First Record of Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle, Lepidochelys kempii (Garman, 1880), in the Waters of Martinique Island (Lesser Antilles).

An adult female Lepidochelys kempii was found trapped in drifting sargassum south of Martinique; this is the southernmost report of this taxon in the Lesser Antilles arc. Determining the limits of distribution and the existence of possible sympatry between L. kempii and L. olivacea in certain subregions of the Caribbean has been hindered by numerous misidentifications. We review the available data and propose a new distribution map in the Caribbean, which can serve as a basis for future studies.

A new species of deep-sea grunt, Rhonciscus pauco (Lutjaniformes: Haemulidae), from Puerto Rico.

A fourth species of the genus Rhonciscus (Lutjaniformes: Haemulidae) is described from various specimens collected by small-scale fishers from the insular upper slope of western Puerto Rico. The new species was molecularly recovered as sister to the Eastern Pacific R. branickii, to which it bears many morphological similarities. It is distinguished from other Rhonciscus species by the number of scale rows between the dorsal fin and the lateral line (7), larger and thus fewer scales along the lateral line (48-50), large eyes (9.4-10.4 times in SL), longer caudal peduncle (15.2-20% of SL), larger sized penultimate (14.7-19.1% in SL) and last (7.4-9.5% in SL) dorsal fin spines which translates to a less deeply notched dorsal fin, and its opalescent silver with golden specks live coloration. This grunt, only now recognized by ichthyologists, but well known by local fishers that target snappers and groupers between 200 and 500 m in depth, occurs in far deeper waters than any western Atlantic grunt.

A comprehensive review of viruses in terrestrial animals from the Caribbean islands of Greater and Lesser Antilles.

Viruses pose a major threat to animal health worldwide, causing significant mortalities and morbidities in livestock, companion animals and wildlife, with adverse implications on human health, livelihoods, food safety and security, regional/national economies and biodiversity. The Greater and Lesser Antilles consist of a cluster of islands between the North and South Americas and is habitat to a wide variety of animal species. This review is the first to put together decades of information on different viruses circulating in companion animals, livestock and wildlife from the Caribbean islands of Greater and Lesser Antilles. Although animal viral diseases have been documented in the Caribbean region since the 1940s, we found that studies on different animal viruses are limited, inconsistent and scattered. Furthermore, a significant number of the reports were based on serological assays, yielding preliminary data. The available information was assessed to identify knowledge gaps and limitations, and accordingly, recommendations were made, with the overall goal to improve animal health and production, and combat zoonoses in the region.

[The oncology residency program in French overseas]. / L'internat d'oncologie en outre-mer français.

Once his specialty has been chosen, and according to his ranking, the new resident in oncology decides on the subdivision in which he wishes to be among the 28 existing subdivisions. Two concern overseas departments and territories: the Antilles-Guyana subdivision and the Indian Ocean subdivision. The oncology residency has its own particularities because of the demographic characteristics and epidemiology of cancers in these areas, but also because of a particular organization of care and university teaching. The training of residents in these subdivisions is little known. Over the past ten years, most of the residents have been trained in oncology-radiotherapy in these subdivisions and some of them in medical oncology. The residency program is however experiencing a revival in terms of university education in parallel with the development of technical and human equipment in the centres of these regions. This article details the training of residents in oncology in French overseas territories by contextualizing it with epidemiological data and the characteristics of the oncology care offer in these territories.

Anthropological genetic insights on Caribbean population history.

As the last American region settled by humans, yet the first to experience European colonization, the Caribbean islands have a complex history characterized by continuous migration, admixture, and demographic change. In the last 20 years, genetics research has transformed our understanding of Caribbean population history and revisited major debates in Caribbean anthropology, such as those surrounding the first peopling of the Antilles and the relationship between ancient Indigenous communities and present-day islanders. Genetics studies have also contributed novel perspectives for understanding pivotal events in Caribbean post-contact history such as European colonization, the Atlantic Slave Trade, and the Asian Indenture system. Here, I discuss the last 20 years of Caribbean genetics research and emphasize the importance of integrating genetics with interdisciplinary historic, archaeological, and anthropological approaches. Such interdisciplinary research is essential for investigating the dynamic history of the Caribbean and characterizing its impact on the biocultural diversity of present-day Caribbean peoples.

Belief in Brua among psychiatric patients from Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao: Results from an explorative study in the Netherlands.

Brua is an Afro-Caribbean religion and healing tradition predominantly practised on the ABC islands of the former Netherlands Antilles. It is grounded in oral tradition and shrouded in strict social taboos. Existing literature suggests that the majority of people on and from the islands are familiar with Brua and that it plays a substantial role in shaping their illness conception and idioms of distress. A lack of knowledge of Brua may therefore lead biomedically trained health professionals to misdiagnose these patients. This article discusses how religious beliefs related to Brua influence the illness concepts and idioms of distress of psychiatric patients originating from the ABC Islands, based on semi-structured interviews with former islanders receiving treatment at a psychiatric institute in the Netherlands. We found that of the 29 interviewees, 93.1% knew what Brua involved, 72.4% believed in it, 48.2% had first-hand experience with Brua practices, and 34.5% attributed their mental illness to Brua with greater or lesser certainty. However, only one patient had previously discussed her belief in Brua with her psychiatrist and only when asked to do so. The role of psychoactive substances in the context of Brua practices was negligible. Thus, the present study indicates that the majority of psychiatric patients from the ABC islands are familiar with Brua, but feel reluctant to discuss their concerns in this area with mental health professionals. Recommendations for clinical practice and further research are provided, including the need for a culture-sensitive approach and integrative care.

A probable case of leprosy from colonial period St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Southeastern Caribbean.

OBJECTIVE: To document and differentially diagnose facial pathology found in an isolated skull from St. Vincent and the Grenadines, southeastern Caribbean. To directly date this individual using radiocarbon dating. MATERIALS: Isolated skull recovered from Petite Mustique Island. METHODS: Describe facial pathology occurring in this individual and compare with known diseases or disease processes that impact the craniofacial complex. RESULTS: Features of the rhinomaxillary syndrome are present, indicating a diagnosis of leprosy. Dating places the time of death to the late 18th or early 19th centuries. CONCLUSIONS: Analysis of the rhinomaxillary syndrome produces a diagnosis of early-stage leprosy in an individual that correlates with the apparent attempt to locate a leprosarium on Petite Mustique Island in the first decade of the 19th century. SIGNIFICANCE: Location and time corroborate historical records of at least one attempt to locate a leprosarium on Petite Mustique Island. Only directly dated individual with leprosy in the western hemisphere and possibly the earliest yet recorded. LIMITATIONS: This is an isolated find that is archaeologically unprovenienced. SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER RESEARCH: Professional archaeological survey of Petite Mustique.

Revalidation of the genus Sadala Simon, 1880 with the description of a new genus of Neotropical huntsman spiders (Araneae, Sparassidae)

The genus Sadala Simon, 1880 is revalidated to include the here designated type species, S. keyserlingi Simon, 1880, as well as S. nigristernis Simon, 1880, S. punicea Simon, 1880, S. rufa (Keyserling, 1880) and S. velox Simon, 1880, all comb. rest. The males of S. punicea and S. rufa and four new species are described: S. kaiabispec. nov. (♂♀), from Brazil, S. nanayspec. nov. (♀) and S. yuyapichisspec. nov. (♂) from Peru, and S. tabatingaspec. nov. (♀) from Brazil and Colombia. The genus Merigen. nov. is described to include the type species, M. pictitarsis (Simon, 1880), as well as M. mathani (Simon, 1880), M. formosus (Banks, 1929), M. santivincenti (Simon, 1898), and M. trinitatis (Strand, 1916), all comb. nov. transferred here from the genus Olios Walckenaer, 1837. The male of M. trinitatiscomb. nov. and twenty new species are described: M. abunaspec. nov. (♂♀), from Ecuador, Brazil and Peru; M. apariaspec. nov. (♀), from Peru, M. arraijanspec. nov. (♀) from Panama and Colombia; M. carabobospec. nov. (♂♀), M. gurispec. nov. (♂), M. yacibaspec. nov. (♂♀), from Venezuela; M. condurispec. nov. (♂♀), M. manaosspec. nov. (♂), M. mundurukuspec. nov. (♀), M. paiaiaspec. nov. (♀), M. quinarispec. nov. (♂), M. rivaispec. nov. (♀), M. tamborspec. nov. (♂), M. tapirapecospec. nov. (♀), from Brazil; M. jarauaspec. nov. (♂♀), from Venezuela, French Guiana, Surinam, Ecuador, Peru and Brazil; M. kaieteurspec. nov. (♀) from Venezuela and Guyana; M. martiniquespec. nov. (♀), from Martinique, Guadelupe and Dominica; M. tumatumarispec. nov. (♀) from Guyana, M. vaninispec. nov. from Brazil and Peru; and M. zetekispec. nov. (♀) from Panama. Olios orchiticus Mello-Leitão, 1930 is considered a junior synonym of M. trinitatiscomb. nov. Both genera and species are described and illustrated. Identification keys and updated distribution maps are provided.

Presence of the invasive land flatworm emPlatydemus/em emmanokwari/em (Platyhelminthes, Geoplanidae) in Guadeloupe, Martinique and Saint Martin (French West Indies).

The land flatworm Platydemus manokwari (Platyhelminthes, Geoplanidae) is recorded from the islands of Guadeloupe, Martinique, and Saint Martin in the Caribbean arc. Photographs and records were obtained mainly from citizen science and ranged from the end of 2018 to February 2021; several specimens were deposited in the collections of the Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle in Paris, France. Thirty records were from Guadeloupe, but only one from Martinique and from Saint Martin, respectively. The COI sequences of 3 specimens from Guadeloupe show that they belong to the World haplotype also found in many countries. We also report P. manokwari from Fort Myers, Florida, USA, with molecular characterization, which was also the World haplotype. This is the first published record of P. manokwari for Guadeloupe, Martinique and Saint Martin and the second for islands in the Caribbean, after Puerto Rico.

Historical and fossil evidence of an extinct endemic species of Leiocephalus (Squamata: Leiocephalidae) from the Guadeloupe Islands.

Documenting recent extinction events against the backdrop of increasing human-induced environmental pressure is complicated by the lack of historical and subfossil evidence for most parts of the world. This paucity of data renders it particularly difficult to evaluate the human impact on fragile environments, such as small islands, that may have been heavily altered by historical human exploitation. Here we describe a new species of an extinct Leiocephalus lizard from Guadeloupe, Leiocephalus roquetus sp. nov. based on recent discoveries of both a previously undocumented historically taxidermy specimen and of a large assemblage of subfossil bone remains from La Désirade Island. This new species presents a primitive morphology compared to all extant species of its genus and provides evidence for the past existence of a Lesser Antillean clade of Leiocephalus lizards that was completely wiped out in the centuries following the European colonization of these islands. Our study demonstrates how paleontological approaches can help to better understand the history of human environmental impact as well as the degree of degradation of modern ecosystems.

Pleistocene aridification underlies the evolutionary history of the Caribbean endemic, insular, giant Consolea (Opuntioideae).

PREMISE: The Caribbean islands are in the top five biodiversity hotspots on the planet; however, the biogeographic history of the seasonally dry tropical forest (SDTF) there is poorly studied. Consolea consists of nine species of dioecious, hummingbird-pollinated tree cacti endemic to the West Indies, which form a conspicuous element of the SDTF. Several species are threatened by anthropogenic disturbance, disease, sea-level rise, and invasive species and are of conservation concern. However, no comprehensive phylogeny yet exists for the clade. METHODS: We reconstructed the phylogeny of Consolea, sampling all species using plastomic data to determine relationships, understand the evolution of key morphological characters, and test their biogeographic history. We estimated divergence times to determine the role climate change may have played in shaping the current diversity of the clade. RESULTS: Consolea appears to have evolved very recently during the latter part of the Pleistocene on Cuba/Hispaniola likely from a South American ancestor and, from there, moved into the Bahamas, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Florida, and the Lesser Antilles. The tree growth form is a synapomorphy of Consolea and likely aided in the establishment and diversification of the clade. CONCLUSIONS: Pleistocene aridification associated with glaciation likely played a role in shaping the current diversity of Consolea, and insular gigantism may have been a key innovation leading to the success of these species to invade the often-dense SDTF. This in-situ Caribbean radiation provides a window into the generation of species diversity and the complexity of the SDTF community within the Antilles.

The taxonomic status of Myotis nesopolus larensis (Chiroptera, Vespertilionidae) and new insights on the diversity of Caribbean Myotis.

Myotis nesopolus currently comprises two subspecies. The nominate subspecies (M. n. nesopolus) occurs on the Caribbean islands of Curaçao and Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles, whereas M. n. larensis is known from mainland South America in northeastern Colombia and northwestern Venezuela. Our Maximum Likelihood phylogenetic analyses of cytochrome-b gene sequences recovered M. nesopolus as a paraphyletic group, with M. n. nesopolus and M. n. larensis as non-sister lineages. The haplotype network indicates that these two subspecies do not share any haplotypes and are in different evolutionary trajectories. Additionally, these two subspecies can be distinguished on the basis of qualitative and quantitative morphological traits. This pattern supports the recognition of M. nesopolus and M. larensis as full species. Our results also reveal that the assemblage of Caribbean Myotis do not form a monophyletic group. Caribbean species are phylogenetically close to mainland species from northern South America and Central America, suggesting that colonization of Caribbean islands happened multiple times.

ResumoAtualmente Myotis nesopolus compreende duas subespécies: M. n. nesopolus ocorre nas ilhas caribenhas de Curaçao e Bonaire, Antilhas Holandesas, enquanto M. n. larensis é conhecido para o continente da América do Sul, no nordeste da Colômbia e noroeste da Venezuela. Nossa inferência filogenética por Máxima Verossimilhança recuperou M. nesopolus como parafilética, com M. n. nesopolus e M. n. larensis sendo linhagens não-irmãs. Além disso, essas duas subespécies não compartilham nenhum haplótipo. Adicionalmente, as subespécies podem ser diferenciadas a partir de caracteres morfológicos e morfométricos. Esse achado suporta o reconhecimento de M. nesopolus e M. larensis como espécies distintas. Nossos resultados revelam que os Myotis do Caribe não formam um grupo monofilético. Espécies caribenhas são filogeneticamente próximas de espécies continentais das Américas Central e do Sul, sugerindo que a colonização das ilhas do Caribe aconteceu por múltiplos eventos de dispersão.

Population increase and changes in behavior and morphology in the Critically Endangered Redonda ground lizard (Pholidoscelis atratus) following the successful removal of alien rats and goats.

Redonda is a small volcanic Caribbean island that is home to at least 4 endemic lizard species, including the Critically Endangered ground lizard (Pholidoscelis atratus). Black rats (Rattus rattus) and domestic goats (Capra hircus) were introduced to the island at some time after its discovery by Europeans in the late 1500s. They had a devastating effect on the island, resulting in the loss of nearly all trees and most of the ground vegetation. Point count surveys of P. atratus in 2012 indicated low densities, and the invasive rats were observed hunting and preying on the lizards. Both populations of rats and goats were successfully removed in 2017 as part of an ecological restoration program, and native vegetation and invertebrate populations have increased rapidly since. Population surveys in 2017, 2018, and 2019 show the lizard population has increased by more than sixfold. In 2017, as rats and goats were being removed, we evaluated the morphology and escape behavior of this species and repeated these measurements 1 year later. We observed that P. atratus had become bolder, with a reduced flight distance. We also detected changes in limb morphology related to locomotion and suggest possible explanations that will need to be further investigated in the future. These results show how the removal of invasive species can rapidly affect lizard population recovery and behavior, potentially restoring island ecosystems to their pre-human interference dynamics.

The genus Syspira Simon, 1895 (Araneae: Miturgidae) from Hispaniola, with the description of four new species.

The species of Syspira Simon from Hispaniola are revised and detailed documentation is provided for all known species from this island. Four new species (Syspira alayoni sp. n., S.  armasi sp. n., S.  barbacoa sp. n., and S.  bryantae sp. n.), and the unknown male of Syspira agujas Brescovit, Sánchez-Ruiz Bonaldo are described. New distribution records were found for three known species (S. agujas, S. cimitarra Brescovit, Sánchez-Ruiz Bonaldo and S.  medialuna Brescovit, Sánchez-Ruiz Bonaldo). The Hispaniolan endemic species Teminius monticola (Bryant, 1948) is transferred to Syspira based on the revision of its holotype. A key for Hispaniola Syspira species is provided. These species can be separated into two distinct groups based on features of the male palpal morphology and female genitalia: the cimitarra group including S. cimitarra, S. jimmyi Brescovit, Sánchez-Ruiz Bonaldo, S. alayoni and S. barbacoa sp. n., and the agujas group including S. agujas, S. medialuna, S. monticola comb. n., S. armasi sp. n. and S. bryantae sp. n.

A new genus and species of cricket from eastern Cuba: the first Antillean true Eneopterinae (Orthoptera: Gryllidae: Eneopterinae).

The occurrence of true Eneopterinae in the Antilles is recorded herein for the first time, with the description of a new genus and species herein described from eastern Cuba (Greater Antilles): Antillobinthus inexpectatus Yong Desutter-Grandcolas, n. gen. n. sp. It is described and illustrated in detail, including color photographs of habitus, morphologically diagnostic characters and habitat. The present finding revives a biogeographical debate, as no Eneopterinae was up-to-now known from the Antilles.

The genus Holopothrips Hood, 1914 in Guadeloupe with descriptions of two new species (Thysanoptera, Phlaeothripidae).

After the revision of the genus Holopothrips provided by Lindner et al. (2018), the specimens of Holopothrips kept in the CIRAD/CBGP collection collected in Guadeloupe were re-examined. Two species previously identified as Holopothrips tenuis and Holopothrips sp. are described here as H. brevisetus sp. n. and H. guadeloupensis sp. n. Holopothrips ananasi is here removed from the list of species reported to Guadeloupe after re-examination of labelled specimens. Information on all the species of Holopothrips found in Guadeloupe, and an identification key to the species of Holopothrips recorded from the Caribbean are provided.

A new deep-water palaemonid shrimp genus and species from the French Antilles, with a new record of Periclimenes milleri Bruce, 1986 (Decapoda: Caridea).

A new genus and species in the caridean shrimp family Palaemonidae is described based on three type specimens collected at a depth range of 208-385 m off Guadeloupe, French Antilles. Zoukaris festivus gen. et sp. nov. shares many characters with several western Atlantic deep-water species currently assigned to Periclimenes Costa, 1844, as well as with the monotypic western Atlantic genus Diapontonia Bruce, 1986 and the Indo-West Pacific genus Echinopericlimenes Marin Chan, 2014. Zoukaris gen. nov. can be separated from all of them by a unique combination of morphological features, especially the configuration of the dactylus of the ambulatory pereiopods. In addition, Periclimenes milleri Bruce, 1986 is recorded from the French Antilles based on a single specimen, also from Guadeloupe; its colour pattern is illustrated for the first time.

The Dolichopodidae (Diptera) of Montserrat, West Indies.

The long-legged flies (Dolichopodidae) of the island of Montserrat in the Lesser Antilles have been surveyed and include 63 species in 27 genera. The following eleven new species are described and illustrated: Amblypsilopus marskeae sp. nov., Medetera iviei sp. nov., Medetera montserratensis sp. nov., Systenus ladonnae sp. nov., Thrypticus mediofuscus sp. nov., Chrysotus antillensis sp. nov., Chrysotus callichromoides sp. nov., Chrysotus interfrons sp. nov., Chrysotus montserratensis sp. nov., Diaphorus robinsoni sp. nov., and Sympycnus montserratensis sp. nov. Six species have only been found on Montserrat (ca. 10% endemicity). Keys are provided to the genera and species on Montserrat, their known distribution summarized, and additional new island records provided for many species. Asyndetus wirthi Robinson is synonymized with A. interruptus (Loew) and Achradocera apicalis (Aldrich) is removed from synonymy with A. barbata (Loew). Diaphorus flavipes Aldrich is transferred to Chrysotus as a new combination. A new replacement name, Chrysotus milvadu nom. nov., is provided for the Nearctic Chrysotus parvulus Van Duzee. Lectotypes are designated for Achradocera apicalis (Aldrich) and Asyndetus fratellus Aldrich. The fauna of Montserrat is summarized and compared with that of Dominica. Collecting methods are compared and threats to the dolichopodid fauna of Montserrat discussed.

Y Haplogroup Diversity of the Dominican Republic: Reconstructing the Effect of the European Colonization and the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trades.

The Dominican Republic is one of the two countries on the Hispaniola island, which is part of the Antilles. Hispaniola was affected by the European colonization and massive deportation of African slaves since the XVI century and these events heavily shaped the genetic composition of the present-day population. To shed light about the effect of the European rules, we analyzed 92 single nucleotide polymorphisms on the Y chromosome in 182 Dominican individuals from three different locations. The Dominican Y haplogroup composition was characterized by an excess of northern African/European lineages (59%), followed by the African clades (38%), whereas the Native-American lineages were rare (3%). The comparison with the mitochondrial DNA variability, dominated by African clades, revealed a sex-biased admixture pattern, in line with the colonial society dominated by European men. When other Caribbean and non-Caribbean former colonies were also considered, we noted a difference between territories under a Spanish rule (like the Dominican Republic) and British/French rule, with the former characterized by an excess of European Y lineages reflecting the more permissive Iberian legislation about mixed people and slavery. Finally, we analyzed the distribution in Africa of the Dominican lineages with a putative African origin, mainly focusing on central and western Africa, which were the main sources of African slaves. We found that most (83%) of the African lineages observed in Santo Domingo have a central African ancestry, suggesting that most of the slaves were deported from regions.

Seasonality and coinfection of bronchiolitis: epidemiological specificity and consequences in terms of prophylaxis in tropical climate.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the viruses involved, seasonality and coinfection in hospitalised children with suspected bronchiolitis. METHODS: Over the period 1/07/2007 to 31/12/2008, all children hospitalised for bronchiolitis in the paediatric ward were prospectively included, and had respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) screenings. We retrospectively tested all samples for RSVA, RSVB, rhinovirus (RV), human metapneumovirus, parainfluenza 1, 2, 3, 4, influenza A and influenza B. RESULTS: 198 children were tested, and 23% were negative for all viruses. RSVA was predominant in 2008 (64% of all viruses) and RSVB in 2007 (66% of all viruses). RV was frequent during both seasons (24% of all viruses). Flu was not found during the study period. Virus distribution was similar regardless of season or age, and identical to typical patterns in temperate countries. Coinfections were less frequent than in temperate regions because respiratory virus seasons seem to be better separated. The bronchiolitis season started in August and finished in December with a peak in October. CONCLUSION: The specific seasonality of bronchiolitis infection requires palivizumab prophylaxis starting in early July for high-risk infants.

OBJECTIF: Décrire les virus impliqués, la saisonnalité et la coinfection chez les enfants hospitalisés avec une suspicion de bronchiolite. MÉTHODES: Au cours de la période du 01/07/2007 au 31/12/2008, tous les enfants hospitalisés pour bronchiolite dans le service de pédiatrie ont été prospectivement inclus et soumis à un dépistage du virus respiratoire syncytial (VRS). Nous avons testé rétrospectivement tous les échantillons pour RSVA, RSVB, rhinovirus (RV), métapneumovirus humain, Parainfluenza 1, 2, 3, 4, Influenza A, et Influenza B. RÉSULTATS: 198 enfants ont été testés et 23% étaient négatifs pour tous les virus. RSVA était prédominant en 2008 (64% de tous les virus) et RSVB en 2007 (66% de tous les virus). RV était fréquent pendant les deux saisons (24% de tous les virus). La grippe n'a pas été trouvée pendant la période d'étude. La distribution des virus était similaire quelle que soit la saison ou l'âge, et identique aux modèles typiques dans les pays tempérés. Les coinfections étaient moins fréquentes que dans les régions tempérées car les saisons virales respiratoires semblent mieux séparées. La saison des bronchiolites a commencé en août et s'est terminée en décembre avec un pic en octobre. CONCLUSION: La saisonnalité spécifique de l'infection bronchiolite nécessite une prophylaxie au palivizumab débutant en juillet pour les nourrissons à haut risque.