author
Karl Kraepelin
1848–1915
Best known for his work on scorpions and other arthropods, this German naturalist helped shape late-19th-century zoology through careful classification and museum work. His landmark study Scorpiones und Pedipalpi became an important reference for the taxonomy of scorpions.
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About the author
Born in Neustrelitz on December 14, 1848, he was a German naturalist who focused on scorpions, centipedes, spiders, and solifuges. He studied natural sciences in Göttingen and Leipzig, earned his doctorate in 1873, and went on to teach mathematics and science before taking on a larger role in museum work.
From 1889 to 1914, he served as director of the Natural History Museum in Hamburg. Alongside his museum leadership, he carried out detailed zoological research, especially on arachnids and myriapods, and became known for the precision of his taxonomic studies.
His best-known publication, Scorpiones und Pedipalpi (1899), was an extensive survey of scorpions and helped secure his reputation as a leading specialist in the field. He died in Hamburg on June 28, 1915.