Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History

Vic Springer

Emeritus Curator
Department / Division
Education
  • Ph.D. 1957, University of Texas
  • M.S. 1954, University of Miami 
  • B.A. 1948, Emory University
Research Interests

Classification, evolution, and biogeography of fishes, especially marine fishes. Blennioid fishes. Late 19th and 20th Century scientific illustrators of fishes.  I am currently conducting a study of the gill arch muscles of eels.

Publications
Journal Article
  • Attaran-Farimani, Gilan, Estekani, Sanaz, Springer, Victor G., Crimmen, Oliver, Johnson, G. David, and Baldwin, Carole C. 2016. "Validation of the synonymy of the teleost blenniid fish species Salarias phantasticus Boulenger 1897 and Salarias anomalus Regan 1905 with Ecsenius pulcher (Murray 1887) based on DNA barcoding and morphology." Zootaxa, 4072, (2) 171. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4072.2.2.
  • Springer, Victor G. and Johnson, G. David. 2015. "The Gill-Arch Musculature of Protanguilla , the Morphologically Most Primitive Eel (Teleostei: Anguilliformes), Compared with That of Other Putatively Primitive Extant Eels and Other Elopomorphs." Copeia, 103, (3) 595–620. https://doi.org/10.1643/CI-14-152.
  • Rocha, L. A., Aleixo, A., Allen, G., Almeda, F., Baldwin, Carole C., Barclay, M. V. L., Bates, J. M., Bauer, A. M., Benzoni, F., Berns, C. M., Berumen, M. L., Blackburn, D. C., Blum, S., Bolanos, F., Bowie, R. C. K., Britz, R., Brown, R. M., Cadena, C. D., Carpenter, K., Ceriaco, L. M., Chakrabarty, P., Chaves, G., Choat, J. H., Clements, K. D., Collette, Bruce B. et al. 2014. "Specimen collection: An essential tool." Science, 344, (6186) 814–815. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.344.6186.814.
  • Maisey, John G. and Springer, Victor G. 2013. "Chondrocranial Morphology of the Salmon Shark, Lamna ditropis, and the Porbeagle, L. nasus (Lamnidae)." Copeia, 2013, (3) 378–389. https://doi.org/10.1643/CG-12-130.
  • Springer, Victor G. and Murphy, Kristin A. 2010. "Drawn to the Sea: Charles Bradford Hudson (1865-1939), Artist, Author, Army Officer, with Special Notice of His Work for the United States Fish Commission and Bureau of Fisheries." Marine Fisheries Review, 71, (4) 1–116.
  • Hastings, Philip A. and Springer, Victor G. 2009. "Recognizing diversity in blennioid fish nomenclature (Teleostei: Blennioidei)." Zootaxa, (2120) 3–14.
  • Springer, Victor G. and Smith-Vaniz, William F. 2008. "Supraneural and pterygiophore insertion patterns in carangid fishes, with description of a new Eocene carangid tribe, Paratrachinotini, and a survey of anterior anal-fin pterygiophore insertion patterns in Acanthomorpha." Bulletin of the Biological Society of Washington, 16 1–74.
  • Anderson, William D., Jr. and Springer, Victor G. 2005. "Review of the perciform fish genus Symphysanodon Bleeker (Symphysanodontidae), with descriptions of three new species, S. mona S. parini and S. rhax." Zootaxa, (996) 1–44.
  • Carpenter, Kent E. and Springer, Victor G. 2005. "The center of the center of marine shorefish biodiversity: the Philippine Islands." Environmental Biology of Fishes, 72, (4) 467–480.
  • Springer, Victor G. and Allen, Gerald R. 2004. "Ecsenius caeruliventris and E. shirleyae, two new species of blenniid fishes from Indonesia, and new distribution records for other species of Ecsenius." Zootaxa, (791) 1–12.
  • Springer, Victor G. and Johnson, G. David. 2004. "Study of the dorsal gill-arch musculature of teleostome fishes, with Special Reference to the Actinopterygii." Bulletin of the Biological Society of Washington, 11 1–235, 255.
  • Springer, Victor G. and Orrell, Thomas M. 2004. "Phylogenetic analysis of 147 families of acanthomorph fishes based primarily on dorsal gill-arch muscles and skeleton." Bulletin of the Biological Society of Washington, 11 236–260.
  • Hastings, P. A. and Springer, Victor G. 2002. "Pholidichthys anguilliformis Lockington, 1881 (Teleostei : Pholidae), a junior synonym of Pholis ornata (Girard, 1854)." Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington, 115, (3) 543–545.
  • Williams, Jeffrey T. and Springer, Victor G. 2001. "Review of the South American-Antarctic Triplefin Fish Genus Helcogrammoides (Perciformes: Tripterygiidae)." Revista De Biología Tropical, 49, (Suppl 1) 117–123.
  • Springer, Victor G. and Fricke, R. A. 2000. "Description of two new blenniid fish species: Entomacrodus lemuria from the western Indian Ocean and E-williamsi from the western Pacific Ocean." Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington, 113, (2) 386–396.
  • Springer, Victor G. and Johnson, G. David. 2000. "Use and advantages of ethanol solution of alizarin red S dye for staining bone in fishes." Copeia, (1) 300–301.
  • Springer, Victor G. 1999. "Are the Indonesian and western Indian Ocean coelacanths conspecific: a prediction." Environmental Biology of Fishes, 54, (4) 453–456.
  • Springer, Victor G. and Randall, John E. 1999. "Ecsenius polystictus, new species of blenniid fish from Mentawai Islands, Indonesia, with notes on other species of Ecsenius." Revue Française d'Aquariologie Herpetologie, 26, (1-2) 39–48.
  • Springer, Victor G., Bath, H., and Randall, John E. 1998. "Remarks on the Species of the Indian Ocean Fish Genus Alloblennius Smith-Vaniz & Springer 1971 (Blenniidae)." Aqua, Journal of Ichthyology and Aquatic Biology, 3, (1) 19–24.
  • Springer, Victor G. 1997. "Review of Great White Sharks. 1996. A.P. Klimley and D.G. Ainley, editors, Academic Press." Copeia, 1997, (2) 467–468.
  • Springer, Victor G. and Larson, H. K. 1996. "Pholidichthys anguis, a new species of pholidichthyid fish from northern territory and western Australia." Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington, 109, (2) 353–365.
  • Springer, Victor G. 1995. "Identification of the Blennioid Fish Taxa-Tagusa and T-Delicata Herre with the Labrisomid Malacoctenus-Zonogaster." Copeia, (2) 494–496.
  • Springer, Victor G. 1994. "Fish on stamps — miscellaneous musings." Biophilately, 43, (2) 123–124.
  • Springer, Victor G. 1994. "[Review of] Sharks and Rays of Australia. By P.R. Last and J.D. Stevens." Copeia, 1994, (4) 1055–1057.
  • Springer, Victor G. and Bauchot, M. L. 1994. "Identification of the Taxa Xenocephalidae, Xenocephalus, and X-Armatus (Osteichthyes, Uranoscopidae)." Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington, 107, (1) 79–89.
  • Springer, Victor G. 1993. "Definition of the Suborder Blennioidei and its Included Families (Pisces, Perciformes)." Bulletin of Marine Science, 52, (1) 472–495.
  • Springer, Victor G. 1993. "How many fish stamps are there — Part 5." Biophilately, 42, (3) 195–204.
  • Springer, Victor G. 1993. "What fish is that?" Biophilately, 43, (1) 55–58.
  • Springer, Victor G. 1993. "How many fish stamps are there —Part 6." Biophilately, 42, (4) 165–177.
  • Springer, Victor G. and Randall, John E. 1992. "Platygobiopsis-Akihito, New Genus and Species of Gobiid Fish from Flores, Indonesia." Japanese Journal of Ichthyology, 38, (4) 349–355.
  • Springer, Victor G. and Williams, Jeffrey T. 1990. "Widely Distributed Pacific Plate Endemics and Lowered Sea-Level." Bulletin of Marine Science, 47, (3) 631–640.
  • Springer, Victor G. 1989. "Ecsenius: The World's Most Interesting Genus of Marine Fishes." Tropical Fish Hobbyist, 37, (8) 38–41.
  • Springer, Victor G. and Collette, Bruce B. 1989. "Obituary: Robert H. Gibbs, Jr., 1929-1988." Copeia, 1989, (1) 245–251.
  • Zug, George R., Springer, Victor G., Williams, Jeffrey T., and Johnson, G. David. 1989. "The Vertebrates of Rotuma and Surrounding Waters." Atoll Research Bulletin, 316 1–25. https://doi.org/10.5479/si.00775630.316.1.
  • Springer, Victor G. 1988. "Rotuma-Lewisi, New Genus and Species of Fish from the Southwest Pacific (Gobioidei, Xenisthmidae)." Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington, 101, (3) 530–539.
  • Springer, Victor G. 1985. "[Article on Japanese Illustrator in Japanese.]." Anima, 153 38–40.
  • Springer, Victor G. 1985. "Oman-Ypsilon, a New Genus and Species of Blenniid Fish from the Indian-Ocean." Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington, 98, (1) 90–97.
  • Poss, S. G. and Springer, Victor G. 1983. "Eschmeyer nexus, A New Genus and Species of Scorpaenid Fish from Fiji." Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington, 96, (2) 309–316.
  • Springer, Victor G. 1982. "Explorations for Coral Reef Fishes in the Molucca Islands, Indonesia." National Geographic Society Research Reports, 14 631–633.
  • Rotondo, G. M., Springer, Victor G., Scott, G. A. J., and Schlanger, S. O. 1981. "Plate Movement and Island Integration - a Possible Mechanism in the Formation of Endemic Biotas, with Special Reference to the Hawaiian-Islands." Systematic zoology, 30, (1) 12–21.
  • Springer, Victor G. 1981. "Notes on Blenniid Fishes of the Tribe Omobranchini, with Descriptions of Two New Species." Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington, 94, (3) 699–707.
  • Springer, Victor G. 1976. "Cirrisalarias bunares, New Genus and Species of Blenniid Fish from the Indian Ocean." Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington, 89, (13) 199–203.
  • Allen, Gerald R. and Springer, Victor G. 1975. "Amphiprion calliops Schultz, a Junior Synonym of the Red Saddleback Anemonefish Amphiprion ephippium (Bloch)." Tropical Fish Hobbyist, 23 53–57.
  • Böhlke, James E. and Springer, Victor G. 1975. "A New Genus and Species of Fish (Nemaclinus atelestos) from the Western Atlantic (Perciformes: Clinidae)." Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, 127, (7) 57–61.
  • Randall, John E. and Springer, Victor G. 1975. "Labroides pectoralis, a New Species of Labrid Fish from the Tropical Western Pacific." Uo No Kai, 25 4–11.
  • Springer, Victor G. and Randall, John E. 1975. "Two New Species of the Labrid Fish Genus Cirrhilabrus from the Red Sea." Israel journal of zoology, 23, (1) 45–54.
  • Springer, Victor G. and Eschmeye.Wn. 1974. "Location of Holotypes of Japanese Fishes (Jordan and Starks, 1906) and Types of Hawaiian Fishes (Jordan and Evermann, 1903)." Copeia, (2) 566–569.
  • Springer, Victor G. and Randall, John E. 1974. "2 New Species of Labrid Fish Genus Cirrhilabrus from Red-Sea." Israel journal of zoology, 23, (1) 45–54.
  • Randall, John E. and Springer, Victor G. 1973. "The Indo-Pacific Labrid Fish Genera Labrichthys and Diproctacanthus with Description of a New Related Genus, Larabicus." Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington, 86, (23) 279–297.
  • Springer, Victor G. 1973. "Resolution on Panamá Canal." Science, 182, (4110) 336–336.
  • Stephens, John S., Jr. and Springer, Victor G. 1971. "Neoclinus nudus, New Scaleless Clinid Fish from Taiwan, with a Key to Neoclinus." Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington, 84, (9) 65–72.
  • Springer, Victor G. 1970. "The Blennies." Tropical Fish Hobbyist, 19 54–66.
  • Springer, Victor G. 1970. "The Western South Atlantic Clinid Fish Ribeiroclinus eigenmanni, with Discussion of the Intraralationships and Zoogeography of the Clinidae." Copeia, (3) 430–436.
  • Springer, Victor G. 1970. "A New Tribe (Phenablenniini) and Genus (Phenablennius) of Blenniid Fishes Based on Petroscirtes heyligeri Bleeker." Copeia, (1) 64–71.
  • Springer, Victor G. 1968. "Osteology and Classification of the Fishes of the Family Blenniidae." Bulletin of the United States National Museum, (284) 1–85, 16 figures, 11 plates.
  • Springer, Victor G. and Smith-Vaniz, William F. 1968. "Systematics and Distribution of the Monotypic lndo-Pacific Blenniid Fish Genus Atrosalarias." Proceedings of the United States National Museum, 124, (3643) 1–12, 1 figure, 1 plate. https://doi.org/10.5479/si.00963801.124-3643.1.
  • Springer, Victor G. 1967. "Revision of the Circumtropical Shorefish Genus Entomacrodus (Blenniidae: Salariinae)." Proceedings of the United States National Museum, 122, (3582) 1–150, 11 figures, 30 plates, 70 tables. https://doi.org/10.5479/si.00963801.122-3582.1.
  • Springer, Victor G. 1964. "A Revision of the Carcharhinid Shark Genera Scoliodon, Loxodon, and Rhizoprionodon." Proceedings of the United States National Museum, 115, (3493) 559–632, 2 plates, 14 figures. https://doi.org/10.5479/si.00963801.115-3493.559.
  • Springer, Victor G. and Garrick, J. A. F. 1964. "A Survey of Vertebral Numbers in Sharks." Proceedings of the United States National Museum, 116, (3496) 73–96, 1 plate. https://doi.org/10.5479/si.00963801.116-3496.73.
  • Hubbs, C. L., Schultz, Leonard P., Springer, Victor G., and Randall, John E. 1963. "Comments on the proposed rejection of the type designations of Jordan and Evermann 1896-1900 and 1896." The Bulletin of Zoological Nomenclature, 20, (4) 257–259.
  • Springer, Victor G. 1963. "Two Species of Indo-West Pacific Blenniid Fishes Erroneously Described from the Western Atlantic Ocean." Copeia, 1963, (2). https://doi.org/10.2307/1441380.
  • Springer, Victor G. and Finucane, John H. 1963. "The African Cichlid, Tilapia heudeloti Dumeril, in the Commercial Fish Catch of Florida." Transactions of the American Fisheries Society, 92, (3) 317–318. https://doi.org/10.1577/1548-8659(1963)92[317:TACTHD]2.0.CO;2.
  • Springer, Victor G. 1962. "A Review of the Blenniid Fishes of the Genus Ophioblennius Gill." Copeia, 1962, (2). https://doi.org/10.2307/1440912.
  • Springer, Victor G. and McErlean, A. J. 1962. "Seasonality of fishes on a south Florida shore." Bulletin Marine Science Gulf and Caribbean, 12, (1) 39–60.
  • Springer, Victor G. and McErlean, Andrew J. 1962. "A study of the behavior of some tagged south Florida coral reef fishes." American Midland Naturalist, 67, (2) 386–397.
  • Springer, Victor G. and McErlean, Andrew J. 1962. "A Study of the Behavior of Some Tagged South Florida Coral Reef Fishes." American Midland Naturalist, 67, (2). https://doi.org/10.2307/2422716.
  • Bohlke, James E. and Springer, Victor G. 1961. "A review of the Atlantic species of the clinid fish genus Starksia." Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, 113, (3) 29–60.
  • Springer, Victor G. 1961. "Notes on and Additions to the Fish Fauna of the Tampa Bay Area in Florida." Copeia, 1961, (4). https://doi.org/10.2307/1439600.
  • Springer, Victor G. and McErlean, Andrew J. 1961. "Tagging of Great Barracuda, Sphyraena barracuda (Walbaum)." Transactions of the American Fisheries Society, 90, (4) 497–500. https://doi.org/10.1577/1548-8659(1961)90[497:TOGBSB]2.0.CO;2.
  • Springer, Victor G. and McErlean, Andrew J. 1961. "Spawning seasons and growth of the Code Goby, Gobiosoma robustum (Pisces: Gobiidae), in the Tampa Bay area." Tulane Studies in Zoology, 9, (2) 87–98.
  • Phillips, R. C. and Springer, Victor G. 1960. "Observations on the Offshore Benthic Flora in the Gulf of Mexico off Pinellas County, Florida." American Midland Naturalist, 64, (2). https://doi.org/10.2307/2422669.
  • Springer, Victor G. and Beeman, E. R. 1960. "Penetration of Lead by the Wood Piddock Martesia striata." Science, 131, (3410) 1378–1379. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.131.3410.1378.
  • Springer, Victor G. 1954. "Two New Records of Fishes (Palinurichthys, cheilodipterus) from Florida and the Gulf of Mexico." Copeia, 1954, (1). https://doi.org/10.2307/1440657.
Book Chapter
  • Springer, Victor G. 2011. "Dr. Herbert R. Axelrod, Contributions to Ichthyology." In Discus. Axelrod, H. R. and Degen, B., editors. 20–27. Germany: Degen Mediahouse Gmbh.
  • Hastings, P. A. and Springer, Victor G. 2009. "Systematics of the Blenniidae (Blennioidei)." In The Biology of the Blennies. Patzner, R. A., Gonçlaves, E. J., Hastings, P. A., and Kapoor, B. G., editors. 69–91. Enfield, New Hamspshire: Science Publishers.
  • Hastings, P. A. and Springer, Victor G. 2009. "Systematics of the Blennioidei and the included families Chaenopsidae, Clinidae, Labrisomidae and Dactyloscopidae." In The Biology of the Blennies. Patzner, R. A., Gonçlaves, E. J., Hastings, P. A., and Kapoor, B. G., editors. 3–30. Enfield, New Hampshire: Science Publishers.
  • Patzner, R. A., Hastings, P. A., Springer, Victor G., Wirtz, P., and Gonçalves, E. J. 2009. "List of valid species of blennies." In The Biology of Blennies. Patzner, R. A.,, Gonçlaves, E. J., Hastings, P. A., and Kapoor, B. G., editors. 443–473. Enfield, New Hampshire: Science Publishers.
  • Springer, Victor G. 1994. "Blennies." In Encyclopedia of Fishes. Paxton, John R. and Eschmeyer, W. N., editors. 216–219. Sydney: University of New South Wales Press.
  • Springer, Victor G. 1986. "Family No. 235: Blenniidae." In Smiths' Sea Fishes. 6 ed. Smith, Margaret M. and Heemstra, Phillip C., editors. 742–755. Berlin;New York: Springer-Verlag.
  • Springer, Victor G. 1981. "Comments on Solem's Land-Snail Biogeography, with an Hypothesized Explanation of the Distribution of the Endodontidae." In Vicariance Biogeography. Nelson, Gareth and Rosen, Donn E., editors. 225–230. New York: Columbia University Press.
  • Springer, Victor G. 1978. "Clinidae." In Western Central Atlantic. Rome, Italy: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. 2 in FAO Species Identification Sheets for Fishery Purposes.
  • Springer, Victor G. 1978. "Blenniidae." In Western Central Atlantic. Rome, Italy: FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS. 1 in FAO Species Identification Sheets for Fishery Purposes.
Book
Conference Proceedings
  • Baldwin, Carole C., Collette, Bruce B., Parenti, Lynne R., Smith, David G., and Springer, Victor G. 1996. "Collecting Fishes." from Methods and techniques of underwater research: proceedings of the American academy of underwater sciences 1996 scientific diving symposium, Smithsonian Institution Washington D.C., USA. in Methods and techniques of underwater research: proceedings of the American academy of underwater sciences 1996 scientific diving symposium, Smithsonian Institution Washington D.C., USA.. 11–34. Washington, DC: American Academy of Underwater Sciences.
Book Review
  • Springer, Victor G. 1963. [Book review] "Die Unterwasserfauna der Mittelmeerkiisten." Copeia, (1), 213.