Memoirs MCZ 4402

/iDemotrs of tbe flDuseum of Comparattve Zoology AT HARVARD COLLEGE Vol XLIV No A CONTRIBUTION TO THE ZOOGEOGRArHY OF THE WEST INDIES, WITH ESPECIAL REFERENCE TO AMPHIBIANS AND REPTILES BY THOMAS BARBOUR WITH ONE PLATE CAMBRIDGE, U.S.A.: prlnteJ) for tbe /IDuseum March, 1914 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page INTRODUCTION ' Note 209 213 LIST OF SPECIES INCORRECTLY RECORDED FROM THE WEST INDIES INTRODUCED SPECIES {Fortuitously or otherwise) ZOOGEOGRAPHY 217 220 224 Cuba 224 227 Jamaica Haiti and San Domingo 227 Porto Rico 228 The Virgin Islands The Lesser Antilles Grenada 229 230 230 CONCLUSIONS ANNOTATED LIST OF 236 THE SPECIES TABLE OF DISTRIBUTION PLATE 238 347 A CONTRIBUTION TO THE ZOOGEOGRArilY OF THE WEST INDIES, WITH ESPECIAL REFERENCE TO AMPHIBIANS AND REPTILES INTRODUCTION Since many its earliest Museum years the and the other tion a few of these, Louis Agassiz Thomas, on their scientists memorable voyage; and 1880 — the Blake visited very many of the islands lect upon all of them was Assistant Naturalist on the of at which the The Blake during part Blake touched by on the Hassler later — from of the time that she upon other col- 1877 to The opportunity to col- who was grasped by Mr Samuel Garman, eagei'ly Collections were procured Alexander Agassiz To men- fauna of the West Indian Islands collections representing the lected at St Comparative Zoology has received of was in charge islands than those the kindness of enthusiastic colonists and others material available from Porto Rico consists of some received from Dr A Stahl, long a resident of Bayamon some ; mens got by exchange from the United Stejneger and Richmond collected by Garman States national From San Domingo ; and other museum, speci- collected as well as Guadeloupe there are specimens sent to Louis Agassiz by Dumeril from the Paris museum material has a unique value, since studied by Dumeril and Bibron it formed in de la Vega made From at Jeremie this collection Haiti the many Museum and other points More by Mr A H some were described by Garman re- Verrill at Santiago contains the large collection of Weinland, in the western district of the island; Cope described many This cases part of the material for their great Erpetologie general cently there has been received material collected by and from of the species peculiar to the island, although at a later date The most recent Haitian W M Mann's trip to the island From Cuba there is material con- material comes as a part of the results of Mr from November, 1912 to February, 1913 tributed by FiUpe Poey, Samuel H added to the by a Wirt Robinson, and others collections the material collected during trips to the Cuba, and Jamaica afforded Scuddel-, large One and of the special incentives to writing this finely preserved collection received I have Bahamas, paper was from Grenada BARBOUR: ZOOGEOGRAPHY 210 During a part G of of the summer Allen and C T Brues worked at M seum already possessed adequate collections which has proved to belong to a new either new marine was procured C Z., 1911, Prof 54, graphical point of view of a new make life, it by human agency, was the finding, Wash., 1911, a 24, p 57-60) result, some fine already written upon the ants by both Allen and Brues, M C of specimens 303-318) No its close affinity with Z., 1911, 54, p known from Grenada; and and Guiana, together with the distinctness due to its isolated important evidence, it first, or otherwise fortuitously; its first one hand and Antillea on the other is any Of more importance from a zoogeo- 167-172) p been completely submerged since tribution besides several bats, insects; and, as W M Wheeler has Peripatus had previously been island in known by hearsay No attempt was made to Biol soc species of Peripatus (Brues, Bull species in Trinidad He found race Mr Brues devoted himself particularly to the M special efforts this island, Only few birds were wanted; and concerning these a short paper has been published (Barbour, Proc (Bull from armadillo, long species, or others of special interest collecting material Museum branches the Mu- in the interest of the most interesting and little-known elements collect only the Thus Dr Allen discovered the the fauna only, Grenada In view of the fact that in several Comparative Zoology were made to (August 17 to September 25) Messrs of 1910 that was not brought to Grenada secondly, that separation from South America on the The species is extremely rare, and very closely confined to a small highland area of middle of the island It Grenada has never its dis- ^'irgin forest in the does not, so far as their careful collecting goes to prove, ever occur in the low, cultivated lands, or in the Botanic gardens Dr Allen and Mr Brues that the trip It was a most made important archaeological collections, so successful one has already been mentioned that during the cruises of the Alexander Agassiz was accompanied by Mr Samuel Garman return to Cambridge, Garman Blake Mr After their published his well-known series of papers dealing with the reptiles and amphibians of the various islands Considering the fact that the time on shore was always limited to the short stay while the ship was in port, the collections are a monument But more important than the gathering method he made in studying it He was to Mr Carman's prodigious industry of the material the first was the advance in to recognize that the various species existing in the Antilles did not occur scattered in a perfectly reasonless way upon various islands; but rather that each island possessed a fauna with certain well-marked features, and usually as well with ^y ell-marked local species INTRODUCTION or races related to, but differentiated neighboring islands At first, by 211 isolation from, the forms found on the certain of the so-called conservative zoologists number objected at the making of such a large of new Time, however, species has justified Garman's work to a large extent Since the original writing of this paper Mrs Barbour Cuba (January-March, many 1910) for the purpose of filhng as in tliis Museum Cuban material again visited gaps as possible is peculiarly important many Bahaman and connection because of the close relationship of Haitian There has been question as to the identity or species with those on Cuba tinctness of these, I from which there was in the collection l^y collecting at localities in the island previously no material in the and and there are also many dis- and important points interesting regarding the relative abundance and local distribution of species within the I left for island Havana January near Cienfuegos, where and his family; of the I 30th, and went directly to Soledad estate, received the kind hospitality of Mr and much Harvard Botanical aid, especially from Mr R M Grey, who and Captain Beal, Station, Edwin of F Atkins in charge is Colonia Guabairo From Soledad we returned to Havana, and were joined by Dr and Mrs J L Bremer To Dr Bremer I owe many thanks for his aid to my collecting Together we visited who was more than kind to Mrs Barbour and myself Herradura, San Diego de los Banos, and the city and vicinity of Pinar del Rio, then later Madruga We returned to Cambridge on March The notes 15th on these specimens have been incorporated into the paper which was previously In connection with this Cuban written my a great pleasure to thank old friend Dr Aristides Mestre, Assistant Professor in the University of Havana, and Dr Carlos de for trip, it is much kiixd la Torre, Professor in the University of Havana, advice and other aid, as well as for some very valuable books and specimens A my stay in Louis A I me to include the results of Prof W M Wheeler and Mr delay in the publication of the paper enables Cuba during January-March, Shaw were with me for the first 1913 two weeks and during the had the very great advantage and pleasure of the company of his assistant to birds Mr V J Rodriguez Upon this trip and mammals with uniform good fortune most interesting species were secured Our la Torre and we devoted some attention since first trip entire excursion of Dr many de of the rarest and from Havana was to Bolon- dron where we were hospitably entertained by Mr Edwin F Sanborn at the Ingenio Armonia, from here we reached the edge Hato Jicarito of the From Bolondi'on we went to Aguada de Cienaga de Zapata at Pasajeros which we made BARBOrR: ZOOGEOGRAPHY 212 for several excursions into the neighborhood, spending several a base days at the edge of the great Cienaga in a house kindly placed at our use by Sr Francisco Morales Sr Morales's cane fields Colonia San Francisco at Hanabana and the enormous saw-grass morasses may be conveniently the Rio Travel in the reached by horse-back reaching the edge, however, although swamp it is quite a different matter to is remarkable to see through how deep the horses will carry one before they must be' mud are on left The uneven hard sub- stratum upon which the mud, covered with floating vegetation, rests almost makes in a liquid state riding quite exciting and it is not uncommon for one's horse to flounder into a depression almost disappearing in the ooze to be gotten out with some difficulty Crocodilus rhombifer the true Cuban crocodile was abundant about Laguna de Punta Gorda which was perhaps our most productive tlie collecting ground the courtesy of Sr Freyre and Sr don Miguel Diaz the railways and By other means of transport VERANCiA were on the great estates Maria Victoria and Perse- of and our hearty thanks are due them at our disposal for much courtesy and aid We for the zas, returned to Havana from Aguada and Messrs Wheeler and Shaw left North while Mr Rodriguez and myself made a short excursion to Matan- Union de Reyes and Alacranes (Alfonso XII) Our object was to secure blind fishes and Crustacea from the caves of the southern part of Matanzas province and in this we were successful Returning again to Havana Professor de at once for Bayamo back to the village Near the Prieto Sr latter locality Maestra riguez going to Bueycito la we spent several days at the cafetal El Alto of fine locality in the heart of the Bayamo Returning to and the region of the humid forest region our party divided, Senor Rod- Pan de Azucar while Professor de Torre and myself went to Manzanillo and by various stages south to Cabo Cruz Here the successful search was made After this trip tanamo is Torre joined us and we started From here we proceeded to Baire by rail and then by horseof Los Negros where we stayed some time and to Pozo Pedro Diaz which was a of the Sierra la well to Manzanillo, to A and Tarentola San Luis and then to Guan- Here we stayed with Mr C T Ramsden whose study of Cuban birds Bayamo and Havana with a few short days there with Mrs Barbour, who came down to meet me ended a most known together we went back for Cricosaura return to charming and profitable trip Our collection was small but the conmion INTRODUCTION 213 and only such species were already well represented were especially species as desirable were searched for The revival of interest in zoogeography has more than a simple check of the Antilles list species are considered Islands although such a The has long been needed are only those which prises the Hst, list of the reptiles and the Cayman group are paper and amphibians of recognition; all other recorded or incorrect records for the area Bahamas, Greater and Lesser this species which are included in this seem to be worthy synonyms prompted making This com- Antilles as far south as Grenada; Swan As stated elsewhere among also included the notes on certain species, the practice has been followed of recognizing island races as far as possible It is considered that a regarding the conditions among occurs upon several islands, tion seen in individuals these islands when from each there by incorrect concept stating that the even though in startlingly effective in producing very distinct species where these islands have apparently exactly the No same physical and cUmatic attempt comment is made same gained species some cases this varia- Jordan's law of evolution by isolation has often been tion appears to be shght islands, is generally a constant definitive varia- is island, more upon nearly adjacent — indeed, one might say certainly — conditions and unless some to give complete synonymies; special made, those species which have been considered synonyms by is Boulenger in his catalogues are so accepted This paper must be considered in the nature of a preliminary, since unfortunately press of time and in many cases want of material have prevented the writ- ing of a herpetology, with descriptions and keys for the identification of species This list will most show where profitably, Museum of reptile collecting in the what material from the region West is Indies can be carried on a\'ailable for study in the Comparative Zoology; and these records, which have been carefully culled, serve as a basis for certain considerations regarding the geographical tribution of Antillean reptiles and amphibians, and regarding the dis- origin of this fauna Note — After this Museum staff made Dr W A Brooks made paper was about completed, Mr George Nelson of the Swan three visits to the Islands thanks to the kindness of Together several months were spent there, and collections in winter, spring, and smnmer For the first time the islands have been studied by the same person at various times of the year force the reconsideration of conclusions had an oceanic origin Special mention Mr Nelson's material which maintain that the Swan Islands may be made of the very strange fact BARBOUR: ZOOGEOGRAPHY 214 that Mr Nelson's collections prove definitely that Tiaporus fulginosus Cope, a teid genus supposedly peculiar to the islands does not occur there Avere collected by Townsend and there in 1887 correspondence with the U S national is documentary evidence museum which was confined may have to the larger island, Swan Lowe published a why on Desert Islands, though Lowe spent Island If the being wholly terrestrial in habit, it, been exterminated by the introduced In 1911 Mr Percy R in his leaves no doubt as to the fact that the type specimens were actually taken on species The types cats quite fascinating book, A NaturaUst "desert islands" does not at once occur to one three weeks about the Swan Islands on the yacht frequently and making considerable collections He is Zenaida landing firmly convinced that they have never been in connection with any of the land masses which haA-e in The the past existed in the Caribbean region geologic evidence which he brings forward certainly supports his contention but, so far no borings have been possible to show the The fauna real underlying structure of the islands -is rich, equally so upon Little Swan, which has never been inhabited and cultivated, as upon the greater island, which has Remarking upon the indigenous "A strange race of vegetarian rats almost extinct on other islands to Swan Island in the in the same fashion species of hutia Indies, but as the iguana, (p 103) speaks of: tree-dwellers or tree-climbers, {Cciproiiu/ti), West Lowe which found their and there founded a way and now across the sea specific race of their own." Again on " p 112-114 we read: an extremelj- mild and almost genial disposition; has a head and boily very an enormous guinea-pig; and is covered with rather long and silky Its specific name is Capromi/s fhoracatus of True, and hairs protruding through a thick fur the species thoracatus is restricted to Swan Island The genus Capromys to which it belongs much is This rat is of after the style of an interesting one; for Indian Islands such as It is it comprises arboreal forms which are only found in the larger West Cuba and Jamaica, where just possible, therefore, that Little Swan in it is Island imminent danger will, in of becoming extinct the future, represent the last stronghold of this peculiar and old time race of rats, for here they are left absolutely unmo- and no enemies, human or otherwise, seem likely to disturb them Scientifically, these rats are allied to the coypu (Myopotamus) of South America; an animal attaining to the length of two feet, which lives in burrows near the water, and feeds on aquatic plants How these rats came to find their way to Swan Island is a little point in the problem of the distribution of species which may be worth referring to; for as we have seen, there is every reason to suppose that Swan Island has never had any connection with the mainland, and is of infinitely lested; later date, geologically speaking, quite recent coral origin upon than the islands comprising the Greater Antilles, being of Indeed as far as its as an oceanic or pseudo-oceanic island.' ' fauna If, is as concerned, seems most There are no snakes on Swan Island Swan Island might be looked likely, this Swan Island race BARBOUR: ZOOGEOGRAPm' TABLE OF DISTRIBUTION g II Reptilia H O iO Aiistelligfr jH-aesignU (Hallowell) Aristelliger lar Cope AriatelUger nelsoni Barbour Tarentola eubana Gundlanh & Peters i 349 BARBOUR: ZOOGEOGRAPHY Reftiua TABLE OF DISTRIBUTION 351 BARBOUR: ZOOGEOGRAPHY liF.PTILIA TABLE OF DISTRIBUTION 353 B.IRBOUR: ZOOGEOGRAPHY" Reptiua TABLE OF DISTRIBUTION 355 BARBOUR: ZOOGEOGRAPHY Reptilia TABLE OF DISTRIBUTION 357 BARBOUR: ZOOGEOGRAPm TABLE OF DISTRIBUTION Reptiua a Leimadophisandreaeae Reinhanil Leimodophis temporalis (Cope) Leimodophisparvifrons (Cope) A- Liitkeii E § 'ic tI O I H oo + I.eiinadophis cursor (Lac^p^de) Leimodophis boulengeri Barbour Leimodophis stahli Stejneger Leimadophis exigiius (Cope) - + LeiraadophLs juliae (Cope) Leimadophis mariae Barbour Leimadophis perfuscus (Cope) Leimodophis melanotus (Shaw) Urotheca dumeriUi Bibron Arrbyton taeniatum Giinther Arrhyton vittatum (Gundlaeh Arrhyton ridimidum (Cope) A Peters) Clelia cloelia (Daudin) Pseudoboa neuweidii (Dum^ril laltria dorsalis A; Giinther Laohesis laneeolatus (Lae^p^de) Chryaemys palusfris (Gmeliii) Croeodilus rhombifer Cuvier Crocodilus americanris Laurenli Bibron "i o : 359 PLATE PLATE Eledtherodacttlus johnstonei Barbour Fig — Dorsal view — Dorsal view — Ventral view hand — Ventral view of — Lateral view of head Fig Fig Fig Fig of foot Eleutherodacttlus urichii Boettger Fig Page 249 Page 251 Herpetology of the West Indies ' Heliotype Co Boston '*' i)