Bibliotheca Herpetologica 17(6)

Rivas, G. A., A. Prieto, R. Velásquez and J. Faivovich. 2023. Juan R. León-Ochoa (1937–2016): Pioneer of Herpetology in Venezuela. Bibliotheca Herpetologica 17(6):50–55. Published July 5, 2023. Few Venezuelan zoologists have recorded the history of their disciplines. As a result, the more recent history of Venezuelan herpetology seems to have been forgotten rather quickly, especially in the areas where professionals and amateurs are scarce. We present herein a biographical sketch of Juan R. León-Ochoa as a contribution to the knowledge of the development of herpetology in Venezuela. He was a biologist who left a deep impression on our current knowledge of the ecology of the Venezuelan herpetofauna. Juan León is perhaps one of the first Venezuelan herpetologists to have been trained abroad, who also trained young Venezuelan investigators (who are becoming pioneers in their areas), without having been mentioned in the history of national zoology.