Schinz was born in Zürich and studied medicine at the universities of Würzburg and Jena. In 1798 he received his doctorate and subsequently returned to his hometown of Zürich as a medical practitioner. In 1804 he became a teacher of physiology and natural history at the medical-surgical institute in Zürich, and from 1833 to 1855 he served as an associate professor of zoology at the university of Zurich.^[1][2]

He was also curator at the natural history society of Zurich, and was the author of many important zoological works; such as:

• Das Thierreich eingetheilt nach dem Bau der Thiere als Grundlage (1821–25), translation of Georges Cuvier's Le Règne animal, with numerous additions.
• Naturschichte und Abbildungen der Fische, Schaffhausen, 1836, doi:10.3931/e-rara-85906 (vol. 1), doi:10.3931/e-rara-85907 (vol. 2) (Digitized edition at e-rara.), Karl Joseph Brodtmann lithographed the plates.
• Naturgeschichte und Abbildungen der Reptilien, Schaffhausen, 1833–1835, doi:10.3931/e-rara-79384 (vol. 1), doi:10.3931/e-rara-79847 (vol. 2) (Digitized edition at e-rara), Karl Joseph Brodtmann lithographed the plates.
• Europäsche Fauna (1840).

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  Bufo spp. from "Naturgeschichte und Abbildungen Der Reptilien"
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  Greek tortoise from "Naturgeschichte und Abbildungen Der Reptilien"
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  Nile crocodile from "Naturgeschichte und Abbildungen Der Reptilien"
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  Gavial from "Naturgeschichte und Abbildungen Der Reptilien"

Bibliography edit

• Mearns and Mearns – Biographies for Birdwatchers. ISBN 0-12-487422-3.