Richard Thomas

John Paul Richard Thomas (born 1938) is an American taxonomist and systematist, and retired professor of herpetology and evolution at University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras (San Juan, Puerto Rico). He described several species new to science, mostly amphibians and reptiles, from throughout the Caribbean islands including the common coquí (Eleutherodactlys coqui), the national animal of Puerto Rico.

Early life and education Thomas was born in Jacksonville, Florida, USA, on May 2, 1938. At the University of South Florida, Thomas graduated as a Bachelor of Arts in 1969. Later, he went to Louisiana State University and obtained a PhD in 1976.

Research Thomas' research has focused mostly on amphibians and reptiles, spanning several fields from natural history to systematics and evolution. His studies have yielded descriptions of new species of dwarf geckos (Sphaerodactylus), blind snakes (Scolecophidia), and rain frogs (Eleutherodactylus).

Taxonomic descriptions During his career as herpetologist, Thomas has described more than 60 new species. A non-comprehensive list of described new species includes:

Bachia panoplia Mitophis pyrites Sphaerodactylus parthenopion Typhlops syntherus Amphisbaena xera Eleutherodactylus coqui Eleutherodactylus schwartzi Sphaerodactylus elasmorhynchus Typhlops monastus Anolis rimarum Cubatyphlops epactius Celestus agasepsoides Amerotyphlops tasymicris Typhlops hectus Eleutherodactylus probolaeus Sphaerodactylus semasiops Sphaerodactylus cryphius Sphaerodactylus nycteropus Sphaerodactylus streptophorus Sibynomorphus oneilli Bolitoglossa digitigrada Sphaerodactylus omoglaux Sphaerodactylus williamsi Mitophis asbolepis Mitophis calypso Mitophis leptipileptus Eleutherodactylus amadeus Eleutherodactylus parapelates Sphaerodactylus ladae Sphaerodactylus perissodactylus Anolis placidus Celestus macrotus Typhlops schwartzi Typhlops tetrathyreus Typhlops titanops Typhlops catapontus Typhlops hypomethes Eleutherodactylus caribe Eleutherodactylus corona Eleutherodactylus dolomedes Eleutherodactylus guantanamera Eleutherodactylus ionthus Eleutherodactylus mariposa Eleutherodactylus melacara Sphaerodactylus cricoderus Sphaerodactylus schwartzi Sphaerodactylus plummeri Sphaerodactylus epiurus Amphisbaena carlgansi Diploglossus garridoi Sphaerodactylus pimienta Sphaerodactylus schuberti Sphaerodactylus ariasae Amphisbaena cayemite Amphisbaena leali Eleutherodactylus juanariveroi Typhlops agoralionis Typhlops anchaurus Typhlops anousius Typhlops arator Typhlops contorhinus Typhlops eperopeus Typhlops notorachius Typhlops paradoxus Typhlops perimychus Typhlops proancylops Typhlops satelles Typhlops sylleptor

Nota bene: A binomial authority in parentheses indicates that the species was originally described in a different genus.

Eponyms Richard Thomas is honored in the scientific names of several lizards, namely Liolaemus thomasi, Leiocephalus lunatus thomasi Schwartz 1967, and Sphaerodactylus microlepis thomasi Schwartz 1965.