French naturalist and explorer. Justin Goudot was attached to the Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle in Paris in 1822 when, along with a number of French specialists who were appointed by the government at Bogotá to establish scientific institutions, he embarked for New Granada with special instructions to collect zoological and botanical specimens. In 1823 he was on the coast of Venezuela, exploring the forests around Porto Cabello, which was still under Spanish control. He then sailed down the Magdalena River from Santa Marta to Bogotá. In 1824 he crossed the Cordilleras into the plains of Meta and from there explored along the Ariari and Guayabero Rivers. The next year he travelled north across the Cordilleras to the Muzo Valley.
His service to the republic of New Granada seems to have ended in 1826, obliging him to seek other means of support. During this period Goudot was bound by a commercial contract to a private collector which forbade him from communicating his collections to other amateurs. In 1829 he ascended Tolima Peak, the third highest in Colombia. He traversed Cordillera Centrale in 1830 to visit the Cauca Valley and returned there the following year by a slightly more northerly route. In 1835 he explored the Magdalena Valley, his last major excursion.
Lacking the means to return home, Goudot was forced to take other types of work. But wherever he worked, he used his free time to study the natural riches of the area. By May 1842, he was finally able to depart for France. After travelling up the Magdalena River, he stayed for a short time in Santa Marta in order to explore in the nearby mountains. Before leaving he was also obliged to go to Cartagena de Indias, which provided him with an opportunity to explore the vegetation between there and Turbaco. He finally arrived in Le Havre in December 1842. The many plant species named after him include Hydrangea goudotii Briq., Lycopodium goudotii Herter (= Huperzia goudotii (Herter) Holub) and Passiflora goudotiana Triana & Planch. A bird, the Red-Bellied Guan (Ortalida goudotii Lesson), is also named in his honour.
Sources:
Y. Laissus (ed), Les naturalistes français en Amerique du Sud. XVIe-XIXe siècles: 408
A. Lasègue, 1845, Musée botanique de M. Benjamin Delessert: 471-472.
