It is shown that the pinnacle of Max Weber’s scientific career was the organization and leadership of the Siboga Expedition to the former Netherlands East Indies (now Indonesia) in the years 1899—1900. Before that time, as Professor of both General and Special Zoology at the University of Amsterdam, he had devoted his research mainly to the anatomy of mammals, which resulted in the fundamental reference work Die Säugetiere published in first edition in 1904. Just before his departure with the Siboga Expedition Weber was appointed Extraordinary Professor of Special Zoology in Amsterdam. This gave him more time to edit the results of the Siboga Expedition and for taxonomic studies, especially on the fishes of the Indo-Australian Archipelago. Nevertheless he... |