Manuel Ángel González-Sponga
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Manuel Ángel González Sponga | |
|---|---|
| Born | April 30, 1929 |
| Died | March 1, 2009 (aged 79) |
| Known for | Arachnids of Venezuela |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Biology, Arachnology, Education |
| Author abbrev. (zoology) | González-Sponga |
Manuel Ángel González Sponga (April 30, 1929 – March 1, 2009) was a Venezuelan zoologist devoted to the systematic and taxonomic study of the arachnids of Venezuela. He was also a biologist, arachnologist, and educator.[1][2]
Manuel Ángel González Sponga was born in Guatire, Miranda, Venezuela on April 30, 1929. A teacher by profession, he began his educational career around 1954 at the Liceo Dr. Ramón Alfonso Blanco, where he taught biology until 1964. That same year, he started teaching and research work at the then Instituto Pedagógico de Caracas (now Libertador Experimental Pedagogical University), where he remained as a professor until his retirement in 1991.
In 1970, he began a research project titled “Systematics of the Arachnids of Venezuela,” starting with his first publication: “I. Record of the genus Microtityus for Venezuela. II. Microtityus biordi (Scorpionida: Buthidae), a new species for the coastal mountain system of Venezuela.” Over the next 37 years of uninterrupted research, he published five books and more than 99 scientific papers on Venezuelan arachnological fauna as well as other regional fauna.[3]
In 1992, he became a full member of the Academy of Physical, Mathematical and Natural Sciences of Venezuela,[4] presenting the work titled “Arachnids of Venezuela. Opiliones Laniatores II, Family Cosmetidae.”
He later served as:
- Full Member, Academy of Physical, Mathematical and Natural Sciences of Venezuela.
- Professor Emeritus, Libertador Experimental Pedagogical University, Caracas, Venezuela.
- Visiting Collaborator, Cellular Neuropharmacology Laboratory, Venezuelan Institute for Scientific Research (IVIC).[5]