Gans, Carl (1923– )

German-born zoologist. Using a biomechanical approach to vertebrate biology, he made a major contribution to the study of the systematics of reptiles and amphibians, vertebrate motor coordination, shark anatomy, electromyography, and the early evolution of vertebrates. Born in Hamburg, Germany, he moved to the USA in 1939 and worked as an engineer for the Babcock and Wilcox Company, New York (1947–55). He was a fellow in biology at the University of Florida (1957–58), and taught and performed research in biology at the State University of New York, Buffalo (1958–71), before becoming a professor at the University of Michigan (1971). He concurrently served as a researcher and consultant to many zoological museums and universities worldwide.