A NEW GECKO (SPHAERODACTYLUS) FROM THE SIERRA MAESTRA OF CUBA

A new species of Sphaerodactylus is described from karst areas of the northern slopes of the Sierra Maestra of Cuba. It is most closely rela ted to S. nigropunctatus and S. torrei, and is distinguished from thos e species and other members of the nigropunctatus group by having a na rrower snout, a nearly uniform pattern with no cross-banding in any li fe stages (juveniles, adult males, and females), and by having a small escutcheon. Ii is most easily confused with the Cuban species S. eleg ans, from which it is differs in head and toe pad scalation.