Desmond John Morris, FZS (born 24 January 1928) is an English zoologist, ethologist and surrealist painter, as well as a popular author in human sociobiology.

After receiving his doctoral degree from Oxford University, Morris continued on post-doctorally at Oxford University conducting research on the reproductive behavior of birds. After some time elapsed, including Morris’s move to London in 1956, he thence began a research project into the picture making abilities of apes.The following year of ’57 he organizes an exhibition at the Institute of Contemporary Arts in London, all of paintings and drawings composed by chimpanzees. Later, in 1958 he co-organizes an interesting exhibition of which compared pictures made by the likes of infants, human adults, as well as apes. The event was called The Lost Image, it was held at the Royal Festival Hall in London. After assuming the position of Curator in 1959, Desmond’s upcoming years begin to fill with strings and strings of books to be released on the topics of animal behavior, art, many centering on the topic of human behavior, as well as comparisons to primates; viewing humanity as revolutionized from the hunter-gather to the city dweller. Morris Continues on publishing books covering infant behavior watching, as well as man watching, and watchings of various types of animals such as cats and dogs.

Morris' works are published almost world wide. His first book that concerned actual human behavior was published in 1967 titled The Naked Ape a Zoologists study of the Human as an revolutionized animal, of which gained more success than what had been anticipated. Following its success, in 1968 Morris moves to the Mediterranean island of Malta in order to focus on preparing a sequel as well as freely painting and other activities. Shortly thereafter, with books still continuously being published, in 1971 he opened his research headquarters in Malta. Specifically, in order to conduct research towards producing an encyclopedia of all human actions, more specifically, to classify all human action-patterns. However, in 1973 Desmond left Malta returning to work for the Nobel Prize winner Niko Tinbergen, in his research group studying animal behavior, with the department of Zoology at Oxford University.

After some time elapses filled with more book publications flowing alongside various other attributes of Morris's careers, in 1982 he begins to look into archaeological researches for a new, slightly different book The Art of Ancient Cyprus. As creative minds wonder, Morris later the following year publishes a quite interesting Book of Ages, a year-by-year account of human life from birth to death. Finishing The Art of Ancient Cyprus the next year, 1984, published 85. Desmond’s following research project was conducted in 1988, respectively on the colors used in decorating human homes. The findings and data were brought together that same year within a report called Nestbuilders. Throughout his entire career Desmond Morris has written almost countless books continuously on the observations of life, humans, animals, and even paintings as well as children's books on the matters. Despite all of his other interests, the majority of his books took place under the category of sociobiology.

This work has become a benchmark of popular anthropology and psychology.

Zoologist Desmond Morris considers humans as being simply another animal species in this classic book first published in 1967. Here is the Naked Ape at his most primal in love, at work, at war. Meet man as he really is: relative to the apes, stripped of his veneer as we see him courting, making love, sleeping, socializing, grooming, playing. The Naked Ape takes its place alongside Darwin’s Origin of the Species , presenting man not as a fallen angel, but as a risen ape, remarkable in his resilience, energy and imagination, yet an animal nonetheless, in danger of forgetting his origins.

With its penetrating insights on mans beginnings, sex life, habits and our astonishing bonds to the animal kingdom, The Naked Ape is a landmark, at once provocative, compelling and timeless.