Miguel Alvarez del Toro


Miguel Carlos Francisco Alvarez del Toro was a Mexican biologist who worked in the state of Chiapas as head of the Institute of Natural History. He was the first Mexican conservationist.

Career

He was born in Colima, and later travelled to Mexico City with his family. He worked there as the director of a natural history museum. He was later hired by the government of Chiapas and moved to that state. Due to his close contact and friendship with politicians he became prominent and well-funded. He was married to Clementina Pérez.
Alvarez del Toro is the author of the following books: Los Reptiles de Chiapas, Los Crocodylia de México, Los Animales Silvestres de Chiapas, ¡Así era Chiapas!, Las Aves de Chiapas, Arañas de Chiapas, Chiapas y su biodiversidad, and Comitán, una puerta al sur.

Legacy

The Zoológico Miguél Álvarez del Toro, a zoo, is named after him.
Environmentalist group Fundación Chiapaneca Miguel Alvarez del Toro para la Proteccion de la Naturaleza is also named after him.
The following species have been named after him: