Robert Mertens

Robert Mertens ( born December 1, 1894 in Saint Petersburg, † August 23, 1975 in Frankfurt am Main ) was a German biologist and director of the Research Institute and Natural History Museum Senckenberg in Frankfurt am Main.

As a leading herpetologist, he described many new species of reptiles and made Senckenberg an important collection location of the international Herpetology.

Robert Mertens was over 20 years ( 1954-1975 ) as the authority for the genus Phelsuma ( Day geckos ), in which he described no less than 20 new species and subspecies. Important are his research on lizards family Varanidae.

The local history reptiles customer has benefited greatly from Mertens work. His work " Reptiles and Amphibians " of the Rhine -Main area can still be used as a reliable source of herpetological excursions in the wider area around Frankfurt.

He also founded the Mertenssche mimicry.

Robert Mertens died at the age of 80 years at the bite of a held by him in Frankfurt Cape Bird Snake ( Thelotornis capensis ) - a snake, there is no antidote against the poison today. He died 18 days after he had been bitten.