Otto zur Strassen

Otto Karl Ladislaus zur Strassen (9 May 1869 in Berlin – 21 April 1961 in Oberstedten) was a German zoologist. An advocate of Darwinism, his primary focus was concerned with biological morphology and developmental mechanics.^[1]

He studied natural sciences at the Universities of Leipzig and Freiburg, obtaining his doctorate in 1892 at Leipzig with a dissertation on Bradynema rigidum. After graduation, he furthered his education in Naples and in Russia. In 1901 he became an associate professor of specialized zoology at Leipzig, later working as a full professor of zoology at the University of Frankfurt am Main (1914–1935). In 1922/23 he served as university rector.^[2]

In 1898/99 he took part in the first German Tiefsee-Expedition (deep-sea expedition) aboard the Valdivia. From 1909 to 1934, he was director of the Senckenberg Museum in Frankfurt am Main.^[2]

Written works

Zur Strassen was editor of "Brehms Tierleben" (completely revised 4th edition, 1911–1918). The following are a list of some of his noteworthy written efforts.

• Embryonalentwicklung der Ascaris megalocephala, 1896 – Embryonic development of Ascaris megalocephala.
• Ueber die Mechanik der Epithelbildung, 1903 – On the mechanics of epithelialization.
• Anthraconema, eine neue Gattung freilebender Nematoden, 1904 – Anthraconema, a new genus of free-living nematode.
• Die Geschichte der Riesen von Ascaris megalocephala als Grundlage zu einer Entwicklungsmechanik dieser Spezies, Stuttgart 1906 – History on the gigantism of Ascaris megalocephala as a basis for developmental mechanics of the species.
• "Animal behavior and development", (published in English, 1909).^[3]
• Plastisch wirkende Augenflecke und die "Geschlechtliche Zuchtwahl", Jena 1935 – Plastic-looking eye spots and "sexual selection".
• Neue Beiträge zur Entwicklungsmechanik der Nematoden, Stuttgart 1959 – New contributions towards the developmental mechanics of nematodes.^[2]

References