August Wetzler

August Wetzler (* 1812 ; † 1881 ) was a pharmacist in Günzburg in Bavaria (Obere Apotheke 1865–1881). In addition to his job, he has made a name for himself in the professional world as a fossil collector and researcher of the geology of his homeland.

Life

The formations of the Jura and the Molasse in the Swabian region were A. Wetzler's preferred research area. He understood his activity as "contributions to the knowledge of the local soil" and as "a stimulus for further research in other parts of the administrative district".

In addition to his works mentioned below, other writings were obviously planned, but due to lack of time, they were never executed. However, many of his finds have been scientifically processed and described. This is already worth mentioning for the circumstances at that time, as August Wetzler invested some financial resources in his passion and did not shy away from contact with well-known researchers of his time and generously left his pieces to you for scientific research.

His commitment to this branch of science and in particular his great sense of responsibility for his finds and his understanding of the fossil tradition of his area was recognized by naming the following newly recognized species:

• Spirematospermum wetzleri - the seeds of a banana plant
• Unio wetzleri - a type of shell
• Melania wetzleri - a species of snail
• Heteromyoxus wetzleri - a sleeping mouse
• Schizotherium wetzleri - a herbivorous vertebrate

In his honor, the Heimatmuseum Günzburg, the Naturmuseum Augsburg and the palaeobotanical-biostratigraphic working group at both institutions award the "August Wetzler Medal" annually "to thank and in recognition of outstanding work in the field of geosciences to experienced private individuals".

Publications

• About the Jura and the Molasse in the vicinity of Günzburg. In: Report of the Natural History Association in Augsburg. 10, 1857, pp. 23-59.
• The freshwater limestone near Thailfingen in the Koenig. bayer. District Courts of Neu-Ulm. In: Report of the Natural History Association in Augsburg. 12, 1859, pp. 119-124.

literature

• Molasse research '84: in memory of August Wetzler (1812 - 1881). (= Local series of publications for the district of Günzburg. Volume 2). Interest group for the publication of local history writings on the district of Günzburg, 1984, ISBN 3-924375-01-1 .