Wilfred T. Neill (1922–2001) was an Americanherpetologist and author. His name survives in the scientific names of the central Florida crowned snake, Tantilla relicta neilli, and a Central American snail-eating snake, Sibon sanniolus neilli.[1]
After the war, Neill taught Biology and Zoology in Augusta, Georgia, at Richmond Academy and Augusta Junior College. In 1949, he joined E. Ross Allen's Reptile Institute in Silver Springs, Florida, as Research Director.
Neill was the first to describe the Everglades rat snake (Elaphe obsoleta rossalleni, a subspecies of Elaphe obsoleta, 1949), the Gulf hammock dwarf siren (Pseudobranchus striatus lustricolus, a subspecies of Pseudobranchus striatus, 1951), the one-toed amphiuma (Amphiuma pholeter, 1964), and the southern Florida rainbow snake (Farancia erytrogramma seminola, a subspecies of Farancia erytrogramma, 1964).
In 1966, herpetologist Sam Rountree Telford, Jr. honored Neill by giving his name to a newly described subspecies of the Florida crowned snake (Tantilla relicta), naming it Tantilla relicta neilli. Similarly, a subspecies of pygmy snail-eating snake, Sibon sanniolus neilli, was named in his honor by Henderson, Hoevers, and Wilson in 1977.[1]
In 1956 Neill's The Story of Florida's Seminole Indians was published by Great Outdoors Publishing of St Petersburg, Florida. The book and photos tell the history and culture of these people and includes two excellent drawings by the author.
Neill published an influential work on crocodile biology in 1971: The Last of the Ruling Reptiles: Alligators, Crocodiles, and their Kin.
Illness and deathedit
Neill's health suffered a decline after a nearly fatal snakebite in 1978. It was the forty-first time he had been bitten by a venomous snake. He died of pneumonia on February 19, 2001, in Lakeland, Florida.
Referencesedit
^ abcBeolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN978-1-4214-0135-5. ("Neill", p. 188).
External linksedit
Florida Museum of Natural History Crocodile Specialist Group newsletter (vol. 20, no. 1, 2001)
Obituary: Center for North American Herpetology
January 01, 1970
wilfred, neill, 1922, 2001, american, herpetologist, author, name, survives, scientific, names, central, florida, crowned, snake, tantilla, relicta, neilli, central, american, snail, eating, snake, sibon, sanniolus, neilli, contents, biography, research, illne. Wilfred T Neill 1922 2001 was an American herpetologist and author His name survives in the scientific names of the central Florida crowned snake Tantilla relicta neilli and a Central American snail eating snake Sibon sanniolus neilli 1 Contents 1 Biography 1 1 Research 1 2 Illness and death 2 References 3 External linksBiography editWilfred Trammell Neill Jr 1 was born in Augusta Georgia on January 12 1922 He graduated at the age of 19 with a B S from the University of Georgia He served in the Army Air Force in the South Pacific during World War II Research edit After the war Neill taught Biology and Zoology in Augusta Georgia at Richmond Academy and Augusta Junior College In 1949 he joined E Ross Allen s Reptile Institute in Silver Springs Florida as Research Director Neill was the first to describe the Everglades rat snake Elaphe obsoleta rossalleni a subspecies of Elaphe obsoleta 1949 the Gulf hammock dwarf siren Pseudobranchus striatus lustricolus a subspecies of Pseudobranchus striatus 1951 the one toed amphiuma Amphiuma pholeter 1964 and the southern Florida rainbow snake Farancia erytrogramma seminola a subspecies of Farancia erytrogramma 1964 In 1966 herpetologist Sam Rountree Telford Jr honored Neill by giving his name to a newly described subspecies of the Florida crowned snake Tantilla relicta naming it Tantilla relicta neilli Similarly a subspecies of pygmy snail eating snake Sibon sanniolus neilli was named in his honor by Henderson Hoevers and Wilson in 1977 1 In 1956 Neill s The Story of Florida s Seminole Indians was published by Great Outdoors Publishing of St Petersburg Florida The book and photos tell the history and culture of these people and includes two excellent drawings by the author Neill published an influential work on crocodile biology in 1971 The Last of the Ruling Reptiles Alligators Crocodiles and their Kin Illness and death edit Neill s health suffered a decline after a nearly fatal snakebite in 1978 It was the forty first time he had been bitten by a venomous snake He died of pneumonia on February 19 2001 in Lakeland Florida References edit a b c Beolens Bo Watkins Michael Grayson Michael 2011 The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles Baltimore Johns Hopkins University Press xiii 296 pp ISBN 978 1 4214 0135 5 Neill p 188 External links editFlorida Museum of Natural History Crocodile Specialist Group newsletter vol 20 no 1 2001 Obituary Center for North American Herpetology Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Wilfred T Neill amp oldid 1063153769, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
