1
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)
Didelphisvirginiana Virginia opossum
ORDER: INSECTIVORA (Shrews and moles)
FAMILY: SORICIDAE (Shrews)
Blarina carolinensisSouthern short-tailed shrew
Blarinahylophaga Elliot's short-tailed shrew
Cryptotisparva Least shrew
Notiosorex crawfordiDesert shrew
FAMILY: TALPIDAE (Moles)
Scalopusaquaticus Eastern mole
ORDER: CHIROPTERA (Bats)
FAMILY: MORMOOPIDAE (Mormoopid bats)
Mormoops megalophyllaGhost-faced bat
FAMILY: PHYLLOSTOMIDAE (Leaf-nosed bats)
Leptonycteris nivalisMexican long-nosed bat
Choeronycteris mexicanaMexican long-tongued bat
Diphylla ecaudataHairy-legged vampire
FAMILY: VESPERTILIONIDAE (Vespertilionid bats)
Myotis austroripariusSoutheastern myotis
Myotis californicusCalifornia myotis
Myotis ciliolabrumWestern small-footed myotis
Myotisoccultus Southern little brown bat
Myotis septentrionalisNorthern long-eared myotis
Myotis thysanodesFringed myotis
Myotisvelifer Cave myotis
Myotis volansLong-legged myotis
Myotis yumanensisYuma myotis
Lasionycterisnoctivagans Silver-haired bat
Pipistrellus hesperusWestern pipistrelle
Pipistrellussubflavus Eastern pipistrelle
Eptesicusfuscus Big brown bat
Lasiurus blossevilliiWestern red bat
Lasiurusborealis Eastern red bat
Lasiuruscinereus Hoary bat
Lasiurus egaSouthern yellow bat
Lasiurus intermediusNorthern yellow bat
Lasiurus seminolusSeminole bat
Lasiurus xanthinusWestern yellow bat
Nycticeiushumeralis Evening bat
Euderma maculatumSpotted bat
Corynorhinus rafinesquiiRafinesque’s big-eared bat
Corynorhinustownsendii Townsend's big-eared bat
Antrozouspallidus Pallid bat
FAMILY: MOLOSSIDAE (Free-tailed bats)
Tadaridabrasiliensis Brazilian free-tailed bat
Nyctinomops femorosaccaPocketed free-tailed bat
Nyctinomopsmacrotis Big free-tailed bat
Eumpos perotisWestern mastiff bat
ORDER: XENARTHRA (Armadillos, sloths and allies)
FAMILY: DASYPODIDAE (Armadillos)
Dasypusnovemcinctus Ninebanded armadillo
ORDER: LAGOMORPHA (Hares and rabbits)
FAMILY: LEPORIDAE (Hares and rabbits)
Sylvilagusfloridanus Eastern cottontail
Sylvilagusaudubonii Desert cottontail
Sylvilagusaquaticus Swamp rabbit
Sylvilagus robustusDavisMountains cottontail
Lepuscalifornicus Black-tailed jackrabbit
ORDER: RODENTIA (Rodents)
FAMILY: SCIURIDAE (Squirrels and allies)
Tamias canipesGray-footed chipmunk
Ammospermophilus interpresTexas antelope squirrel
Spermophilus mexicanus Mexican ground squirrel
SpermophilustridecemlineatusThirteen-lined ground squirrel
Spermophilusspilosoma Spotted ground squirrel
Spermophilus variegatesRock squirrel
Cynomysludovicianus Black-tailed prairie dog
Sciuruscarolinensis Eastern gray squirrel
Sciurusniger Eastern fox squirrel
Glaucomysvolans Southern flying squirrel
FAMILY: GEOMYIDAE (Pocket gophers)
Thomomys bottaeBotta’s pocket gopher
Geomys arenariusDesert pocket gopher
Geomys attwateriAttwater’s pocket gopher
Geomys brevicepsBaird’s pocket gopher
Geomysbursarius Plains pocket gopher
Geomys knoxjonesiJones’ pocket gopher
Geomys personatusTexas pocket gopher
Geomys texensisLlano pocket gopher
Geomys streckeriStrecker’s pocket gopher
Cratogeomyscastanops Yellow-faced pocket gopher
FAMILY: HETEROMYIDAE (Pocket mice and kangaroo rats)
Perognathusflavescens Plains pocket mouse
Perognathusflavus Silky pocket mouse
Perognathus merriamiMerriam’s pocket mouse
Chaetodipushispidus Hispid pocket mouse
Chaetodipus intermediusRock pocket mouse
Chaetodipus nelsoniNelson’s pocket mouse
Chaetodipus eremicusChihuahuan desert pocket mouse
Dipodomys compactusGulfCoast kangaroo rat
Dipodomys elatorTexas kangaroo rat
Dipodomys merriamiMerriam’s kangaroo rat
Dipodomysordii Ord's kangaroo rat
Dipodomys spectabilisBanner-tailed kangaroo rat
Liomys irratusMexican spiny pocket mouse
FAMILY: CASTORIDAE (Beavers)
Castorcanadensis American beaver
FAMILY: MURIDAE (Mice and rats)
Oryzomys couesiCoues’ rice rat
Oryzomys palustrisMarsh rice rat
Reithrodontomys fulvescensFulvous harvest mouse
Reithrodontomys humulisEastern harvest mouse
Reithrodontomysmontanus Plains harvest mouse
Reithrodontomysmegalotis Western harvest mouse
Peromyscus attwateriTexas mouse
Peromyscus boyliiBrush mouse
Peromyscus eremicusCactus mouse
Peromyscus gossypinusCotton mouse
Peromyscusmaniculatus Deer mouse
Peromyscusleucopus Whitefooted mouse
PeromyscusnasutusNorthern rock mouse
Peromyscus pectoralisWhite-ankled mouse
Peromyscus trueiPiñon mouse
Peromyscus truei comanchePalo Duro mouse
Ochrotomys nuttalliGolden mouse
Baiomys tayloriNorthern pygmy mouse
Onychomys arenicolaMearn’s grasshopper mouse
Onychomysleucogaster Northern grasshopper mouse
Sigmodon fulviventerTawny-bellied cotton rat
Sigmodonhispidus Hispid cotton rat
Sigmodon ochrognathusYellow-nosed cotton rat
Neotoma albigulaEastern white-throated woodrat
Neotomafloridana Eastern woodrat
Neotoma mexicanaMexican woodrat
Neotomamicropus Southern plains woodrat
Rattus norvegicusNorway rat (introduced)
Rattus rattusRoof rat (introduced)
Mus musculusHouse mouse (introduced)
Microtus mexicanusMexican vole
Microtusochrogaster Prairie vole
Microtuspinetorum Woodland vole
Ondatrazibethicus Muskrat
FAMILY: ERETHIZONTIDAE (New World porcupines)
Erethizondorsatum Porcupine
FAMILY: MYOCASTORIDAE (Myocastorids)
Myocastor coypusNutria
ORDER: CARNIVORA (Carnivores)
FAMILY: CANIDAE (Canids)
Canislatrans Coyote
Canislupus Gray wolf (extirpated)
Canis rufusRed wolf (extirpated)
Vulpesvulpes Red fox
Vulpesvelox Swift fox
Urocyoncinereoargenteus Common gray fox
FAMILY: URSIDAE (Bears)
Ursusamericanus American black bear
Ursusarctos Grizzly or brown bear (extirpated)
FAMILY: PROCYONIDAE (Procyonids)
Bassariscusastutus Ringtail
Procyonlotor Raccoon
Nasua naricaWhite-nosed coati
FAMILY: MUSTELIDAE (Mustelids)
Mustelafrenata Longtailed weasel
Mustelanigripes Blackfooted ferret (extirpated)
Mustelavison American mink
Taxideataxus American badger
LontracanadensisNorthern river otter
FAMILY: MEPHITIDAE (Mephitids)
MephitismephitisStriped skunk
SpilogaleputoriusEastern spotted skunk
Spilogale gracilisWestern spotted skunk
Mephitis macrouraHooded skunk
Conepatus leuconotusHog-nosed skunk
FAMILY: FELIDAE (Felids)
Pumaconcolor Mountain lion
Felis pardalisOcelot
Felis wiediiMargay
Felis yagouaroundiJaguarundi
Panthera oncaJaguar (extirpated)
Lynxrufus Bobcat
ORDER: ARTIODACTYLA (Even toed ungulates)
FAMILY: SUIDAE (Pigs)
Sus scrofaFeral pig (introduced)
FAMILY: Tayassuidae (Peccaries)
Tayassu tajacuCollared peccary
FAMILY: CERVIDAE (Cervids)
Cervus axisAxis deer (introduced)
Cervus damaFallow deer (introduced)
Cervus nipponSika deer (introduced)
Cervuselaphus Wapiti or elk
Odocoileushemionus Mule or blacktailed deer
Odocoileusvirginianus White-tailed deer
FAMILY: ANTILOCAPRIDAE (Pronghorn)
Antilocapraamericana Pronghorn
FAMILY: BOVIDAE (Bovids)
Bosbison* Bison (extirpated; reintroduced)
*Bisonbison a valid synonym (American Society of Mammalogists)
Boselaphus tragocamelusNilgai (introduced)
Ovis canadensisBighorn sheep (extirpated; reintroduced)
Ammotragus lerviaBarbary sheep (commonly called “aoudad”; introduced)
Antilope cervicapraBlackbuck
SOME COMMON DOMESTICATED SPECIES:
ORDER: LAGOMORPHA
OryctolaguscuniculusEuropean rabbit
ORDER: CARNIVORA
Canis lupusfamiliarisDog
Feliscatus House cat
ORDER: PERISSODACTYLA (Odd-toed ungulates)
EquuscaballusHorse
ORDER: ARTIODACYTLA
SusscrofaPig
Bostaurus Cattle
Caprahircus Goat
Ovisaries 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
Cryptotisparva--least shrew
Cynomysludovicianus--black-tailed prairie dog
Spermophilustridecemlineatusthirteen-lined ground squirrel
Spermophilusspilosoma--spotted ground squirrel
Sciurusniger—eastern fox squirrel
Dipodomysordii--Ord's kangaroo rat
Chaetodipushispidushispid pocket mouse (also called Perognathushispidus in earlier sources)
Reithrodontomysmegalotiswestern harvest mouse
Peromyscusmaniculatusdeer mouse
Peromyscusleucopuswhitefooted mouse
Peromyscus attwateri--Texas mouse
Baiomys taylori--Northern pygmy mouse
Sigmodonhispidushispid cotton rat
Neotoma albigula--white-throated woodrat
Microtusochrogasterprairie 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. Scalinesshairiness 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
Didelphisvirginiana; Virginia opossum
di: two; delphis: uterus; virginiana: collection site
INSECTIVORA (insecti: insect; vora: to devour)
Soricidae
Blarinahylophaga; Elliot's short-tailed shrew
blarina: arbitrary; hylo: of the forest; phaga: to eat
Cryptotisparva; Least shrew
crypto: hidden; tis: ear; parva: small
Talpidae
Scalopusaquaticus; Eastern mole
scallo: to dig; aquaticus: water dwelling
CHIROPTERA (chiro: hand; ptera: wing)
Vespertilionidae
Myotislucifugus; Little brown myotis
mys: mouse; otos: ear; luci: light-fleeing; fugus: to flee
Myotisvelifer; Cave myotis
mys: mouse; otos: ear; velum: veil; fero: to bear
Pipistrellussubflavus; Eastern pipistrelle
pippistrello:bat; sub: below; flavus: yellow
Eptesicusfuscus; Big brown bat
ptetikos:able to fly; fuscus: brown
Lasiurusborealis; Eastern red bat
lasios: shaggy or hairy; urus: tail; borealis: northern
Lasiuruscinereus; Hoary bat
lasios: shaggy or hairy; ura: tail; cinereus: silver
Nycticeiushumeralis; Evening bat
nyctos: night; eius: belonging to; humerus: upper arm; alis: pertaining to
Plecotustownsendii; Townsend's big-eared bat
plekos: braid; otus: ear; townsendii: J. K. Townsend
XENARTHRA (xen: strange; arthr: joint)
Dasypodidae
Dasypusnovemcinctus; Nine-banded armadillo
dasy: rough; pus: foot; novem: nine; cinctus: banded
LAGOMORPHA (lago: a hare; morpha: form)
Leporidae
Sylvilagusfloridanus; Eastern cottontail
sylvi: forest; lagus: hare; floridanus: collection site
Lepuscalifornicus; Black-tailed jack rabbit
lepus: hare; californicus: collection site
RODENTIA (roden: gnawing)
Sciuridae
Spermophilustridecemlineatus; Thirteen-lined ground squirrel
spermo: seed; philus: loving; tridecem: thirteen; lineatus: lined
Spermophilusspilosoma; Spotted ground squirrel
sperma: seed; philos: loving; spilo: spot; soma: body
Cynomysludovicianus; Black-tailed prairie dog
kynos: dog; mys: mouse; ludovicianus: collection site (Louisiana territory)
Sciuruscarolinensis; Eastern gray squirrel
skiouros: shade urus: tail; carolinensis: collection site
Sciurusniger; Eastern fox squirrel
skiouros: shade; urus: tail; niger: black
Glaucomysvolans; Southern flying squirrel
glaukos: silver; mys: mouse; volans: flying
Geomyidae
Geomysbursarius; Plains pocket gopher
geo: earth; mys: mouse; bursa: pouch; arias: pertaining to
Cratogeomyscastanops; Yellow-faced pocket gopher
crato: strength, power; geo: earth; mys: mouse; castaneus: chestnut-colored
Heteromyidae
Dipodomysordii; Ord's kangaroo rat
di: two; podo: foot; mys: mouse; ordii: George Ord
Chaetodipushispidus; Hispid pocket mouse
Chaeto: hair; di: two; pus: foot; hispidus: rough, shaggy
Castoridae
Castorcanadensis; American beaver
castor: beaver; canadensis: collection site
Muridae
Reithrodontomysmegalotis; Western harvest mouse
reithro: grooved; donto: tooth; mys: mouse; megal: large; otis: ear
Peromyscusmaniculatus; Deer mouse
pero: pooror pera: pouch; myscus: mouse; maniculatus: diminutive adjective for hand
Peromyscusleucopus; White-footed mouse
pero: pooror pera: pouch; myscus: mouse; leuco: white; pus: white foot
Onychomysleucogaster; Northern grasshopper mouse
onycho: clawed; mys: mouse; leuco: white; gaster: belly
Sigmodonhispidus; Hispid cotton rat
sigmo: S-shaped; odon: tooth; hispidus: rough, shaggy
Neotomafloridana; Eastern woodrat
neo: new; toma: cut; floridana: collection site
Neotomamicropus; Southern plains woodrat
neo: new; toma: cut; micro: small; pus: foot
Microtuspinetorum; Woodland vole
micro: small; otos: ear; pinetorum: of the pine grove
Microtusochrogaster; Prairie vole
micro: small; otus: ear; ochro: yellow; gaster: belly
Ondatrazibethicus; Muskrat
ondatra: Iroquois name; zibethicus: musky-smelling
Rattusnorvegicus; Norway rat (introduced)
rattus: rat; norvegicus: collection site
Musmusculus; House mouse (introduced)
mus: mouse; musculus: small mouse
Erethizontidae
Erethizondorsatum; Porcupine
erethizon: arouse, stir; dorsatum: back
CARNIVORA (carn: flesh; vora: to devour)
Canidae
Canislatrans; Coyote
canis: dog; latrans: barking
Canislupus; Gray wolf (extirpated)
canis: dog; lupus: wolf
Vulpesvulpes; Red fox
vulpes: cunning
Vulpesvelox; Swift fox
vulpes: cunning; velox: quick
Urocyoncinereoargenteus; Gray fox
uro: tail; cyon: dog; cinereus: grayish; argenteus: silver
Ursidae
Ursusamericanus; Black bear (extirpated)
ursus: bear; americanus: distribution
Ursusarctos; Grizzly or brown bear (extirpated)
ursus: bear; arctos: bear
Procyonidae
Procyonlotor; Raccoon
pro: before; cyon: dog; lotor: washer
Mustelidae
Mustelafrenata; Long-tailed weasel
mustela: weasel; frenum: bridle (white markings present in some populations)
Mustelanigripes; Black-footed ferret (extirpated)
mustela: weasel; nigra: black; pes: foot
Mustelavison; Mink
mustela: weasel; vison: scout
Taxideataxus; Badger
taxidea: badgelike markings on head; taxus: badger
Mephitidae
Mephitismephitis; Striped skunk
mephitis: foul odor
Spilogaleputorius; Eastern spotted skunk
spilo: spotted; gale: weasel; putorius: stench
Felidae
Pumaconcolor; Mountain lion (extirpated)
puma: cat; con: together; color: color (same color all over)
Lynxrufus; Bobcat
lynx: cat; rufus: red
ARTIODACTYLA (artio:even-numbered; dactyla:finger or toe)
Cervidae
Cervuselaphus; Wapiti or elk (extirpated, reintroduced)
cervus: deer; elaphus: stag or deer
Odocoileushemionus; Mule deer
odous: tooth; koilia: hollow; hemi: half; onos: an ass
Odocoileusvirginianus; White-tailed deer
odous:tooth; koilia:hollow; virginianus: collection site
Antilocapridae
Antilocapraamericana; Pronghorn (extirpated, reintroduced)
antholops: horned animal; capri: goat; americana: North American distribution
Bovidae
Bisonbison; Bison (extirpated, reintroduced)
bison: Latin cognate of German word "wison," meaning "bison”