The Biological Investigation of Malpelo Island, Colombia JEFFREY B. GRAHAM EDITOR SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY • NUMBER 176 SERIAL PUBLICATIONS OF THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION The emphasis upon publications as a means of diffusing knowledge was expressed by the first Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution. In his formal plan for the Insti- tution, Joseph Henry articulated a program that included the following statement: "It is proposed to publish a series of reports, giving an account of the new discoveries in science, and of the changes made from year to year in all branches of knowledge." This keynote of basic research has been adhered to over the years in the issuance of thousands of titles in serial publications under the Smithsonian imprint, com- mencing with Smithsonian Contributions to Knowledge in 1848 and continuing with the following active series: Smithsonian Annals of Flight Smithsonian Contributions to Anthropology Smithsonian Contributions to Astrophysics Smithsonian Contributions to Botany Smithsonian Contributions to the Earth Sciences Smithsonian Contributions to Paleobiology Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology Smithsonian Studies in History and Technology In these series, the Institution publishes original articles and monographs dealing with the research and collections of its several museums and offices and of professional colleagues at other institutions of learning. These papers report newly acquired facts, synoptic interpretations of data, or original theory in specialized fields. These pub- lications are distributed by mailing lists to libraries, laboratories, and other interested institutions and specialists throughout the world. Individual copies may be obtained from the Smithsonian Institution Press as long as stocks are available. S. DILLON RIPLEY Secretary Smithsonian Institution SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY • NUMBER 176 The Biological Investigation of Malpelo Island, Colombia Jeffrey B. Graham EDITOR SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION PRESS City of Washington 1975 ABSTRACT Graham, Jeffrey B., editor. The Biological Investigation of Malpelo Island, Colombia. Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology, number 176, 98 pages, 35 figures, 1975.—The results of joint Smithsonian Institution and U. S. Navy ter- restrial and marine investigations of Malpelo Island, Republic of Colombia are reported in 15 papers in this volume. A new species of lizard (Phyllodactylus), a new starfish (Tamaria), two new species of shrimp (Alpheus and Synalpheus), and a new species of fish (Chriolepis) are described. The terrestrial ecology of Malpelo and the behavior and natural history of the lizards Anolis agassizi and Diploglossus millepunctatus are described and discussed. Genie variability in A. agassizi has been investigated and karyotypes of A. agassizi and D. millepunc- tatus are reported. The ecology of the island's benthic marine communities is detailed and papers listing and discussing zoogeographically interesting features of the island's crustacean, starfish, and fish species are included. The geology of Malpelo is briefly described and an improved map of the island is presented. The importance of Malpelo Island in the understanding of biogeographic prob- lems in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean is reviewed. OFFICIAL PUBLICATION DATE is handstamped in a limited number of initial copies and is recorded in the Institution's annual report, Smithsonian Year. SI PRESS NUMBER 5095. SERIES COVER DESIGN: The coral Montastrea cavemosa (Linnaeus). Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data Main entry under title: The Biological investigation of Malpelo Island, Colombia. (Smithsonian contributions to zoology, no. 176) Supt. of Docs, no.: SI 1.27:176. "The results of joint Smithsonian Institution and U.S. Navy terrestrial and marine investigations . are reported in 15 papers in this volume." I. Natural history—Malpelo Island. 2. Marine biology—Malpelo Island. 3. Malpelo Island. I. Graham, Jeffrey B., ed. II. Smithsonian Institution. III. United States. Navy. IV. Series: Smithsonian Institution. Smithsonian con- tributions to zoology, no. 176. [DNLM: 1. Ecology. 2. Lizards. 3. Marine biology. W1SM454N no. 176 1974/QL244 B6134 1974] QL1.S54 no. 176 [QH121] 591'.08s [WQ.V%6V5\ 74-23% For sale by (he Superintendent of Documents,, U.S. Government Printing Office Washington, D.C. 20402 - Price $2.20 (paper cover) Contents Page INTRODUCTION, by Jeffrey B. Graham 1 TERRESTRIAL BIOLOGY OF MALPELO ISLAND: A HISTORICAL REVIEW, by George C. Gorman and Terence L. Chorba 9 RECONNAISSANCE AND MAPPING OF MALPELO ISLAND, by A. Ross Kiester and Jeffrey A. Hoffman 13 FIELD OBSERVATIONS ON THE GEOLOGY OF MALPELO ISLAND, by Jeffrey A. Stead 17 THE ECOSYSTEM ON MALPELO ISLAND, by Henk Wolda 21 NATURAL HISTORY, BEHAVIOR, AND ECOLOGY OF Anolis agassizi, by A. Stanley Rand, George C. Gorman, and William M. Rand 27 NOTES ON THE NATURAL HISTORY OF Diploglossus millepunctatus (Sauria: Anguidae), by A. Ross Kiester 39 A NEW GECKO FROM MALPELO ISLAND (SAURIA: GEKKONIDAE: Phyllodactylus), by Raymond B. Huey 44 ELECTROPHORETIC ESTIMATES OF GENIC VARIATION IN, AND THE RELATIONSHIPS OF, Anolis agassizi, by T. Preston Webster 47 NOTES ON THE CHROMOSOMES OF Anolis agassizi (SAURIA: IGUANIDAE) AND Diploglossus millepunctatus (Sauria: Anguidae), by Brad Stamm and George C. Gorman 52 SWBTIDAL COMMUNITIES OF MALPELO ISLAND, by Charles Birkeland, David L. Meyer, James P. Stames, and Caryl L. Buford 55 THE MACRURAN DECAPOD CRUSTACEA OF MALPELO ISLAND, by Lawrence G. Abele ; 69 ASTEROIDEA FROM MALPELO ISLAND WITH A DESCRIPTION OF A NEW SPECIES OF THE GENUS Tamaria, by Maureen E. Downey 86 FISHES COLLECTED AT MALPELO ISLAND, by John E. McCosker and Richard H. Rosenblatt 91 A NEW SPECIES OF GOBY FROM MALPELO ISLAND (TELEOSTEI: GOBIIDAE: Chriolepis), by Lloyd Talbott Findley 94 in The Biological Investigation of Malpelo Island, Colombia Introduction Jeffrey B. Graham On 28 February 1972 a group of 17 scientists U.S.S. York County; J. A. Stead, U.S. Navy Hydro- representing the Smithsonian Tropical Research graphic Center. R. J. Kinney, USN, served as ex- Institute, the Republics of Panama and Colombia, pedition physician. The geology of Malpelo was and several U.S. universities embarked on a six studied and a more accurate map of the island was day expedition to investigate the marine and ter- made by an exploration team. restrial biota of Malpelo Island, Colombia, a small The scientists were transported from Panama to isolated Pacific island 270 miles to the west of Co- Malpelo by the U.S.S York County (LST 1175) lombia and south of Panama. The expedition, a commanded by LCDR Lauren Seeber. At Malpelo, joint project of the U.S Navy and the Smithsonian the scientists were supported by York County crew- Tropical Research Institute, was undertaken to men who did everything from prepare box lunches gain a more comprehensive understanding of to operate small boats and assist in the collection ecological processes and the natural history of and sort of specimens. While on station the York plants and animals on Malpelo. The scientific County conducted sea trials and made numerous party consisted mostly of biologists who made col- depth soundings and positional sightings of the lections, carried out field observations, and con- island. This work, while helping to establish that ducted experiments on the island and in the waters the peaks on Malpelo are some 125 meters higher around it. (The Malpelo scientific party consisted than previous maps indicated, will also improve of C. Birkeland, J. B. Graham, D. L. Meyer, A. S. the hydrographic charts of this area. Rand, A. Rodaniche, W. L. Smith, J. P. Stames, The Smithsonian-U.S. Navy Expedition to Mal- and H. Wolda, all of the Smithsonian Tropical pelo marked the fourth time that Smithsonian Research Institute (STRI); O. Arroyo, Colombian scientists and their colleagues have been able to Institute of Natural Resources (INDERENA); J. Bar- use a U.S. Navy vessel for research purposes. In reto S., Universidad George Tadeo Lozana, Colom- March 1970 biological investigations of the Secas bia; G. C. Gorman, University of California Los Islands in the Gulf of Chiriqui, Panama, were con- Angeles (UCLA); J. A. Hoffman, Smithsonian As- ducted by scientists aboard the U.S.S. Traverse trophysical Laboratory; A. R. Kiester, Museum County. Later in the same year the U.S.S. Wal- of Comparative Zoology; D. B. Macurda, Univer- worth County supported marine studies at Coiba sity of Michigan; W. M. Rand, Massachusetts Island, Panama. In 1971 the U.S.S. Terre Bonne Institute of Technology (MIT); T. L. Chorba, Parish carried a research team to Bocas del Toro, Jeffrey B. Graham, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Panama, for three days of field work. In the sum- P. O. Box 2072, Balboa, Canal Zone. mer of 1973, while the volume on Malpelo was SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY being compiled, the fifth and most ambitious ex- Island Biology and Its Biogeographical pedition was undertaken when the U.S.S. Spartan- Significance burg County took 25 scientists to Cocos Island, Costa Rica, 550 miles southwest of Panama. The biological investigation of islands has These expeditions have been fruitful. The larg- made a valuable contribution to the studies of est and best developed coral reef formations to be evolution, biogeography, and ecology. Islands, by found thus far in the eastern tropical Pacific were virtue of their differences in size, shape, climatic discovered and subsequently studied by Peter conditions, and distances from