| ID | 177594 |
| Title Proper | Zoological pioneer |
| Other Title Information | was the Mughal Emperor Jahangir the first scientist to describe a Madagascan lemur? |
| Language | ENG |
| Author | Jarman, Peter J |
| Summary / Abstract (Note) | The Mughal emperor Jahangir (reigned 1605–1627) was a knowledgeable naturalist with a keen interest in exotic fauna. In 1612 C.E. a strange primate was obtained from the Portuguese in Goa and brought to his court. The emperor’s written description of the animal and a contemporary painting suggest it was a lemur and therefore from Madagascar. Although many animals from the Moluccas and several from eastern Africa reached Jahangir, this is the only Madagascan animal to do so. Jahangir’s careful description of the animal and an illustration commissioned for his memoirs pre-date European scientific descriptions by a dozen years and reveal Jahangir as a fore-runner of comparative, descriptive zoology. |
| `In' analytical Note | Journal of The Indian Ocean Region Vol. 16, No.2; Jul 2020: p.202-211 |
| Journal Source | Journal of The Indian Ocean Region Vol: 16 No 2 |
| Key Words | Indian Ocean Trade ; Mughal Emperor Jahangir ; Lemurs of Madagascar ; Historical Zoology |