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Weaver Wednesday 4 [291] - Weaver themes [28]: Anton Reichenow, author of most weaver species

2018-01-10 (816)

Weaver Wednesday 4: Weaver themes (Series)

Anton Reichenow, author of most weaver species

The weavers were described by 49 different authors (counting first authors only, where more than one was involved, see Discovery by author). Most weavers were described by Reichenow (n=10), followed by Linnaeus (n=9) and Hartlaub (n=8). Reichenow also co-authored the descriptions of 2 more weavers. He also described many weaver taxa that are now subspecies or not valid taxa.

Heuglin's Masked Weaver,
first weaver described by Reichenow

Anton Reichenow (1847 - 1941) was a German ornithologist and herpetologist. Reichenow was the son-in-law of Jean Cabanis, and worked at the Humboldt Museum from 1874 to 1921. He was an expert on African birds, making a collecting expedition to West Africa in 1872 and 1873, and writing "Die Vogel Afrikas (1900-05)". He was also an expert on parrots, describing all species then known in a book. He was editor of the Journal fur Ornithologie from 1894 to 1921. A number of birds are named after him, including Reichenow's woodpecker and Reichenow's firefinch.

Reichenow also worked in the scientific field of herpetology. He is credited with describing a new genus and two new species of frogs, and two new species of lizards.

Weavers described by Reichenow:
Heuglin's Masked Weaver
Tanganyika Masked Weaver
Bob-tailed Weaver
Rufous-tailed Weaver
Preuss's Weaver
Yellow-capped Weaver
Red-bellied Malimbe
Olive-headed Weaver
Montane Marsh Widowbird
Black-chinned Weaver