[Cnidaria • 2023] Aphanipathes puertoricoensis • A New Species of Black Coral (Anthozoa: Antipatharia: Aphanipathidae) from Puerto Rico

[A, B, F] Aphanipathes puertoricoensis Horowitz & Quattrini, 

[D, G] Anozopathes palauensis

in Horowitz, Opresko, González-García & Quattrini, 2023

DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1173.104141

Abstract

Black corals (Anthozoa: Antipatharia) are an anthozoan lineage in the class Hexacorallia that occur across a wide range of habitats from the tropics to the poles and from surface waters to depths deeper than 8000 m. A new species of black coral, Aphanipathes puertoricoensis sp. nov., collected with a remotely operated vehicle 357 m deep off Puerto Rico is recognized in the family Aphanipathidae. The new species is characterized by very long and loosely coiled primary branches and up to 0.5 mm tall spines with as many as 40 or more small conical tubercles. A phylogeny composed of 13 taxa that are closely related to the new species was reconstructed from 793 nuclear loci to show their systematic relationships. Our study integrated morphological and genomic data to show that this new species is distinct from other species in the genus Aphanipathes. Furthermore, our results add to the growing knowledge of black coral diversity, while further demonstrating the need for exploration in deep waters of the Caribbean Sea.

Key words: Aphanipathes, molecular phylogenetics, morphology, targeted capture, taxonomy, ultraconserved elements

Comparison of species of Aphanipathes and Anozopathes:
A Aphanipathes puertoricoensis sp. nov., yellow line indicates from where holotype fragment USNM 1660436 was collected B Aphanipathes puertoricoensis sp. nov. holotype collected fragment (USNM 1660436)
C Aphanipathes pedata holotype (NHMUK 1843.2.6.105) D Anozopathes palauensis holotype (USNM 1007104) E Aphanipathes sarothamnoides part of holotype (NHMUK 1890.4.9.5)
F polyps of Aphanipathes puertoricoensis sp. nov. holotype (USNM 1660436) G polyps of Anozopathes palauensis holotype (USNM 1007104).

Family Aphanipathidae Opresko, 2004

Genus Aphanipathes Brook, 1889

 Aphanipathes puertoricoensis Horowitz & Quattrini, sp. nov.

Type locality: Guayanilla Canyon, Puerto Rico, Caribbean Sea, 357 m depth.

Diagnosis: Tall, sparsely branched colony with two and rarely three orders of branches. Stem 0.2 m tall, first order branches over 1 m long, distally slightly curved or coiled, and arranged irregularly around stem; second order branches short and sparsely occurring; third order branches rare. Distal branch angles usually close to 90°. Spines form a distinct quincunx pattern with six axial rows of spines counted in one view. Polypar spines up to 0.5 mm tall, possess 20 to 40 or more small conical tubercles visible in lateral view that extend from the tip halfway to the base. Abpolypar spines up to 0.32 mm tall, possess 10 to 20 small conical tubercles visible in lateral view that extend from the tip halfway to the base. Polypar and abpolypar spines spaced 0.47 to 0.57 mm apart with three spines per mm in each row. Polyps 1.1 to 1.6 mm in diameter, arranged in a single series, with six to eight polyps per cm.

Jeremy Horowitz, Dennis M. Opresko, María del P. González-García and Andrea M. Quattrini. 2023. Description of A New Species of Black Coral in the Family Aphanipathidae (Anthozoa, Antipatharia) from Puerto Rico. ZooKeys. 1173: 97-110. DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1173.104141

[Herpetology • 2022] Sphaerodactylus verdeluzicola • A New Species of Sphaerodactylus (Gekkota: Sphaerodactylidae) from the Northwest Limestone Region of Puerto Rico

 Sphaerodactylus verdeluzicola

 Díaz-Lameiro, Villamil, Gamble, Pinto, Herrera-Martínez, ... et Daza, 2022

DOI: 10.1643/h2020123

 twitter.com/DrPintoThe2nd 

Abstract

Advances in both morphological and molecular techniques have uncovered many lineages across the tree of life, and Neotropical vertebrates are no exception. Sphaerodactylus geckos (Sphaerodactylidae) are abundant and important components of the Neotropical herpetofauna, but few studies have thoroughly investigated them using a combination of morphology and modern molecular genetic methods. Here, we combine morphological and genetic data to describe a new species of Sphaerodactylus from the northwestern karst region of Puerto Rico. The new species is compared to other closely related and sympatric species of Sphaerodactylus. Morphological analysis shows that the combination of small body size (median SVL = 21.5 mm), lepidosis, skull morphology, and coloration of the head differentiates the new species from its closest relatives, including the related species, Sphaerodactylus klauberi. Comparing sequences of the mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene showed a genetic distance between S. klauberi and the new species of 5.1–5.6%, which is similar to genetic distances among other recognized gecko species. This is the first new species of Sphaerodactylus to be described from Puerto Rico in nearly a century, highlighting the continued need to evaluate and chronicle biological diversity even in well-studied regions.

Proposed distribution of Sphaerodactylus verdeluzicola, new species.
 Orange symbols represent the proposed distribution of the new species; green and pink symbols denote distribution of S. klauberi. Circles indicate records from museum databases (Sphaerodactylus klauberi in GBIF Secretariat, 2020). Scale bar in mm applies to all pictures of geckos. Museum specimens were examined to confirm if they match the description of the new species. Squares indicate visited localities. 1) Rincon, 2) Isabela, 3) Camuy, 4) Bosque Estatal de Río Abajo, 5) Arecibo, 6) Florida, 7) Maricao, 8) Adjuntas, 9) Toro Negro, 10) Divisoria, 11) Orocovis-Villalba, 12) Bosque Estatal de Carite, 13) El Toro trail.

Live coloration of Sphaerodactylus verdeluzicola.
Above, a male specimen from Bosque Estatal de Río Abajo.
Below, a female specimen from Rincon.

Sphaerodactylus verdeluzicola, new species 

English Common Name: Puerto Rican Karst Gecko 

Spanish Common Name: Salamanquita de Monte y Mar

Etymology.— Specific epithet verdeluzicola is derived from the Spanish phrase ‘‘verde luz’’ with the suffix -cola to indicate that it is a Sphaerodactylus gecko dwelling in the place where the green light shines. The name is a tribute to the song Verde Luz, considered by some the second national anthem of Puerto Rico, by singer-songwriter Antonio Caba´n Vale ‘‘El Topo.’’ The song expresses a sentiment of longing for the homeland, while in the diaspora, and praises the natural wonders of Puerto Rico, such as the exquisite beaches, its karst terrain, and the emerald light emanating from the mountains and the sea—scenery that correlates with this gecko’s habitat. Furthermore, Antonio Caba´n Vale grew up in the town of Moca in northwestern Puerto Rico, which is within the current distribution of S. verdeluzicola.

    

 

Alondra M. Díaz-Lameiro, Catalina I. Villamil, Tony Gamble, Brendan J. Pinto, Alexandra Herrera-Martínez, Richard Thomas, Justin M. Bernstein, James E. Titus-McQuillan, Stuart V. Nielsen, Eliacim Agosto-Torres, Alberto R. Puente-Rolón, Fernando J. Bird-Picó, Taras K. Oleksyk, Juan Carlos Martínez-Cruzado and Juan D. Daza. 2022. A New Species of Sphaerodactylus (Gekkota: Sphaerodactylidae) from the Northwest Limestone Region of Puerto Rico. Ichthyology & Herpetology, 110(3); 449-465. DOI: 10.1643/h2020123

 twitter.com/DrPintoThe2nd/status/1562093518788579328

 twitter.com/Juan_Gecko/status/1562172349545316352

 twitter.com/JustBernstein/status/1562078021296742402

Las filogenias moleculares han elucidado múltiples linajes en el árbol de la vida, incluyendo varios vertebrados neotropicales. Las salamanquitas del género Sphaerodactylus (Sphaerodactylidae) son abundantes y forman una parte importante de la herpetofauna neotropical. Este género ha sido investigado recientemente utilizando métodos moleculares modernos. En este artículo se describe una nueva especie del género Sphaerodactylus, procedente de la región kárstica del noroeste de Puerto Rico. Los individuos de la nueva especie fueron comparados con especies afines y simpátricas. El análisis morfológico muestra que la combinación entre el tamaño corporal, escamación, morfología del cráneo y coloración cefálica, distinguen a la especie nueva de otras especies cercanas filogenéticamente, incluyendo su especie hermana Sphaerodactylus klauberi. Al comparar secuencias del gen mitocondrial 16S rRNA se observó una distancia genética de 5.1–5.6% entre la especie nueva y S. klauberi, dicha distancia es similar a la que existe entre otras especies descritas de salamaquitas. Ha pasado casi un siglo desde que la última especie de Sphaerodactylus de Puerto Rico fue descrita, ésto resalta la necesidad de seguir evaluando y catalogando la biodiversidad, inclusive en áreas que han sido investigadas a profundidad.

[Ichthyology • 2022] Rhonciscus pauco • A New Species of Deep-sea Grunt (Lutjaniformes: Haemulidae) from Puerto Rico

Rhonciscus pauco 

 Tavera​, Schärer-Umpierre & Acero P., 2022

DOI: 10.7717/peerj.13502

 

Abstract

A fourth species of the genus Rhonciscus (Lutjaniformes: Haemulidae) is described from various specimens collected by small-scale fishers from the insular upper slope of western Puerto Rico. The new species was molecularly recovered as sister to the Eastern Pacific R. branickii, to which it bears many morphological similarities. It is distinguished from other Rhonciscus species by the number of scale rows between the dorsal fin and the lateral line (7), larger and thus fewer scales along the lateral line (48–50), large eyes (9.4–10.4 times in SL), longer caudal peduncle (15.2–20% of SL), larger sized penultimate (14.7–19.1% in SL) and last (7.4–9.5% in SL) dorsal fin spines which translates to a less deeply notched dorsal fin, and its opalescent silver with golden specks live coloration. This grunt, only now recognized by ichthyologists, but well known by local fishers that target snappers and groupers between 200 and 500 m in depth, occurs in far deeper waters than any western Atlantic grunt.

Rhonciscus pauco, sp. nov. OMNH 86864, holotype, 266 mm SL,
from Tres Cerros, Rincón, Puerto Rico.

Rhonciscus pauco, sp. nov. Underwater photograph taken at 218 m depth in western Puerto Rico.

 Image: NOAA NCCOS 2022.

Rhonciscus pauco sp. nov. 

Opalescent Grunt

(Spanish name: Ronco opalescente)

Diagnosis. A species of the genus Rhonciscus with XIII, 12 (total 25) dorsal-fin rays; anal-fin rays III, 7; pectoral-fin rays 15–16, 17(1); rather elongate body, maximum depth 32–37.4% SL; convex predorsal profile; eye large, its diameter 9.4% to 10.4% SL; snout subequal to eye, its length 7.6% to 11.5% SL; very coarse serrations on angle of preopercular margin; pectoral fin long (28–32.5% SL) extending beyond the tip of pelvic fin, barely reaching anus; head length 30–37.3% SL; longest dorsal-fin spine (fifth) (12.1–19.1% SL); relatively long and much thicker second anal-fin spine (16.4–21.8% SL), long caudal peduncle (15.2–20% of SL), and a large size of the penultimate (14.7–19.1% in SL) and last dorsal-fin (7.4–9.5% in SL) spines which translate to a less deeply notched dorsal fin, eye diameter 0.5 to 0.6 times length of anal fin spine; maxilla reaching anterior border of pupil; seven scale rows between dorsal fin and lateral line; 48 to 50 lateral–line scales.

Distribution. Rhonciscus pauco is found on the deep shelf and upper slope of the western coast of the northeastern Caribbean island of Puerto Rico. We are uncertain of the species’ exact range, but fishers report capturing them exclusively in fine sediment habitats distributed between the municipalities of Rincón and Mayagüez, off western Puerto Rico (Fig. 1). No additional information is currently available.

Habitat. Collection depths range from 200–360 m in fine unconsolidated sediment or mud habitats (Fig. 5).

Etymology. The name pauco comes from the fisher’s nickname Paúco, Edwin Font, who already knew of this fish locally called burro or ronco (grunt). Mr. Font was the first to report and provided specimens to MS, although it is recognized by various fishers as a component of the deep-water catch in western Puerto Rico.

Jose Tavera​, Michelle T. Schärer-Umpierre and Arturo Acero P. 2022. A New Species of Deep-sea Grunt, Rhonciscus pauco (Lutjaniformes: Haemulidae), from Puerto Rico. PeerJ. 10:e13502 . DOI: 10.7717/peerj.13502

[Invertebrate • 2020] Duobrachium sparksae • A New Genus and Species of Benthopelagic Ctenophore (Ctenophora: Tentaculata: Cydippida) seen at 3,910 m Depth off the Coast of Puerto Rico

 Duobrachium sparksae  

Ford, Bezio & Collins, 2020

 DOI 10.3800/pbr.15.296 

 fisheries.noaa.gov 

 

Abstract

On April 10, 2015, three individuals of an undescribed species of ctenophore were observed moving just above the seafloor in the Arecibo Amphitheater inside the Guajataca Canyon, north-northwest of Puerto Rico at a depth of approximately 3,900 m. The ctenophore is distinctive; having two prominent tentacle arms, a body that is rectangular when observed laterally along the tentacular plane, and rounded when observed laterally along the stomodeal plane. The tentacle arms each give rise to an extensible tentacle bearing short tentilla of uniform length and distribution. One ctenophore appeared to be anchored to the seafloor by its two long flexible tentacles, as well as by two filaments exiting its oral end. The overall form of the ctenophore suggests classification within the problematic, non-monophyletic order Cydippida, but the robust tentacle arms are more reminiscent of benthic species of Platyctenida, particularly those of families Lyroctenidae and Ctenoplanidae. Whereas most platyctenid ctenophores do not possess ctene rows in their adult forms, features that are possessed by the new species described herein, species of Ctenoplanidae retain comb rows as adults and are capable of limited swimming. The species described herein is easily distinguishable from all other known species of Ctenophora and may trace its origin to a lineage diverging near the origin of Platyctenida.

Keywords: Aricebo Amphitheater, Ctenophora, Duobrachium sparksae gen nov. & spec. nov., Puerto Rico, Cydippida

Still captured from video observation of  Duobrachium sparksae n. gen. n. sp.
  Second sighting (USNM 1607332) showing regular tentilla of tentacles and large embryos/eggs within gonads, highlighting the quality of the HD video. 17:37:36 UTC.

Digital illustration of the habit of  Duobrachium sparksae n. gen. n. sp.
 A. tentacular view B. stomodeal view.

Illustrations by Nicholas Bezio.

Phylum Ctenophora Eschscholtz, 1829 

Class Tentaculata Eschscholtz, 1825 

Order Cydippida Gegenbaur, 1856 

Family Cydippida incertae sedis 

Genus Duobrachium gen. nov. 

Diagnosis. Tentaculate cydippid ctenophores with two thick, aboral, conical tentacle arms. Tentacle arms emerge from the center of the body and extend aborally. Body rectangular in the tentacular plane, oblong in the stomodeal plane. The tentacle arms are as long as the body is tall. Tentacles retractile, with simple tentilla of uniform length. Filaments can exit orally, anchoring it to the sediment. Stomodeum darkly pigmented. Gonads globular, not extending the length of the meridional canals. 

 

Etymology. From the Latin “two-arms”, a name reflecting the two prominent arms. The Latin “brachium” is of common gender, but shall be treated as feminine, in accordance with ICZN article 30.1.4.2.

Line drawing schematic of Duobrachium sparksae n. gen. n. sp.
 A. Tentacular view of the main body of the animal. B. Oral view. C. Aboral view.

ct - ctene row, g - gonads, m - mouth, ta - tentillum, tent - tentacle, stat - statocyst, sto - stomodeum.

 Illustrations by Nicholas Bezio.

 Duobrachium sparksae spec. nov.

Etymology. The specific epithet “sparksae” honors Elizabeth Ann Sparks, the wife of Michael Ford. Common name. Sparks’ two-armed ctenophore. 

Distribution. Only known from Guajataca Canyon, north-northwest of Puerto Rico at a depth of approximately 3,900 m, within meters of the seafloor 

 

Michael Ford, Nicholas Bezio and Allen Collins. 2020. Duobrachium sparksae (incertae sedis; Ctenophora: Tentaculata: Cydippida): A New Genus and Species of Benthopelagic Ctenophore seen at 3,910 m Depth off the Coast of Puerto Rico. Plankton and Benthos Research. 15(4); 296-305. DOI 10.3800/pbr.15.296  

 

NOAA Scientists Virtually Discover New Species of Comb Jelly Near Puerto Rico

fisheries.noaa.gov/feature-story/noaa-scientists-virtually-discover-new-species-comb-jelly-near-puerto-rico

twitter.com/RebeccaRHelm/status/1330927733677895681

[Mollusca • 2019] Eulimacrostoma gen. nov. • A New Genus of Eulimidae (Gastropoda, Caenogastropoda) with Description of A New Species and Reevaluation of other western Atlantic Species

Eulimacrostoma microsculpturata

 Souza & Pimenta, 2019

 DOI: 10.3897/zse.95.33880

Abstract

A new genus and a new species of Eulimidae are described based on the shell morphology and on the host-parasite relationship of the type species. Eulimacrostoma microsculpturata Souza & Pimenta gen. nov. and sp. nov. parasitizes a starfish of the genus Luidia and has an elongated, conical, straight, or slightly curved shell, a protoconch with a brownish spiral band and convex whorls, a peculiar large and broad aperture with a strongly protruding outer lip, and microsculpture of axial lines on the teleoconch. Four other species are included in the genus, all from the western Atlantic: Eulimacrostoma chascanon (Watson, 1883), comb. nov., Eulimacrostoma fusus (Dall, 1889), comb. nov., Eulimacrostoma lutescens (Simone, 2002), comb. nov., and Eulimacrostoma patula (Dall & Simpson, 1901), comb. nov. Newly available material of Eulimacrostoma patula expands the known geographic distribution of this species in the Caribbean to the north coast of Brazil. Eulimacrostoma chascanon and Eulimacrostoma fusus and Eulimacrostoma lutescens are known only by the type series which was re-examined. A redescription is provided for Eulimacrostoma chascanon and Eulimacrostoma fusus. Species within Eulimacrostoma differ mainly by teleoconch sculpture, the presence or absence of an umbilical fissure, and shell dimensions. Lectotypes are designated for Eulimacrostoma chascanon, Eulimacrostoma fusus, and Eulimacrostoma patula.

Key Words: biodiversity, micromolluscs, parasitic snails shell morphology, taxonomy, Vanikoroidea

Figure 1. Eulimacrostoma microsculpturata gen. nov. and sp. nov. A. Holotype (USNM 429762); B, C. Paratype (USNM 433081); D–G. Paratype (FLMNH uncatalogued.)
A, B, D. Shell in frontal view; C, E. Shell in lateral view; F. Detail of apical whorls in frontal view; G. Specimen attached to the host Luidia ludwigi scotti Bell, 1917 (Echinoderm collection, FLMNH 5042), red ellipse indicates the eulimid.

Scale bars: 1 mm (A–E); 100 µm (F).

Systematics: 

Family Eulimidae Philippi, 1853

Genus Eulimacrostoma Souza & Pimenta, gen. nov.

Type species: Eulimacrostoma microsculpturata Souza & Pimenta, sp. nov. Recent, northwestern Atlantic and Caribbean.

Diagnosis: Eulimids parasitic on asteroids. Shell elongated, conical, straight or slightly curved. Protoconch subcylindrical, smooth. Teleoconch with slightly convex whorls, several incremental scars and microsculpture of axial lines, wide brownish spiral bands, a large and spread aperture, occupying between 60–70% of the body whorl length, and an orthocline outer lip, strongly protruding.

Etymology: Eulima, due to the systematic affinity and for being one of the most common names of the family, in combination with Macros, Gr. = long; and Stomatos, Gr. = mouth; in reference to the broad shape of the shell aperture.

Eulimacrostoma microsculpturata Souza & Pimenta, sp. nov. 

Melanella patula auct. non. 

(Dall & Simpson, 1901): Dall (1927, in part.: 67).

Etymology: The epithet alludes to the microsculpture characteristic of the present species.

Type locality: Puerto Rico: off San Juan, Johnson–Smithsonian Deep-sea expedition stn. 10 (..., 219–293 m), coll. Yacht Caroline, 02/ii/1933.

Diagnosis: Eulimid parasitic on starfish, with an elongated shell, presenting microsculpture of axial lines, dome-shaped apex, a narrow brownish spiral band close to the suture in the protoconch and a wide brownish spiral band along the teleoconch, a high, wide and spread aperture. Umbilicus absent.

Remarks: 

Dall (1927: 67) cited 20 specimens of “Melanella patula” from “off Georgia”. The USNM houses two lots (USNM 108031, USNM 108380, respectively from Fernandina, Florida, USFC stn. 2668, and from Georgia, USFC stn. 2415), that can be attributed to the material studied by Dall (1927) due to the labels. USNM 108031 contains a single shell with a broken protoconch and an eroded surface. Although the shell is not in perfect condition, it is possible to affirm that it is actually Eulimacrostoma microsculpturata sp. nov. by the general shape and teleoconch sculpture. USNM 108380 contains seven shells, most of them immature, which can neither be identified with certainty as Eulimacrostoma patula (Dall & Simpson, 1901), comb. nov. nor as Eulimacrostoma microsculpturata.

Most specimens of Eu. microsculpturata have a straight spire (Figs 1A, 2A), but individuals of the lot USNM 433081 (Fig. 1B) have a slightly curved spire. The curvature is a growth phenomenon related with the position of the incremental scars and usually helps to distinguish species (Bouchet and Warén 1986: 312). However, in the case of Eu. microsculpturata the protoconch, color pattern, shape of the aperture, and dimensions are very similar in all individuals and we consider all of them belonging to the same taxon. The holotype USNM 429762 and paratype FLMNH are young individuals and shows a more rhomboid aperture and angulated body whorl, which is a common feature at this stage of growth (Bouchet and Warén 1986: 310; Souza et al. 2018: 926).

 Leonardo Santos de Souza and Alexandre Dias Pimenta. 2019. Eulimacrostoma gen. nov., A New Genus of Eulimidae (Gastropoda, Caenogastropoda) with Description of A New Species and Reevaluation of other western Atlantic Species.  Zoosystematics and Evolution. 95(2): 403-415. DOI: 10.3897/zse.95.33880

[Herpetology • 2019] The Sprightly Little Sphaerodactyl: Systematics and Biogeography of the Puerto Rican Dwarf Geckos Sphaerodactylus (Gekkota, Sphaerodactylidae)

Sphaerodactylus from Puerto Rico and islands on the Puerto Rican Bank. Sphaerodactylus macrolepis species complex (excluding S. parvus). Sphaerodactylus macrolepis (square); S. grandisquamis (circle); S. inigoi (diamond).

in Daza, Pinto, Thomas, ... et Gamble. 2019.

DOI:  10.11646/zootaxa.4712.2.1 

twitter.com/Tony_Gamble1 

Abstract

Studies of the Caribbean herpetofauna (amphibians and reptiles) have made significant contributions to our knowledge of evolutionary patterns and processes. A prerequisite for these studies are accurate taxonomies and robust phylogenetic hypotheses. One notable Caribbean radiation lacking such data are dwarf geckos of the genus Sphaerodactylus. Systematics of the Puerto Rican Sphaerodactylus have been turbulent since the initial species descriptions and no molecular phylogenies exist that include complete or near-complete taxon sampling. Here, we combine a multi-locus molecular phylogeny with extensive morphological information to investigate the current diversity of Sphaerodactylus geckos from the Puerto Rican Bank, with a large number of species from Hispaniola as an outgroup. In particular, we focus our efforts on resolving the taxonomy of the Sphaerodactylus macrolepis Günther species complex. We find S. macrolepis sensu lato (currently two nominal species with nine subspecies) is made up of at least four diagnosable species within two clades: (1) the sister species Sphaerodactylus macrolepis sensu stricto from the Virgin Islands (including St. Croix) and Culebra, and S. parvus King from islands in the northern Lesser Antilles; and (2) all other Sphaerodactylus macrolepis subspecies from Puerto Rico, Vieques, and Culebra. We resurrect Sphaerodactylus grandisquamis Stejneger from synonymy to refer to all subspecies from Puerto Rico and elevate the subspecies Sphaerodactylus inigoi Thomas & Schwartz for geckos from Vieques and western Culebra. The resulting phylogeny and revised taxonomy will be a useful tool for subsequent research into Sphaerodactylus conservation and evolution.

Keywords: Reptilia, biogeography, Caribbean, Hispaniola, lizard, morphology, Puerto Rico, taxonomy, species delimitation, Squamata, Virgin Islands

Sampling localities and approximate distributions for select species of Sphaerodactylus from Puerto Rico and islands on the Puerto Rican Bank. Different shaped symbols are used for each species.
A. Sphaerodactylus macrolepis species complex (excluding S. parvus). Sphaerodactylus macrolepis (square); S. grandisquamis (circle); S. inigoi (diamond).

Phylogeny and biogeography of sampled Sphaerodactylus geckos.

Sphaerodactylus parvus King, 1962

Sphaerodactylus macrolepis sensu stricto Günther, 1859

Sphaerodactylus inigoi comb. nov. Thomas & Schwartz, 1966

Sphaerodactylus grandisquamis grandisquamis Stejneger, 1904

Sphaerodactylus grandisquamis guarionex comb. nov. Thomas & Schwartz, 1966

Sphaerodactylus grandisquamis ateles comb. nov. Thomas & Schwartz, 1966

Sphaerodactylus grandisquamis mimetes comb. nov. Thomas & Schwartz, 1966

Sphaerodactylus grandisquamis spanius comb. nov. Thomas & Schwartz, 1966

Sphaerodactylus grandisquamis stibarus comb. nov. Thomas & Schwartz, 1966

A Checklist to the Sphaerodactylus of Puerto Rico and Nearby Islands

Sphaerodactylus beattyi Grant, 1937

Sphaerodactylus beattyi beattyi Grant, 1937

Sphaerodactylus beattyi seamani Thomas & Schwartz, 1966

Sphaerodactylus gaigeae Grant, 1932

Sphaerodactylus grandisquamis Stejneger, 1904

Sphaerodactylus grandisquamis grandisquamis Stejneger, 1904

Sphaerodactylus grandisquamis guarionex Thomas & Schwartz, 1966

Sphaerodactylus grandisquamis ateles Thomas & Schwartz, 1966

Sphaerodactylus grandisquamis mimetes Thomas & Schwartz, 1966

Sphaerodactylus grandisquamis spanius Thomas & Schwartz, 1966

Sphaerodactylus grandisquamis stibarus Thomas & Schwartz, 1966

Sphaerodactylus inigoi Thomas & Schwartz, 1966

Sphaerodactylus klauberi Grant, 1931

Sphaerodactylus levinsi Heatwole, 1968

Sphaerodactylus macrolepis Günther, 1859

Sphaerodactylus micropithecus Schwartz, 1977

Sphaerodactylus monensis Meerwarth, 1901

Sphaerodactylus nicholsi Grant, 1931

Sphaerodactylus parthenopion Thomas, 1965

Sphaerodactylus roosevelti Grant, 1931

Sphaerodactylus townsendi Grant, 1931

Juan D. Daza, Brendan J. Pinto, Richard Thomas, Alexandra Herrera-Martinez, Daniel P. Scantlebury, Luis F. Padilla García, Rajesh P. Balaraman, Gad Perry and Tony Gamble. 2019. The Sprightly Little Sphaerodactyl: Systematics and Biogeography of the Puerto Rican Dwarf Geckos Sphaerodactylus (Gekkota, Sphaerodactylidae). Zootaxa. 4712(2); 151–201. DOI:  10.11646/zootaxa.4712.2.1

 twitter.com/Tony_Gamble1/status/1207698395508461570

[Ichthyology • 2012] Odontanthias hensleyi • A New Species of Odontanthias Bleeker (Perciformes: Serranidae: Anthiinae) from Mona Passage off Puerto Rico, the First Record of the Genus from the Atlantic Ocean

Odontanthias hensleyi 

Anderson & García-Moliner, 2012 

Abstract

Odontanthias hensleyi, a new species of anthiine serranid fish, is described from four specimens collected off the west coast of Puerto Rico in Mona Passage. This is the first Atlantic record for the genus Odontanthias, heretofore known from 13 Indo-Pacific species. The new species is distinguished from all other species of Odontanthias by the following combination of characters: 15 soft rays in the dorsal fin, 18 pectoral fin rays, vomerine tooth patch subquadrangular to diamond-shaped without posterior prolongation, pelvic fin and caudal fin lobes very well produced, and coloration (side of head with two bright yellow stripes; pelvic, anal and caudal fins bright yellow).

 Anderson, W.D.Jr. and García-Moliner, G. 2012. A New Species of Odontanthias Bleeker (Perciformes: Serranidae: Anthiinae) from Mona Passage off Puerto Rico, the First Record of the Genus from the Atlantic Ocean. aqua, International Journal of Ichthyology, 18 (1): 25-30.

 http://www.aqua-aquapress.com/a-new-species-of-odontanthias-bleeker-perciformes-serranidae-anthiinae-from-mona-passage-off-puerto-rico-the-first-record-of-the-genus-from-the-atlantic-ocean/

https://es.scribd.com/document/284172013/New-Species-of-Odantanthias