Scientists identify a new species of lizard in eastern Cuba

An international team of scientists identified a new species of lizard in Cuba, named Anolis torresfundorai sp. nov, according to a study published in the journal Vertebrate Zoology.

The research determined that this reptile, previously mistaken for another similar species (Anolis porcatus), has unique characteristics that justify its classification as a distinct species.

Led by scientist Javier Torres from the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Kansas in the United States, the study confirmed that Cuba is home to three species of the subgroup Anolis carolinensis: A. allisoni, A. porcatus (now restricted to the west and center of the country), and the newly described A. torresfundorai, endemic to eastern Cuba.

The species was dedicated to the emeritus professor Orlando J. Torres Fundora, from the Faculty of Biology at the University of Havana, “in recognition of his life devoted to the study and conservation of Cuban nature, as well as to the training of generations of scientists” at that academic institution, expressed in a post on his Facebook profile by Juan Daguerre, naturalist curator at the Institute of Ecology and Systematics in the Cuban capital.

Key differences and distribution

A. torresfundorai is distinguished from its close relative A. porcatus by having smooth or barely ridged sublabial scales, in contrast to the distinctly ridged scales of the western species. Additionally, it exhibits a color pattern with darker dorsal stripes, as reported by the research findings.

This finding, which challenges previous notions about the distribution of A. porcatus, was made possible through a detailed analysis of geographical records, genetic data, and ecological characteristics of the carolinensis subgroup.

Traditionally, it was believed that A. porcatus, with its small body and uniform green coloration, had a continuous distribution throughout Cuba. However, the new study shows that A. porcatus is actually divided into two separate lineages: one in the central-western region, spanning from Pinar del Río to Camagüey, and another in the east, found in the provinces of Granma, Holguín, Santiago de Cuba, and Guantánamo.

Between the two groups, there is a distribution gap in the province of Las Tunas, where only one unverified case has been reported. This separation of at least 50 kilometers between populations supports the recognition of two distinct species.

The western species retains the name A. porcatus, with Havana as the type locality, while the eastern populations have been formally described as Anolis torresfundorai sp. nov., with the type locality in Baracoa, Guantánamo, the source specified.

Additionally, the study confirms that A. allisoni extensively overlaps with A. porcatus in the center of the island, although it shows a much more limited overlap with A. torresfundorai in the east, reinforcing the ecological and geographical distinction between the three species.

To reach these conclusions, scientists analyzed 80 museum specimens based on detailed measurements of their physical characteristics. They complemented this data with genetic analysis of mitochondrial DNA and ecological niche modeling, which demonstrated that each species inhabits an environment with specific climatic conditions.

The discovery brings the total number of native anolis species in Cuba to 66, highlighting the island's significance as a center of reptilian diversity. Furthermore, the study exemplifies how species that appear very similar can evolve separately, a phenomenon known as cryptic speciation.

The full article "A revision of the Anolis carolinensis subgroup supports three species in Cuba, including a new cryptic species", with all the details of the research, is available open access in the journal Vertebrate Zoology.

Anolis porcatus is a species of lizard in the family Polychrotidae, small in size, green in color, and commonly but erroneously referred to as a chameleon, as it is not related to chameleons at all.

It is endemic to Cuba but has been introduced to other regions such as the island of Hispaniola (Haiti and the Dominican Republic), the Florida Peninsula (USA), the island of Tenerife (Canary Islands, Spain), and the state of São Paulo in Brazil. It thrives in a warm and lush climate that is conducive to its life cycle. Moreover, in these locations, it finds its food: insects, whether mosquitoes, midges, or moths, as well as small spiders.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Discovery of the New Lizard Species in Cuba