Carl Hunstein (1843 – March 13, 1888) was a German ornithologist and plant collector.
Hunstein was born in Homberg, Germany. He emigrated to America, then relocated to New Zealand. From 1885 until his death, he was employed by the German New Guinea Company.Nationaal Herbarium Nederland Source: Flora Malesiana ser. 1, 1: Cyclopaedia of collectors
He was a successful discoverer of new species of birds-of-paradise, such as the: Brown sicklebill (Epimachus meyeri Finsch), named in honor of Adolf Bernard Meyer.Biodiversity Mongabay Epimachus meyeri Stephanie's astrapia (Astrapia stephaniae Finsch & A.B. Meyer), named in honor of Princess Stéphanie of Belgium.Biodiversity Mongabay Astrapia stephaniae Blue bird-of-paradise (Paradisaea rudolphi Finsch), named in honor of Crown Prince Rudolf of Austria.Beautyofbirds, formerly Avianweb Paradisaea rudolph Emperor bird-of-paradise (Paradisaea guilielmi Cabanis).Flora Fauna News Paradisaea guilielmi
Hunstein died when a tsunami, caused by a submarine volcano, hit the coast of New Britain of the Bismarck Archipelago.
He is commemorated in New Guinea by the Hunstein Mountains and the Hunstein Forest, and in plants and animals including the Hunstein's mannikin (Lonchura hunsteini), Cyathea hunsteiniana and Araucaria hunsteinii.
See also Ritter Island
References