Nature in the Dominican Republic including Mammals, Amphibians, Reptiles, Butterflies, Dragonflies
Hispaniolan Hutia  (t3) (He) (ph) (*)  _____  (photo: 132-133)
Plagiodontia aedium  
The Hispaniolan Hutia is the only surviving native rodent on     Hispaniola. At least two larger-bodied species of Plagiodontia (P. araeum and P.     ipnaeum) also lived on Hispaniola until humans came into the     Caribbean region, and may have survived until European arrival in the 1500s,     but both of those species are now extinct.
The Hispaniolan Hutia is a member of the family CAPROMYIDAE. That hystricognath rodent family is restricted to West Indian islands. Other     living hutias are still found in Cuba, Jamaica, and the Bahamas, in     the genera Capromys and Geocapromys.
Genetic studies suggest that Plagiodontia is the oldest living lineage within CAPROMYIDAE, with other hutias possibly diverging about 20 million years ago.
Plagiodontia aedium was described     in 1836 by the famous French naturalist Georges Cuvier, the first scientist     to demonstrate that extinction was a real process.
The scientific name "aedium" refers to the local 19th century Haitian name for the species, "Rat-Cayes",     or "house rat", so-called because hutias were     apparently known for frequenting human habitations.
Cuvier also noted that the hutia was very good to eat. Already, by     the early 19th century, it had become very rare - making it an early species     to be recognized as being in danger of extinction.
By the early 20th century, the species was thought to be possibly extinct,     until its rediscovery in the Samana Bay region of the Dominican Republic in     1923, by Dr. W. L. Abbott, a collector for the Smithsonian Institution.
Confusion regarding morphological differences shown by Cuvier's hutia specimen, and fossil hutia remains collected in the early 20th     century, and the animals found in 1923 at Samana Bay, led to the thought     that there might have been a second living species of hutia on     Hispaniola, described as Plagiodonia hylaeum. 
Subsequent research has suggested that there are probably no consistent     morphological differences between living hutia populations on     Hispaniola. But, still, the identity and relationship of living Plagiodontia populations is unclear.
The Hispaniolan Hutia resembles a giant guinea pig, with a scaly,     naked tail.
It takes 2 years to reach sexual maturity, and birth is given to only one or     two young at a time.
The species does have a wide diet that includes leaves, shoots, bark, and     roots. It lives in either tree cavities or in limstone crevices.
The Hispaniolan Hutia has been seen during some FONT tours in the     Dominican Republic, in the southwestern part of the country.
  
For more information about the Hispaniolan Hutia, and the Hispaniolan Solenodon (below), and mammals that have gone extinct in the West Indies, go to the website "The Last Survivors" in the link below:
Hispaniolan Solenodon  (t2) (He) (ph) (*)  _____  (photo: 136-139)
Solenodon paradoxus 
The two species of solenodons in the world, in the family SOLENODONTIDAE,     are in the order SORICOMORPHA, along with the shrews. 
The other species of solenodon is in Cuba. It, Solenodon     cubana, is smaller than the Hispaniolan Solenodon.
The two solenodons are the only surviving insectivorous mammals in     the Caribbean. 
The endangered Hispaniolan Solenodon is one of the most unusual and     ancient mammals on Earth. The species is thought to resemble ancient mammals     that existed toward the end of the age of dinosaurs, over 65 million years     ago.  
Also, the Hispaniolan Solenodon is one of the only two remaining     endemic terrestrial mammal species on Hispaniola. The other is the Hispaniolan     Hutia (above).
So unlike most of the other endemic land mammals that formerly occurred on     Hispaniola, solenodons have managed to survive until now.
The species was described to science in 1833. Still, even today, knowledge     of its ecology and biology is fairly limited due to the animal's secretive     nocturnal habits.
Much of what is known about the Hispaniolan Solenodon is due to the     research done by Dr. Jose Ottenwalder in the 1970s and     1980s.      
An unusual characteristic of the Hispaniolan Solenodon is that it is     one of the few mammals that can secrete a toxic saliva in a manner similar     to snakes. The ability to do so is from a mandibular gland along a grooved     lower incisor.   
The distinctive elongated snout of the Hispaniolan Solenodon is     joined to the skull by a unique ball-and-socket joint which provides     considerable flexibility. 
The Hispaniolan Solenodon appears to have a rather widespread     distribution across Hispaniola, occurring in a variety of forest habitats,     from the lowland dry forest up to highland pine forest. 
However, in its range, populations of solenodons are highly     fragmented, and, as noted above, the species is classified as     endangered.   
There is evidence that some of the populations of the Hispaniolan     Solenodon are quite distinctive from others.   
As noted, solenodons are nocturnal animals. The spend the day in a     den located in a rocky outcrop, a burrow, or a hollow tree.
At night, they forage for invertebrates, primarily arthropods in the dirt,     although they may also scavenge in rotten wood. During their nightly     searches, they leave distinctive conical excavations in the soil. Called "nose     pokes", they are almost 3 inches wide and almost 3 inches deep.
Their main prey seem to be millipedes, ground beetles, crickets, katydid,     cockroaches, earthworms, and snails.  
As to its native predators, the solenodon's size and nocturnal     activity seems to suggest that it has only a few: 
the Barn Owl (and maybe the closely-related Ashy-faced Owl),     the Stygian Owl (rare in highland Hispaniola), and the Hispaniolan     Boa. 
Also, the solenodon is now killed, rather often, by dogs, both     domesticated and feral.
The Hispaniolan Solenodon has been seen on a few occasions during FONT     tours in the Dominican Republic, particularly during nocturnal tour outings     for owls and other nightbirds.
When seen, solenodons have been seen walking with their characteristic     side-to-side waddle. 
             
(photo by Jorge Brocca)
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It has been said that as many as 22 species of bats have been known to occur on Hispaniola.
3 of them have become extinct or extirpated from the island:
1) a large unnamed Pteronotus 
2) Mormoops megalophylla 
3) Lasiurus intermedius
Only 1 of the surviving bats in Hispaniola has been recognized as   endemic to the island.
18 species are included here in this list. 
9 of the species of bats in Hispaniola feed exclusively on insects.
Greater Bulldog Bat  (ph)  _____  (another     name is "Fisherman Bat")
Noctilio leporinus 
Noctilio leporinus feeds on small fish swimming near the surface of ponds     and lagoons. However, during the rainy season when insects are especially     abundant, it feeds on beetles, moths, and other flying     insects.  
Noctilio leporinus is by far the largest bat in the Dominican     Republic. It has a wingspan up to 3 feet. That of the second largest bat in     the Dominican Republic is about half that - the Big Free-tailed Bat,     with a wingspan up to 17.1 inches. 
The length (of the body & head) of Noctilio leporinus is 4.6 to 5     inches.     
In flight after dark, a Greater Bulldog Bat in the Dominican Republic
(photo by Burke Korol) 
Parnell's Moustached Bat  (ph)  _____  (also called the Common Moustached Bat)
Pteronotus (formerly Chilonycteris) parnelli
Pteronotus parnelli is widespread in the     Caribbean, and in Central & South America. In Hispaniola, as well as     other places, it hunts great distances from its roost caves, searching for     moths and beetles.
The Parnell's, or Common Moustached Bat
Sooty Moustached Bat  (nt)  _____
Pteronotus quadridens hunts at great distances from its roosting caves,     searching for moths and beetles.
Antillean Ghost-faced Bat  _____  (another name is the Blainsville's Leaf-chinned Bat) 
Mormoops blainvilli
Mormoops blainvilli is a cave-dwelling species. It is an     insect-eater that hunts for its food while flying very close to the ground.
Waterhouse's Leaf-nosed Bat  _____  (also     called the Big-eared Bat)  (photo: 342)
Macrotus waterhousii
Macrotus waterhousi is a beautiful bat that emerges from its roosting cave     about two hours after dark and hunts for large insects on the wing. It also     may feed on some fruits. 
Cuban Fruit-eating Bat  (nt)  _____
Brachyphylia nana is a cave-dwelling species.
 
Cuban Flower Bat  _____  (another     name is the Poey's Flower Bat)
Phyllonycteris poeyi obtusa  (subspecies in   Hispaniola) 
Phyllonycteris poeyi, and some other small bats with long snouts, are     generalists, feeding on soft fruit, pollen, nectar, and insects, depending     on what is available.
Able to forage over a wide variety of habitats, this species may be found on     mountain slopes where food sources vary during various seasons of the     year.      
Brown Flower Bat  (*)  ______  (also called Eastern Buffy Flower Bat)  (species on Hispaniola & Puerto Rico) 
Erophylla bombifrons
Erophylla bombifrons can form colonies of thousands. This, and some other small bats with long snouts, are generalists, feeding on soft fruit, pollen, nectar, and insects, depending on what is available.
Able to forage over a wide variety of habitats, this species may be found on mountain slopes where food sources vary during various seasons of the year.       
Leach's Single-leaf Bat  (*)  _____  (another name is the Greater Antillean Long-tongued Bat) 
Monophyllus redmani
Monophyllus redmani occurs in the southern Bahamas, Cuba, Hispaniola, Jamaica, and Puerto Rico.
It is a cave-dwelling species. This, and some other small bats with long snouts, are generalists, feeding on soft fruit, pollen, nectar, and insects, depending on what is available.
Able to forage over a wide variety of habitats, this species may be found on mountain slopes where food sources vary during various seasons of the year.   
The wingspan of Monophyllus redmani is 11 to 12 inches. Its length (of its body & head) is 3.1 inches.
Jamaican Fruit-eating Bat  (ph) (*)  _____  (photo: 343)
Artibeus jamaicensis
Artibeus jamaicensis is a specialist, feeding on large fruits with thick     skins. To do so, it has big jaws, and also a flat face. 
The wingspan of Artibeus jamaicensis is up to 5.9 inches. Its length     (of its body & head) is 3.5 inches. 
Jamaican Fruit-eating Bats
Cuban Fig-eating Bat  _____
Phyllops falcatus  (the single member of its genus)
Artibeus flacatus is a specialist, feeding on large fruits with thick skins. To do so, it has big jaws, and also a flat face.
Cuban Funnel-eared Bat  (nt)  _____
Natalus (formerly Chilonatalus) micropus
Natalus micropus is an insect-eating bat that hunts on the wing while fluttering like a moth. 
Hispaniolan Greater Funnel-eared Bat  (nt)  _____  (species endemic to Hispaniola)
Natalus major
Natalus major is a cave-dwelling species. It   is an insect-eater that hunts on the wing while fluttering like a moth. 
Mexican Free-tailed Bat  (nt) (ph)  _____
Tadarida brasiliensis
Tadarida brasiliensis, are insect-eaters that fly high in the air. 
The wingspan of Tadarida brasiliensis is up to 11 inches. Its length     (of its body & head) is 3.5 inches.  
Big Free-tailed Bat  _____
Nyctinomops macrotis
Nyctinomops macrotis are insect-eaters that fly high in the air.
The Big Free-tailed Bat has a wingspan of up to 17.1 inches. The     length (of its body & head) is 5.5 inches.   
Pallas' Mastiff Bat  (or House Bat)  (ph) (*)  _____  (another name is Velvety Free-tailed Bat)
Molossus molossus
Molossus molossus are insect-eaters that shift from high flying to hunting close to the ground. depending on insect abundance. 
Pallas' Mastiff Bat, or House Bat
Big Brown Bat  (ph)  _____
Eptesicus fuscus
Eptesicus fuscus are insect-eaters that feed slowly on the wing. 
The Big Brown Bat has a wingspan of up to 13 inches. Its length (of     its head & body) is 5 inches.   
 
Minor Red Bat  (t3) (ph)  _____
Lasiurus minor 
Lasiurus minor roosts     in trees. The species is an insect-eater taking its food both in the air and     on vegetation. In the Dominican Republic, it has been said to have been     found at only 6 localities.
Lasiurus minor has been considered conspecific with the Lasiurus borealis, the Eastern     Red Bat. 
The length (of the body & head) of the Eastern Red Bat is 4.4     inches.
This photo of the Eastern Red Bat, very similar     to the Minor Red Bat
(photo by Alan Brady)
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Aquatic & Marine Mammals
As many as 13 species of whales and dolphins have been noted to occur in Hispaniolan waters. The most well-known among     them are the Humpback Whale and the Bottlenose Dolphin.
The Caribbean Monk Seal formerly occurred along the Hispaniolan coast. That     species, Monachus tropicalis, is now extinct, having likely become so soon     after 1952.     
West Indian Manatee  (ph)  ______
Humpback Whale  (ph)   _____  (PHOTO AT THE     TOP OF THIS LIST) 
Megaptera novaeangliae  (the single member of its genus)
Humpback Whale
Hispaniolan Green Treefrog  (t3) (He)  _____  (photo: 276-277)
Hypsiboas (formerly Hylo) heilprini
Hispaniolan Laughing Treefrog  (He)  _____  (photo: 317)
Osteopilus dominicensis 
Hispaniolan Yellow Treefrog  (t2) (He/DRe)     (ph) (*)  ______  
Osteopilus pulchrilineata
A Hispaniolan Yellow Treefrog photographed during 
the FONT tour in the Dominican Republic in February 2012  
(photo by Marie Gardner)
Hispaniolan Giant Treefrog  (t2)     (He)  _____
Osteopilus vastus
Tuck-wheep Frog  (He)  _____  (photo: 250)
Eleutherodactylus abbotti
Eleutherodactylus aduanti  (t2) (He)  _____  (photo: 186)
Barahona Rock Frog  (t2) (He)  _____  (species described in 1971)
Eleutherodactylus alcoae
Eleutherodactylus apostates  (He)  _____     (photo: 188)
Baoruco Hammer Frog  (t2) (He)  _____  (species described in 1933)
Eleutherodactylus armstrongi
South Island Telegraph Frog  (t3) (He)  _____  (species described in 1934)
Eleutherodactylus audanti
Northern Hammer Frog  (t2) (He/DRe)  ______
Eleutherodactylus auriculatoides
Eleutherodactylus brevirostris  (t2)  _____  (photo: 189)
Eleutherodactylus eunaster  _____  (photo: 189)
Yellow Split-toed Frog  (nt) (He)  _____
Eleutherodactylus falvescens
Khaki Bromeliad Frog  (t1) (He)  _____  (species described in 1973)
Eleutherodactylus   fowleri
La Selle Red-legged Frog  (t1) (He)  _____  (species described in 1963)
Eleutherodactylus   furcyensis
Montane Cricket Frog  (t2) (He/DRe)  _____
Eleutherodactylus haitianus 
Half-stripe Bromeliad Frog  (t2) (He)  _____  (species described in 1963)
Eleutherodactylus   heminota
Baoruco Burrowing Frog  (t2) (He)  _____  (species described in 1965)
Eleutherodactylus   hypostenor
Hispaniolan Tailspot Dwarf Gecko  (HE/DRe)  _____  (species described in 1993)
Spaherodactylus epiurus
Spotted Agave Dwarf Gecko  (He/DRe)  _____  (species described in 1988)
Sphaerodactylus ladae
Broken-Stripe Dwarf Gecko  (He/DRe)  _____  (species described in 1973)
Sphaerodactylus     leucaster
Ocoa Dwarf Gecko  (He/DRe)  _____  (species described in 1977)
Sphaerodactylus ocoae
Martin Garcia Dwarf Gecko  (He/DRe)  _____  (species described in 1988)
Sphaerodactylus     perissodactylius
Barahona Big-scaled Dwarf Gecko  (He/DRe)  _____  (species described in 1992)
Sphaerodactylus     plummeri
Barahona Speckled Dwarf     Gecko  (He)  _____  (species described in 1968)
Sphaerodactylus randi
Two-striped Dwarf     Gecko  (He)  _____  (species described in 1970)
Sphaerodactylus rhabdotus 
Haitises Banded Gecko  (He/DRe)  _____  (photo: 315)
Sphaerodactylus samanensis
Altagracia Speckled Dwarf Gecko  (He/DRe)  ______  (species described in 1968)
Sphaerodactylus     savagei
Neiba Agave Dwarf Gecko  (He/DRe)  _____  (species described in 1998)
Sphaerodactylus     schuberti
Hispaniolan Small-eared     Dwarf Gecko  (He)  _____  (species described in 1977)
Sphaerodactylus streptophorus 
Barahona Limestone Dwarf     Gecko  (He)  _____  (species described in 1976)
Sphaerodactylus thompsoni
Dominican Leaf-toed Gecko  _____  (species     described in 1980) 
Phyllodactylus hispaniolae
Ricard's Iguana (t1) (He/DRe) (*)  _____  (photo: 58-59) (other names are Hispaniolan Ground Iguana and Banded Iguana) 
Cyclora ricordi
Rhinoceros Iguana  (t3) (He) (ph) (*)  _____  (photo: 102)
Cyclura cornuta
A Rhinoceros Iguana during the FONT tour 
in the Dominican Republic in April 2012 
Note the horns, hence the name "Rhinoceros".
(photo by Marie Gardner)
Hispaniolan Boa  (He)  _____  (photo: 140-141)
Epicrates striatus
Liguus virgineus  (no English name)  _____
Pleurodonte escellens  _____  (photo: 196)
various land snails  (some quite colorful)  _____  (photo: 194-195, photo: 200, 340)
Above & below: Some shells of land snails found   during 
the FONT tour in the Dominican Republic in April 2012 
(photos by Marie Gardner)
These snail shells were in a forest   of the Sierra de Baoruco,
at an elevation of a few thousand feet above sea level.
In that forest, the bird known as the Limpkin walks about, 
feeding on such shells. It occurs there no where near water, 
Limpkins in the Dominican Republic have virtually lost
the ability to fly. They walk on the forest floor, like a large rail.
Cerion yumaense  _____  (photo: 341)
Polydamus Swallowtail  (or Gold   Rim)  (ph) (*)  _____
Battus polydamus polycrates  (subspecies endemic to   Hispaniola)
Above & below: the Polydamus Swallowtail, or Gold Rim. 
in two photographs taken in the Dominican Republic 
The upper photo (by Rob Van Brussel) shows the marginal row
of red S marks on the underside of the hindwing.
The lower photo of the upperside (by Marie Gardner during the
FONT Dominican Republic tour in April 2012) shows the "Gold Rim". 
Zetides Swallowtail  _____  (species   endemic to Hispaniola)  (species described in 1971)
Battus zetides
Hispaniolan Kite Swallowtail _____  (species endemic to Hispaniola)
Eurytides zonarius (or   now Neographium zonaria)
Androgeus Swallowtail  (or Queen   Page)  (ph) (*)  _____
Papilo (or Heraclides) androgeus epidaurus
An Androgeus Swallowtail during the April 2012 FONT tour
in the Dominican Republic  
Dusky Swallowtail  (also called Schaus' Swallowtail)  _____
Papilo (or Heraclides) a. aristodemus
Machaonides Swallowtail  (ph) (*)  _____  (species endemic to Hispaniola)
Papilo (or Heraclides) machaonides
Two Photographs of the Machaonides Swallowtail
during the FONT Dominican Republic Tour in April 2012 
(photos by Marie Gardner)
Scarce Haitian Swallowtail  (ph) (*)  _____  (species endemic to Hispaniola)
Papilo (or Heraclides) aristor
A Scarce Haitian Swallowtail during the FONT tour
in the Dominican Republic in April 2012
(photo by Marie Gardner)
Papilio (or Priamides) pelaus imerius
Checkered Swallowtail  (Hi) (ph)  ______  (also called the Lime Swallowtail)
Papilio demoleus
The Checkered Swallowtail is a beautiful mostly Asian species that now   occurs in the West Indies. Its native range is from the Middle East trough   China to Japan, and in Australia. 
A Checkered Swallowtail in the Domincian Republic
(photo by Rob van Brussel)
WHITES, YELLOWS,   SULPHURS, & MIMIC WHITES  (Family PIERIDAE)    
Tropical (or Florida) White  _____  
Leuce Yellow  (ph)  ______  (has been   called Hall's Yellow)
Eurema (or Pyrisitia) leuce   memulus  (subspecies endemic to Hispaniola)
Leuce Yellow
Eurema (or Pyrisitia) lisa   euterpe
A Little Yellow with a Cloudless Sulphur during the
FONT tour in the Dominican Republic in April 2012
(photo by Marie Gardner)
Eurema (or Pyrisitia) p. proterpia
Pyro Yellow  ______  (species endemic to Hispaniola)
Eurema (or Pyrisitia) pyro   
Zerene cesonia cynops  (subspecies endemic to Hispaniola) 
Subfamily DISMORPHIINAE
Antillean Mimic-White  ______  (was   called Haitian Mimic) (photo: 309)
Dismorphia spio
Silver-banded Hairstreak  (ph)  _____  (has been called St. Christopher's Hairstreak)
Chlorostrymon simaethis
With the lower photo showing how the butterfly 
can blend in with its surroundings.
(upper photo courtesy of Michiel Koomen,
 lower photo by Rob van Brissel)
Antillean (or Amethyst) Hairstreak  ______ 
Hispaniolan   Hairstreak  ______  (species endemic to Hispaniola) (species   described in 1988)
Thereus abeja   
Anaea t. troglodyta  (nominate subspecies, endemic to Hispaniola)
Hispaniolan Leafwing  ______  (species endemic to Hispaniola)
Memphis verticordia
Johnson's Leafwing  (ph)  ______  (species on Jamaica & Hispaniola)
Fountainea (formerly Memphis) johnsoni
(photo courtesy of Shelley Hall)
Red-striped Leafwing  (ph)  ______  (has also been called Red-and-black Leafwing)
Siderone galanthis nemesis    
(copyrighted photo by Lisa Johnson)
Archimestra  ______  (species endemic to Hispaniola)
Archimesra teleboas
Dynamine serina zetes  (subspecies endemic to Hispaniola)
Caribbean Banner  ______
Lucinia sida torrebia  (subspecies endemic to Hispaniola) 
Red Rim  (ph)  _____ 
Pale Cracker  (ph) (*)  _____  (another name is Caribbean Cracker)
Hamadryas amphichloe diasia
Above & below: the Pale, or Caribbean Cracker,
both photos in the Sierra de Baoruco in the Dominican Republic.
In the lower photo, the cracker has landed on the ground
instead of on the bark of a tree.
(lower photo by Marie Gardner during a FONT tour in April 2012)
Florida Purplewing  (ph)  _____ 
Anetia p. pantherata  (subspecies endemic to Hispaniola) 
Hispaniolan King  (nt) (ph) (*)  ______  (another name has been Jaeger's Anetia)  
Anetia jaegeri  
A Hispaniolan King photographed during a FONT tour
in the Dominican Republic in February 2012 
(photo by Marie Gardner)
RINGLETS  (Family SATYRIDAE)  Often   considered a subfamily of NYMPHALIDAE 
Sugar Cane Calisto  _____  (species   endemic   to Hispaniola, 2 subspecies)
Calisto p. pulchella  _____  (subspecies   endemic to Hispaniola where widespread)
Calisto pulchella darlingtoni _____  (a   montane subspecies endemic to Hispaniola,   in the Dominican Republic in the Cordillera Central)  (subspecies described in 1943)
Yellow-banded Calisto  (*)  _____  (species   endemic   to Hispaniola; in   the Dominican Republic, in the western Sierra de Baoruco)
Calisto archebates
White-banded Calisto  _____  (species   endemic   to Hispaniola; in   the Dominican Republic in the Sierra de Baoruco)
Calisto chrysaoros
Gali's Calisto  _____  (species   endemic to   Hispaniola, 2 subspecies)
Calisto g. galii  _____  (subspecies in the   Dominican Republic in the Cordillera Central)  (subspecies described in 1983)
Calisto galii choneupsilon  _____ (subspecies   in the Dominican Republic in   the Sierra de Neiba)  (subspecies described in 1985)
Wetherbee's Calisto  _____  (species   endemic to Hispaniola, in the Dominican Republic, in the Cordillera Central)  (species described in 1988)
Calisto   wetherbeei
Dark Calisto  _____  (species endemic to Hispaniola, in the   southwest Dominican Republic, near Las Abejas) 
Calisto loxias
Tawny-washed Calisto  _____  (species endemic to Hispaniola, in the Dominican Republic in the Cordillera Central on the Pico Duarte massif)
Calisto arcas
Confused Calisto  _____  (species endemic to Hispaniola, widespread in the Dominican Republic)
Calisto confusa
Gonzalez's Calisto  _____  (species   endemic to Hispaniola, in the Dominican Republic in   the Sierra de Yamasa north of Santo Domingo)  (species   described in 1988)
Calisto gonzalezi
Obscure Calisto  (ph) (*)  _____  (species   endemic to Hispaniola, widespread   in the Dominican Republic)  (species described in 1943)
Calisto obscura
The Obscure Calisto photographed in a forest near Barahona
during the April 2012 FONT Dominican Republic Tour
(photo by Marie Gardner)
Saona Calisto  _____  (species   endemic to Hispaniola, on the offshore islands Saona & Catalina)    
Calisto lyceius
Cryptic Calisto  _____  (species   endemic to Hispaniola, in the Dominican Republic in the   vicinity of Monte Cristi)  (species described in 1985)
Calisto crypta
Francisco's Calisto  _____  (species endemic to Hispaniola, in the Dominican Republic in the   Valle de Neiba & the Barahona Peninsula to Azua)  (species described   in 1985) 
Calisto franciscoi
Henderson's Calisto  _____  (species   endemic to Hispaniola, in the Dominican Republic near   El Limon, in Independencia)  (species described in 1985)
Calisto hendersoni
Schwartz's Calisto  _____  (species endemic to Hispaniola, near Aceitillar, Pedernales, & the Sierra de Baoruco in the southwest   Dominican Republic) 
Calisto schwartzi
Rabum's Calisto  _____  (species   endemic to Hispaniola, northeast   of El Aguacate, Independencia)
Calisto rabumi 
Tasajera Calisto  _____  (species   endemic to Hispaniola, in the Dominican Republic in   the Cordillera Central) 
Calisto tasajera
Tragic Calisto  _____  (species   endemic to Hispaniola, in   the Dominican Republic, in the western Sierra de Baoruco)
Calisto tragius
Yellow-stained Calisto  _____  (species endemic to Hispaniola, in the Dominican Republic in the Sierra de   Neiba)
Calisto   clydoniata
Clench's Calisto  _____  (species   endemic to Hispaniola, in   the Dominican Republic near the Massif de la Selle)
Calisto clenchi
Bates' Calisto  _____  (species   endemic to Hispaniola, mostly   in the northern Dominican Republic)
Calisto batesi    
Godart's Calisto  (ph) (*)  _____  (species endemic to   Hispaniola, in the Dominican   Republic in the southwest including the Barahona peninsula & west)
Calisto hysius
A Godart's Calisto, a very small butterfly, photographed south of Barahona
during the April 2012 FONT Dominican Republic Tour 
(photo by Marie Gardner)
Correa's Calisto  _____  (species endemic to Hispaniola, in the Dominican Republic   in the northern Cordillera Central)
Calisto aleucosticha
Neiba Calisto  _____  (species endemic to Hispaniola, in the Dominican Republic   in the Sierra de Neiba)
Calisto neiba
Eleleus Calisto  _____  (species endemic to Hispaniola, most common in the Sierra de   Baoruco in the Dominican Republic)
Calisto eleleus
Grannus Calisto  _____  (species endemic to Hispaniola, 2 subspecies)
Calisto g. grannus  (subspecies   in the Dominican Republic in the Cordillera Central, between 1150 & 2300 meters)  
Calisto grannus dilemma  (subspecies in the Dominican Republic In the areas of Constanza & La   Vega)
Phoinix Calisto  ______  (species endemic to   Hispaniola, in the Dominican Republic at La Palma, in the eastern Cordillera Central, La Vega)
Calisto phoinix
Amazona Calisto  ______  (species endemic   to Hispaniola, in the Dominican Republic in the vicinity of Pico Duarte, in the Cordillera Central, from   1200 to 1900 meters)
Calisto amazona
Leonor Calisto  _____  (species endemic to Hispaniola, in the Dominican Republic   at Loma Leonor, Santiago Rodriguez)
Calisto dystacta
Micrommata Calisto  _____  (species endemic to Hispaniola, in the Dominican Republic   in the southern Sierra de Neiba, between 1600 & 1900 meters)
Calisto micrommata
Sommer's Calisto  _____  (species endemic to Hispaniola, in the Dominican Republic, in the western Sierra de   Baoruco)
Calisto sommeri
Michener's Calisto  _____  (species endemic to Hispaniola, in the Dominican Republic   in the Cordillera Central)
Calisto micheneri
Enigmatic Calisto  _____  (species endemic to Hispaniola, in the Dominican Republic   in the Cordillera Central)
Calisto ainigma
El Rubio Calisto  _____  (species endemic to Hispaniola, in the Dominican Republic   at Monte El Rubio, Santiago)
Calisto neochma 
Celery Leaftier Moth  (ph)  ______  a Cramid moth, in the family PYRALIDAE
Udea rubigalis
A Celery Leaftier Moth photographed in the Dominican   Republic
(photo by Rob Van Brussel)  
Black Witch  (ph)  ______  in   the family EREBIDAE
Ascalapha odorata
The Black Witch has a wingspan as large as 6.3   inches. 
Above & below: Two photographs of the large moth, 
known in English as the Black Witch; in Spanish as La Bruja.
Both or these photos were taken in the Dominican Republic.
The upper photo in March 2015.  
(above photo by Rob van Brussel) 
The lower photo here was taken in the town of Pedernales, by the border with   Haiti.
We have been in Pedernales often during FONT Dominican Republic   Tours.  
(photo below by Burke Korol)  
Hispaniolan Giant Tarantula  (ph)  _____  (p. 296)   in the THERAPHOSIDAE family 
Phormictopus cancerides  (in the family   Theraphosidae)
On one occasion, during a FONT tour, as many about a hundred 
of these Hispaniolan Giant Tarantulas were seen crossing 
a stretch of road in the southwestern Dominican Republic. 
Phormictopus   sp.  (ph)  ______
A species in the Phormictopus genus that is now in the description process.
This is the same genus as that of the Hispaniolan Giant Tarantula (above, in the   list)
(photo by Burke Korol)
Another, more colorful tarantula photographed in the Dominican   Republic.
This species is smaller than the previous species in Phormictopus, about half the size.
It was discovered in 2010, or thereabouts, by Antonio Tosto.
He sent us this information in an e-mail, as well as a link to his website:
(photo by Rob Van Brussel)
Gray Wall Jumper  (ph)  ______   in the SALTICIDAE family
Menemerus bivittatus
A Gray Wall Jumper photographed in the Dominican   Republic
(photo by Rob Van Brussel)
Ansaitis sp.  (ph)  ______   in the SALTICIDAE family
There are about 10 species of Ansaitis in the Dominican Republic, but it is almost impossible to determine the   species without an examination of genitalia.
Some of the Ansaitis species have   been changed to be in the genus Corythalia, and some from Corythalia have been   moved to Ansaitis. 
A species of Anasaitis, in the Dominican Republic
(photo by Rob Van Brussel)
Lyssomanes   antillanus  (ph)  ______  in the   SALTICIDAE family
Lyssomanes antillanus occurs in Hispaniola, Cuba, Jamaica.
Lyssomanes antillanus, in the Dominican Republic
(photo by Rob Van Brussel)
Leucauge regnyi  (ph)  ______   in the TETRAGNATHIDAE family 
Leucauge regnyi, a female, in the Dominican Republic
(photo by Rob Van Brussel)
Orchard Orb Weaver  (ph)  ______  in the TETRAGNATHIDAE family
Leucauge venusta
Orchard Orb Weaver, in the Dominican Republic
(photo by Rob Van Brussel)
World-wide, there are over 10,000 species of Orb Weavers, about   25 per cent of known spider diversity.
Including both Leucauge venusta (above) and Mecynogea martiana (below).
Mecynogea martiana  (ph)  ______  in the ARANEIDAE family
Mecynogea martiana occurs in   Hispaniola and Cuba.
A juvenile Mecynogea martiana, in the Dominican   Republic
(photo by Rob Van Brussel)   
Black Widow  (or, in Spanish, Viuda Negra)  (ph)  ______
Latrodectus mactans  
Latrodectus mactans, in the Dominican Republic
(photo by Rob Van Brussel)