Stefano Andrea Renier (January 25, 1759,
Chioggia, Italy – January 6, 1830,
Padua, Italy) was an Italian naturalist, zoologist and scientist.[1]
Biography
Renier was born into a mainland noble family (not related to the homonymous
Venetian patrician family), the son of Domenico Andrea and Caterina Airoldi. He studied in
Padua, where he graduated in
medicine in
1781.
After graduation, Renier practiced medicine in
Bologna,
Florence, and
Chioggia, where he held the position of
health officer. In
1806, he was appointed professor of
natural history at the
University of Padua. In
1814, he was among the professors suspended from teaching because they were suspected of pro-French sentiment.
Renier authored important studies in
zoology and
marine biology, particularly on
mollusks and shells of the
Adriatic, topics on which he published a significant treatise. One of his early works concerned the colonial ascidian genus Botryllus (Styelidae). He introduced a new method of zoological classification based on the development of the
nervous system. His research earned praise from
Jean-Baptiste Lamarck, which brought him European recognition. Later, he was commissioned by the Austrian government to create three marine zoological collections for the universities of
Bologna, Padua, and
Pavia (F. Barbagli). Part of his collection of marine animals was sold in 1818 to the Natural History Cabinet in Vienna.
Sopra il Botrillo piantanimale marino (On the marine plant-animal Botrillo), 1793.
Sistema attuale e piano di regolazione sulle farine di frumento ad uso e consumo della città di Chiozza e suo territorio (Current system and plan of regulation on wheat flour for the use and consumption of the city of Chiozza and its territory), Venice, Dalle Stampe di Antonio Zatta, 1794.
Prospetto della classe dei Vermi (Overview of the class of Worms), 1804.
Tavola alfabetica delle conchiglie Adriatiche (Alphabetical table of Adriatic shells), 1807.
Tavole per servire alla classificazione e connoscenza degli Animali (Tables for the classification and understanding of Animals), 1807.
Nuove tavole di zoologia (New tables of zoology), 1809.
Esame e giudizio ricercato sulla questione di che specie di squalo sia un Ittiolito delle Cave Bolchesi (Examination and sought judgment on the question of what species of shark is an Ittiolito delle Cave Bolchesi), Tipografia della Minerva, Padua, 1821.
Prospetto della classe dei Vermi (Overview of the class of Worms), 1804.
Elementi di mineralogia (Elements of mineralogy), pp. XX, 616, Tipografia Crescini, Padua, 1823; 1828.