Koen Fraussen (born 1965)[1] is a Belgian amateur malacologist, shell collector, and expert in the Buccinoidea.

Koen Fraussen
Born1965
Scientific career
FieldsMalacology
InstitutionsMuséum National d'Histoire Naturelle
Author abbrev. (zoology)Fraussen

Biography

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Fraussen was born in Brussels. His interest in the ocean started during family holidays on the Adriatic Sea.[2] He began collecting shells at the age of 2.[3]

Fraussen is a part-time bus driver who also studies whelk shells for the Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle. In exchange for his curatorial work, Fraussen is given a paratype of each specimen he identifies.[3] Philippe Bouchet considers Fraussen "the world expert" on the Buccinidae.[4]

In 2010, Fraussen and biologist Stefaan Wera released the book Schelpen aan de Belgische kust.[5] With the Muséum National, Fraussen published 20 new species of the Photinae (subfamily of the Nassariidae) as of 2017.[6]

Legacy

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Fraussen is honored by several eponyms, including Buccinum frausseni, Conus frausseni, Eccliseogyra frausseni, Engina frausseni, Fusinus frausseni, Inquisitor frausseni, Metaal frausseni, Pristiterebra frausseni, and Tomlinia frausseni.[7]

References

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  1. ^ "Fraussen, Koen, 1965-..." viaf.org. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
  2. ^ van Zon, Hans (9 April 2023). "Wat het strand ons kan leren: van simpele zeepier tot oeroude fossiel". Algemeen Dagblad. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  3. ^ a b Faugère, Elsa (15 December 2012). "Échanges de coquillages entre amateurs et professionnels: L'économie morale des sciences naturalistes". Techniques & Culture (59): 206–223. doi:10.4000/tc.6652. Retrieved 5 February 2023.
  4. ^ Rivera, Luisa. "Species Sleuths: Amateur Naturalists Spark a New Wave of Discovery". Yale E360. Retrieved 5 February 2023.
  5. ^ Houart, Roland (20 October 2010). "Schelpen aan de Belgische kust" (PDF). Novopex. 11 (1). Belgian Malacological Society: 93–94. ISSN 1375-7474. Retrieved 5 February 2023.
  6. ^ "Mêler biologie moléculaire et morphologie pour en découdre avec la systématique des Photinae…". Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle (in French). 26 August 2017. Retrieved 5 February 2023.
  7. ^ "Koen Fraussen: Shellers From the Past and the Present". Conchology. Retrieved 5 February 2023.