| Richard Thomas | |
| Birth Name: | John Paul Richard Thomas |
| Birth Date: | 2 May 1938 |
| Birth Place: | Jacksonville, Florida |
| Nationality: | American |
| Fields: | Taxonomy, systematics, herpetology, evolution |
| Workplaces: | University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus |
| Alma Mater: | University of South Florida Louisiana State University |
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| Thesis1 Year: | and |
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| Known For: | Describing over 60 animal species, including the common coquí |
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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.[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.[10] A non-comprehensive list of described new species includes:
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]