Ignaz Franz Werner Maria von Olfers (30 August 1793 – 23 April 1871) was a German naturalist, historian and
diplomat
A diplomat (from grc, δίπλωμα; romanized ''diploma'') is a person appointed by a state or an intergovernmental institution such as the United Nations or the European Union to conduct diplomacy with one or more other states or internati ...
. Olfers was born in Münster. In 1816 he travelled to Brazil as a diplomat.
In 1839 he was made director of the royal art collections and had significant influence on
Frederick William IV of Prussia
Frederick William IV (german: Friedrich Wilhelm IV.; 15 October 17952 January 1861), the eldest son and successor of Frederick William III of Prussia, reigned as King of Prussia from 7 June 1840 to his death on 2 January 1861. Also referred to ...
for a re-development of the
Museumsinsel
The Museum Island (german: Museumsinsel) is a museum complex on the northern part of the Spree Island in the historic heart of Berlin. It is one of the most visited sights of Germany's capital and one of the most important museum sites in Euro ...
, Berlin. Together with architect Friedrich August Stueler, he developed the concept of the Neues Museum, Berlin and had great influence on organisation and presentation of exhibits and interior. His daughter was the writer and illustrator
Marie von Olfers
Marie von Olfers (27 October 1826, Berlin – 8 January 1924, Berlin) was a German writer, illustrator and salonnière. She wrote under the pseudonym ''M(aria) Werner, Werner Maria''. She was also a major artistic influence on her niece Sibylle ...
.
Olfers described a number of new
mammal
Mammals () are a group of vertebrate animals constituting the class Mammalia (), characterized by the presence of mammary glands which in females produce milk for feeding (nursing) their young, a neocortex (a region of the brain), fur or ...
Wilhelm Ludwig von Eschwege
Baron Wilhelm Ludwig von Eschwege (1777-1855) was a geologist, geographer and above all a mineralogist and engineer of German mines. He played an important role in all areas of activity in both Portugal and Brazil, where he joined the Portuguese co ...
's ''Journal von Brasilien'' (1818).
In 1819, '' Olfersia'' which is a genus of ferns (in the family Dryopteridaceae) from South America, was published, then a species of South American snake, ''
Philodryas olfersii
''Philodryas olfersii'' is a species of venomous snake in the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to South America.
Common names
Common names for ''P. olfersii'' include Lichtenstein's green racer, and frog, ''
Physalaemus olfersii
''Physalaemus olfersii'' is a species of frog in the family Leptodactylidae. It is endemic to southeastern Brazil and is known from Espírito Santo, southeastern Minas Gerais, and São Paulo states. Records further south (southern São Paulo, P ...