{"id":35816,"date":"2026-02-11T10:17:00","date_gmt":"2026-02-11T09:17:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/petcare.econlux.de\/female-pioneers-in-herpetology\/"},"modified":"2026-02-12T13:06:56","modified_gmt":"2026-02-12T12:06:56","slug":"female-pioneers-in-herpetology","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/petcare.econlux.de\/en\/female-pioneers-in-herpetology\/","title":{"rendered":"Female pioneers in herpetology"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

When we think of big names in natural science, male scientists often spring to mind first. But in herpetology \u2013 the study of reptiles and amphibians \u2013 women have made significant contributions despite social barriers. <\/p>\n\n

On today’s occasion, \u2018Women in Science,\u2019 we would like to show that it was also women who have had a lasting impact on our knowledge of reptiles and amphibians.<\/p>\n\n

Every year on 11 February, the International Day of Women and Girls in Science<\/strong> is celebrated. This commemorative day has been organised by UNESCO and UN Women since 2016 and is intended to remind us that women and girls play an important role in science and technology \u2013 but that their representation in STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) is still too low. Therefore, increased attention combined with many events should help to bring more women into these fields. <\/p>\n\n

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Joan Beauchamp Procter (Wikipedia<\/a>)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

? Joan Beauchamp Procter (1897\u20131931)<\/h3>\n\n

One of the most impressive herpetologists of the early 20th century was the British zoologist Joan Beauchamp Procter.<\/p>\n\n

She was appointed as the first female curator of reptiles at the British Museum (Natural History) and later worked at London Zoo. She became particularly well known for her work with Komodo dragons \u2013 at a time when very little was known about these animals. <\/p>\n\n

She also designed the then revolutionary reptile house at London Zoo \u2013 a milestone in species-appropriate husbandry and scientific observation.<\/p>\n\n

London Zoo tells the story of her reptile house here<\/a>. Groundbreaking detail: <\/p>\n\n

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Joan Protcter’s Reptile House design included \u2018vita glass\u2019 which provided natural ultraviolet light needed by the reptiles, and was a high tech concept at the time.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n

Thanks to her detailed knowledge of animal biology, she already knew back then that UV light is essential for the animals’ health<\/a>!<\/p>\n\n

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Mary Cynthia Dickerson (Wikipedia<\/a>)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

? Mary Cynthia Dickerson (1866\u20131923)<\/h3>\n\n

Mary Cynthia Dickerson was the first curator of herpetology at the American Museum of Natural History. She established the herpetology department there and described numerous new species, including over twenty new reptile species. <\/p>\n\n

Her work \u2018The Frog Book\u2019<\/em> became a standard work on amphibians \u2013 well-researched, precise and at the same time accessible. Unfortunately, her health suffered from too many tasks as a lecturer and at the museum, and she died at the age of only 57. <\/p>\n\n

But her work lives on. Curious? Thanks to digitisation by the Internet Archive, you can browse through \u2018The Frog Book\u2019 (English original) for free here<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n

And here is a video of a lecture about the researcher, also in English:<\/p>\n\n

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