Gerald Stokell (20 June 1890 – 10 July 1972) was a New Zealand amateur ichthyologist. [1]
Early life
Stokell was born at Prebbleton, near Christchurch, New Zealand, on 20 June 1890 to Edmund Stokell and Jane ( Née Pasche). He lived there for his whole life. He attended Broadfields Primary School, and was a keen trout angler.
Interest in freshwater fish
A keen angler, Stokell wrote a series of studies on trout in Lake Ellismere. [2] Through this interest in angling, he also came across native fish species, but was unable to identify them due to a lack of published information. [2] [3] From 1938 onwards he began publishing papers on them, describing species and detangling the many names that had accrued. [2] He described 10 species that are still accepted, although others turned out to be junior synonyms. [2]
Species described
- Galaxias paucispondylus (1938) alpine galaxias
- Gobiomorphus breviceps (1939) upland bully
- Galaxias prognathus (1940) longjaw galaxias
- Neochanna diversus (1949) Black mudfish
- Galaxias vulgaris (1949) Canterbury galaxias
- Galaxias anomalus (1959) Central Otago roundhead galaxias
- Gobiomorphus hubbsi (1959) bluegill bully
- Galaxias divergens (1959) dwarf galaxias
- Gobiomorphus alpinus (1962) Tarndale bully
In 1941 Stokell's smelt, Stokellia anisodon, was named after him.
Memberships
- Council of the North Canterbury Acclimatisation Society
- Staff of the Canterbury Museum
- Secretary of the Canterbury branch of the Royal Society of New Zealand
A direct man with forceful opinions, he left the Acclimatisation Society, stating:
Their sole qualification for safe-guarding the welfare of wild creatures [is] the possession of a desire to kill them.
Death
Stokell died 10 July 1972 in Christchurch.
Works
- Freshwater fishes of New Zealand, 1955
- Freshwater and diadromous fishes of New Zealand, 1972
See also
References
Notes
- ^ Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand p 324
- ^ a b c d McDowall, R.M. (2010). New Zealand Freshwater Fishes: An Historical and Ecological Biogeography. Springer. p. 11. ISBN 978-90-481-9270-0.
- ^ McDowall, R.M. "Stokell, Gerald". Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
Bibliography
- McDowall, R. M. "Stokell, Gerald 1890 - 1972". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 4 April 2011.
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| Other | |
Gerald Stokell (20 June 1890 – 10 July 1972) was a New Zealand amateur ichthyologist. [1]
Early life
Stokell was born at Prebbleton, near Christchurch, New Zealand, on 20 June 1890 to Edmund Stokell and Jane ( Née Pasche). He lived there for his whole life. He attended Broadfields Primary School, and was a keen trout angler.
Interest in freshwater fish
A keen angler, Stokell wrote a series of studies on trout in Lake Ellismere. [2] Through this interest in angling, he also came across native fish species, but was unable to identify them due to a lack of published information. [2] [3] From 1938 onwards he began publishing papers on them, describing species and detangling the many names that had accrued. [2] He described 10 species that are still accepted, although others turned out to be junior synonyms. [2]
Species described
- Galaxias paucispondylus (1938) alpine galaxias
- Gobiomorphus breviceps (1939) upland bully
- Galaxias prognathus (1940) longjaw galaxias
- Neochanna diversus (1949) Black mudfish
- Galaxias vulgaris (1949) Canterbury galaxias
- Galaxias anomalus (1959) Central Otago roundhead galaxias
- Gobiomorphus hubbsi (1959) bluegill bully
- Galaxias divergens (1959) dwarf galaxias
- Gobiomorphus alpinus (1962) Tarndale bully
In 1941 Stokell's smelt, Stokellia anisodon, was named after him.
Memberships
- Council of the North Canterbury Acclimatisation Society
- Staff of the Canterbury Museum
- Secretary of the Canterbury branch of the Royal Society of New Zealand
A direct man with forceful opinions, he left the Acclimatisation Society, stating:
Their sole qualification for safe-guarding the welfare of wild creatures [is] the possession of a desire to kill them.
Death
Stokell died 10 July 1972 in Christchurch.
Works
- Freshwater fishes of New Zealand, 1955
- Freshwater and diadromous fishes of New Zealand, 1972
See also
References
Notes
- ^ Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand p 324
- ^ a b c d McDowall, R.M. (2010). New Zealand Freshwater Fishes: An Historical and Ecological Biogeography. Springer. p. 11. ISBN 978-90-481-9270-0.
- ^ McDowall, R.M. "Stokell, Gerald". Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
Bibliography
- McDowall, R. M. "Stokell, Gerald 1890 - 1972". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 4 April 2011.
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Academics | |
| Other | |