A REVIEW OF THE DOCTOR THESIS ON THE OXYURIDS OF INSECTS BY OSMAN GALEB, THE PIONEER EGYPTIAN ZOOLOGIST FROM THE 19TH CENTURY

Abstract

The present communication reviews the recently discovered Doctor Thesis of Osman Galeb (from the Egyptian School of Medicine), who was the first Egyptian zoologist in modern times and the only one in the 19th century. Starting his work on the oxyurids of insects in the University of Montpellier, Galeb was granted his degree in 1878 from the Sorbonne, Paris. Out of 40 species of oxyurids of insects Galeb was able to identify, 11 species were ultimately studied and illustrated. Seven of these were of the terrestrial Blattidae, and four of the aquatic Hydrophilidae. The different body systems of the oxyurids were comparatively described, with the reproductive organs, in particular, in some detail. Aspects of copulation, fertilization, early embryology and development were also covered. Critical notes on Galeb’s results and discussion are given.