Galen Rathbun
- Honorary Fellow and Research Associate, Department of Ornithology and Mammalogy
- PhD
Galen’s research has focused on the behavioral ecology of vertebrates, conservation biology of declining species, mammalian taxonomy, and phylogeography. Although most of his career focused on Florida manatee and California sea otter research, his recent research includes understanding the basic life history of California red-legged frogs and Pacific pond turtles, the impacts of cattle grazing on a community of small mammals in the San Joaquin Valley of California, and the evolution of monogamy using elephant-shrews (sengis) and dassie-rats (nokis) in Namibia (southwestern Africa) as models. Currently, he is exploring the taxonomy and phylogeography of sengis in collaboration with several colleagues.
Focal Study Species
Florida manatee cow and calf, Crystal River, Florida
Trichechus manatus latirostris
Photo © G. Rathbun
Recent publication numbers 85, 87, 89
California sea otter raft, Morro Bay, California
Enhyrda lutris nereis
Photo © G. Rathbun
Recent publication numbers 88
San Joaquin antelope squirrel with radio-collar, Carrizo Plain (San Joaquin Desert), California
Ammospermophilus nelsoni
Photo © G. Rathbun
Recent publication numbers 99, 124, 128
California red-legged frog, Point Piedras Blancas, California
Rana draytonii
Photo © G. Rathbun
Recent publication numbers 91, 94, 111, 129
Pacific pond turtle, Santa Rosa Creek, Cambria, California
Actinemys marmorata
Photo © G. Rathbun
Recent publication numbers 97, 117, 118
Noki or Dassie-rat, Erongo Mountain Nature Conservancy, Omaruru, Namibia
Petromus typicus
Photo © G. Rathbun
Recent publication numbers 104, 107, 110
Bushvelt sengi or elephant-shrew, Zwartmodder Farm, Maltahohe, Namibia
Elephantulus intufi
Photo © G. Rathbun
Recent publication numbers 102, 105, 112, 119, 123
Black mongoose, Erongo Mountain Nature Conservancy, Omaruru, Namibia
Galerella nigrata
Photo © R. Fussell
Publication numbers 100, 101, 116
Namib Desert golden mole, NamibRand Nature Reserve, Namib Desert, Namibia
Eremitalpa granti namibensis
Photo © G. Rathbun
Recent publication numbers 106, 109
Gray-faced sengi or elephant-shrew, Ndundulu Forest, Udzungwa Mountains, Tanzania
Rhynchocyon udzungwensis
Photo © F. Rovero
Recent publication numbers 108, 114, 121, 126, 132, 133
Namib round-eared sengi or elephant-shrew, Wlotzkasbaken, Namib Desert, Namibia
Macroscelides flavicaudatus
Photo © G. Rathbun
Recent publication numbers 120, 127
Dr. Samuel Andanje, Ecological Monitoring Program of the Kenya Wildlife Service, in the Boni Forest of northern coastal Kenya. Status of sengis in Kenya, especially the genus Rhynchocyon
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Dr. Jack Dumbacher and Galen Rathbun on Windpoort Farm, northern Namiba, Africa. Taxonomy and phylogeography of sengis, especially the genus Macroscelides. -
Dr. David Germano in the San Joaquin Desert, Kern County, California. Population ecology of Pacific pond turtles and impacts of livestock grazing on threatened vertebrates.
Seth Eiseb, Curator of Mammal at the National Museum of Namibia, processing a rodent at Popa Falls, Namibia. Taxonomy and ecology of mammals, including Macroscelides sengis.
Lynn Rathbun, spouse and field associate, in the Namib Desert, Namibia, Africa. Behavioral ecology of small mammals in Namibia, when not pursuing her art.
Dr. Francesco Rovero and Mr. Ruben Mwakisoma in the Udzungwa Mountains of Tanzania.- Behavioral ecology, phylogeography, and status of the giant sengi Rhynchocyon udzungwensis.
Dr. Norman Scott in pond, San Luis Obispo County, California. Ecology of California red-legged frogs and Pacific pond turtles.
amphibscott[at]gmail.com
Dr. Hanneline Smit in the High Karoo, Northern Cape Province, South Africa. Taxonomy and phylogeography of sengis, especially Macroscelides and Rhynchocyon.
DEGREES AND AFFILIATION
B.S., Zoology, Humboldt State University, Arcata,CA
Ph.D., Zoology, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
Scientist Emeritus, U.S. Geological Survey
Honorary Fellow and Research Associate, Department of Ornithology and Mammalogy, California Academy of Sciences
Galen received his undergraduate degree from Humboldt State University (California) and then served in the Peace Corps in Kenya for 5 years as a secondary school science teacher and museum education officer. He then received his Ph.D. in zoology from the University of Nairobi in Kenya in 1976 followed by a postdoctoral fellowship at the Smithsonian Institution's National Zoological Park. Most of his career was as a federal research biologist and project leader for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Florida manatee and California sea otter programs. In addition to his affiliation with the Academy, he is a Scientist Emeritus with the U.S. Geological Survey. As the founding Chair of the Afrotheria Specialist Group of the IUCN – the International Union for Conservation of Nature, Galen remains active in conservation biology.
Galen has produced over 120 professional and popular publications (1963-1999 citations). Those published since 2000 and associated with the Academy include the following:
85. Morales-Vela, B., D. Olivera-Gómez, J.E. Reynolds III, and G.B. Rathbun. 2000. Distribution and Habitat use by Manatees (Trichechus manatus manatus) in Belize and Chetumal Bay, Mexico. Biological Conservation 95:67-75. 892 KB PDF
86. Rathbun, G.B., and S.N. Kyalo. 2000. Golden-rumped Elephant-shrew, Pages 125-129, 340-341 in R.P. Reading and B. Miller (eds.), Endangered Animals, A Reference Guide to Conflicting Issues. Greenwood Press., Westport, Connecticut. 383 pp. 3.5 MB PDF
87. Rathbun, G.B., and R.L. Wallace. 2000. Florida Manatee, Pages 107-111, 337-338 in R.P. Reading and B. Miller (eds.), Endangered Animals, A Reference Guide to Conflicting Issues. Greenwood Press, Westport, Connecticut. 383 pp. 3.5 MB PDF
88. Rathbun, G., B.B. Hatfield, and T.G. Murphey. 2000. Status of translocated Sea Otters at San Nicolas Island, California. Southwestern Naturalist 45:322-328. 600 KB PDF
89. Lefebvre, L.W., M. Marmontel, J. Reid, G.B. Rathbun, and D. Domning. 2001. Status and Biogeography of the West Indian Manatee, Pages 425-474 in C.A. Woods and F.E. Sergile (eds.), Biogeography of the West Indies: past, present and future. CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida. 582 pp. 4.4 MB PDF
90. Germano, D.M., G.B. Rathbun, and L.R. Saslaw. 2001. Managing exotic grasses and conserving declining species. Wildlife Society Bulletin 29:551-559. 2.2 MB PDF
91. Fellers, G.M., A. Launer, G.B. Rathbun, S. Bobzien, J. Alvarez, D. Sterner, R.B. Seymour, and M. Westphal. 2001. Overwintering tadpoles in the California red-legged frog (Rana aurora draytonii). Herpetological Review 32:156-157. 220 KB PDF
92. Rathbun, G.B. 2001. Elephant Shrews, Pages 716-721 in D. Macdonald (ed.), The New Encyclopedia of Mammals. Oxford University Press, New York. 930 pp. 1.1 MB PDF
93. Jennings, M.R., and G.B. Rathbun. 2001. Petrodromus tetradactylus. Mammalian Species 782:1-6. 264 KB PDF
94. Rathbun, G.B., and J. Schneider. 2001. Translocation of California red-legged frogs (Rana aurora draytoniiI). Wildlife Society Bulletin 29:1300-1303. 792 KB PDF
95. Anderson, P.K., J.M. Packard, G.B. Rathbun, D.P.Domning, and R. Best. 2001. Dugong and manatees. Pp.279-287 in Macdonald, D. (ed.). The New Encyclopedia of Mammals. Oxford Uniersity Press, New York. 930 pp. 1.2 MB PDF
96. Rathbun, G.B., and P.F. Woodall. 2002. A bibliography of Elephant-shrews or Sengis (Macroscelidea). Mammal Review 32:66-70. 176 KB PDF
97. Rathbun, G.B., N.J. Scott Jr., and T.G. Murphey. 2002. Terrestrial habitat use by Pacific pond turtles in a Mediterranean climate. Southwestern Naturalist 47:225-235. 3.6 MB PDF
98. Rathbun, G.B., and L. Rathbun, (EDS.). 2002. Tales from the Cambria Woods - A collection of Essays About Our Forest. The Cambria Forest Committee, Cambria, California. 51 pp.
99. Rathbun, G.B., and D. Ribble. 2003. Does the Golden-rumped Sengi (Rhynchocyon chrysopygus) occur in coastal Tanzania? Afrotherian Conservation – Newsletter of the IUCN-SSC Afrotheria Specialist Group 2:6. 148 KB PDF
100. Rathbun, G. 2004. The Shadow Hunter. Africa Geographic Magazine (February 2004) 12(1):18-19. 452 KB PDF
101. Rathbun, G.B., T. Cowley, and O. Zapke. 2005. Black mongoose (Galerella nigrata) home range and social behaviour affected by abundant food at an antelope carcass. African Zoology 40:154-157. 208 KB PDF
102. Rathbun, G.B., and C.D. Rathbun. 2005. Does the Cape Sengi (Elephantulus edwardii) occur in Namibia? Afrotherian Conservation – Newsletter of the IUCN-SSC Afrotheria Specialist Group 3:5-6. 968 KB PDF
103. Rathbun, G.B. (Sub-Editor) 2005 . Order Macroscelidea, Pages 22-34 in J.D. Skinner and C.T. Chimimba (eds.), The Mammals of the Southern African Subregion. Cambridge University Press, Cape Town, South Africa. 814 pp. 5.3 MB PDF
104. Rathbun, G., and C.D. Rathbun. 2005. Noki or dassie-rat (Petromus typicus) feeding ecology and petrophily. Belgian Journal of Zoology 135 (supplement):69-75. 428 KB PDF
105. Rathbun, G.B., and C.D. Rathbun. 2006. Social structure of the bushveld sengi (Elephantulus intufi) in Namibia and the evolution of monogamy in the Macroscelidea. Journal of Zoology 269:391-399. 324 KB PDF
106. Rathbun, G.B., and C.D. Rathbun. 2006. Radio-tracking Namib Desert Golden Moles. Afrotherian Conservation - Newsletter of the IUCN-SSC Afrotheria Specialist Group 4:5-6. 420 KB PDF
107. Rathbun, G.B., and C.D. Rathbun. 2006. Social monogamy in the Noki or Dassie-rat (Petromus typicus) in Namibia. Mammalian Biology 71:203-213. 200 KB PDF
108. Rovero, F., and G.B. Rathbun. 2006. A potentially new giant sengi (elephant-shrew) from the Udzungwa Mountains, Tanzania. Journal of East African Natural History 95:111-115. 332 KB PDF
109. Rathbun, G.B., and C.D. Rathbun. 2006. Habitat use by radio-tagged Namib Desert golden moles (Eremitalpa granti namibensis). African Journal of Ecology 45:196-201. 460 KB PDF
110. Rathbun, G.B., and C.D. Rathbun. 2006. Sheltering, basking, and petrophily in the Noki or Dassie-rat (Petromus typicus) in Namibia. Mammalia 2006:269-275. 260 KB PDF
111. Hayes, M.P., M.R. Jennings, and G. Rathbun. 2006. Rana draytonii (California Red-legged Frog) Prey. Herpetological Review 37:449. 16 KB PDF
112. Rathbun, G.B., and J. Kingdon. 2006. The etymology of “SENGIS". Afrotherian Conservation - Newsletter of the IUCN-SSC Afrotheria Specialist Group 4:14-15. 45 KB PDF
113. Rathbun, G., and L.B. Lackey. 2007. A brief graphical history of sengis in captivity. Afrotherian Conservation - Newsletter of the IUCN-SSC Afrotheria Specialist Group 5:7-8. 264 KB PDF
114. Rovero, F., G.B. Rathbun, A. Perkin, T. Jones, D.O. Ribble, C. Leonard, R.R. Mwakisoma, and N. Doggart. 2008. A new species of giant sengi or elephant-shrew (genus Rhynchocyon) highlights the exceptional biodiversity of the Udzungwa Mountains of Tanzania. Journal of Zoology 274:126-133. 548 KB PDF
115. Schipper, J. [...] G.B. Rathbun, et al. 2008. The status of the world’s land and marine mammals: diversity, threat, and knowledge. Science 322:225-230. 5.2 MB PDF
116. Rathbun, G.B., and T.E. Cowley. 2008. Behavioural ecology of the black mongoose (Galerella nigrata) in Namibia. Mammalian Biology 73:444-450. 288 KB PDF
117. Scott, N.J., G.B. Rathbun, T.G. Murphey, and M.B. Harker. 2008. Reproduction of Pacific Pond Turtles (Actinemys marmorata) in coastal streams of central California. Herpetological Conservation and Biology 3(2):143-148. 156 KB PDF
118. Germano, D.J., and G.B. Rathbun. 2008. Growth, Population Structure, and Reproduction of Western Pond Turtles (Actinemys marmorata) on the Central Coast of California. Chelonian Conservation and Biology 7(2):188-194. 224 KB PDF
119. Rathbun, G.B. 2008. Tales of sengi tails. Afrotherian Conservation – Newsletter of the IUCN-SSC Afrotheria Specialist Group 6:8-10. 538 KB PDF
120. Rathbun, G.B. 2009. Why is there discordant diversity in sengi (Mammalia: Afrotheria: Macroscelidea) taxonomy and ecology? African Journal of Ecology 47:1-13. 839 KB PDF
121. Andanje, S., B.R. Agwanda, G.W. Ngaruiya, R. Amin, and G.B. Rathbun. 2010. Sengi (elephant-shrew) observations from northern coastal Kenya. Journal of East African Natural History 99(1): 1-8. 409 KB PDF
122. Hoffmann, M., […...], G.B. Rathbun, et al. 2010. The impact of conservation on the status of the world's vertebrates. Science 330:1503-1509. 885 KB PDF
123. Nyari, A. S., A. T. Peterson, and G. B. Rathbun. 2010. Late Pleistocene potential distribution of the North African sengi or elephant-shrew Elephantulus rozeti (Mammalia: Macroscelidea). African Zoology 45:330-339. 1.6 MB PDF
124. Germano, D. J., G. B. Rathbun, L. R. Saslaw, B. L. Cypher, E. A. Cypher, and L. M. Vredenburgh. 2011. The San Joaquin Desert of California: ecologically misunderstood and overlooked. Natural Areas Journal 31(2):138-147 4.9 MB PDF
125. Rathbun, G. B. 2011. Aardvark hunt in Kenya (photo essay). Afrotherian Conservation-Newsletter of the IUCN-SSC Afrotheria Specialist Group 8 (June 2011):13-14. 0.9 MB PDF
126. Amin, R., G.B. Rathbun, and S Andanje. 2011. Conservation concerns for Afrotheria in northern coastal Kenya. Afrotherian Conservation-Newsletter of the IUCN-SSC Afrotheria Specialist Group 8 (June 2011):15-16. 1.2 MB PDF
127. Dumbacher, J.P., G.B. Rathbun, H.A. Smit, and S.J. Eiseb. 2012. Phylogeny and taxonomy of the round-eared sengis or elephant-shrews, genus Macroscelides (Mammalia, Afrotheria, Macroscelidea). PLoS ONE 7(3):e32410 (12 pp + 4 pp. supplement table). 630 KB PDF and 130 KB PDF (suppl)
128. Germano, D.J., G.B. Rathbun, and L.R. Saslaw. 2012. Effects of grazing and invasive grasses on desert vertebrtes in California. Journal of Wildlife Management 76(4):670-682. 370 KB PDF
129. Rathbun, G.B. 2012. Water temperatures in a California Red-legged Frog breeding pond. Immediate Science Ecology 1:7-11. 625 KB PDF
130. Kingdon, J., E. R. Seiffert, B. Hedges, and G. Rathbun. 2013. Species Account: Supercohort Afrotheria. Pp. 143-146 in Kingdon, J. S., Happold, D. C. D., Hoffmann, M., Butynski, T.M., Happold, T, and Kalina, J. (eds.), Mammals of Africa, Vol. 1. Bloomsbury Publishing, London. 1.2 MB PDF
131. Perrin, M. and G. Rathbun. 2013. Species Accounts: Order Macroscelidea, Family Macroscelididae, Genus Elephantulus, E. edwardii; E. intufi; E. myurus; E. rozeti; E. rufescens, Genus Macroscelides, M. proboscideus. Pp. 261-278 in Kingdon, J. S., Happold, D. C. D., Hoffmann, M., Butynski, T.M., Happold, T, and Kalina, J. (eds.), Mammals of Africa, Vol. 1. Bloomsbury Publishing, London. 7.7 MB PDF
132. Rathbun, G. B. 2013. Species Accounts: Genus Petrodromus; P. tetradactylus; Genus Rhynchocyon; R. cirnei, R. chrysopygus, R. petersi. Pp. 279-287 in Kingdon, J. S., Happold, D. C. D., Hoffmann, M., Butynski, T.M., Happold, T, and Kalina, J. (eds.), Mammals of Africa, Vol. 1. Bloomsbury Publishing, London. 7.7 MB PDF
133. Coals, P.G.R. and G.B. Rathbun. 2013. Taxonomic status of giant sengis (genus Rhynchocyon) in Mozambique. Journal of East African Natural History In Press.