Paul Skelton is Emeritus Professor of Ichthyology at Rhodes University, South Africa, and the country's expert on southern African freshwater fishes. He has dedicated over 40 years to studying African fish species, and is the former director of the JLB Smith Institute of Ichthyology, now the South African Institute of Aquatic Biodiversity (SAIAB). The Southern African Society of Aquatic Scientists (SASAQS) has awarded him silver and gold medals, and he is also the recipient of a Distinguished Old Rhodian award. Paul has served on the IUCN Freshwater Fish Group, and he compiled the South African Red Data Book for freshwater fishes.
