Trip to Tervuren, Belgium, to study weaver type specimens, Jul/Aug 2008


I spent two weeks at the natural history museum in Tervuren (Royal Museum of Central Africa), from 26 Jul - 8 Aug 2008, to study their weaver type specimens. The natural history museums in Brussels, Berlin and Leiden were briefly visited during after these 2 weeks.

Museum
Royal Museum of Central Africa, public entrance
 
  		specimen
Lake Lufira Weaver type specimen
Other than the Kilombero Weaver, this is the most
recent weaver to be described (in 1982)

List of weaver types at Royal Museum of Central Africa, listed in sequence of publication.

Species Author Year Original name Collector Type Locality
Jackson's Widow Sharpe 1891 Drepanoplectes jacksoni FJ Jackson syntype Lake Elmenteita
Jackson's Widow Sharpe 1891 Drepanoplectes jacksoni FJ Jackson syntype Lumbwa
Weyns's Weaver Dubois 1900 Ploceus weynsi A. Weyns 11 syntypes Bumba
Village Weaver Ogilvie-Grant 1907 Hyphantornis feminina RE Legge syntype Ruwenzori SE 3400 ft
Village Weaver Ogilvie-Grant 1907 Hyphantornis feminina D Carruthers, RE Dent, [G] Legge 4 syntypes Ruwenzori SE 3400 ft
Baglafecht Weaver van Someren 1921 Othyphantes emini budongoensis Dr VGL van Someren 2 paratypes Budongo forest, Masindi
Black-necked Weaver van Someren 1921 Heteryphantes nigricollis vacillans Dr VGL van Someren 2 paratypes Mabira
Lesser Masked Weaver van Someren 1921 Hyphantornis intermedius kisumui Dr VGL van Someren 3 paratypes Kisumu, & Simba
Red-billed Quelea van Someren 1921 Quelea sanguineirostris centralis Dr VGL van Someren 3 paratypes Izanga Isl., L. Edward
Red-collared Widow van Someren 1921 Penthetria ardens teitensis Dr VGL van Someren 2 paratypes Bura Hills
Thick-billed Weaver van Someren 1921 Amblyospiza albifrons montana P Cook, Dr VGL van Someren 2 paratypes Kyambu, & Fort Hall
Preuss's Weaver Neunzig 1927 Ploceus preussi congoensis H. Schouteden holotype Makaia N'tete
Preuss's Weaver Neunzig 1927 Ploceus preussi congoensis H. Schouteden 5 paratypes Temvo, & Makaia N'tete
Thick-billed Weaver Schouteden 1953 Amblyospiza albifrons kasaica P Van Assche holotype Kasansa
Lake Lufira Weaver Louette & Benson 1982 Ploceus ruweti JC Ruwet holotype Kinsamba, Lufira area

Photos of the specimens may be viewed here. Click on a species on this page.

Acknowledgements
The visit to Tervuren was funded by ABIC, African Biodiversity Information Centre