LAB #3
MAMMALS OF TEXAS
ORDER: DIDELPHIMORPHIA
FAMILY: DIDELPHIDAE
Didelphis virginiana Virginia opossum
ORDER: INSECTIVORA
FAMILY: SORICIDAE
Blarina carolinensis Southern short-tailed shrew
Blarina hylophaga Elliot's short-tailed shrew
Cryptotis parva Least shrew
Notiosorex crawfordi Desert shrewFAMILY: TALPIDAE
Scalopus aquaticus Eastern mole
ORDER: CHIROPTERA
FAMILY: MORMOOPIDAE
Mormoops megalophylla Ghost-faced bat
FAMILY: PHYLLOSTOMIDAE
Leptonycteris nivalis Mexican long-nosed bat
Choeronycteris mexicana Mexican long-tongued bat
Diphylla ecaudata Hairy-legged vampireFAMILY: VESPERTILIONIDAE
Myotis austroriparius Southeastern myotis
Myotis californicus California myotis
Myotis ciliolabrum Western small-footed myotis
Myotis occultus Southwestern little brown bat
Myotis septentrionalis Northern long-eared myotis
Myotis thysanodes Fringed myotis
Myotis velifer Cave myotis
Myotis volans Long-legged myotis
Myotis yumanensis Yuma myotis
Lasionycteris noctivagans Silver-haired bat
Pipistrellus hesperus Western pipistrelle
Pipistrellus subflavus Eastern pipistrelle
Eptesicus fuscus Big brown bat
Lasiurus blossevillii Western red bat
Lasiurus borealis Eastern red bat
Lasiurus cinereus Hoary bat
Lasiurus ega Southern yellow bat
Lasiurus intermedius Northern yellow bat
Lasiurus seminolus Seminole bat
Lasiurus xanthinus Western yellow bat
Nycticeius humeralis Evening bat
Euderma maculatum Spotted bat
Corynorhinus rafinesquii Rafinesque's big-eared bat
Corynorhinus townsendii Townsend's big-eared bat
Antrozous pallidus Pallid batFAMILY: MOLOSSIDAE
Tadarida brasiliensis Brazilian free-tailed bat
Nyctinomops femorosacca Pocketed free-tailed bat
Nyctinomops macrotis Big free-tailed bat
Eumpos perotis Western mastiff bat
ORDER: PRIMATES
FAMILY: HOMINIDAE
Homo sapiens Humans
ORDER: XENARTHRA
FAMILY: DASYPODIDAE
Dasypus novemcinctus Nine-banded armadillo
ORDER: LAGOMORPHA
FAMILY: LEPORIDAE
Sylvilagus floridanus Eastern cottontail
Sylvilagus audubonii Desert cottontail
Sylvilagus aquaticus Swamp rabbit
Sylvilagus robustus Davis Mountain cottontail
Lepus californicus Black-tailed jackrabbit
ORDER: RODENTIA
FAMILY: SCIURIDAE
Tamias canipes Gray-footed chipmunk
Ammospermophilus interpres Texas antelope squirrel
Spermophilus mexicanus Mexican ground squirrel
Spermophilus tridecemlineatus Thirteen-lined ground squirrel
Spermophilus spilosoma Spotted ground squirrel
Spermophilus variegates Rock squirrel
Cynomys ludovicianus Black-tailed prairie dog
Sciurus carolinensis Eastern gray squirrel
Sciurus niger Eastern fox squirrel
Glaucomys volans Southern flying squirrelFAMILY: GEOMYIDAE
Thomomys bottae Botta's pocket gopher
Geomys arenarius Desert pocket gopher
Geomys attwateri Attwater's pocket gopher
Geomys breviceps Baird's pocket gopher
Geomys bursarius Plains pocket gopher
Geomys knoxjonesi Jones' pocket gopher
Geomys personatus Texas pocket gopher
Geomys texensis Llano pocket gopher
Geomys streckeri Strecker's pocket gopher
Cratogeomys castanops Yellow-faced pocket gopherFAMILY: HETEROMYIDAE
Perognathus flavescens Plains pocket mouse
Perognathus flavus Silky pocket mouse
Perognathus merriami Merriam's pocket mouse
Chaetodipus hispidus Hispid pocket mouse
Chaetodipus intermedius Rock pocket mouse
Chaetodipus nelsoni Nelson's pocket mouse
Chaetodipus eremicus Chihuahuan desert pocket mouse
Dipodomys compactus Gulf Coast kangaroo rat
Dipodomys elator Texas kangaroo rat
Dipodomys merriami Merriam's kangaroo rat
Dipodomys ordii Ord's kangaroo rat
Dipodomys spectabilis Banner-tailed kangaroo rat
Liomys irratus Mexican spiny pocket mouseFAMILY: CASTORIDAE
Castor canadensis American beaver
FAMILY: MURIDAE
Oryzomys couesi Coues' rice rat
Oryzomys palustris Marsh rice rat
Reithrodontomys fulvescens Fulvous harvest mouse
Reithrodontomys humulis Eastern harvest mouse
Reithrodontomys montanus Plains harvest mouse
Reithrodontomys megalotis Western harvest mouse
Peromyscus attwateri Texas mouse
Peromyscus boylii Brush mouse
Peromyscus eremicus Cactus mouse
Peromyscus gossypinus Cotton mouse
Peromyscus maniculatus Deer mouse
Peromyscus leucopus White-footed mouse
Peromyscus nasutus Northern rock mouse
Peromyscus pectoralis White-ankled mouse
Peromyscus truei Piņon mouse
Peromyscus truei comanche Palo Duro mouse
Ochrotomys nuttalli Golden mouse
Baiomys taylori Northern pygmy mouse
Onychomys arenicola Mearn's grasshopper mouse
Onychomys leucogaster Northern grasshopper mouse
Sigmodon fulviventer Tawny-bellied cotton rat
Sigmodon hispidus Hispid cotton rat
Sigmodon ochrognathus Yellow-nosed cotton rat
Neotoma albigula Eastern white-throated woodrat
Neotoma floridana Eastern woodrat
Neotoma mexicana Mexican woodrat
Neotoma micropus Southern plains woodrat
Rattus norvegicus Norway rat
Rattus rattus Roof rat
Mus musculus House mouse
Microtus mexicanus Mexican vole
Microtus ochrogaster Prairie vole
Microtus pinetorum Woodland vole
Ondatra zibethicus Muskrat
FAMILY: ERETHIZONTIDAEErethizon dorsatum Porcupine
FAMILY: MYOCASTORIDAE
Myocastor coypus Nutria
ORDER: CARNIVORA
FAMILY: CANIDAE
Canis latrans Coyote
Canis lupus Gray wolf (extirpated)
Canis rufus Red wolf (extirpated)
Vulpes vulpes Red fox
Vulpes velox Swift fox
Urocyon cinereoargenteus Common gray foxFAMILY: URSIDAE
Ursus americanus American black bear (extirpated)
Ursus arctos Grizzly or brown bear (extirpated)FAMILY: PROCYONIDAE
Bassariscus astutus Ringtail
Procyon lotor Raccoon
Nasua narica White-nosed coatiFAMILY: MUSTELIDAE
Mustela frenata Long-tailed weasel
Mustela nigripes Black-footed ferret (extirpated)
Mustela vison Mink
Taxidea taxus Badger
Lontra canadensis Northern river otterFAMILY: MEPHITIDAE
Mephitis mephitis Striped skunk
Spilogale putorius Eastern spotted skunk
Spilogale gracilis Western spotted skunk
Mephitis macroura Hooded skunk
Conepatus leuconotus Hog-nosed skunk
FAMILY: FELIDAEPuma concolor Mountain lion
Felis pardalis Ocelot
Felis wiedii Margay
Felis yagouaroundi Jaguarundi
Panthera onca Jaguar (extirpated)
Lynx rufus Bobcat
ORDER: ARTIODACTYLA
FAMILY: SUIDAE
Sus scrofa Feral pig
FAMILY: TAYASSUIDAE
Pecari tajacu Collared peccary
FAMILY: CERVIDAE
Cervus axis Axis deer (introduced)
Cervus dama Fallow deer (introduced)
Cervus nippon Sika deer (introduced)
Cervus elaphus Wapiti or elk
Odocoileus hemionus Mule or black-tailed deer
Odocoileus virginianus White-tailed deerFAMILY: ANTILOCAPRIDAE
Antilocapra americana Pronghorn
FAMILY: BOVIDAE
Bison bison* Bison (extirpated; reintroduced)
*Bos bison a valid synonym (American Society of Mammalogists)
Boselaphus tragocamelus Nilgai (introduced)
Ovis canadensis Bighorn sheep (extirpated; reintroduced)
Ammotragus lervia Barbary sheep (commonly called "aoudad"; introduced)
Antilope cervicapra Blackbuck
SOME COMMON DOMESTICATED SPECIES:
ORDER: LAGOMORPHA
Oryctolagus cuniculus European rabbit
ORDER: CARNIVORA
Canis lupus familiaris Dog
Felis catus House cat
ORDER: PERISSODACTYLA
Equus caballus Horse
ORDER: ARTIODACYTLA
Sus scrofa Pig
Bos taurus Cattle
Capra hircus Goat
Ovis aries Sheep
SOME COMMON TEXAS MAMMALS
DIDELPHIMORPHIA
Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana)
INSECTIVORA
Least shrew (Cryptotis parva)
Desert shrew (Notiosorex
crawfordi)
Eastern mole (Scalopus aquaticus)
CHIROPTERA
Big brown bat (Eptesicus fuscus)
Brazilian free-tailed bat (Tadarida brasiliensis)
Evening bat (Nycticeius humeralis)
LAGOMORPHA
Eastern cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus)
Black-tailed jack rabbit (Lepus
californicus)
RODENTIA
Thirteen-lined ground squirrel (Spermophilus tridecemlineatus)
Black-tailed prairie dog (Cynomys ludovicianus)
Eastern fox squirrel (Sciurus niger)
Western harvest mouse (Reithrodontomys megalotis)
Deer mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus)
White-footed mouse (Peromyscus leucopus)
Hispid cotton rat (Sigmodon hispidus)
White-throated woodrat (Neotoma albigula)
Southern plains woodrat (Neotoma micropus)
Prairie vole (Microtus
ochrogaster)
Muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus)
CARNIVORA
Red fox (Vulpes vulpes)
Swift fox (Vulpes velox)
Coyote (Canis
latrans)
Raccoon (Procyon lotor)
Striped skunk (Mephitis
mephitis)
Bobcat (Lynx rufus)
ARTIODACTYLA
White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus)
Mule deer (Odocoileus
hemionus)
SKINS OF COMMON SPECIES OF INSECTIVORA AND RODENTIA
Part of the laboratory exercises in Mammalogy are directed at teaching you to recognize the skins and skulls of the mammals of Texas and to know the different species by both their scientific and common names. Since more than 140 species of mammals occur or recently occurred in Texas, it is difficult to start to learn the entire group at one time. Therefore, you will begin by learning to recognize the skins of 15 of the common small mammals (Orders Rodentia and Insectivora) that occur in Texas.
SCIENTIFIC AND COMMON NAMES OF SPECIES
Cryptotis parva--least shrew
Cynomys ludovicianus--black-tailed prairie dog
Spermophilus tridecemlineatus--thirteen-lined ground squirrel
Spermophilus spilosoma--spotted ground squirrel
Sciurus niger-eastern fox squirrel
Dipodomys ordii--Ord's
kangaroo rat
Chaetodipus hispidus--hispid pocket mouse (also called Perognathus
hispidus in earlier sources)
Reithrodontomys megalotis--western harvest mouse
Peromyscus maniculatus--deer mouse
Peromyscus leucopus--white-footed mouse
Peromyscus attwateri--Texas mouse
Baiomys taylori--Northern pygmy mouse
Sigmodon hispidus--hispid cotton rat
Neotoma albigula--white-throated woodrat
Microtus
ochrogaster--prairie vole
EXTERNAL CHARACTERISTICS USEFUL FOR SPECIES INDENTIFICATION
Pay special attention to the characteristics considered 'diagnostic' by your
instructor.
Suggested characters that you should be observing and comparing among the
different species of mammals (not all necessarily apply to the 15 species in
this lab) include:
1. Size of body (for animals that range in size from shrews to woodrats and tree squirrels); learn to associate relative sizes (very small, small, intermediate, large, and very large) with different species
2. Shape of body (consider the relationship of length and diameter)
3. Coloration of pelage
4. Pattern of coloration (spotted, striped, countershaded, etc.)
5. Texture of pelage (soft, coarse, spiny)
6. Length of rostrum
7. Size of ears (relative to size of body)
8. Shape of ears
9. Size of eyes
10. Length of tail (think in relative terms of tail to body length)
11. Scaliness?hairiness of tail (scaly, short hair, long hair, etc)
12. Shape of tail (round, flattened dorso-ventrally or laterally)
13. Size of feet (relative to size of body, front to hind feet)
14. Type of unguis (claw, nail, hoof)
15. Size of unguis
16. Number of digits (front and hind feet)
Scientific Names and Meanings of
Roots of Some Common Texas Mammals
DIDELPHIMORPHIA (di: two; delphi: uterus; morph: form)
Didelphidae
Didelphis virginiana; Virginia opossum
di: two; delphis: uterus; virginiana: collection site
INSECTIVORA (insecti: insect; vora: to devour)
Soricidae
Blarina hylophaga; Elliot's short-tailed shrew
blarina: arbitrary; hylo: of the forest; phaga: to eat
Cryptotis parva; Least shrew
crypto: hidden; tis: ear; parva: small
Talpidae
Scalopus aquaticus; Eastern mole
scallo: to dig; aquaticus: water dwelling
CHIROPTERA (chiro: hand; ptera: wing)
Vespertilionidae
Myotis lucifugus; Little brown myotis
mys: mouse; otos: ear; luci: light-fleeing; fugus: to flee
Myotis velifer; Cave myotis
mys: mouse; otos: ear; velum: veil; fero: to bear
Pipistrellus subflavus; Eastern pipistrelle
pippistrello: bat; sub: below; flavus: yellow
Eptesicus fuscus; Big brown bat
ptetikos: able to fly; fuscus: brown
Lasiurus borealis; Eastern red bat
lasios: shaggy or hairy; urus: tail; borealis: northern
Lasiurus cinereus; Hoary bat
lasios: shaggy or hairy; ura: tail; cinereus: silver
Nycticeius humeralis; Evening bat
nyctos: night; eius: belonging to; humerus: upper arm; alis: pertaining to
Plecotus townsendii; Townsend's big-eared bat
plekos: braid; otus: ear; townsendii: J. K. Townsend
XENARTHRA (xen: strange; arthr: joint)
Dasypodidae
Dasypus novemcinctus; Nine-banded armadillo
dasy: rough; pus: foot; novem: nine; cinctus: banded
LAGOMORPHA (lago: a hare; morpha: form)
Leporidae
Sylvilagus floridanus; Eastern cottontail
sylvi: forest; lagus: hare; floridanus: collection site
Lepus californicus; Black-tailed jack rabbit
lepus: hare; californicus: collection site
RODENTIA (roden: gnawing)
Sciuridae
Spermophilus tridecemlineatus; Thirteen-lined ground squirrel
spermo: seed; philus: loving; tridecem: thirteen; lineatus: lined
Spermophilus spilosoma; Spotted ground squirrel
sperma: seed; philos: loving; spilo: spot; soma: body
Cynomys ludovicianus; Black-tailed prairie dog
kynos: dog; mys: mouse; ludovicianus: collection site (Louisiana territory)
Sciurus carolinensis; Eastern gray squirrel
skiouros: shade urus: tail; carolinensis: collection site
Sciurus niger; Eastern fox squirrel
skiouros: shade; urus: tail; niger: black
Glaucomys volans; Southern flying squirrel
glaukos: silver; mys: mouse; volans: flying
Geomyidae
Geomys bursarius; Plains pocket gopher
geo: earth; mys: mouse; bursa: pouch; arias: pertaining to
Cratogeomys castanops; Yellow-faced pocket gopher
crato: strength, power; geo: earth; mys: mouse; castaneus: chestnut-colored
Heteromyidae
Dipodomys ordii; Ord's kangaroo rat
di: two; podo: foot; mys: mouse; ordii: George Ord
Chaetodipus hispidus; Hispid pocket mouse
Chaeto: hair; di: two; pus: foot; hispidus: rough, shaggy
Castoridae
Castor canadensis; American beaver
castor: beaver; canadensis: collection site
Muridae
Reithrodontomys megalotis; Western harvest mouse
reithro: grooved; donto: tooth; mys: mouse; megal: large; otis: ear
Peromyscus maniculatus; Deer mouse
pero: poor or pera: pouch; myscus: mouse; maniculatus: diminutive adjective for
hand
Peromyscus leucopus; White-footed mouse
pero: poor or pera: pouch; myscus: mouse; leuco: white; pus: white foot
Onychomys leucogaster; Northern grasshopper mouse
onycho: clawed; mys: mouse; leuco: white; gaster: belly
Sigmodon hispidus; Hispid cotton rat
sigmo: S-shaped; odon: tooth; hispidus: rough, shaggy
Neotoma floridana; Eastern woodrat
neo: new; toma: cut; floridana: collection site
Neotoma micropus; Southern plains woodrat
neo: new; toma: cut; micro: small; pus: foot
Microtus pinetorum; Woodland vole
micro: small; otos: ear; pinetorum: of the pine grove
Microtus ochrogaster; Prairie vole
micro: small; otus: ear; ochro: yellow; gaster: belly
Ondatra zibethicus; Muskrat
ondatra: Iroquois name; zibethicus: musky-smelling
Rattus norvegicus; Norway rat (introduced)
rattus: rat; norvegicus: collection site
Mus musculus; House mouse (introduced)
mus: mouse; musculus: small mouse
Erethizontidae
Erethizon dorsatum; Porcupine
erethizon: arouse, stir; dorsatum: back
CARNIVORA (carn: flesh; vora: to devour)
Canidae
Canis latrans; Coyote
canis: dog; latrans: barking
Canis lupus; Gray wolf (extirpated)
canis: dog; lupus: wolf
Vulpes vulpes; Red fox
vulpes: cunning
Vulpes velox; Swift fox
vulpes: cunning; velox: quick
Urocyon cinereoargenteus; Gray fox
uro: tail; cyon: dog; cinereus: grayish; argenteus: silver
Ursidae
Ursus americanus; Black bear (extirpated)
ursus: bear; americanus: distribution
Ursus arctos; Grizzly or brown bear (extirpated)
ursus: bear; arctos: bear
Procyonidae
Procyon lotor; Raccoon
pro: before; cyon: dog; lotor: washer
Mustelidae
Mustela frenata; Long-tailed weasel
mustela: weasel; frenum: bridle (white markings present in some populations)
Mustela nigripes; Black-footed ferret (extirpated)
mustela: weasel; nigra: black; pes: foot
Mustela vison; Mink
mustela: weasel; vison: scout
Taxidea taxus; Badger
taxidea: badgelike markings on head; taxus: badger
Mephitidae
Mephitis mephitis; Striped skunk
mephitis: foul odor
Spilogale putorius; Eastern spotted skunk
spilo: spotted; gale: weasel; putorius: stench
Felidae
Puma concolor; Mountain lion (extirpated)
puma: cat; con: together; color: color (same color all over)
Lynx rufus; Bobcat
lynx: cat; rufus: red
ARTIODACTYLA (artio: even-numbered; dactyla:finger or toe)
Cervidae
Cervus elaphus; Wapiti or elk (extirpated, reintroduced)
cervus: deer; elaphus: stag or deer
Odocoileus hemionus; Mule deer
odous: tooth; koilia: hollow; hemi: half; onos: an ass
Odocoileus virginianus; White-tailed deer
odous: tooth; koilia: hollow; virginianus: collection site
Antilocapridae
Antilocapra americana; Pronghorn (extirpated, reintroduced)
antholops: horned animal; capri: goat; americana: North American distribution
Bovidae
Bison bison; Bison (extirpated, reintroduced)
bison: Latin cognate of German word "wison," meaning "bison"