The Caribbean cicada Cicadetta ramosi Sanborn (Hemiptera: Cicadomorpha: Cicadidae) is described as a new species. The species had previously been referred to as the North American species C. calliope (Walker, 1850) in a summary of the cicadas of the Dominican Republic. Comparisons are made with C. calliope and other cicadas found on Hispaniola. Total cicada diversity of this family on Hispaniola remains at 13 species.

Trapania bonellenae, a new species from Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles belonging to the nudibranch family Goniodorididae, is characterized by having a unique translucent grey color with a pattern of black pigment, a complex network of opaque white lines covering almost the entire notum and very elongate extra-branchial and extra-rhinophoral appendages. The radular teeth are characterized by a very long and narrow subterminal cusp. A phylogenetic analysis of all species of Trapania for which there is enough morphological information available, reveals that the new species is most closely related to a group of mostly Indo-Pacific species. The support and resolution for this clade are weak and more research is necessary.

The greeni iguana (Iguana iguana) is a highly invasive exotic lizard that is firmly established in southern Florida. We documented the colonization pattern of this species at Hugh Taylor Birch State Park (HTBSP) in southern mainland Florida. First seen at the park in 1994, individual lizards were few in number, large in body size, and seen only in trees well above the ground. Shortly after the removal of an extremely high-density raccoon population at HTBSP in November 2000, mixed size-classes of green iguanas were observed often and in high numbers. Results of a survey conducted during August 2006–January 2007 corroborated the high relative abundance and size-structure of a growing population of green iguanas, and their increased terrestrialism following the removal of a native mammalian predator. Conversely, we hypothesize that indigenous threatened green iguana populations in the Caribbean would be beneficiaries of exotic raccoon removal, particularly on relatively isolated sites similar to that investigated in this study.

A specimen of the Recent cidaroid echinoid Eucidaris tribuloides (Lamarck) from the seaward side of the Palisadoes, parish of St. Andrew, Jamaica, has an aberrant apical system, although the corona appears normal. It includes eleven plates, rather than ten, due to the presence of an intrusive periproctal? plate between ocular V and genital 5. Rather than five genital pores distributed evenly between the five genital plates, there are, abnormally, eleven genital pores: eight occur in genital plates (either singly or paired); two are shared between a genital plate and adjacent ocular plate; and, most curiously, one is shared between adjacent ocular and periproctal plates. Most probably this rare and complex growth deformity was driven by some parasitic or environmental interaction. It is at present impossible to determine if such deformities occurred in the Pleistocene. Although E. tribuloides has a good fossil record, it is most commonly identified from spines and the rare Pleistocene tests that are known invariably have lost the apical system before burial.

We conducted fieldwork on Bonaire and Curaçao, Netherlands Antilles, to assess the distribution and abundance of resident diurnal raptors. In total, seventy-three 1 km² sample plots were selected following a stratified random method and three landscape types were distinguished, i.e. cultivated area, hills and terrace. The diurnal raptors observed were the Crested Caracara Caracara plancus (93 records), White-tailed Hawk Buteo albicaudatus (37), and the American Kestrel Falco sparverius (44 on Curaçao only). In the hills and on the terraces, all species were more abundant on Curaçao than on Bonaire. Caracaras were found significantly more in hills compared to terraces or cultivated land on both islands, as did White-tailed Hawks on Curaçao. The American Kestrel made more use of cultivated area and least of hills. As detection of the raptors did not seem to differ between the landscapes and between the islands, we infer that the observed differences in distribution are a true reflection of their habitat use. Our results suggest that the ongoing urbanization on Curaçao and Bonaire may lead to a decline in the Caracara and the White-tailed Hawk. For the American Kestrel, cultivated areas — including urbanized parts — apparently provide the open area the birds need for hunting.

Eight species of polychrotid lizard have been recorded from the Venezuelan Coastal Range. Among them, Anolis squamulatus and A. tigrinus are two of the most distinctive due to their size (the first one very large, the latter very small). However, very little is known about their morphological variation, coloration in life, and biology. Detailed descriptions of A. squamulatus and A. tigrinus are presented based on previously and newly collected material. Color variation, sexual dichromatism and natural habits of both taxa are also documented. Habitat partitioning among the polychrotid lizards sympatric with A. squamulatus and A. tigrinus is also discussed.

Riparian zones are dynamic areas adjacent to flowing freshwater that connect aquatic and terrestrial environments. We measured individual tree distances relative to two permanent streams in the Luquillo Forest Dynamics Plot, Puerto Rico, to determine if tree species exhibit distinct affinities for riparian zones in a mid-montane tropical forest. In addition, we also calculated stem density, species richness, and diversity indices in 20 x 20 m randomly selected quadrats at different distances from the streams. We found that no single species in the study site was predominantly associated with riparian zones; however, almost all species were represented by a few stems in close proximity to streams. Multivariate (Fuzzy Set Ordination) ordination of plot species composition in relation to distance to streams indicated that there is greater variation in species composition closer to streams, and less variation in species composition farther from streams. This study suggests that in mid-montane wet forest, riparian zones include all tree species found throughout the forest landscape.

The sea urchins Tripneustes ventricosus and Lytechinus variegatus are ecologically and economically important grazers of seagrass beds throughout the Caribbean and Florida. In Jamaica we observed recruitment events of T. ventricosus at the same site and season (January–April) in 2001 and 2002. In 2002 there was a concurrent recruitment of L. variegatus. Following the 2001 recruitment T. ventricosus grew at a rate of 1.2 mm wk^-1 and at relatively low rates (0.6 mm wk^-1) after the 2002 recruitment. The 2002 recruit cohort of L. variegatus also grew at low rates (0.7 mm wk^-1) compared to published values. While densities of T. ventricosus remained relatively stable after the 2001 recruitment, densities of both species declined after the 2002 recruitment. The low growth rates and density decreases after 2002 suggest that the increases in abundances resulting from the 2002 recruitment intensified intra- and interspecific competition among urchins.

Analyses of body size evolution in hummingbirds (Trochilidae) are hampered by the lack of standardized weight data for most of the ∼330 described species. Moreover, little is known of the morphological correlates of body weight upon which a body-size index could be constructed. I investigated the skeletal correlates of body weight in the endemic Black-billed Streamertail (Trochilus scitulus) of Jamaica. Mist-netted males were weighed at initial capture and after the holding period (2.1–6.7 hr). Seven of 10 skeletal characters exhibited marginally higher correlations with the second measure of body weight, which was unbiased by gut contents. Sternum length emerged as the single best skeletal predictor of body weight. A multivariate index (PCA 1) derived from three sternal characters had approximately the same predictive value as a comparable analysis of all ten skeletal characters. This suggests that a simple multivariate measure of sternal morphology may provide a reliable body size index for hummingbirds.

The type material of Oryzomys curasoae McFarlane and Debrot, 2001, an allegedly extinct species from the island of Curaçao, Netherlands Antilles, is morphologically indistinguishable from O. gorgasi Hershkovitz, 1971, a Recent mangrove-inhabiting species from mainland Venezuela. A phylogenetic analysis suggests that the latter belongs to the genus Oryzomys in its strictest sense, and that “curasoae” is not close to Oecomys (formerly ranked as a subgenus of Oryzomys) as previously suggested. Evidence that Rattus rattus may now be displacing O. gorgasi from coastal habitats in Venezuela suggests that black rats might have been directly responsible for the extinction of the insular population of O. gorgasi on Curaçao.

We used morphometric data from 1276 Crocodylus moreletii captured in northern Belize (1992–2001) to develop predictive models for determining body size (total length [TL], snout-vent length [SVL]) from measurements of single attributes (dorsal cranial length [DCL], cranial width [CW], snout length [SL] and width [SW], body mass [BM], rear-foot length [RFL]), quantify sexual size dimorphism, examine ontogenetic changes in cranial morphology, re-evaluate maximum body size attained by this species, and estimate standing crop biomass of crocodiles at our principal study site. Strong positive allometric relationships were found between measures of body length and other morphometric attributes, and provide a reliable means to estimate body length from tracks, skulls, and body parts. The maximum DCL:CW ratio is attained at a relatively small body size and preceded a dietary shift from insects and arachnids to vertebrates and ampullarid snails. The SL:SW ratio of C. moreletii is highly variable and because of overlap with C. acutus, deemed of little value for distinguishing these two sympatric species. Both overall and adult sex ratio (female:male) was male biased and differed significantly from parity. The mean SVL of adult males (98.3 ± 21.3 cm) was significantly greater than that of adult females (87.3 ± 15.9 cm). A compressed sexual size dimorphism index (SDI) of 2.12 was calculated for C. moreletii in northern Belize. Based on skull measurements, the current size record for C. moreletii in Belize is 362 cm TL. Standing crop biomass of C. moreletii at our principal study site (Gold Button Lagoon) was estimated to be 9.5 kg/ha.

The Holocene Cañada Honda fossil reef, located in southwestern Dominican Republic, provides a unique opportunity to examine a well-preserved fossil coral reef that thrived in a high-sedimentation environment between 9,000 to 5,000 years ago. Measurements of coral growth rates from the corals Montastraea faveolata and Siderastrea siderea were conducted and comparisons made with growth rate data of these same species from modern coral reefs throughout the Caribbean. Also, assessments of coral species abundance, morphology, age, and distribution, as well as reef sediment composition, were made to determine the paleoenvironment of reef accretion. This reef is characterized by a high relative abundance of sediment-tolerant coral species that have a tendency to form almost monospecific stands. Individual colonies have a propensity to grow as encrusting, dome-shaped, platy-like forms and specimens of Montastraea faveolata commonly contain bands of sediment incorporated into the skeleton. Calibrated radiocarbon ages of fossil corals range from 9,256±137 to 6,737±94.5 BP. Correlation of radiocarbon ages with well-established Holocene sea-level curves indicates that most corals on this reef developed at depths >15m. Measured growth rates in Siderastrea siderea (0.2–0.4 cm/yr) and Montastraea faveolata (0.09–0.44 cm/yr) are relatively low compared with growth rates from modern reef sites, indicating reduced light intensity caused by coral growth at depths greater than 15 m. Reef sediment is characterized by more than 85% carbonate material. A significant portion of the carbonate is allochtonous and was derived from nearby Neogene limestones. The reef was able to survive under high-sedimentation conditions because the high carbonate content of incoming terrigenous sediment would have allowed better light penetration and probable sporadic storms would provide intervening low-sedimentation periods during which reef corals could respond and grow back, keeping-up with sedimentation.

This study describes temporal variations of early larval stages of the long-spined sea urchin, Diadema antillarum in neritic waters of La Parguera, Puerto Rico. Larvae were sampled with oblique plankton tows between the new and full moons at monthly interval from April 2005 to July 2006, and September 2006. Early pluteus stages (< 5 days old) were found in 13 out of the 16 months of sampling, indicating that Diadema spawns throughout the year. Mean abundances were significantly higher during April and July 2005 compared to the other months, suggesting higher reproductive activity during these months. Larval abundances were variable between years and successive months possibly reflecting a patchy distribution of larvae. Drogues released during the April spawning season from an area of high aggregations of mature adults indicated that a neritic, topographically steered flow fringing the inner shelf forereef platforms confined the early larval stages of Diadema within the insular shelf of La Parguera.

Five new Rhodobacter sphaeroides bacteriophages designated øR3-PR1-5 were isolated from water reservoirs at the Southwest region of Puerto Rico. The organic solvent susceptibility test showed that these phages lacked of external lipidic envelope. The øR3-PR bacteriophages were able to form plaques using R. sphaeroides as host only during aerobic conditions. Ultrastructural (Transmission Electron Microscopy; TEM) analysis revealed that all phages had polyhedral heads (90 × 120nm to 20 × 20nm) and a long tail (20 to 200nm). The TEM analysis of the isolates is similar to the bacteriophages previously described for the Myoviridae and Siphoviridae family. In the host specificity analysis all phages infected the restriction deficient mutant R. sphaeroides 7001, one infected R. sphaeroides strain 630 and 2.4.1. The isolated bacteriophages were double-stranded DNA with genome sizes that range from 33–56 kbp. Restriction analysis was also performed using BglII, ClaI, EcoRI, KpnI, HindIII, SmaI and SalI endonucleases. All the data collected in this study confirm that the øR3-PR1-5 bacteriophages are different among themselves and from the R. sphaeroides bacteriophages previously reported in the literature.

Puerto Rico, the easternmost island in the Greater Antilles, is home to 13 species of bats, representing five families—Molossidae, Mormoopidae, Noctilionidae, Phyllostomidae, and Vespertilionidae. The purpose of this study was to determine whether species found on Puerto Rico could be differentiated based on external hair morphology, using the scanning electron microscope. Hair samples were taken from the dorsal mid-scapular region of one-to-four bats of each species. For consistency and repeatability, we examined the area between 550 and 800µm from the hair tip for all samples; however, an additional segment between 120 and 200µm from the tip was needed to differentiate two species in Phyllostomidae. Each species demonstrated distinct qualitative traits that allowed identification based on hair alone. Practical uses of this technique would be to identify hair samples taken from archaeological sites or to determine which species of bat once occupied now-abandoned roosts. In addition, analysis of hair found in owl pellets or the feces of mammalian carnivores, could be used to examine predator-prey interactions, even if no skeletal remains were present. We suggest that examination of hair under the scanning electron microscope could help differentiate among species in other simple assemblages of bats, such as those on different islands or restricted areas of continents, and perhaps use of this technique as a broader taxonomic tool should be revisited.