Dr. Johann Baptist Ritter von Spix (February 9, 1781 – March 14, 1826) was a German naturalist.

Spix was born in Höchstadt, Middle Franconia, as the seventh of eleven children. His boyhood home is the site of the Spix Museum, opened to the public in 2004. After his first fundamental publication, a book about the history of zoological classification, published in 1810, he was appointed as a member of the Bavarian Academy of Sciences. In 1817 he travelled to Brazil with Carl Friedrich Philipp von Martius, returning in 1820 with specimens of 6,500 plants, 2,700 insects, 85 mammals, 350 birds, 150 amphibians and 116 fish. These formed the basis of the collection of the Natural History Museum in Munich, of which he was the first conservator (now about equal to director). Among his discoveries was Spix's Macaw, which is named after him. There is also the museum's sponsoring award Ritter - von - Spix - Medal wearing his name.

Spix died in Munich.