Why Updates & Errata?
"The beginning of wisdom is to call things by their right names." –Chinese Proverb
In order to make "Caribbean Reef Life - A Field Guide for Divers" the most accurate and up-to-date resource possible, this page attempts to keep up with the latest developments in Caribbean marine taxonomy.
It seems that scientific names are constantly changing. Between the second and third editions (from 2013 to 2017) a full 8% of the original 1000+ scientific names were changed, in every chapter from Marine Plants to the Fishes. From the 2017 printing to the 2018 printing another 3% had changed names. Most changes occurred within the Invertebrates. Most of these errata are due to new scientific studies that have re-classified species, while others are the result of misidentification after closer looks by marine life experts.
Not all taxonomists agree. Identifications that have been challenged by one taxonomist and later verified by another have remained unchanged, although they will be noted below.
If you have a copy of "Caribbean Reef Life - A Field Guide for Divers" from before 2017, the following changes now apply:
It seems that scientific names are constantly changing. Between the second and third editions (from 2013 to 2017) a full 8% of the original 1000+ scientific names were changed, in every chapter from Marine Plants to the Fishes. From the 2017 printing to the 2018 printing another 3% had changed names. Most changes occurred within the Invertebrates. Most of these errata are due to new scientific studies that have re-classified species, while others are the result of misidentification after closer looks by marine life experts.
Not all taxonomists agree. Identifications that have been challenged by one taxonomist and later verified by another have remained unchanged, although they will be noted below.
If you have a copy of "Caribbean Reef Life - A Field Guide for Divers" from before 2017, the following changes now apply:
Marine Plants:
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RED BUSH ALGA (previously Laurencia poiteaui)
is now classified as Yuzurua poiteaui. |
KNOBBY BUSH ALGA (previously Laurencia gemmifera)
is now classified as Yuzurua poiteaui var. gemmifera. |
sponges:
ORANGE SIEVE ENCRUSTING SPONGE (Placospherastra micraster) is now classified as Timea micraster, but is under dispute.
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YELLOW CALCAREOUS SPONGE
is correctly known as Arturia canariensis. |
invertebrates:
MANGROVE UPSIDEDOWN JELLY (previously Cassiopea xamachana) is now classified as Cassiopea andromeda.
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ELEGANT ANEMONE (previously Actinoporus elegans)
is now classified as Actinoporus elongatus. |
HYDROID ZOANTHID (previously Parazoanthus tunicans)
is now classified as Hydrozoanthus tunicans. |
YELLOW SPONGE ZOANTHID (previously Parazoanthus cutressi)
is now classified as Bergia cutressi. |
HAIRY CLINGING CRAB (previously Mithrax aculeatus)
is now classified as Amphithrax aculeatus. |
CIRCLED BUMBLEBEE SHRIMP is correctly known as Gnathophyllum circellum.
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Mollusks:
BARBADOS MITER (previously Mitra barbadensis)
is now classified as Probata barbadensis. |
ATLANTIC YELLOW COWRIE (previously Erosaria acicularis)
is now classified as Naria acicularis. |
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ATLANTIC DEER COWRIE (previously Cypraea cervus)
is now classified as Macrocypraea cervus. |
ATLANTIC GRAY COWRIE is correctly known as Luria cinerea.
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BAHAMA SIMNIA is correctly known as Cymbovulu bahamaensis.
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MOUSE CONE is correctly known as Conus mus.
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Sea Slugs:
BEROLINA AGLAJA (previously Chelidonura berolina)
is now classified as Camachoaglaja berolina. |
The black variety is now classified as Berolina aglaja forma melanica, often confused with Black Aglaja. Note only one long tail.
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BLACK AGLAJA (previously Aglaja felis)
is now classified as Migaya felis, though some taxonomists use Nakamigawaia felis. This is currently still under dispute. |
Note that not all Migaya felis are solid black, but may have white lines and spots or a grayish undercolor. This species is a good example of the difficulties in both common and scientific names.
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GHOST AGLAJA (Philinopsis bagaensis) previously PAINTED AGLAJA (Philinopsis depicta). Verified by photograph only, the exact desciption and range of these species are still under debate.
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PUSA/PAINTED AGLAJA (Philinopsis pusa/depicta). Different taxonomists currently disagree on the characteristic features and geographical ranges of many Philinopsis species.
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APRICOT SIDEGILL SLUG (previously Berthellina engeli)
is now under dispute and classified as "taxon inquirendum". |
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NUDIBRANCHS:
PURPLE-RING FLABELLINA (previously Flabellina marcusorum)
is now classified as Coryphellina marcusorum. 
HARLEQUIN SEA GODDESS (previously Felimida clenchi)
is now classified as Felimida binza. |
REDLINE BLUE SEA GODDESS (previously Risbecia nyalya)
is now classified as Felimare nyalya. 
Felimida clenchi is pictured above. The two species have recently been re-classified based on color paterns and distribution.
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fishes:
OCEAN SURGEONFISH (previously Acanthurus tractus)
is now classified as Acanthurus bahianus. |
LONGSNOUT BUTTERFLYFISH (previously Chaetodon aculeatus)
is now classified as Prognathodes aculeatus. |
MANTA RAY (Manta birostris)
is now classified as Mobula birostris. |
ORANGESIDED GOBY (previously as Gobiosoma dilepis)
is now classified as Tigrigobius dilepis. |
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GLASS BLENNY SPECIES COMPLEX (Emblemariopsis spp.)
The Glass Blenny Complex is currently being revised. There are currently 11 (?) species in the genus Emblemariopsis, with slight differences based on geographical location, markings and cirri, as well as the age and sex of the idividual. Updates will be posted soon.
The Glass Blenny Complex is currently being revised. There are currently 11 (?) species in the genus Emblemariopsis, with slight differences based on geographical location, markings and cirri, as well as the age and sex of the idividual. Updates will be posted soon.
BIGEYE (Priacanthus arenatus): In previous editions the photo is likely a monochrome variety of GLASSEYE SNAPPER.
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PALE CARDINALFISH (Apogon planifrons): In previous editions the photo is likely a pale variety of BARRED CARDINALFISH.
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MACULATED FLOUNDER (Bothus maculiferus): In previous editions the text should read "blue rings on back and spots on fins."
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OYSTER BLENNY (Hypleurochilus pseudoaequipinnis): In previous editions the above photo was labeled MOCK HAIRY BLENNY.
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Keep visiting this page to see new updates on Caribbean reef species. It is certain that more and more species will be renamed and re-classified as Caribbean marine taxonomy grows. The current trend of using DNA analysis to differentiate species will no doubt bring many more changes in the coming years.
