CLAUS CLAUSEN
(1921-2002)

Stenholt Clausen was baptised Herluf Stenholt Clausen, but his study mates called him Claus, and so did his wife, Martha Weis Clausen (born Bentzon). They met as students of biology. In his 70’ties he officially changed his name to Claus Herluf Stenholt Clausen.

Clausen was born in Los Angeles in 1921. His parents had both immigrated from Denmark to USA, and met each other there. In 1925 they moved back to Denmark, and until he was 14 he lived in Resenbro near Silkeborg in Jutland (Jylland). After that, they moved to Copenhagen (København), and during world war II he studied biology at the University of Copenhagen. Eventually got his masters degree in 1948, specializing in the relationship between apes and humans, and for half a year he studied paleoanthropology under von Königswald at the University of Utrecht in the Nederlands. In 1952 he was eployed in a permanent position at University College of Ibadan where did teaching in zoology as wel as research. He wanted to work with chimpanzees, but the professor at the institute did not approve, so he started to work with killifish. So in the spring of 1952 the whole family left for Nigeria where they spent the next 7 years. In 1959 Stenholt Clausen was employed at the zoological museum of Copenhagen.

While staying in Nigeria numerous expiditions were made in Nigeria, Cameroun (British and French) and Benin (Dahomey). Usually, the whole family participated, and they all took part in collection of fish and earthworms. The earthworms were Martha’s interest.

In 1962 Clausen went on an expedition to Ghana, Togo, Benin (Dahomey), and Nigeria.

In 1965 he became a visiting lecturer at the Kwame Nkruma University of Science and Technology in Kumasi in Ghana. During that year expeditions were made into Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) and also into Togo. In January 1966 Claus and Martha took off on an expedition from Ghana into Togo, Benin, Nigeria, Cameroun and Gabon, everywhere collecting killifish and earthworms.

Note – The Editor whishes to thank Mr. Henning Clausen, Claus Clausen’s son, for sharing such detailed report on his father’s life and work. The Killifish Collections Project is proud to honor one of the great killifish explorers and pioneers.