C. R. Narayan Rao
Encyclopedia
C.R. Narayan Rao was an India
n zoologist and herpetologist.
Born in Coimbatore
, he studied in Bellary
and at the Madras Christian College
under Professor Henderson who headed the department of zoology. After obtaining his graduate and post-graduate degrees and a gold medal for proficiency, he obtained a diploma in teaching. He taught in Coimbatore and Ernakulam
, before moving to the Central College in Bangalore
where he organized the department of zoology and was Head until his retirement in 1937.
His role in science and research is considered significant since he was involved in the integration of research into university education. Along with Sir Martin Onslow Forster
and other Indian scientists he helped found the journal Current Science in July 1932 along the lines of the journal Nature
. He was the first editor. In one of his first editorials, he pleaded for the coordination of scientific activities in India, a plea that helped create the Indian Academy of Sciences
.
He specialized on frogs and their taxonomy. He named and described several frog species, and his work on the Archenteric and Segmentation Cavities of frogs are regarded as important contributions to our understanding of amphibian development. His account of the ovarian ovum of the Slender Loris
was presented to the Royal Society
by J. P. Hill in the latter's Croonian Lecture
.
Professor Rao presided over the zoology section of the Indian Science Congress in 1938 at Lahore
.
He described the new Microhylid
genus Ramanella
.
He died in 1960 in Bangalore.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n zoologist and herpetologist.
Born in Coimbatore
Coimbatore
Coimbatore , also known as Kovai , is the second largest city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is a major commercial centre in Tamil Nadu and is known as the "Manchester of South India"....
, he studied in Bellary
Bellary
Bellary is a historic city in Bellary District in Karnataka state, India.-Origins of the city's name:There are several legends about how Bellary got its name....
and at the Madras Christian College
Madras Christian College
The Madras Christian College, commonly known as MCC, is a liberal arts and sciences college in Madras , India. Founded in 1837, MCC is one of Asia's oldest extant colleges. Currently, the college is affiliated to the University of Madras, but functions as an autonomous institution from its campus...
under Professor Henderson who headed the department of zoology. After obtaining his graduate and post-graduate degrees and a gold medal for proficiency, he obtained a diploma in teaching. He taught in Coimbatore and Ernakulam
Ernakulam
Ernakulam refers to the downtown area or the western part of the mainland of Kochi city in Kerala, India. The city is the most urban part of Kochi and has lent its name to the Ernakulam district. Ernakulam is called the commercial capital of the state of Kerala and is a main nerve of business in...
, before moving to the Central College in Bangalore
Bangalore
Bengaluru , formerly called Bengaluru is the capital of the Indian state of Karnataka. Bangalore is nicknamed the Garden City and was once called a pensioner's paradise. Located on the Deccan Plateau in the south-eastern part of Karnataka, Bangalore is India's third most populous city and...
where he organized the department of zoology and was Head until his retirement in 1937.
His role in science and research is considered significant since he was involved in the integration of research into university education. Along with Sir Martin Onslow Forster
Martin Onslow Forster
Sir Martin Onslow Forster, FRS was a chemist and a director of the Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore, India....
and other Indian scientists he helped found the journal Current Science in July 1932 along the lines of the journal Nature
Nature (journal)
Nature, first published on 4 November 1869, is ranked the world's most cited interdisciplinary scientific journal by the Science Edition of the 2010 Journal Citation Reports...
. He was the first editor. In one of his first editorials, he pleaded for the coordination of scientific activities in India, a plea that helped create the Indian Academy of Sciences
Indian Academy of Sciences
The Indian Academy of Sciences, Bangalore was founded by Sir C. V. Raman, and was registered as a Society on 24 April 1934. Inaugurated on 31 July 1934, it began with 65 founding fellows. The first general meeting of Fellows, held on the same day, elected Professor Raman as President, and adopted...
.
He specialized on frogs and their taxonomy. He named and described several frog species, and his work on the Archenteric and Segmentation Cavities of frogs are regarded as important contributions to our understanding of amphibian development. His account of the ovarian ovum of the Slender Loris
Slender loris
The slender lorises are two species of loris native to India and Sri Lanka, the only members of the genus Loris:* the red slender loris, Loris tardigradus* the gray slender loris, Loris lydekkerianus...
was presented to the Royal Society
Royal Society
The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
by J. P. Hill in the latter's Croonian Lecture
Croonian Lecture
The Croonian Lectures are prestigious lectureships given at the invitation of the Royal Society and the Royal College of Physicians.Among the papers of William Croone at his death in 1684, was a plan to endow one lectureship at both the Royal Society and the Royal College of Physicians...
.
Professor Rao presided over the zoology section of the Indian Science Congress in 1938 at Lahore
Lahore
Lahore is the capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab and the second largest city in the country. With a rich and fabulous history dating back to over a thousand years ago, Lahore is no doubt Pakistan's cultural capital. One of the most densely populated cities in the world, Lahore remains a...
.
He described the new Microhylid
Microhylidae
Microhylidae is a geographically widespread family of frogs. There are 413 species in 69 genera and nine subfamilies, which is the largest number of genera of any frog family.-Description:...
genus Ramanella
Ramanella
Ramanella is a genus of microhylid frogs from India and Sri Lanka. Frogs in this genus are small and characteristically have discs on their fingers but lack them on the toes.The three Indian species are identifiable as follows:...
.
He died in 1960 in Bangalore.
External links
- http://digitallibrary.amnh.org/dspace/bitstream/2246/5071/1/N2976.pdf