Système des Animaux sans Vertèbres Ou Tableau Général des Classes, des Ordres et des Genres de ces Animaux

About this book

Language: French

A reprint of a classical work in the Cambridge Library Collection.

The great French zoologist Lamarck (1744-1829) was best known for his theory of evolution, called 'soft inheritance', whereby organisms pass down acquired characteristics to their offspring. Originally a soldier, Lamarck later studied medicine and biology, becoming particularly interested in botany; his distinguished career included admission to the French Academy of Sciences (1779), and appointments as Royal Botanist (1781) and as professor of zoology at the Musee Nationale d'Histoire Naturelle in 1793. Acknowledged as the premier authority on invertebrate zoology, he is credited with coining the term 'invertebrates'. Système des Animaux sans Vertèbres, published in Paris in 1801, expands on Linnaeus' classification system, introducing seven sub-categories, creating finer divisions along lines of the species' inherent physical traits, and describing their natural characteristics and organisation. Also included is Lamarck's museum lecture, delivered in 1800, in which he first set out his ideas on evolution.

Contents

- Avertissement sur l'objet et le plan et cet ouvrage
- Discours d'ouverture
- Tableau general des divisions et des genres des animaux sans vertebres
- Classe Premiere. Les mollusques
- Classe Seconde. Les crustaces
- Class Troisieme. Les arachnides
- Classe Quatrieme. Les insectes
- Classe Cinquieme. Les vers
- Classe Sixieme. Les radiaires
- Classe Septieme. Les polypes
- Addition
- Sur les fossiles
- Table

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