Fritz Müller: 200 years of a pioneer evolutionist

Abstract

Fritz Müller is known for explaining the evolutionary consequences of what is now called Müllerian mimicry, but his scientific contributions encompass a wide range of organisms and both ecological and evolutionary processes. His originality is seen in aspects as different as the discovery of the mutualistic nature of ant–fungus symbiosis, pioneering research in evolutionary developmental biology and the first mathematical treatment in a Darwinian framework. From his intimate knowledge of the natural history of Brazil and original observations of morphology and development, Müller provided evidence supporting natural selection. From the 20th century onwards, however, his scientific legacy has been re-examined only for single topics. To celebrate the bicentenary of his birth in 2022, this article briefly discusses his importance for current ecological and evolutionary knowledge.