Ailsa McGown Clark

Ailsa McGown Clark (1926–2014)[1] was a British zoologist, who principally studied echinoderms[2] (such as starfishes and sea urchins)[3] and was a specialist on asteroidea.

[9]Clark illustrated the text with 'a series of line drawings of the species' described, which offered 'a more precise means of comparing material with the descriptions'.

[9] The reviewer (Barry Fell) also noted another 'important innovation' of Clark's:[9]a major revision of the family Antedonidae, a group of great importance in cool temperate, polar and deep-sea faunas.

This study, undertaken by Miss Clark some years since, but only now formally published, comprises the section of the monograph of most value to the general marine biologist.

[11] The species Ophiolepsis ailsae[12] was named for Clark, 'in recognition of a highly esteemed student of the Echinodermata on her retirement from the British Museum (Natural History)'.