Scheuchzer, Johann Jacob

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Scheuchzer, Johann Jacob (1672–1733) A Swiss mathematician and physician, Scheuchzer is best known for his work on fossil fish and plants which he attributed to a universal deluge. He is notorious for finding, in 1726, the fossil remains of Homo Diluvii Testis (the man who witnessed the deluge), which was taken as important evidence for the Mosaic Flood, but was later shown by Cuvier to be a giant salamander.