Background
DENDY, Professor Arthur was born in 1865. Son of Reverend John Dendy, Bachelor of Arts.
DENDY, Professor Arthur was born in 1865. Son of Reverend John Dendy, Bachelor of Arts.
Studied at Manchester Grammar School. Owens College Manchester. Assist, in the Zoological Department, British Museum (Natural History), 1887.
Demonstrator and Assistant Lecturer in Biology in the University of Melbourne, 188S-94. Doctor of Science.
ProfessorHe worked on part of the report of the Challenger expedition (1872–1876), describing monaxonid sponges. In 1888 he moved to the University of Melbourne as demonstrator and assistant lecturer. There he identified and described almost 2000 specimens of sponges from the sea near Port Phillip Heads. This work led to ten scientific papers on Australian sponges; he described 87 new species of sponge. Eventually Dendy became a leading authority on the sponge phylum, (Porifera), which he extensively restructured.
Dendy was the first zoologist to study the terrestrial invertebrates of Victoria, Australia. This work led to 16 scientific papers and 79 new species. These included terrestrial flatworms (planarians) and nemerteans, but the most famous of his animals was the so-called "living fossil" Peripatus.
In 1893, Dendy became professor of biology at Canterbury College, Christchuch, New Zealand.
In 1903, Dendy became professor of biology at the University of Cape Town, South Africa.
In 1905, Dendy became professor of zoology at King's College, London.
Dendy contributed articles including "Sponges" to the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica under the initials "A. DE."
Dendy was president of the Quekett Microscopical Club from 1911–16.
His name is honoured in the genus name Arthurdendyus Jones, 1999; Arthurdendyus triangulatus is the New Zealand flatworm, an invasive species in the United Kingdom.
Fellow of the Linnean Society. Fellow of the Zoological Society. Club: Savile.