Dr. Joel W. Hedgpeth (1911-2006)

Dr. Hedgpeth was a marine biologist, environmentalist and author. He was an expert on the marine arthropods known as sea spiders (Pycnogonida), and on the seashore plant and animal life of southern California. He was a spokesperson for care for the floral and faunal diversity of the California coastline.

Although he is best known for his publications on west coast invertebrates, he also published many papers on the Gulf of Mexico fauna. He was a contributor to the original Bulletin 89 (Galtsoff, 1954) on the biota of the Gulf of Mexico. Several species of invertebrates have been described honoring Dr. Hedgpeth.

Relevant to the biota of the Gulf of Mexico, Dr. Bitton has published the following:

Carlgren, O., and J. W. Hedgpeth. 1952. Actiniaria, Zoantharia and Ceriantharia from shallow water in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico. University of Texas, Publications of the Institute of Marine Science 2(21): 142–172.

Hedgpeth, J. W. 1948. The Pycnogonida of the western North Atlantic and the Caribbean. Proceedings of the United States National Museum 97(3216): 157–342.

Hedgpeth, J. W. 1950. Annotated list of certain marine invertebrates found on Texas jetties. Pp. 72–85 in H. L. Whitten, H. F. Rosene, and J. W. Hedgpeth, ed. The Invertebrate Fauna of Texas Coast Jetties; A Preliminary Survey. Publications of the Institute of Marine Science, University of Texas 1: 53–87. [Gulf species: Squilla empusa (Texas)]

Hedgpeth, J. W. 1950. Notes on the marine invertebrate fauna of salt flat areas in Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, Texas. Publications of the Institute of Marine Science, University of Texas 1(2): 103–119.

Hedgpeth, J. W. 1953. An introduction to the zoogeography of the northwestern Gulf of Mexico with reference to the invertebrate fauna. Publications of the Institute of Marine Science (University of Texas) 3(1): 107–224.

Hedgpeth, J. W. 1954. Bottom communities of the Gulf of Mexico. Pp. 203–214in P. S. Galtsoff, ed. Gulf of Mexico, Its Origin, Waters, and Marine Life. Fishery Bulletin 89. Fishery Bulletin of the Fish and Wildlife Service, Volume 55, Washington, D.C. [Gulf species: Squilla empusa (Gulf of Mexico, Texas)]

Hedgpeth, J. W. 1954. Scyphozoa. Pp. 277–278 in P. S. Galtsoff, ed. Gulf of Mexico, Its Origin, Waters, and Marine Life. Fishery Bulletin 89. Fishery Bulletin of the Fish and Wildlife Service, Volume 55, Washington, D.C.

Hedgpeth, J. W. 1954. Anthozoa: the anemones. Pp. 285–290 in P. S. Galtsoff, ed. Gulf of Mexico, Its Origin, Waters, and Marine Life. Fishery Bulletin 89. Fishery Bulletin of the Fish and Wildlife Service, Volume 55, Washington, D.C.

Hedgpeth, J. W. 1954. Phoronida. Page 367 in P. S. Galtsoff, ed. Gulf of Mexico, Its Origin, Waters, and Marine Life. Fishery Bulletin 89. Fishery Bulletin of the Fish and Wildlife Service, Volume 55, Washington, D.C.

Hedgpeth, J. W. 1954. Miscellaneous Vermes. Pp. 419–420 in P. S. Galtsoff, ed. Gulf of Mexico, Its Origin, Waters, and Marine Life. Fishery Bulletin 89. Fishery Bulletin of the Fish and Wildlife Service, Vol. 55, Washington, D.C.

Hedgpeth, J. W. 1954. Xiphosura. P. 423 in P. S. Galtsoff, ed. Gulf of Mexico, Its Origin, Waters, and Marine Life. Fishery Bulletin 89. Fishery Bulletin of the Fish and Wildlife Service, Volume 55, Washington, D.C.

Ricketts, E. F., J. Calvin, J. W. Hedgpeth, and D. W. Phillips. 1985. Between Pacific Tides. 5th ed. Stanford University Press, Stanford, California.

Whitten, H. L., H. F. Rosene, and J. W. Hedgpeth. 1950. The invertebrate fauna of Texas coast jetties; a preliminary survey. Publications of the Institute of Marine Science 1(2): 53–87.