Sonnerat, collector of the Nelicourvi Weaver, figure from wikipedia
Nelicourvi Weaver distribution, type locality circled
Introduction
The Nelicourvi Weaver was formally named by Giovanni Antonio Scopoli, a Tyrolean naturalist, in 1786. Scopoli gave a scientific name and description of the Nelicourvi Weaver in Latin, based on the publication of Pierre Sonnerat.
Sonnerat made several voyages to southeast Asia, visiting the eastern coast of Madagascar in 1772. He visited Fort Dauphin near the south, but probably also visited other ports along the coast. He also observed the nests of the Nelicourvi Weaver, noting the long entrance tube and that several could be found in 1 site. Sonnerat published his travel diary in 1776.
Sonnerat provided a French name (Le Nelicourvi de Madagascar, the finch of Madagascar) while Scopoli, who had been corresponding with Carl Linnaeus, provided a binomial name and thus is credited as author of the Nelicourvi Weaver.
Scientific citation
Parvus nelicourvi Scopoli 1786 Del. Flor. Faun. Insurb., fasc. 2, p.96 Madagascar, ex Sonnerat, pl. 112.
Meaning of names
parvus (Latin) = small, little.
nelicourvi = doubtless from the Tamil (Sri Lanka) name nellukuruvi for a finch or waxbill, the Madagascan Nelicourvi Weaver thought to have come from Indomalaya.
Alternate names
None.
Collector
Pierre Sonnerat.
Date collected
1770, when Sonnerat visited Madagascar.
Locality collected
East coast of Madagascar, possibly Fort Dauphin.
Type specimens
No type specimens known to survive, but the painting of Sonnerat serves as a type.
Weaver Watch
