Koen Fraussen

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]

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]