A new semifossorial snake of the genus Arrhyton (Squamata: Dipsadidae) from eastern Cuba, with taxonomic comments on other species

The genus Arrhyton is endemic to Cuba, with eight currently known species. A new species, Arrhyton albicollum sp. nov., is described from the karst areas of Gibara, Holguín Province. The new species is closely related to A. redimitum, another eastern species, according to morphology and molecular phylogeny. It differs from all other species of the genus by having a conspicuous, white nuchal band, a contrasting black pattern on the head, a gray-colored body with faint stripes, and a high number of ventral and subcaudal scales. Additional comments on other species include new locality records and information on morphology and relationships.

A new record of the Cuban endemic mayfly Poecilophlebia pacoi (Kluge, 1994) (Ephe­meroptera, Leptophlebiidae) from Gran Piedra massif, eastern Cuba

The endemic mayfly Poecilophlebia pacoi Kluge,1994 was described for Turquino massif, Sierra Maestra mountain range, Cuba. So far it was known only from two river catchments within this country. Distribution of Poecilophlebia pacoi extends up to Gran Piedra massif of Sierra Maestra mountain range. The main distinguishing morphological characteristics of the larvae were used for the species recognition. Also previous and new locality are georeferenced and mapped. The new record expands the known distribution range of P. pacoi approximately 55 km to the east and suggests the possibility of finding additional records farther from the type locality.

Correction of the synonymy of a species of Longior Travassos & Kloss, 1958 (Nematoda: Oxyuridomorpha: Hystrignathidae) from a Cuban passalid beetle (Coleoptera: Passalidae)

García & Coy (1994) described the hystrignathid nematode Longior alius García & Coy, 1994 parasitizing the passalid beetle Antillanax pertyi (Kaup, 1869) from Guantánamo province, Eastern Cuba. Morffe & García (2011) continued the studies on Cuban Longior and described L. longior Morffe & García, 2011. Morffe et al. (2018) redescribed L. longior with the aid of SEM and molecular techniques. In their research the authors studied Longior individuals from the same host species and a locality close to the type locality of L. alius and compared their morphology, measurements and DNA markers with other material of L. longior. As a result of this analysis Morffe et al. (2018) concluded that L. alius and L. longior are conspecific and proposed L. alius as a synonym of L. longior.

Large Eastern Cuban Slugs: Overview of an Enigmatic and Forgotten Group

New findings of larger slugs from different localities of eastern Cuba, belonging to the family Veronicellidae (Gray, 1840), are revealed. Three of these species could be new to science. This paper verifies the geographic distribution, color forms and sizes, based on the evidence known to date.

Petrogenesis of the chromitite body from the Cerro Colorado ophiolite, Paraguaná Peninsula, Venezuela

Ultramafic-mafic rocks of ophiolitic affinity crop out along the Venezuelan Caribbean region. They have been interpreted as remnants of the oceanic lithosphere of the Caribbean volcanic arc (135-70 Ma) as well as relicts of proto-Caribbean oceanic lithosphere (Upper Jurassic-Lower Cretaceous) related to Pangea’s break-up. The Cerro Colorado ophiolite, located in the Paraguaná Peninsula, together with the case of the Cordillera de la Costa in north-central Venezuela, are a unique case of these Venezuelan ophiolites containing chromitite bodies. However, the petrogenesis of such a mafic-ultramafic complex and associated chromite ore remains are unknown to date. To advance our understanding of chromite ores in the Caribbean region, the genesis of the Cerro Colorado chromitite body is challenged. The Cerro Colorado chromitite body is characterized by a low-Cr content [Cr# =Cr/ Cr+Al= 0.44-0.60] and a distribution of trace elements in chromite as is typical of high-Al chromitites found in the shallower portions of the petrological Moho Transition Zone of Mesozoic ophiolites. The calculated melts in equilibrium with chromite forming this high-Al chromitite body are back-arc basin basalts. These melts were extracted after ~20 % partial melting of moderately depleted peridotites, which resulted in the precipitation of high-Al chromitite relatively impoverished in PGE (≤ 100 ppb total PGE). A comparison of the geochemical signatures of minor and trace elements in chromite and bulk-PGE contents of the Cerro Colorado chromitite with those of other known chromitites in the peri-Caribbean ophiolites show certain similitude with those high-Al described in the Moa-Baracoa ophiolite in eastern Cuba. The obtained results allow us to suggest that the ultramafic rocks of the Cerro Colorado and the chromitite body associated with it are closely related to the formation of a back-arc basin developed between ca. 125-120 Ma in the rear of the Great Antilles Arc.

Hopelessness and shame in relation to suicide attempts by Cuban adolescents

Youth suicide rates in Cuba are very high compared with most other countries, despite considerable improvement in recent years. The purpose of our study was to determine whether hopelessness and shame distinguish adolescent suicide attempters from non-attempters, over and above the effects of depression and suicidal ideation. Participants were 844 Cuban adolescents from the province of Holguin in Eastern Cuba. The attempter groups included 38 participants being treated for suicide attempts in a day hospital and 82 participants in the community who self-reported a previous suicide attempt. The other participants were non-attempter controls. All participants were asked to complete measures of depression, hopelessness, shame and suicidal ideation. As expected, attempters scored higher than non-attempters on the control variables of depression and suicidal ideation. In addition, attempters self-reported greater shame, especially behavioral and characterological shame, than non-attempters. Contrary to our hypothesis, there was no significant difference in hopelessness between attempters and non-attempters. The results are inconsistent with the considerable narrative lore about hopelessness as a reason for suicide in Cuba and other socialist countries. However, some collective socialization practices may lead to shame.