1868-1947

A Romanian biologist who is considered to be the father of biospeleology (cave biology) for his pioneering work with the subterranean domain. Racovita was an eminent biologist who excelled in many areas, but it was his dedication and systematic approach to biospeleology that is considered his most noteworthy accomplishment. Under his direction, over 50,000 previously unidentified cave dwelling species were catalogued. Also noteworthy, he taught the first college general biology course in Romania (1920).