Joseph S. Nelson

Joseph (Joe) Schieser Nelson (April 12, 1937 – August 9, 2011^[1]) was a Canadian ichthyologist. He is best known for the book Fishes of the World (1st edition 1976, 4th edition 2006), which is the standard reference in fish systematics and evolution.

Joseph Schieser Nelson
Born	(1937-04-12)April 12, 1937 San Francisco
Died	August 9, 2011(2011-08-09) (aged 74)
Alma mater	University of Alberta, University of British Columbia
Known for	Ichthyology, Fishes of the World
Spouse	Claudine Nelson
Awards	Alberta Centennial Medal (2006)
Scientific career
Institutions	Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta
Doctoral advisor	Dr. C.C. Lindsey
Other academic advisors	Dr. J.R. Nursall
Author abbrev. (zoology)	Nelson

Nelson obtained his PhD from University of British Columbia in 1965.^[2] He retired in 2002 from the University of Alberta where he made most of his career; he continued to hold position as a Professor Emeritus and stayed scientifically active until his final years.^[1]

Outside academia, Nelson was a black belt in karate.^[3]

Legacy

Species described by Nelson:

• Bembrops morelandi Nelson, 1978 — New Zealand flathead
• Limnichthys polyactis Nelson, 1978 — Long-finned sand diver
• Hemerocoetes artus Nelson, 1979
• Hemerocoetes morelandi Nelson, 1979
• Psychrolutes sio Nelson, 1980
• Pteropsaron heemstrai Nelson, 1982
• Osopsaron natalensis Nelson, 1982
• Ebinania macquariensis Nelson, 1982
• Ebinania malacocephala Nelson, 1985
• Creedia alleni Nelson, 1983
• Creedia partimsquamigera Nelson, 1983 — Half-scaled sand-diver
• Crystallodytes pauciradiatus Nelson & Randall, 1985
• Cottunculus nudus Nelson, 1989 — Bonyskull toadfish
• Psychrolutes microporos Nelson, 1995 — Blobfish/fathead
• Ambophthalmos eurystigmatephoros Jackson & Nelson, 1999
• Neophrynichthys heterospilos Jackson & Nelson, 2000
• Ebinania australiae Jackson & Nelson, 2006

Species named after Nelson:^[2]

• Barilius nelsoni Barman, 1988
• Bembrops nelsoni Thompson & Suttkus, 2002
• Granulacanthus joenelsoni Hanke, Wilson, & Lindoe, 2001
• Myopsaron nelsoni Shibukawa, 2010

References

1. Heiko Bleher (October 2011). "Orbituary Joseph Schieser Nelson". aqua, International Journal of Ichthyology. Archived from the original on 5 June 2012. Retrieved 19 May 2012.
2. "Joseph S. Nelson". University of Alberta. July 26, 2016. Retrieved 19 May 2012. (home page at the University of Alberta; includes list of publications)
3. Lana Cuthbertson (August 15, 2011). "Joseph Nelson Taught the World about Fish". University of Alberta Museums. Archived from the original on 3 September 2012. Retrieved 19 May 2012.