R. Tucker Abbott
Encyclopedia
Robert Tucker Abbott was an American
conchologist
(seashell
s) and malacologist
(molluscs). He was the author of more than 30 books on malacology, which have been translated into many languages.
Abbott was one of the most prominent conchologists of the 20th century. He brought the study of seashells to the public with his works, including most notably: American Seashells (1974), Seashells of the World (1962), The Shell (1972), and The Kingdom of the Seashell (1972). He was an active member of the American Malacological Union and Conchologists of America.
. His interest in seashells began early; he collected them as a boy and started a museum with a friend in his basement. After having spent part of his youth in Montreal, he went to Harvard University
and became a student of William (Bill) James Clench (1897–1984). In 1941, they started the journal Johnsonia, which specialized in western Atlantic molluscs. He graduated in 1942.
During World War II
, Abbott was first a Navy bomber pilot, and later worked for the Medical Research Unit doing research on schistosomiasis
. He documented the life cycle of the schistosome in the Oncomelania
, a small brown freshwater snail, which he studied in the rice fields of the Yangtze valley.
He married fellow malacologist Mary M. Sisler on February 18, 1946.
After World War II
, Abbott worked at the National Museum of Natural History
, Smithsonian Institution
(1944–1954) as Assistant Curator and Associate Curator of the Department of Mollusks. During this time, he earned his Master's and Ph.D. at George Washington University
and wrote the first edition of American Seashells.
He then went to the Academy of Natural Sciences
in Philadelphia (1954–1969). He was chair of the Department of Mollusks, and held the Pilsbry Chair of Malacology. During that time he went on a number of shelling expeditions to the Indo-Pacific region. He also started his own journal, "Indo-Pacific Mollusca". He also was an active editor on "The Nautilus"
In 1969, Abbott accepted the DuPont Chair of Malacology at the Delaware Museum of Natural History
. He also headed the Department of Mollusks, and was Assistant Director. In 1971 he became editor-in-chief of The Nautilus
.
Abbott was the Founding Director of The Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum on Sanibel Island
. He died from pulmonary disease in 1995, two weeks before the museum opened. He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
conchologist
Conchology
Conchology is the scientific or amateur study of mollusc shells. Conchology is one aspect of malacology, the study of molluscs, however malacology studies molluscs as whole organisms, not just their shells. Conchology pre-dated malacology as a field of study. It includes the study of land and...
(seashell
Seashell
A seashell or sea shell, also known simply as a shell, is a hard, protective outer layer created by an animal that lives in the sea. The shell is part of the body of the animal. Empty seashells are often found washed up on beaches by beachcombers...
s) and malacologist
Malacology
Malacology is the branch of invertebrate zoology which deals with the study of the Mollusca , the second-largest phylum of animals in terms of described species after the arthropods. Mollusks include snails and slugs, clams, octopus and squid, and numerous other kinds, many of which have shells...
(molluscs). He was the author of more than 30 books on malacology, which have been translated into many languages.
Abbott was one of the most prominent conchologists of the 20th century. He brought the study of seashells to the public with his works, including most notably: American Seashells (1974), Seashells of the World (1962), The Shell (1972), and The Kingdom of the Seashell (1972). He was an active member of the American Malacological Union and Conchologists of America.
Biography
Tucker Abbott was born in Watertown, MassachusettsWatertown, Massachusetts
The Town of Watertown is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 31,915 at the 2010 census.- History :Archeological evidence suggests that Watertown was inhabited for thousands of years before the arrival of settlers from England...
. His interest in seashells began early; he collected them as a boy and started a museum with a friend in his basement. After having spent part of his youth in Montreal, he went to Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
and became a student of William (Bill) James Clench (1897–1984). In 1941, they started the journal Johnsonia, which specialized in western Atlantic molluscs. He graduated in 1942.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Abbott was first a Navy bomber pilot, and later worked for the Medical Research Unit doing research on schistosomiasis
Schistosomiasis
Schistosomiasis is a parasitic disease caused by several species of trematodes , a parasitic worm of the genus Schistosoma. Snails often act as an intermediary agent for the infectious diseases until a new human host is found...
. He documented the life cycle of the schistosome in the Oncomelania
Oncomelania
Oncomelania is a genus of very small tropical freshwater snails, aquatic gastropod mollusks in the family Pomatiopsidae.These Oncomelania snails are distantly related to the marine periwinkle, and more closely related to the small marine snails of the family Rissoidae.-Species:There are two species...
, a small brown freshwater snail, which he studied in the rice fields of the Yangtze valley.
He married fellow malacologist Mary M. Sisler on February 18, 1946.
After World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Abbott worked at the National Museum of Natural History
National Museum of Natural History
The National Museum of Natural History is a natural history museum administered by the Smithsonian Institution, located on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., United States. Admission is free and the museum is open 364 days a year....
, Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Institution
The Smithsonian Institution is an educational and research institute and associated museum complex, administered and funded by the government of the United States and by funds from its endowment, contributions, and profits from its retail operations, concessions, licensing activities, and magazines...
(1944–1954) as Assistant Curator and Associate Curator of the Department of Mollusks. During this time, he earned his Master's and Ph.D. at George Washington University
George Washington University
The George Washington University is a private, coeducational comprehensive university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States...
and wrote the first edition of American Seashells.
He then went to the Academy of Natural Sciences
Academy of Natural Sciences
The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, formerly Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, is the oldest natural science research institution and museum in the New World...
in Philadelphia (1954–1969). He was chair of the Department of Mollusks, and held the Pilsbry Chair of Malacology. During that time he went on a number of shelling expeditions to the Indo-Pacific region. He also started his own journal, "Indo-Pacific Mollusca". He also was an active editor on "The Nautilus"
In 1969, Abbott accepted the DuPont Chair of Malacology at the Delaware Museum of Natural History
Delaware Museum of Natural History
The Delaware Museum of Natural History was founded in 1957 by John Eleuthere du Pont near Greenville, Delaware and opened in 1972. It is known for its extensive collections of seashells, birds, and bird eggs. It is the oldest natural history museum in Delaware....
. He also headed the Department of Mollusks, and was Assistant Director. In 1971 he became editor-in-chief of The Nautilus
The Nautilus (journal)
The Nautilus is a peer-reviewed scientific journal covering research in malacology. Hence its scope includes all aspects of the biology, ecology, and systematics of mollusks....
.
Abbott was the Founding Director of The Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum on Sanibel Island
Sanibel Island
Sanibel Island is an island located on the Gulf coast of Florida, just offshore of Fort Myers. In 2000, it had an estimated population of 6,064 people...
. He died from pulmonary disease in 1995, two weeks before the museum opened. He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington County, Virginia, is a military cemetery in the United States of America, established during the American Civil War on the grounds of Arlington House, formerly the estate of the family of Confederate general Robert E. Lee's wife Mary Anna Lee, a great...
.
Species named in his honor
Several species were named in his honor (eponymous species):- Conus regius abbotti Clench, 1942 (now a synonymSynonym (taxonomy)In scientific nomenclature, a synonym is a scientific name that is or was used for a taxon of organisms that also goes by a different scientific name. For example, Linnaeus was the first to give a scientific name to the Norway spruce, which he called Pinus abies...
for Conus sphacelatusConus sphacelatusConus sphacelatus is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Conidae, the cone snails and their allies.Like all species within the genus Conus, these snails are predatory and venomous. They are capable of "stinging" humans, therefore live ones should be handled carefully or...
) - OpaliaOpalia (gastropod)Opalia is a taxonomic genus of small sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Epitoniidae, commonly known as wentletraps.-Species:...
abbotti Clench & Turner, 1952 - OdostomiaOdostomiaOdostomia is the most speciose genus of minute sea snails, pyramidellid gastropod mollusks. This genus is currently placed in the family Pyramidellidae in the subfamily Odostomiinae. There are several hundred species in the genus...
abbotti Olsson & McGinty, 1958 - VolvarinaVolvarinaVolvarina is a genus of small to very small sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs in the family Marginellidae, the margin shells. The difference between the genera Volvarina and Prunum is not clearly delineated and is based on morphological differences...
abbotti de Jong & Coomans, 1988
Species named by him
- Chicoreus (Phyllonotus) margaritensisChicoreus margaritensisPhyllonotus margaritensis, common name : the Margarita Murex, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Muricidae, the murex snails or rock snails.-Description:The size of an adult shell varies between 60 mm and 100 mm....
(Abbott, 1958) - originally described as Murex margaritensis Abbott, 1958 - Chicoreus (Triplex) cosmaniChicoreus cosmaniChicoreus cosmani is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Muricidae, the murex snails or rock snails....
Abbott & Finlay, 1979 - Transennella gerrardi Abbott, 1958 (family Veneridae)
- Tudivasum zanzibaricum (Abbott, 1958) - originally described as Tudicula zanzibarica Abbott, 1958