Juan A. Rivero

Dr. Rivero obtained a Bachelor of Science in Agronomy from the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez in 1945. In 1942, he joined the Beta-Activo chapter of Phi Sigma Alpha fraternity. In 1951, he obtained an M.S. from Harvard University, followed by a Ph.D. from that same institution in 1953.

After obtaining his bachelor's degree, Rivero served as an assistant plant physiologist, instructor, assistant professor and associate professor before becoming a full professor of biology at UPR-Mayagüez in 1958. In 1950, he participated in the expedition to the Upper Orinoco, which will serve as the basis for his doctoral studies. After founding the UPR-Mayagüez Zoo in 1954, he served as its first director, as well as founder and director of the UPR's Institute of Marine Biology. From 1959 to 1960 he served as director of the Biology Department and from 1962 to 1966, as dean of arts and sciences, oversaw the work of over 200 faculty members and a two million dollar annual budget. Between 1966 and 1968, he served as a research associate at Harvard University and visiting scientist at the Venezuelan Institute of Scientific Investigation.

In addition to founding the Mayagüez Zoo, Puerto Rico's only zoological garden, it was named after him in 1998.{{cite web|url=http://www.oslpr.org/LeyesPopUp.asp?pages=3&tipo=2&year=1998 |title=Ley 32 del 19 de enero de 1998. Para disponer que el Zoológico de Mayagüez sea designado como "Zoológico Dr. Juan A. Rivero". |date=1998-01-19 |access-date=January 2, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120504063304/http://www.oslpr.org/LeyesPopUp.asp?pages=3&tipo=2&year=1998 |archive-date=May 4, 2012 }}

He discovered over a hundred animal species, particularly amphibians and reptiles. He was the founder and first president of the Puerto Rico Zoological Society, as well as of the Association of Island Marine Laboratories.

In addition to writing over 200 papers and articles, he wrote numerous books, including:

:Los coquíes de Puerto Rico

:El Coquí Dorado de Puerto Rico y otras Ranas de Hábitos Reproductivos Peculiares

:Anfibios y Reptiles de Puerto Rico

:Anfibios y Reptiles de Nuestro Folklore

:Los Machos, las Hembras y los Intersexos

:Biología del Sexo

:Principios de Evolución Orgánica

:Los Helechos Cuernos de Alce o Platicerios

:Salientia de Venezuela

:Expedición de la UPR a las Selvas del Alto Orinoco 1950

:El Dolor de la Espalda Baja

He wrote the Phi Sigma Alpha "Brindis" or toast.

Several species have been named to honor Dr. Rivero's contributions to science, including:

:Geomelania riveroi {{small|Clench}} (snail)

:Hemitrochus riveroi {{small|Turner}} (snail)

:Glomeridesmus riveroi {{small|Chamberlin}} (miriapod)

:Ballophilus riveroi {{small|Chamberlin}} (miriapod)

:Prestherapis riveroi {{small|Donoso-Barros}} (frog)

:Atractus riveroi {{small|Roze}} (snake)Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. {{ISBN|978-1-4214-0135-5}}. ("Rivero, J. A.", p. 222).

:Hyla riveroi {{small|Cochran & Goin}} (frog)

:Processa riveroi {{small|Manning & Chace}} (crustacean)

:Leptodactylus riveroi {{small|Heyer}} (frog)

:Marshallela riveroi {{small|Ramos}} (treehopper)

:Eleutherodactylus juanariveroi {{small|Ríos-López & Thomas}} (frog)

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{{Reflist}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20160303182630/http://www.uprm.edu/biology/profs/rivero/cv.htm UPRm.edu: Professor Juan A. Rivero]
• [http://www.oslpr.org Oslpr.org: Text of Law 32, of 1998]

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Category:1923 births

Category:2014 deaths

Category:20th-century American zoologists

Category:21st-century American zoologists

Category:American taxonomists

Category:20th-century Puerto Rican scientists

Category:Puerto Rican academics

Category:University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez people

Category:University of Puerto Rico faculty

Category:Harvard University alumni

Category:People from Santurce, Puerto Rico