Edgardo Mondolfi Otero (15 May 1918 - 7 November 1999) was a Venezuelan biologist and ecologist specializing in mammalogy.
Career Mondolfi was a professor of zoology at the Central University of Venezuela, adviser to the Ministry of Environment, and Deputy Minister of Agriculture.Dr. Edgardo Mondolfi in Global 500. Environmental Forum. Nairobi, Kenya
He authored numerous books and scientific articles, including a monograph on the jaguar together with Rafael Hoogesteijn. He carried out pioneering work in wildlife management and was well known for his campaigns for the exploration and protection of South American mammal fauna.Bo Beolens, Michael Watkins & Michael Grayson (2009): The Eponym Dictionary of Mammals. Baltimore, Maryland, USA: The Johns Hopkins University Press. ISBN 978-0-8018-9304-9, pp. 282–283. (Google Books)
In his later years, he served as Ambassador of Venezuela to Tanzania and Kenya. He died on 7 November 1999 of dengue fever.
Honors In 2006, zoologists Daniel Lew, Roger Pérez-Hernández, and Jacint Ventura named the four-eyed opossum Philander mondolfii in his honor.Daniel Lew, Roger Pérez-Hernández & Jacint Ventura (2006): "Two new species of Philander (Didelphimorphia, Didelphidae) from Northern South America". Journal of Mammalogy 87 (2): 224–237.
For his environmental work, he received the National Conservation Award of Venezuela in 1969.
Species and subspecies described Mondolfi was the first describer of several mammal species and subspecies, the following of which are considered valid: Sylvilagus brasiliensis caracasensis Mondolfi & Méndez Aroche, 1957 Ichthyomys pittieri Handley & Mondolfi, 1963 Dasypus sabanicola Mondolfi, 1968 Didelphis imperfecta Mondolfi & Pérez-Hernández, 1984 Sciurus granatensis llanensis Mondolfi & Boher, 1984
Abbreviation The abbreviation Mondolfi is used to indicate this author as the authority for zoological description and nomenclature.
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