Bernard-Germain-Etienne Lacépède (1756-1825)

"The species can undergo such a large number of modifications in its forms and qualities, that without losing its vital capacity, it may be, by its latest conformation and properties, farther removed from its original state than from a different species: it is in that case metamorphosed into a new species." (1800)

French herpetologist and ichthyologist. Influenced by Buffon, Lacépède speculated that all living species might have descended from a handful of original forebears, but didn't take a strong position.

Lacépède. From Burkhardt, p. 205.


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