Biol 544 – Mammalogy

LAB #3
MAMMALS OF TEXAS
Taxonomic nomenclature follows Schmidly, D. J. 2004. The Mammals of Texas, Revised Edition. University of Texas Press.
ORDER: DIDELPHIMORPHIA (Opossums and allies)
FAMILY: DIDELPHIDAE (Opossums)

Didelphis virginiana Virginia opossum

ORDER: INSECTIVORA (Shrews and moles)

FAMILY: SORICIDAE (Shrews)
Blarina carolinensis Southern short-tailed shrew

Blarina hylophaga Elliot's short-tailed shrew

Cryptotis parva Least shrew

Notiosorex crawfordi Desert shrew
FAMILY: TALPIDAE (Moles)
Scalopus aquaticus Eastern mole

ORDER: CHIROPTERA (Bats)

FAMILY: MORMOOPIDAE (Mormoopid bats)
Mormoops megalophylla Ghost-faced bat
FAMILY: PHYLLOSTOMIDAE (Leaf-nosed bats)
Leptonycteris nivalis Mexican long-nosed bat

Choeronycteris mexicana Mexican long-tongued bat

Diphylla ecaudata Hairy-legged vampire
FAMILY: VESPERTILIONIDAE (Vespertilionid bats)
Myotis austroriparius Southeastern myotis

Myotis californicus California myotis

Myotis ciliolabrum Western small-footed myotis

Myotis occultus Southern 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 bat
FAMILY: MOLOSSIDAE (Free-tailed bats)
Tadarida brasiliensis Brazilian free-tailed bat

Nyctinomops femorosacca Pocketed free-tailed bat

Nyctinomops macrotis Big free-tailed bat

Eumpos perotis Western mastiff bat

ORDER: XENARTHRA (Armadillos, sloths and allies)

FAMILY: DASYPODIDAE (Armadillos)
Dasypus novemcinctus Nine banded armadillo

ORDER: LAGOMORPHA (Hares and rabbits)

FAMILY: LEPORIDAE (Hares and rabbits)
Sylvilagus floridanus Eastern cottontail

Sylvilagus audubonii Desert cottontail

Sylvilagus aquaticus Swamp rabbit

Sylvilagus robustus Davis Mountains cottontail

Lepus californicus Black-tailed jackrabbit

ORDER: RODENTIA (Rodents)

FAMILY: SCIURIDAE (Squirrels and allies)
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 squirrel
FAMILY: GEOMYIDAE (Pocket gophers)
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 gopher

FAMILY: HETEROMYIDAE (Pocket mice and kangaroo rats)

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 mouse
FAMILY: CASTORIDAE (Beavers)
Castor canadensis American beaver
FAMILY: MURIDAE (Mice and rats)
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 Piñon 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 (introduced)

Rattus rattus Roof rat (introduced)

Mus musculus House mouse (introduced)

Microtus mexicanus Mexican vole

Microtus ochrogaster Prairie vole

Microtus pinetorum Woodland vole

Ondatra zibethicus Muskrat

FAMILY: ERETHIZONTIDAE (New World porcupines)

Erethizon dorsatum Porcupine
FAMILY: MYOCASTORIDAE (Myocastorids)
Myocastor coypus Nutria
ORDER: CARNIVORA (Carnivores)
FAMILY: CANIDAE (Canids)
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 fox
FAMILY: URSIDAE (Bears)
Ursus americanus American black bear

Ursus arctos Grizzly or brown bear (extirpated)
FAMILY: PROCYONIDAE (Procyonids)
Bassariscus astutus Ringtail

Procyon lotor Raccoon

Nasua narica White-nosed coati
FAMILY: MUSTELIDAE (Mustelids)
Mustela frenata Long tailed weasel

Mustela nigripes Black footed ferret (extirpated)

Mustela vison American mink

Taxidea taxus American badger

Lontra canadensis Northern river otter
FAMILY: MEPHITIDAE (Mephitids)
Mephitis mephitis Striped skunk

Spilogale putorius Eastern spotted skunk

Spilogale gracilis Western spotted skunk

Mephitis macroura Hooded skunk

Conepatus leuconotus Hog-nosed skunk

FAMILY: FELIDAE (Felids)

Puma concolor Mountain lion

Felis pardalis Ocelot

Felis wiedii Margay

Felis yagouaroundi Jaguarundi

Panthera onca Jaguar (extirpated)

Lynx rufus Bobcat

ORDER: ARTIODACTYLA (Even toed ungulates)

FAMILY: SUIDAE (Pigs)
Sus scrofa Feral pig (introduced)
FAMILY: Tayassuidae (Peccaries)
Tayassu tajacu Collared peccary
FAMILY: CERVIDAE (Cervids)
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 deer
FAMILY: ANTILOCAPRIDAE (Pronghorn)
Antilocapra americana Pronghorn
FAMILY: BOVIDAE (Bovids)
Bos bison* Bison (extirpated; reintroduced)

*Bison 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 (Odd-toed ungulates)
Equus caballus Horse
ORDER: ARTIODACYTLA
Sus scrofa Pig

Bos taurus Cattle

Capra hircus Goat

Ovis aries Sheep
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”