🔬Science & Academia

Desmond Morris

British · 98 years old · Died 1 February 2026

Zoologist and author of The Naked Ape

Desmond Morris was a zoologist and ethologist whose 1967 bestseller The Naked Ape applied the lens of animal behaviour to human beings — arguing that despite our technology and civilisation, we are still primates governed by biological drives. The book sold over 12 million copies and was translated into 23 languages, making it one of the most successful popular science books ever written.

Since Desmond Morris died

Live count since 1 February 2026

Total deaths worldwide since then

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Other notable deaths in 2026