Howard K. Gloyd
Encyclopedia
Howard Kay Gloyd was an American
herpetologist
who is credited with describing several new species
of reptile
, such as the Florida Cottonmouth
, Agkistrodon piscivorus conanti. He is also honored by having several species named after him, including the genus
of Asia
n pit viper
s, Gloydius
, the Eastern Fox Snake, Pantherophis gloydi
, and the Dusty Hognose Snake, Heterodon nasicus gloydi.
Born in De Soto, Kansas
, Gloyd attended Kansas State University
for a year, and then attained his bachelor of science from Ottawa University
in 1924. He taught biology at Ottawa University
until 1927 when he went to teach zoology
at the Agricultural College of Kansas State University
. In 1928 he wrote The Amphibians and Reptiles of Franklin County, Kansas. In 1929, he attained his masters degree at Kansas State College, and went to Michigan to become a professor of zoology at the University of Michigan
.
In 1936 he became director of the Chicago Academy of Sciences, a position which he would hold until 1958. In 1939, he became the vice president of the American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists
, and in 1940 he published The Rattlesnakes, genera Sistrurus and Crotalus. He organized numerous expeditions to Arizona
to collect specimens for the Chicago Academy of Sciences. From 1940 until 1947, he was a consultant to the State Natural History Survey of Illinois
. In 1942, he attained his doctorate at Ottawa University
. In 1958 he moved to Arizona to become a lecturer and research associate in the zoology department of the University of Arizona
, in Tucson
. In 1974 he retired to become an emeritus professor at the University of Arizona.
The Kansas Herpetological Society grants an annual scholarship
named for Howard K. Gloyd and Edward Harrison Taylor
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
herpetologist
Herpetology
Herpetology is the branch of zoology concerned with the study of amphibians and reptiles...
who is credited with describing several new species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
of 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...
, such as the Florida Cottonmouth
Florida Cottonmouth
Agkistrodon piscivorus conanti is a venomous pitviper subspecies found in the southeastern United States, and Florida in particular. Named in honor of the late American herpetologist, Roger Conant.-Description:...
, Agkistrodon piscivorus conanti. He is also honored by having several species named after him, including the genus
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
n pit viper
Crotalinae
The Crotalinae, commonly known as "pit vipers" or crotaline snakes, are a subfamily of venomous vipers found in Asia and the Americas. They are distinguished by the presence of a heat-sensing pit organ located between the eye and the nostril on either side of the head...
s, Gloydius
Gloydius
Gloydius is a genus of venomous pitvipers found in Asia. Named after Howard Gloyd, this group is very similar to the North American genus Agkistrodon...
, the Eastern Fox Snake, Pantherophis gloydi
Pantherophis gloydi
The Eastern Fox Snake is a species of Fox Snake.-Speciation:The Eastern Fox Snake is a North American Rat Snake...
, and the Dusty Hognose Snake, Heterodon nasicus gloydi.
Born in De Soto, Kansas
De Soto, Kansas
De Soto is a city in Johnson and Leavenworth counties in the U.S. state of Kansas, along the Kansas River. The population was 4,561 at the 2000 census...
, Gloyd attended Kansas State University
Kansas State University
Kansas State University, commonly shortened to K-State, is an institution of higher learning located in Manhattan, Kansas, in the United States...
for a year, and then attained his bachelor of science from Ottawa University
Ottawa University
Ottawa University is a private, non-profit, faith-based liberal arts college located in Ottawa, Kansas. It was founded in 1865 and is affiliated with the American Baptist Churches USA...
in 1924. He taught biology at Ottawa University
Ottawa University
Ottawa University is a private, non-profit, faith-based liberal arts college located in Ottawa, Kansas. It was founded in 1865 and is affiliated with the American Baptist Churches USA...
until 1927 when he went to teach 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...
at the Agricultural College of Kansas State University
Kansas State University
Kansas State University, commonly shortened to K-State, is an institution of higher learning located in Manhattan, Kansas, in the United States...
. In 1928 he wrote The Amphibians and Reptiles of Franklin County, Kansas. In 1929, he attained his masters degree at Kansas State College, and went to Michigan to become a professor of zoology at the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
.
In 1936 he became director of the Chicago Academy of Sciences, a position which he would hold until 1958. In 1939, he became the vice president of the American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists
American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists
The American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists is an international organization devoted to the scientific studies of ichthyology and herpetology...
, and in 1940 he published The Rattlesnakes, genera Sistrurus and Crotalus. He organized numerous expeditions to Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
to collect specimens for the Chicago Academy of Sciences. From 1940 until 1947, he was a consultant to the State Natural History Survey of Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
. In 1942, he attained his doctorate at Ottawa University
Ottawa University
Ottawa University is a private, non-profit, faith-based liberal arts college located in Ottawa, Kansas. It was founded in 1865 and is affiliated with the American Baptist Churches USA...
. In 1958 he moved to Arizona to become a lecturer and research associate in the zoology department of the University of Arizona
University of Arizona
The University of Arizona is a land-grant and space-grant public institution of higher education and research located in Tucson, Arizona, United States. The University of Arizona was the first university in the state of Arizona, founded in 1885...
, in Tucson
Tucson, Arizona
Tucson is a city in and the county seat of Pima County, Arizona, United States. The city is located 118 miles southeast of Phoenix and 60 miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border. The 2010 United States Census puts the city's population at 520,116 with a metropolitan area population at 1,020,200...
. In 1974 he retired to become an emeritus professor at the University of Arizona.
The Kansas Herpetological Society grants an annual scholarship
Scholarship
A scholarship is an award of financial aid for a student to further education. Scholarships are awarded on various criteria usually reflecting the values and purposes of the donor or founder of the award.-Types:...
named for Howard K. Gloyd and Edward Harrison Taylor
Edward Harrison Taylor
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...
.