Morris, Desmond (1928-…), is a British zoologist. He has written or coauthored more than a dozen books that have increased popular interest in the behavior of animals and human beings. Morris has also helped make films and television programs that explore the social behavior of animals.
Morris’s best-known books are The Naked Ape (1967) and The Human Zoo (1969). These books, written from the viewpoint of a zoologist, discuss the basic elements of animal behavior in human beings. Morris examines the ways that humans behave socially in modern-day urban society. The Naked Ape became widely popular, but some scientists criticized it because they thought its entertainment value overshadowed its scientific value. Morris also wrote The Biology of Art (1962) and The Mammals: A Guide to the Living Species (1965). With his wife, Ramona Morris, he wrote Men and Snakes (1965), Men and Apes (1966), and Men and Pandas (1966). Desmond John Morris was born on Jan. 24, 1928, in Purton, England, near Swindon.
