Johann Jakob von Kaup[1] (10 April 1803 – 4 July 1873) was a German naturalist. A proponent ofnatural philosophy, he believed in an innate mathematical order in nature and he attempted biological classifications based on theQuinarian system. Kaup is also known for having coined popular prehistoric taxa likePterosauria,Machairodus,Deinotherium,Dorcatherium, andChalicotherium.
He was born atDarmstadt. After studying atGöttingen andHeidelberg he spent two years atLeiden, where his attention was specially devoted to theamphibians and fishes. He then returned to Darmstadt as an assistant in the grand ducal museum, of which in 1840 he became inspector. In 1829 he publishedSkizze zur Entwickelungsgeschichte der europäischen Thierwelt, in which he regarded the animal world as developed from lower to higher forms, from the amphibians through the birds to the beasts of prey; but subsequently he repudiated this work as a youthful indiscretion, and on the publication ofDarwin'sOrigin of Species he declared himself against its doctrines. The extensivefossil deposits in the neighbourhood of Darmstadt gave him ample opportunities forpalaeontological inquiries, and he gained considerable reputation by hisBeiträge zur näheren Kenntniss der urweltlichen Säugethiere (1855–1862). He also wroteClassification der Säugethiere und Vögel (1844), and, withHeinrich Georg Bronn,Die Gavial-artigen Reste aus dem Lias (1842–1844).[2] He was elected as a member of theAmerican Philosophical Society in 1862.[3]
He died at Darmstadt.[2]
A particularly important incident in the history of paleontology involves Kaup. In 1854 he bought the American mastodon found in 1799 inOrange County, New York. This is the mastodon immortalized inCharles Willson Peale's painting of the 1801 excavation (painting executed between 1806 and 1808). This mastodon was on display for many years in Peale'sPhiladelphia Museum and is currently on display inHessisches Landesmuseum Darmstadt, Germany[4] This mastodon is the first complete example found in the United States, and may be only the second fossil animal ever mounted for display.[citation needed]
This article incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Kaup, Johann Jakob".Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 15 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 700.
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