The photo above is the newly described species Anolis viridulus. Photography credit Luis Diaz.
The lizard genus Anolis is species rich and currently has about 438 species, Green anoles of the Anolis carolinensis group are divided into the carolinensis and isolepis subgroups. Species in the Anolis isolepis subgroup (A. altitudinalis, A. isolepis, A. oporinus, and A. toldo) are endemic to Cuba and the highest diversity of the subgroup is concentrated in forested areas of eastern Cuba.
Diaz et al. (2022) describe a new species of this subgroup from western Cuba based on genetic and morphological differences from other species. The authors phylogenetic analysis, based on DNA sequences, includes all of the known species and suggests that the new species is more closely related to A. altitudinalis, A. oporinus, and A. toldo
than to the widespread A. isolepis. In addition, they provide a new hypothesis on the taxonomic status of A. incredulus and recommend that it no longer be considered as a species in the A. carolinensis group. Due to the lack of a diagnosis, and poor condition, of the only available specimen, the authors consider A. incredulus as a species inquirenda. New morphological and genetic data of recently collected specimens of A. oporinus and A. toldo will provide complementary information about these species known from one or a few specimens.
The new species described by Diaz et al is Anolis viridulus. The new species as a maximum body length of about 44 mm, a compact build, a laterally compressed body; and the head is covered by large multicarinate scales. When handled A. viridulus makes squeaky vocalizations. The new species is known from Las Terrazas, Sierra del Rosario, Artemisa Province, and from Moncada, Viñales, Pinar del Río Province, 90 km apart (air distance); both localities are in the Cordillera de Guaniguanico. Estimated extent of occurrence is 860 km2.The species occurs in the protected areas Reserva Ecológica de Recursos Manejados Sierra
del Rosario and Parque Nacional Viñales.
Citation. Díaz LM, Cádiz A, Velazco K, Kawata M. 2022. A new dwarf green anole (Squamata: Dactyloidae) of the Anolis carolinensis species group,from western Cuba. Caribbean Herpetology 84: 1–16. DOI: https://doi.org/10.31611/ch.84
