Richard Thomas | |
---|---|
Born | John Paul Richard Thomas May 2, 1938 |
Nationality | American |
Alma mater |
University of South Florida Louisiana State University |
Known for | Describing over 60 animal species, including the common coquí |
Scientific career | |
Fields | Taxonomy, systematics, herpetology, evolution |
Institutions | University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus |
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). [1] He described several species new to science, mostly amphibians and reptiles, from throughout the Caribbean islands including the common coquí (Eleutherodactlys coqui), [2] the national animal of Puerto Rico. [3]
Thomas was born in Jacksonville, Florida, USA, on May 2, 1938. [4] 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. [1] [5]
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), [6] [7] and rain frogs ( Eleutherodactylus). [8] [9]
During his career as herpetologist, Thomas has described more than 60 new species. [8] [9] [10] A non-comprehensive list of described new species includes:
Nota bene: A binomial authority in parentheses indicates that the species was originally described in a different genus.
Richard Thomas is honored in the scientific name of a species of lizard, Liolaemus thomasi. [1]
Richard Thomas | |
---|---|
Born | John Paul Richard Thomas May 2, 1938 |
Nationality | American |
Alma mater |
University of South Florida Louisiana State University |
Known for | Describing over 60 animal species, including the common coquí |
Scientific career | |
Fields | Taxonomy, systematics, herpetology, evolution |
Institutions | University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus |
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). [1] He described several species new to science, mostly amphibians and reptiles, from throughout the Caribbean islands including the common coquí (Eleutherodactlys coqui), [2] the national animal of Puerto Rico. [3]
Thomas was born in Jacksonville, Florida, USA, on May 2, 1938. [4] 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. [1] [5]
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), [6] [7] and rain frogs ( Eleutherodactylus). [8] [9]
During his career as herpetologist, Thomas has described more than 60 new species. [8] [9] [10] A non-comprehensive list of described new species includes:
Nota bene: A binomial authority in parentheses indicates that the species was originally described in a different genus.
Richard Thomas is honored in the scientific name of a species of lizard, Liolaemus thomasi. [1]