: Lizards: Brachymeles boulengeri taylori (Negros Short-legged Skink, from Philippines), Gerrhonotus liocephalus taylori (Taylor’s Alligator Lizard, from Chihuahua, Mexico), Lipinia pulchella taylori (Negros Beautiful Lipinia, a skink from the Philippines), Sceloporus occidentalis taylori
(Sierra Fence Lizard, from California), Sphenomorphus assatus taylori (Taylor’s Forest Skink, from southern Mexico), Uta stansburiana taylori (Taylor’s Side-blotched Lizard, from Mexico); Snakes: Coniophanes picevittis taylori (Taylor’s Black-striped Snake, from Mexico), Cyclocorus nuchalis taylori (Taylor’s Southern Triangle-spotted Snake, from southern Philippines), Ficimia publia taylori* (Taylor’s Blotched Hooknose Snake, from Yucatán, Mexico), Lampropeltis triangulum taylori (Utah Milksnake, from USA), Micrurus browni taylori (Acapulco Coralsnake, from Guerrero, Mexico).* This subspecies is not widely recognised.
Eight amphibian species named in E.H.Taylor’s honor are still recognized as valid: Frogs: Hyalinobatrachium taylori
(Taylor’s Glass Frog, from the Guianas), Platymantis taylori
Taylor’s Direct-breeding Frog, Sierra Madre, Luzon, Philippines), Craugaster taylori (Taylor’s robber Frog, from Chaipas, Mexico), Lithobates taylori (Peralta Frog, from eastern Nicaragua & Costa Rica); Salamanders: Ambystoma taylori (Taylor’s Salamander, a neotenic
salamander from Puebla, Mexico), Bolitoglossa taylori
(Cerro Cituro Salamander, from Darien, Panama), Oedipina taylori
(Taylor’s Worm Salamander, from Guatemala, El Salvador & Honduras); Caecilians: Microcaecilia taylori
(Taylor’s Caecilian, from Suriname).
Edward Harrison Taylor's autobiographical memoir Edward H. Taylor: Recollection of an Herpetologist was published by the University of Kansas Museum of Natural History in 1975 [Monograph Series, Publication 4:1-160] with contributions from A.Byron Leonard, Hobart M.Smith and George R.Pisani.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
herpetologist from Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
.
He was born in Maysville, Missouri
Maysville, Missouri
Maysville is a city in DeKalb County, Missouri, United States. The population was 1,212 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of DeKalb County.Maysville is part of the St. Joseph, MO–KS Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
and studied at the University of Kansas
University of Kansas
The University of Kansas is a public research university and the largest university in the state of Kansas. KU campuses are located in Lawrence, Wichita, Overland Park, and Kansas City, Kansas with the main campus being located in Lawrence on Mount Oread, the highest point in Lawrence. The...
in Lawrence, Kansas
Lawrence, Kansas
Lawrence is the sixth largest city in the U.S. State of Kansas and the county seat of Douglas County. Located in northeastern Kansas, Lawrence is the anchor city of the Lawrence, Kansas, Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Douglas County...
, graduating with a B.A.
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in 1912. Subsequently, he went to the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
, where at first he held a teacher's post in a village in central Mindanao
Mindanao
Mindanao is the second largest and easternmost island in the Philippines. It is also the name of one of the three island groups in the country, which consists of the island of Mindanao and smaller surrounding islands. The other two are Luzon and the Visayas. The island of Mindanao is called The...
. He collected and studied the local herpetofauna extensively and published many papers. Between 1916 and 1920 he returned briefly to Kansas to finish his M.A.
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
Back on the Philippines, he was appointed Chief of Fisheries in Manila
Manila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
. On his many survey trips he continued collecting and studying fish
Fish
Fish are a paraphyletic group of organisms that consist of all gill-bearing aquatic vertebrate animals that lack limbs with digits. Included in this definition are the living hagfish, lampreys, and cartilaginous and bony fish, as well as various extinct related groups...
es and reptile
Reptile
Reptiles are members of a class of air-breathing, ectothermic vertebrates which are characterized by laying shelled eggs , and having skin covered in scales and/or scutes. They are tetrapods, either having four limbs or being descended from four-limbed ancestors...
s of the islands.
In 1927, back in the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, he became the head of the 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...
department of the University of Kansas at Lawrence. From 1929 to 1936, he studied the taxonomy of the genus Eumeces
Eumeces
The genus Eumeces skinks comprises four African to Middle-Eastern species.-Systematics:Two taxonomic revisions have been made in the 19th century regarding genus Eumeces. They both resulted in similar results; the genus is paraphyletic and must be sliced up into several different genera...
(a common skink
Skink
Skinks are lizards belonging to the family Scincidae. Together with several other lizard families, including Lacertidae , they comprise the superfamily or infraorder Scincomorpha...
). Subsequently, he focused on Mexican
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
herpetofauna, which he explored on many field trips from 1937 to 1948. In the following years, his explorations took him to Costa Rica
Costa Rica
Costa Rica , officially the Republic of Costa Rica is a multilingual, multiethnic and multicultural country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east....
, Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
and Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
, and he published extensively on all these countries. In 1965, he turned his attention onto Caecilian
Caecilian
The caecilians are an order of amphibians that superficially resemble earthworms or snakes. They mostly live hidden in the ground, making them the least familiar order of amphibians. All extant caecilians and their closest fossil relatives are grouped as the clade Apoda. They are mostly...
s after having discovered a new species on an island in the Sea of Celebes.
Sixteen reptile named in E.H.Taylor’s honor are still recognized as valid: Turtles: Trachemys taylori (Cuatrocienegas Slider, from Coahuila, Mexico); Lizards: Anolis taylori (Taylor’s Anole, from Guerrero, Mexico), Cyrtodactylus edwardtaylori (Badulla Bow-fingered Gecko, from Sri Lanka), Dibamus taylori (Lesser Sunda Blind Lizard, from Lombok to Wetar), Gekko taylori (Taylor’s Gecko, from Thailand), Hemidactylus taylori (Taylor’s Somali Half-toed Gecko, from Somalia) Hemitheconyx taylori (East African Fat-tail Gecko, from Somalia, Ethiopia & Kenya), Lankascincus taylori (Taylor’s Tree Skink, from Sri Lanka), Latastia taylori (Taylor’s Long-tail Lizard, from Somalia), Sceloporus edwardtaylori (Taylor’s Spiny Lizard, from Oaxaca, Mexico), Sphenomorphus taylori (Taylor’s Wedge Skink, from Bougainville, Papua New Guinea), Xenagama taylori (Taylor’s Strange Agama, from Ethiopia & Somalia); Snakes: Agkistrodon taylori
Agkistrodon taylori
Agkistrodon bilineatus taylori is a venomous pitviper subspecies found only in northeastern Mexico. It is named in honor of American herpetologist, Edward Harrison Taylor.-Description:...
(Ornate Cantil, from Tamaulipas, Mexico), Coluber taylori (Taylor’s Racer, from Somalia, Ethiopia & Eritrea), Lycophidion taylori (Taylor’s Wolfsnake, from Cen. & E.Africa), Pseudorabdion taylori (Taylor’s Reedsnake, from Mindanao, Philippines).
Eleven reptile subspecies named in E.H.Taylor’s honor are still recognized as valid: Lizards: Brachymeles boulengeri taylori (Negros Short-legged Skink, from Philippines), Gerrhonotus liocephalus taylori (Taylor’s Alligator Lizard, from Chihuahua, Mexico), Lipinia pulchella taylori (Negros Beautiful Lipinia, a skink from the Philippines), Sceloporus occidentalis taylori
Sceloporus occidentalis taylori
Sceloporus occidentalis taylori is a subspecies of the Western fence lizard. The common name of S.o. taylori is Sierra fence lizard...
(Sierra Fence Lizard, from California), Sphenomorphus assatus taylori (Taylor’s Forest Skink, from southern Mexico), Uta stansburiana taylori (Taylor’s Side-blotched Lizard, from Mexico); Snakes: Coniophanes picevittis taylori (Taylor’s Black-striped Snake, from Mexico), Cyclocorus nuchalis taylori (Taylor’s Southern Triangle-spotted Snake, from southern Philippines), Ficimia publia taylori* (Taylor’s Blotched Hooknose Snake, from Yucatán, Mexico), Lampropeltis triangulum taylori (Utah Milksnake, from USA), Micrurus browni taylori (Acapulco Coralsnake, from Guerrero, Mexico).* This subspecies is not widely recognised.
Eight amphibian species named in E.H.Taylor’s honor are still recognized as valid: Frogs: Hyalinobatrachium taylori
Hyalinobatrachium taylori
Hyalinobatrachium taylori is a species of frog in the Centrolenidae family.It is found in French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname, Venezuela, and possibly Brazil. In Spanish it is known as ranita de cristal de Taylor....
(Taylor’s Glass Frog, from the Guianas), Platymantis taylori
Platymantis taylori
Platymantis taylori is a species of frog in the Ranidae family.It is endemic to the Philippines.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical moist montanes.It is threatened by habitat loss.-Source:...
Taylor’s Direct-breeding Frog, Sierra Madre, Luzon, Philippines), Craugaster taylori (Taylor’s robber Frog, from Chaipas, Mexico), Lithobates taylori (Peralta Frog, from eastern Nicaragua & Costa Rica); Salamanders: Ambystoma taylori (Taylor’s Salamander, a neotenic
Neoteny
Neoteny , also called juvenilization , is one of the two ways by which paedomorphism can arise. Paedomorphism is the retention by adults of traits previously seen only in juveniles, and is a subject studied in the field of developmental biology. In neoteny, the physiological development of an...
salamander from Puebla, Mexico), Bolitoglossa taylori
Bolitoglossa taylori
Bolitoglossa taylori is a species of salamander in the Plethodontidae family.It is found in Panama and possibly Colombia.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical moist montanes.-Source:...
(Cerro Cituro Salamander, from Darien, Panama), Oedipina taylori
Oedipina taylori
Oedipina taylori is a species of salamander in the Plethodontidae family.It is found in El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical moist montanes....
(Taylor’s Worm Salamander, from Guatemala, El Salvador & Honduras); Caecilians: Microcaecilia taylori
Microcaecilia taylori
Microcaecilia taylori is a species of amphibian in the Caeciliidae family.It is found in Suriname, possibly Brazil, and possibly Guyana.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, moist savanna, plantations , rural gardens, and heavily degraded former...
(Taylor’s Caecilian, from Suriname).
Edward Harrison Taylor's autobiographical memoir Edward H. Taylor: Recollection of an Herpetologist was published by the University of Kansas Museum of Natural History in 1975 [Monograph Series, Publication 4:1-160] with contributions from A.Byron Leonard, Hobart M.Smith and George R.Pisani.