Richard Thomas (herpetologist)

Richard Thomas
Born
John Paul Richard Thomas

(1938-05-02) May 2, 1938
NationalityAmerican
Alma materUniversity of South Florida
Louisiana State University
Known forDescribing over 60 animal species, including the common coquí
Scientific career
FieldsTaxonomy, systematics, herpetology, evolution
InstitutionsUniversity of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus

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). He described several species new to science, mostly amphibians and reptiles, from throughout the Caribbean islands including the common coquí (Eleutherodactlys coqui), the national animal of Puerto Rico.