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American zoologist From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Richard Highton (born December 24, 1927) is an American herpetologist,[1][2] an expert on the biological classification of woodland salamanders.[3]
Richard Highton | |
---|---|
Born | December 24, 1927 |
Alma mater | University of Florida |
Known for | His research in herpetology |
Scientific career | |
Fields | Biology |
Institutions | University of Maryland, College Park |
Thesis | On the relationships of the salamanders of the genus Plethodon (1956) |
Doctoral students | Stephen Blair Hedges |
Highton was born in Chicago. His father encouraged his son to have an interest in herpetology. In 1950 he was awarded a bachelor's degree in biology, mathematics and sociology from New York University, with his studies interrupted by military service.[4] He received his master's degree and Doctorate in Philosophy from the University of Florida.[5] In 1950 he married Anne Adams and they had 4 children together.[4]
A field visit to the southern Appalachians mountains in 1948 with Carl Gans was the start of his work on salamanders.[4] In 1956 he joined the Zoology Department University of Maryland College Park, with emphasis on genetics and is currently Professor Emeritus in Biology.[5][6] On his retirement in 1998, his collection of approximately 140,000 salamander specimens was donated to the Smithsonian Institution.[2][4]
Since 1999 he has been a member of the Committee on Standard and English Scientific Names for North American Amphibians and Reptiles. He is the author or co-author of over 90 scientific publications.[4]
He was president of the American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists in 1976 and President of the University of the Maryland Chapter of Sigma Xi from 1979 to 1980.[4] The intestinal parasite of salamanders Isospora hightoni was named in his honour.[7]
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