Friedrich Wilhelm Alexander von Mechow
Friedrich Wilhelm Alexander von Mechow was a Prussian explorer of Africa, and a naturalist. Von Mechow was a specialty collector of phanerogams, particularly in Angola. He held the rank of major in the Prussian Army.
Von Mechow joined the Loango-expedition under Paul Güssfeldt. He undertook a second larger exploration between 1879 and 1882 in Angola, where he explored the middle course of the Kwango River. He collected birds for Jean Cabanis and Anton Reichenow at Museum für Naturkunde in Berlin.
Several species are named for him including a butterfly, the dusky long-tailed cuckoo, and Mechow's mole-rat.
Von Mechow is commemorated in the scientific name of a species of African snake, Xenocalamus mechowii.Works
Mechow: Kartenwerk meiner Kuango-Expedition. 28 Blätter. BerlinAdditional references
- James A Jobling, 2009 Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names
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