Anatoli Petrovich Bogdanov (Russian: Анатолий Петрович Богданов) (1834–1896) was a Russian zoologist and anthropologist who was born in the Voronezh Oblast in southern Russia.

In 1855 he graduated from the Department of Natural Sciences at the University of Moscow, and furthered his education at several natural history museums throughout Europe. During this time he also attended lectures from famous zoologists such as Isidore Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire (1805-1861) and Émile Blanchard (1819-1900). In 1858 he returned to Moscow, where he performed post-graduate work and helped establish a department of zoology. In 1861 he became head of the department of zoology, and in 1863 became director of the zoological museum at Moscow, a position he maintained for the rest of his life.

Bogdanov was known for his organizational skills, and was a major factor in the founding of the zoological gardens in Moscow, as well as the establishment of several scientific societies, including the "Society of Friends of Natural Science". This society was founded in 1864, whose goal was to spread scientific knowledge to the Russian people, and create an atmosphere where professionals and amateurs could work together in their love of natural sciences. Through this institution, Bogdanov was able to raise money and resources to create an "All-Russian Ethnographic Exhibition", which made its debut in April, 1867. This exhibition consisted of dioramas with hundreds of mannequins representing 60 ethnic groups that populated the Russian Empire.

Bogdanov is also credited for the translation of several German and French textbooks on zoology and entomology into Russian.

[edit] References

• Zoological Museum of Moscow University (short biography)
• Essay on the 1867 All-Russian Ethnographic Exhibition