About Francis John Mitchell
Lived 1929 – 1970 (aged 40). Francis John Mitchell was an Australian herpetologist.
Francis John Mitchell (1929–1970) was a biologist and curator with a special interest in herpetology. Active from South Australia, he was vice president of the state's Royal Society and employed at South Australian Museum. His initial positions at the museum related to the reptile and frog collections, leading to his role as head curator of the vertebrates in 1965. An active and competitive skin diver who was involved in ocean sports and associations, Mitchell was able to align these interests by obtaining specimens from spear and big game fisherman.
Work, legacy, and honors Mitchell discovered and described at least a dozen species of reptiles, including the Black-palmed Rock Monitor, Varanus glebopalma. Three species of lizards were named after Francis Mitchell: Diplodactylus mitchelli ; Pogona mitchelli ; and Varanus mitchelli .
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Frequently asked questions
Who was Francis John Mitchell?
Australian herpetologist (1929–1970)
When was Francis John Mitchell born?
Francis John Mitchell was born on 8 August 1929 in Adelaide.
When did Francis John Mitchell die?
Francis John Mitchell died on 23 February 1970 in Belair.
What was Francis John Mitchell's occupation?
Francis John Mitchell was a herpetologist.
What nationality was Francis John Mitchell?
Francis John Mitchell was Australian.
Sources & further reading
· Wikipedia: Francis John Mitchell
· DBpedia: Francis John Mitchell
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Francis John Mitchell. https://biography.guide/francis-john-mitchell/
MLA: "Francis John Mitchell." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/francis-john-mitchell/.
Chicago: "Francis John Mitchell." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/francis-john-mitchell/.
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