Nelly Carrillo Tarazona de Espinoza

[1][2] Nelly Carrillo Espinoza studied at the Faculty of Biology at the National University of San Marcos (UNMSM) in Lima, where she took care of the department's important scientific collection.

In 1973 she received her doctorate from UNMSM with her dissertation titled A new species of the genus Sibynomorphus (Serpentes: Colubridae).

During her time at the museum, it was unusual for a woman would work in this field, especially in a leading position, but despite the odds, she attracted attention in scientific circles and earned an excellent reputation.

With co-authors Javier Icochea Monteza, Víctor Raúl Morales and Hernán Ortega, she published important descriptions and inventories of native species, which became the foundation for other experts and their research.

[1] Carrillo Espinoza worked alone or together with Edgar Lehr and Peter Joseph Hocking to describe new species.