Francesco Castracane degli Antelminelli (b. Fano, Italy, 19 July 1817; d. Rome 27 March 1899) was an Italian naturalist. He was educated at the Jesuits' school in Reggio Emilia, and was ordained priest in 1840. Four years later he was made canon of the cathedral in Fano, and at the same time resumed his studies at the in Rome. In 1852 he resigned his canonry, and took up his residence in Rome. Castracane had a love of nature, and during the latter half of his life devoted himself to biological research. He was reportedly one of the first to introduce microphotography into the study of biology. His first experiments in applying the camera to the microscope were made as early as 1862 with diatomaceæ, and he subsequently made these microorganisms his chief study. He investigated their struct