Richard Dean Estes (1932-1990) was a paleoherpetologist, specializing in the evolution of extinct salamanders.
He was awarded the Romer-Simpson Medal in 1990 by the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology and served as an editor for the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology.
The taxa Estesia, Estesina, and Richardoestesia are all named in honour of Estes.