Pierre Sonnerat

Pierre Sonnerat (August 18, 1748 ? March 31, 1814) was a French naturalist and explorer.

Related Topics:
August 18 - 1748 - March 31 - 1814 - French - Naturalist - Explorer

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Sonnerat was the nephew of the botanist Pierre Poivre. He made several voyages to southeast Asia, visiting the Philippines and Moluccas between 1769 and 1772, and India and China from 1774 to 1781. He was the first person to give a scientific description of the south Chinese fruit tree lychee. He also happens to be the fellow who misinterpreted the call of a helpful Malagasy guide who had spotted a lemur and shouted "indri!" ("look" in Malagasy). Apparently Sonnerat baptized the animal "indri", whence the indriid family, the indri indri etc ...

Related Topics:
Botanist - Pierre Poivre - Asia - Philippines - Moluccas - India - China - 1774 - 1781 - Lychee

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His books included Voyage à la Nouvelle-Guinée (1776) and Voyage aux Indes orientales et à la Chine, fait depuis 1774 jusqu'à 1781 (1782).

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The standard botanical author abbreviation Sonn. is applied to plants he described.

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His name is used in the specific name of the Grey junglefowl (Gallus sonnerati).

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