9/14/10Petrus Artedi – The Father of IchthyologyLinneaus’ efforts (500 spp. described) on fish classification based almost entirely on the work of Peter Artedi. Ichthyologia sive Opera omnia de piscibus. Artedi taught us how to describe fish species and layed the foundation of their higher classification (Orders).Artedi died just before Linnaeus’s own status took off. Some implement Linnaeus in the mysterious death of Artedi. Artedi drowned at the age of 30 (same age as your professor!) drunk in a canal in Amsterdam. Here lies poor Artedi, in foreign land pyx'd Not a man nor a fish, but something betwixt, Not a man, for his life among fishes he past, Not a fish, for he perished by water at last.