Leo Brongersma
Leo Daniel Brongersma (May 17, 1907, Bloemendaal, North Holland – July 24, 1994, Leiden) was a Dutch zoologist, herpetologist, author, and lecturer.
Brongersma was born in Bloemendaal, North Holland, and earned his PhD at the University of Amsterdam in 1934. He was probably best known for his book European Atlantic Turtles,[1] which was published in 1972, but he also served as the director of the Natural History Museum, Leiden and lectured at Leiden University until he retired at age 65.[2] In the 1950s he led several expeditions to collect zoological specimens in New Guinea. He described many new reptile species from the Indo-Australian Archipelago and New Guinea. He was also a Member of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences since 1952[3] and an Honorary Foreign Member of the American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists. He died at his home in Leiden in 1994.[4]
Amphibian and Reptile species described by Brongersma
listed in the order they were described (only species still recognized are listed)
- Gehyra leopoldi Brongersma, 1930 (King Leopold's Dtella)
- Hemiphyllodactylus margarethae Brongersma, 1931 (Sumatran Dwarf Tree Gecko)
- Hyla proboscidea now Scinax proboscideus (Brongersma, 1933) (Gran Rio Snouted Treefrog)
- Gymnodactylus papuensis now Cyrtodactylus papuensis (Brongersma, 1934) (Papuan Bow-fingered Gecko)
- Gymnodactylus vankampeni now Nactus vankampeni (Brongersma, 1934) (Van Kampen's Bow-fingered Gecko)
- Typhlops similis now Ramphotyphlops similis (Brongersma, 1934) (Manokwari Blindsnake)
- Typhlops supranasalis now Ramphotyphlops supranasalis (Brongersma, 1934) (Salawati Blindsnake)
- Typhlops koekkoeki Brongersma, 1934 (Bunyu Island Blindsnake)
- Lygosoma necopinatum now Sphenomorphus necopinatus Brongersma, 1942 (Bogor Forest Skink)
- Lygosoma vanheurni now Sphenomorphus vanheurni (Brongersma, 1942) (Van Heurn's Forest Skink)
- Gymnodactylus deveti now Cyrtodactylus deveti (Brongersma, 1948) (Moluccan Bow-fingered Gecko)
- Natrix mairii multiscutellatus now Tropidonophis multiscutellatus (Brongersma, 1948) (Long-tailed Keelback)
- Lipinia venemai Brongersma, 1953 (Venema's Moth Skink)
- Liais boeleni now Morelia boeleni (Brongersma, 1953) (Boelen's Python)
- Liasis mackloti savuensis Brongersma, 1956 (Sawu Island Python)
- Denisonia boschmai now Cryptophis boschani (Brongersma & Knaap van Meeuven, 1961) (Carpentaria Whipsnake)
Amphibian and Reptile species described in Brongersma's honour
listed in the order they were described (only species still recognized are listed)
- Phrynobatrachus brongersmai Parker, 1936 (Boulenger's African river frog)
- Python brongersmai Stull, 1938 (Malaysian Blood Python)
- Hyla brongersmai now Litoria brongersmai Loveridge, 1945 (Snow Mountains Treefrog)
- Calamaria brongersmai Inger & Marx, 1965 (Brongersma's Reed Snake)
- Trimeresurus brongersmai Hoge, 1969 (Brongersma's Pitviper)
- Bufo brongersmai Hoogmoed, 1972 (Brongersma's Toad)
- Sphenomorphus brongersmai now Eremiascincus brongersmai (Storr, 1972) (Brongersma's Night Skink)
- Leiolopisma brongersmai now Lobulia brongersmai (Zweifel, 1972) (Brongersma's Highland Skink)
- Tribolonotus brongersmai Cogger, 1973 (Admiralty Crocodile Skink)
- Emoia brongersmai Brown, 1991 (Brongersma's Emo Skink)
