Giuseppe Seguenza

Giuseppe Seguenza (Messina, June 8, 1833 – Messina, February 3, 1889) was an Italian naturalist and geologist.

Early life

In his early life, Giuseppe Seguenza studied to become a pharmacist under the instruction of his father, who worked as a pharmacist. (Pharmacy Seguenza still exists and is in the vicinity of the birthplace of the doctorate). Giuseppe later studied geological and mineralogical sciences, as those interested him more.

Scientific research

At twenty-three he discovered that all the products of the emanations of Vulcano (one of the Aeolian Islands) contain arsenic compounds. Later he published other scientific works that earned him the attention of scholars in Europe and the silver medal at the Paris Exposition. He was appointed Professor of Natural History at the Maurolico school, then the Technical Institute of Messina, and finally had access to the professorship at the University of Messina.

Following performed other jobs around the metalliferous deposits of Fiumedinisi, land and fossils of the territory of Messina, and Calabria, which were awarded and published at his own expense by the Royal Academy of the Lincei.

In 1868 he introduced the Zanclean stage to define the early part of the Pliocene.[1] A genus of sea snails, known as Seguenzia (family Seguenziidae), is named in his honor.[2]

Family and legacy

Giuseppe Seguenza died at the age of 56 and his son, Luigi Seguenza, continued his work. Luigi is known for having defined the taxonomy for Calliotropis, a genus of sea snails.[3]

One of three Science high schools in Messina, Liceo Scientifico G. Seguenza, is named after Giuseppe. The museum of Nizza di Sicilia is also dedicated to him.

Selected works
  • Disquisizioni paleontologiche intorno ai corallarii fossili delle rocce terziarie del distretto di Messina, 1863.
  • Paleontologia malacologica dei terreni terziarii del distretto di Messina, 1865.
  • Le formazioni Terziarie nella Provincia di Reggio (Calabria), 1877 – Tertiary formations in the Province of Reggio Calabria.
  • Studi geologici e paleontologici sul cretaceo medio dell'Italia meridionale, 1878 – Geological and paleontological studies on the Middle Cretaceous of southern Italy.[4]

References
  1. A Geologic Time Scale 2004 by Felix M. Gradstein, James G. Ogg, Alan G. Smith
  2. Seguenzia Jeffreys, 1876 at GBIF.org
  3. Calliotropis Seguenza, 1903. Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species on 4 February 2021.
  4. Most widely held works by Giuseppe Seguenza at WorldCat Identities
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