Notes on the Herpetology of the U.S. Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba

The present relative inaccessibility of Cuba to citizens of the United States has been particularly disappointing since very much still remains for the herpetologist to do in that country. In particular, the province of Oriente is very inadequately known; we know just enough to be aware how much remains uncertain or uninvestigated. The collections at present available point to a truly extraordinary complexity without providing the materials to delineate or understand it. The fauna of the very small area directly available to Americans – the Guantánamo Naval Base – in itself demonstrates some of the surprises and problems but offers a mere taste of the richness in both regards of the province as a whole. The Base has deserved closer attention than it has received. Many species have been described from it (or the vaguer locality “Guantanamo”).