Derek Yalden

Who was Derek Yalden?

Dr Derek William Yalden, B.Sc., Ph.D. was a zoologist and an Honorary Reader at the University of Manchester.

After obtaining a 1st Class B.Sc. University College London in 1962, he completed his PhD on carpal bones in mammals at Royal Holloway College, under Prof. P. M. Butler, in 1965. He then worked as an Assistant Lecturer, and eventually Senior Lecturer, at the University of Manchester, School of Biological Sciences., teaching vertebrate zoology. He retired from there in 2005, after 40 years' service.

He was president of The Mammal Society from 1997 until his death, and edited their journal, Mammal Review from 1980-2002. He authored or co-authored over 200 scientific publications.

Leptopelis yaldeni, and Desmomys yaldeni are named in his honour. Both are endemic to Ethiopia.