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Charles Darwin, ichthyology and the species concept
Author(s) -
Pauly Daniel
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
fish and fisheries
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.747
H-Index - 109
eISSN - 1467-2979
pISSN - 1467-2960
DOI - 10.1046/j.1467-2979.2002.00091.x
Subject(s) - darwin (adl) , ichthyology , charles darwin , origin of species , beagle , fish <actinopterygii> , reading (process) , zoology , genealogy , history , biology , philosophy , evolutionary biology , ecology , fishery , computer science , darwinism , linguistics , software engineering
This contribution presents the ichthyological writings of Charles Darwin (1809–1882), by periods, viz. ‘the years prior to the voyage of the Beagle ’ (about 1825–1830); ‘the Beagle years’ (1831–1836); ‘from the return of the Beagle to the Foundation of Origin ’ (1837–1844); and ‘the mature Darwin’ (1845–1882). Overall, this material covers 45 000 words penned by Darwin, but represents only 0.7% of his lifetime output of about 6 million words, indicating a limited interest in fish. However, this sample, briefly described here, but analysed in great detail in a forthcoming volume on Darwin's Fishes , allows drawing inferences on Darwin's working style that were missed in conventional biographies. On the other hand, it is suggested, based on a close reading of the 6 th (1876) edition of Origin , that Darwin was not particularly interested in the theoretical issues now associated with the species concept, nor indeed with other levels of the Linnean system.