Person PX764 Wolterstorff; Willy Georg (1864-1943); Zoologist Wolterstorff Willy Georg 1864-1943 Zoologist Male

Magdeburg, Germany

As a child he lost his hearing due to disease, thus finding it necessary to lip-read from an early age. He learned natural sciences through private lessons. After receiving vocational training as a bookbinder, he studied geology from 1884 under Karl von Fritsch (1838-1906) at the University of Halle. At Halle he also received training as a curator. In 1889 he became an assistant to Konrad Oebbeke (1853-1932) at the mineralogical-geological institute at Erlangen, and two years later was appointed curator at the Museum für Naturkunde und Vorgeschichte (museum of natural history and prehistory) in Magdeburg. After his retirement in 1929, he remained at the Magdeburg museum, performing important functions as a volunteer. Wolterstorff is known for scientific research of "lower vertebrates", in particular investigations involving the systematics, reproduction and behavior of members of the family Salamandridae. He was the author of nearly 300 scientific papers, and from 1909 was editor of Blätter für Aquarien- und Terrarienkunde. He is credited with creation of the "Tradescantia-Glas", an enclosure-method (Hälterungsmethode) for maintenance and breeding of newts. Tring correspondent Yes Idealist Import 4namepers.txt 28/02/2004 NHM\laurb5 22/05/2019 44ac4048-7da1-4cff-aa90-45e06c80d097