Johann Jakob Heckel | |
|---|---|
 Johann Jakob Heckel | |
| Born | 23 January 1790 |
| Died | 12 March 1857 (aged 67) |
| Nationality | Austrian |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | |
| Institutions | Naturhistorisches Museum |
Johann Jakob Heckel (23 January 1790 – 1 March 1857) was an Austrian taxidermist, zoologist, and ichthyologist from Mannheim in the Electoral Palatinate.
Though not a formally trained biologist, he worked his way up through the ranks to eventually become the director of the Fish Collection at the Naturhistorisches Museum in Vienna. For the most part, he was not a traveler or explorer like many of the scientists of the time, he remained in Vienna, where he studied and catalogued specimens sent to him from the field. Among those who brought specimens to him were Karl Alexander Hügel, Joseph Russegger and Theodor Kotschy — involving collection activities in Kashmir, the Middle East and northeastern Africa that greatly enriched the Vienna museum. Fish were his specialty and he worked with many of the greatest ichthyologists of his time including Cuvier, Valenciennes, Bonaparte, Müller, and Troschel. [1] [2]
In the fields of systematics and taxonomy, he made significant contributions in his investigations of cyprinids. He wrote more than 60 works, the most notable of which is "The freshwater fishes of the Austrian Danubian monarchy". He worked on it for more than 24 years but died before its final publication, most likely from bacteria he was exposed to while getting a skeleton from a dead sperm whale. [1]
Fish named after him include:
The threadfin acara, also known as Heckel's thread-finned acara, is a South American species of cichlid fish. It is the only member of the genus Acarichthys and is native to rivers in the Amazon and Essequibo basins in tropical South America, and has become established in southeastern Asia. It is sometimes found in the aquarium trade.
Uaru fernandezyepezi is a species of cichlid native to South America where it is found in rivers of the Orinoco basin. This species can reach a length of 24 centimetres (9.4 in) TL. It is also found in the aquarium trade.
Sven Oscar Kullander is a Swedish biologist specialised in ichthyology. He primarily researches cichlids – notably the genus Apistogramma and the Cichlasoma-complex – and other tropical fresh water fishes. He also has been working with endangered fish species in Sweden.
Astatheros macracanthus, the blackthroat cichlid, is a species of cichlid freshwater fish from southern Mexico and northern Central America. It is the only recognized species in the genus Astatheros, but it was originally described in Heros, then for a long period included in Cichlasoma and until 2008 it was typically included in Amphilophus. Several other species have also been placed in Astatheros in the past, but they are now generally placed in Cribroheros. This blackthroat cichlid is omnivorous and reaches up to 25 cm (10 in) in standard length.
Apistogramma regani is a species of South American dwarf cichlid. It is a freshwater fish found in the lower Rio Negro basin in the Amazon. The specific name is in honour of the British ichthyologist Charles Tate Regan.
Crenicichla geayi, also known as the half-banded pike cichlid, is a species of cichlid native to South America. It is found in the Orinoco River basin and in the Portuguesa River basin. This species reaches a length of 18.4 cm (7.2 in).
Crenicichla heckeli is a species of cichlid native to South America. It is found in the Amazon River basin and in the Trombetas River close to Cachoeira Porteira, Brazil. This species reaches a length of 5.2 cm (2.0 in).
Crenicichla isbrueckeri is a species of cichlid native to South America. It is found in the Amazon River basin and in the Aripuanã River basin. This species reaches a length of 9.5 cm (3.7 in).
Crenicichla jegui is a species of cichlid native to South America. It is found in the Amazon River basin and in the lower Tocantins River basin. This species reaches a length of 20 cm (7.9 in).
Crenicichla menezesi is a species of cichlid native to South America. It is found in the Rivers of Maranão, Brazil. This species reaches a length of 18.9 cm (7.4 in).
Crenicichla pellegrini is a species of cichlid native to South America. It is found in the Amazon River basin and in the Aripuanã River basin. This species reaches a length of 15.7 cm (6.2 in).
Crenicichla regani is a species of cichlid native to South America. It is found in the Amazon River basin and in the Trombetas River at Cachoeira Porteira, Brazil. This species reaches a length of 7.9 cm (3.1 in).
Crenicichla stocki is a species of cichlid native to South America. It is found in the Amazon River basin and in the Tocantins River basin. This species reaches a length of 25 cm (9.8 in).
Crenicichla sveni is a species of cichlid native to South America. It is found in the Orinoco River basin, in the Llanos of Venezuela and Colombia.. This species reaches a length of 25 cm (9.8 in).
Crenicichla gillmorlisi is a species of cichlid native to South America. It is found in the Río Acaray drainage in Paraguay. This species reaches a length of 17.4 cm (6.9 in).
Crenicichla mandelburgeri is a species of cichlid native to South America. It is found in the río Paraná basin. This species reaches a length of 20.8 cm (8.2 in).
Crenicichla rosemariae is a species of cichlid native to South America. It is found in the upper Xingu River drainage; Suiá-Missu River, Amazon River basin in Brazil. This species reaches a length of 24.4 cm (9.6 in).
Crenicichla monicae is a species of cichlid native to South America. It is found in the lower Rio Uaupés and lower Rio Içana, tributaries of the upper Rio Negro in Brazil. This species reaches a length of 27.3 cm (10.7 in).
Crenicichla haroldoi is a species of cichlid native to South America. It is found swimming in the upper Paraná River basin, Brazil. This species reaches a length of 9.8 cm (3.9 in).
Crenicichla ploegi is a species of cichlid native to South America. It is found swimming in Brazil. This species reaches a length of 28 cm (11 in).
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