Long before every animal at the zoo had a scientific name, one Swedish naturalist set out to make sense of the natural world. Carl Linnaeus, often called the Father of Modern Taxonomy, revolutionized the study of plants and animals by developing the system of scientific classification and naming system that scientists still use today.
This talk explores Linnaeus’s life, and the naming system he created to organize the living world. But Linnaeus’s legacy is not confined to textbooks and laboratories; it can be found all around us, including at our local zoos! From the alpaca, bald eagle, and giant anteater to the puma, caracal, and golden lion tamarin, Linnaeus named many of the species visitors encounter at the zoo.
Join us to discover the Swedish scientist whose work gave every animal a name and see how he continues to shape the modern zoo almost 250 years after his death.
This free virtual program is presented by ASHM Curator Brett Peters. Register to receive the Zoom link.