Edgar Alexander Mearns (September 11, 1856 – November 1, 1916) was an American surgeon, ornithologist and field naturalist.

His grandfather Alexander was of Scottish origin and moved to Highland Falls in 1815.

Later that year Theodore Roosevelt invited Mearns to accompany the Smithsonian-Roosevelt African Expedition as naturalist.

He scientifically described several birds and other animal species, like the Taita thrush, the Apo sunbird, the Boran cisticola, the Chihuahuan grasshopper mouse, and the rufous-headed tailorbird.

Several animal taxa are named in honor of Mearns: five birds; seven mammals, including Mearns's pocket gopher (Thomomys bottae mearnsi); and Petrosaurus mearnsi.