James R. Dixon
James Ray Dixon (August 1, 1928, in Houston, Texas – January 10, 2015, in Bryan, Texas) was professor emeritus and curator emeritus of amphibians and reptiles at the Texas Cooperative Wildlife Collection at Texas A&M University.[1][2] He lived in El Campo, Texas, throughout most of his childhood. He published prolifically on the subject of herpetology in his distinguished career, authoring and co-authoring several books, book chapters, and numerous peer reviewed notes and articles, describing two new genera, and many new species, earning him a reputation as one of the most prominent herpetologists of his generation. His main research focus was morphology based systematics of amphibians and reptiles worldwide with emphasis on Texas, US, Mexico, Central America, and South America, although bibliographies, conservation, ecology, life history and zoogeography have all been the subjects of his extensive publications.
Eponyms
A genus of lizards, Dixonius Bauer, Good & Branch, 1997Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters"., leaf-toed geckos from Southeast Asia, was named in his honor as well as several species of reptiles and amphibians, e.g., the white-lipped peeping frog, Eleutherodactylus dixoni J.D. Lynch, 1991Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". (= Eleutherodactylus albolabris Taylor, 1943Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".); Dixon's peeping frog, Eleutherodactylus jamesdixoni Devitt et al, 2023; the gray checkered whiptail, Cnemidophorus dixoni Scudday, 1973Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". (= Aspidoscelis tesselatus (Say, 1823)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".); Dixon's leaf-toed gecko, Phyllodactylus dixoni Rivero-Blanco & Lancini, 1968Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".; and the large-eyed snake, Thamnodynastes dixoni Bailey & R.A. Thomas, 2007Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters"..[3]
Education and early career
Dixon attained his Bachelor of Science from Howard Payne University (1950), and then served in the Korean War (1951–1953). Upon returning from the war, he briefly acted as Curator of Reptiles at the Ross Allen Reptile Institute from 1954 to 1955. He earned his master's degree (1957) and PhD in (1961) from Texas A&M University. He was an associate professor of veterinary medicine at Texas A&M from 1959 until 1961.
Career
From 1961 until 1965 he was an associate professor of wildlife management at New Mexico State University and served as a consultant to the New Mexico state Game and Fisheries department. He was on the faculty of the University of Southern California and from 1965 until 1967 he was Curator of Herpetology at the Life Sciences Division at the Los Angeles County Museum in California. In 1967 he returned to Texas to become a professor at Texas A&M University, teaching wildlife and fisheries science, and curator of the Texas Cooperative Wildlife Collection or TCWC (recently renamed Biodiversity Research and Teaching Collections or BRTC). Over 20 herpetologists earned Ph.D.s studying under him at Texas A&M University. He has also served as president of several herpetological and naturalist societies including The Herpetologist League, Texas Herpetological Society, Texas Academy of Science; Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, Southwestern Association of Naturalists, and on the board of directors of the Texas Systems of Natural Laboratories. He has also served on the faculty of Stephen F. Austin State University and Texas State University.
New genera of reptiles described by James R. Dixon
Listed in chronological order.
- Crenadactylus Dixon & Kluge, 1964Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". – tiny Australian clawless geckos
- Asaccus Dixon & S. Anderson, 1973Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". – Southwest Asian leaf-toed geckos
A partial list of new amphibian and reptile species described by James R. Dixon
Listed in chronological order.
- Eleutherodactylus dilatus (Davis & Dixon, 1955)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". – Guerreran peeping frog
- Eleutherodactylus grandis (Dixon, 1957)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". – great peeping frog
- Coleonyx reticulatus Davis & Dixon, 1958Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". – reticulate banded gecko
- Eleutherodactylus rufescens (Duellman & Dixon, 1959)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". – red peeping frog
- Phyllodactylus duellmani Dixon, 1960Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". – Duellman's pigmy leaf-toed gecko
- Phyllodactylus insularis Dixon, 1960Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". – Belize leaf-toed gecko
- Phyllodactylus paucituberculatus Dixon, 1960Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". – Rio Marquez Valley gecko
- Ambystoma flavipiperatum Dixon, 1963Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". – yellow-peppered salamander
- Phyllodactylus davisi Dixon, 1964Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". – Davis' leaf-toed gecko
- Phyllodactylus nocticolus Dixon, 1964Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". – peninsula leaf-toed gecko
- Eleutherodactylus nivicolimae (Dixon & Webb, 1966)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". – Nevado de Colima chirping frog
- Phyllodactylus angelensis Dixon, 1966Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". – Angel Island leaf-toed gecko
- Phyllodactylus apricus Dixon, 1966Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". – Las Animas Island gecko
- Phyllodactylus bugastrolepis Dixon, 1966Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". – Catalina Island leaf-toed gecko
- Phyllodactylus partidus Dixon, 1966Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". – Isla Partida Norte leaf-toed gecko
- Phyllodactylus santacruzensis Dixon, 1966Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". – Santa Cruz leaf-toed gecko
- Phyllodactylus tinklei Dixon, 1966Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". – Raza Island leaf-toed gecko
- Phyllodactylus palmeus Dixon, 1968Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". – Honduras leaf-toed gecko
- Phyllodactylus angustidigitus Dixon & Huey, 1970Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". – narrow leaf-toed gecko
- Phyllodactylus clinatus Dixon & Huey, 1970Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". – Cerro Illescas gecko
- Phyllodactylus interandinus Dixon & Huey, 1970Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". – Andes leaf-toed gecko
- Phyllodactylus johnwrighti Dixon & Huey, 1970Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". – Rio Huancabamba leaf-toed gecko
- Phyllodactylus kofordi Dixon & Huey, 1970Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". – coastal leaf-toed gecko
- Phyllodactylus pumilus Dixon & Huey, 1970Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". – leaf-toed gecko
- Phyllodactylus sentosus Dixon & Huey, 1970Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". – Lima leaf-toed gecko
- Pseudogonatodes peruvianus Huey & Dixon, 1970Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". – Peru clawed gecko
- Sceloporus exsul Dixon, Ketchersid & Lieb, 1972Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". – Queretaran desert spiny lizard
- Hypsiglena tanzeri Dixon & Lieb, 1972Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". – Tanzer's night snake
- Bachia huallagana Dixon, 1973Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". – Dixon's bachia
- Asaccus griseonotus Dixon & S. Anderson, 1973Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". – gray-marked gecko
- Rhachisaurus brachylepis (Dixon, 1974)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". – Dixon's antosaura
- Anotosaura vanzolinia Dixon, 1974Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". – Vanzolini's antosaura
- Helicops yacu Rossman & Dixon, 1975Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". – Peru keelback
- Bachia guianensis Hoogmoed & Dixon, 1977Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". – Guyana bachia
- Erythrolamprus pyburni (Markezich & Dixon, 1979)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". – Pyburn's tropical forest snake
- Typhlops minuisquamus Dixon & Hendricks, 1979Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". – basin worm snake
- Typhlops paucisquamus Dixon & Hendricks, 1979Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". – Pernambuco worm snake
- Kentropyx vanzoi Gallagher & Dixon, 1980Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". – Gallagher's kentropyx
- Neusticurus medemi Dixon & Lamar, 1981Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". – Medem's neisticurus
- Erythrolamprus andinus (Dixon, 1983)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". – ground snake
- Liotyphlops argaleus Dixon & Kofron, 1984Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". – ground snake
- Erythrolamprus atraventer (Dixon & R.A. Thomas, 1985)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". – Dixon's ground snake
- Erythrolamprus maryellenae (Dixon, 1985)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". – Mary Ellen's ground snake
- Lygophis vanzolinii (Dixon, 1985)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". – Vanzolini's ground snake
- Cnemidophorus gramivagus McCrystal & Dixon, 1987Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". – whiptail lizard
- Erythrolamprus ceii (Dixon, 1991)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". – Cei's ground snake
- Sceloporus chaneyi Liner & Dixon, 1992Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". – Chaney's bunchgrass lizard
- Chironius laurenti Dixon, Wiest & Cei, 1993Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". – Laurent's sipo
- Chironius septentrionalis Dixon, Wiest & Cei, 1993Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". – South American sipo
- Tantilla johnsoni Wilson, Vaughn & Dixon, 1999Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". – Chiapan centipede snake
- Erythrolamprus janaleeae (Dixon, 2000)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". – ground snake
- Erythrolamprus vitti (Dixon, 2000)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". – Vitt's ground snake
- Micrurus tamaulipensis Lavin-Murcio & Dixon, 2004Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". – Sierra de Tamaulipas coral snake
- Lampropeltis webbi Bryson, Dixon & Lazcano, 2005Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". – Webb's kingsnake
- Pristimantis waoranii (McCracken, Forstner & Dixon, 2007)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". – South American rain frog
Nota bene: A binomial authority in parentheses indicates that the species was originally described in a different genus.
References
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- ↑ Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. Template:ISBN. ("Dixon", p. 73).
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External links and further reading
- Altig R (2012). "Academic Lineages of Doctoral Degrees in Herpetology (third edition)". pp. 471–564. In: Adler K (2012). Contributions to the History of Herpetology. Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles. 564 pp.
- Bailey JR, Thomas RA (2007). "A revision of the South American snake genus Thamnodynastes Wagler, 1830 (Serpentes, Colubridae, Tachymenini). II. Three new species from northern South America, with further descriptions of Thamnodynastes gambotensis Pérez-Santos and Moreno and Thamnodynastes ramonriveroi Manzanilla & Sánchez". Memoria de la Fundación La Salle de Ciencias Naturales 166: 7-27.
- Bauer AM, Good DA, Branch WR (1997). "The taxonomy of the Southern African leaf-toed geckos (Squamata: Gekkonidae), with a review of Old World "Phyllodactylus" and the description of five new genera". Proc. California Acad. Sci. 49 (14): 447–497.
- Beltz, Ellin (2006). Biographies of People Honored in the Herpetological Nomenclature in North America
- Hibbitts, Toby J.; Vaughan, R. Kathryn; Sites, Jack W. Jr; Fitzgerald, Lee A. (2018). "James Ray Dixon (1928–2015)". Herpetological Review 49 (1): 168–174.
- Lynch JD (1991). "Three replacement names for preoccupied names in the genus Eleutherodactylus(Amphibia: Leptodactylidae)". Copeia 1991: 1138–1139.
- Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
- Rivero-Blanco C, Lancini AR (1968) (1967). "Phyllodactylus dixoni: una nueva especie de lagarto (Sauria: Gekkoninae) de Venezuela ". Memoria de la Sociedad de Ciencias Naturales La Salle 78: 168−175. (in Spanish).
- Scudday JF (1973). "A New Species of Lizard of the Cnemidophorus tesselatus Group from Texas". Journal of Herpetology 7 (4): 363–371.
- Smith HM, Smith RB (1973). Synopsis of the Herpetofauna of Mexico, Vol. II: Analysis of the Literature Exclusive of the Mexican Axolotl. Augusta, West Virginia: Eric Lundberg. xxxiii + 367 pp.
- Texas Cooperative Wildlife Collection