Johann Maria Hildebrandt

Johann Maria Hildebrandt (born 13 or 19 March 1847; died 29 May 1881) was a German explorer, collector, and scientist.

Between 1872 and 1881, Hildebrandt made a number of expeditions to the Horn of Africa and the African Great Lakes, collecting a large number of botanical and zoological specimens.

His expeditions were for the most part modest affairs, but he discovered a number of new species.

Hildebrandt died of a fever and stomach bleeding whilst on an expedition to Madagascar and was buried in the Norwegian Cemetery in Ambatovinaky.

He gave his name to a number of species, including Hildebrandt's starling (Lamprotornis hildebrandti), the cycad Encephalartos hildebrandtii and Hildebrandt's spurfowl (Pternistis hildebrandti), all of which he discovered in Kenya in the African Great Lakes region.