Anatoli Petrovich Bogdanov (; 13 October 1834 – 28 March 1896) was a Russian

zoologist Zoology ( , ) is the scientific study of animals. Its studies include the structure, embryology, classification, habits, and distribution of all animals, both living and extinct, and how they interact with their ecosystems. Zoology is one ...

and a pioneer of physical

anthropology Anthropology is the scientific study of humanity, concerned with human behavior, human biology, cultures, society, societies, and linguistics, in both the present and past, including archaic humans. Social anthropology studies patterns of behav ...

. He served as a professor of zoology at Moscow University. He was influential in the establishment of

Moscow zoo The Moscow Zoo or Moskovsky Zoopark () is a zoo, the largest in Russia. History The Moscow Zoo was founded in 1864 by professor-biologists, K.F. Rulje, S.A. Usov and A.P. Bogdanov, from the Moscow State University. In 1919, the zoo was natio ...

Life and work

Bogdanov was born in Nizhnedevitsk, Voronezh Governorate. In 1855 he graduated from the department of

natural sciences Natural science or empirical science is one of the branches of science concerned with the description, understanding and prediction of natural phenomena, based on empirical evidence from observation and experimentation. Mechanisms such as peer ...

at the University of Moscow, afterwards furthering his education at several natural history museums throughout Europe. During this time period he also attended lectures from prominent zoologists that included

Isidore Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire Isidore Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire (; 16 December 1805 – 10 November 1861) was a French zoologist and an authority on deviation from normal structure. In 1854 he coined the term ''éthologie'' (ethology). Biography He was born in Paris, the ...

(1805–1861) and Émile Blanchard (1819–1900). He was particularly impressed by the ethnological section at the

great exhibition of 1851 Great may refer to: Descriptions or measurements * Great, a relative measurement in physical space, see Size * Greatness, being divine, majestic, superior, majestic, or transcendent People * List of people known as "the Great" * Artel Great (bo ...

in London. In 1858 he returned to

Moscow Moscow is the Capital city, capital and List of cities and towns in Russia by population, largest city of Russia, standing on the Moskva (river), Moskva River in Central Russia. It has a population estimated at over 13 million residents with ...

, where he performed post-graduate work under Karl Rouillier on the colours of bird feathers. His doctoral work was in anthropology. He helped establish a department of zoology and was involved in animal introductions through the acclimatization society. In 1861 he became head of the department of zoology, later becoming director of the zoological museum at Moscow (1863), a position he maintained for the rest of his life. Bogdanov was known for his organizational skills, and was a major factor in the founding of the zoological gardens in Moscow, as well as the establishment of a number of scientific societies, such as the Society of Devotees of Natural Science, Anthropology, and Ethnography (). This society was founded in 1863 with the goal of spreading scientific knowledge to the Russian people, and creating an atmosphere where professionals and amateurs could work together in their love of natural sciences. Through this institution, Bogdanov was able to raise money and resources to create an All-Russian

Ethnographic Ethnography is a branch of anthropology and the systematic study of individual cultures. It explores cultural phenomena from the point of view of the subject of the study. Ethnography is also a type of social research that involves examining ...

Exhibition (), which made its debut in April 1867. This exhibition consisted of

diorama A diorama is a replica of a scene, typically a three-dimensional model either full-sized or miniature. Sometimes dioramas are enclosed in a glass showcase at a museum. Dioramas are often built by hobbyists as part of related hobbies like mili ...

s with hundreds of

mannequin A mannequin (sometimes spelled as manikin and also called a dummy, lay figure, or dress form) is a doll, often articulated, used by artists, tailors, dressmakers, window dressers and others, especially to display or fit clothing and show off dif ...

s representing 60 ethnic groups that populated the Russian Empire. Bogdanov is also credited for translating several German and French textbooks on zoology and

entomology Entomology (from Ancient Greek ἔντομον (''éntomon''), meaning "insect", and -logy from λόγος (''lógos''), meaning "study") is the branch of zoology that focuses on insects. Those who study entomology are known as entomologists. In ...

into Russian. He died in Moscow and was succeeded in the zoology department by Alexander Tikhomirov.

References

Bibliography

External links

Essay on the 1867 All-Russian Ethnographic Exhibition

Черепа из старых московских кладбищ, находящиеся в Краниологическом собрании Общества любителей естествознания
("Skulls from old Moscow cemeteries", 1879) {{DEFAULTSORT:Bogdanov, Anatoli Petrovich 1834 births 1896 deaths People from Nizhnedevitsky Uyezd Zoologists from the Russian Empire Anthropologists from the Russian Empire Zoo directors Biologists from the Russian Empire Imperial Moscow University alumni Academic staff of Imperial Moscow University Corresponding members of the Saint Petersburg Academy of Sciences Privy Councillor (Russian Empire)