Occasional Papers Museum of Texas Tech University Number 247 19 October 2005 Mammal Records from Donley and Briscoe Counties, Texas MichelleL. Haynie , BrianR. Amman, B. Dnate' Baxter, NevinD. Durish, J. DeltonHanson, Lisa K. Longhofer, Francisca M Mendez-Harclerode, Serena A. Reeder, John R. Suchecki, and Robert D, Bradley In October 2002, September 2003, and April 2004, 13 species of mammals, all representing new county records, were collected in Donley County. Col¬ lections were made on a private ranch located 3.0 miles south, 1.5 miles west of Clarendon. The site is di¬ vided into two distinct habitats, one being a topographi¬ cally level mesquite-grassland, whereas the other is comprised of a series of shallow to medium-sized can¬ yons dominated by a juniper-grassland. Specific lo¬ calities for most specimens collected in this county are given as UTM coordinates. An additional speci¬ men (Taxidea taxus), representing a county record for Briscoe County, was collected as a road-kill 1.0 mile south of Silverton along Texas Highway 207. All voucher materials (skin and skulls; TTU numbers) and frozen tissues (TK numbers) were deposited in the Collection of Recent Mammals in the Natural Science Research Laboratory, Museum of Texas Tech Univer¬ sity. Cave Myotis Myotis velifer This species has a disjunct range throughout the western two-thirds of Texas, occurring in southern and north-central Texas, and in the eastern panhandle (Schmidly 2004). Typically, M. velifer inhabits caves but may be found in rock crevices and man-made structures (Schmidly 2004). On 18 October 2002, one female (TTU 90398; TK 112609) was collected over a man-made tank (no UTM). Eastern Cottontail Sylvilagus floridanus The eastern cottontail occurs throughout the state of Texas in brushlands and marginal habitats (Schmidly 2004). On 18 October 2002, one male (TTU 90395; TK 112606) was collected in a mesquite-grassland habitat (no UTM). Also collected at this site was Lepus californicus. Merriam’s Pocket Mouse Perognathus merriami Perognathus merriami is known from the west¬ ern two-thirds of Texas, but is absent from the ex¬ treme northern Panhandle and the extreme western Trans-Pecos (Schmidly 2004). On 19 October 2002, three females and five males (TTU 90410, 90411, 90425, 90426, 90427, 90431, 90434, 90435; TK 112621, 112622, 112636, 112637, 112638, 112642, 2 Occasional Papers, Museum of Texas Tech University 112645, 112646) were collected. Two were caught in a mesquite-grassland habitat (UTM: 14-325879- 3862421) along with Peromyscus marticulatus and Chaetodipus hispidus. The remaining individuals were caught in a juniper-grassland habitat (UTM: 14-325295- 3861 143) along with Dipodomys ordii , Peromyscus leucopus, Peromyscus attwateri , Neotoma micropus, and C, hispidus. Hispid Pocket Mouse Chaetodipus hispidus The hispid pocket mouse is found throughout the state of Texas, with the exception of the extreme southern portion of the state, in sandy or other friable soils (Schmidly 2004). On 18 October 2002, a single female (TTU 90397; TK 112608) was collected using a Macabee gopher trap (no UTM). On 19 October 2002, an additional three females and four males (TTU 90401, 90402, 90405, 90406, 90407, 90432, 90433; TK 112612, 112613, 112616, 112617, 112618, 112643, 112644) were collected. Three individuals were col¬ lected at UTM: 14-325879-3862421 in a mesquite- grassland habitat along with P. marticulatus and P. merriami. Two individuals were collected at UTM: 14-326241-386155 in a mesquite-grassland habitat along with Reithrodontomys fulvescens, Reithrodontomys megalotis , and P leucopus. Two in¬ dividuals were collected at UTM: 14-325295-3861143 in a juniper-grassland habitat along with D. ordii , P. leucopus, P attwateri , N. micropus , and P. merriami. Ord’s Kangaroo Rat Dipodomys ordii Ord’s kangaroo rat inhabits arid and semiarid regions of the western and southern parts of Texas (Schmidly 2004). On 19 October 2002, two males and two females (TTU 90412, 90413, 90414, 90415; TK 112623, 112624, 112625, 112626) were captured in a juniper-grassland habitat (UTM: 14-325295- 3861143). Other rodent species collected from this area included P. merriami , C. hispidus , P leucopus , P. attwateri , and micropus. Fulvous Harvest Mouse Reithrodontomys fulvescens The distribution of R fulvescens in Texas in¬ cludes the eastern two-thirds of the state, excluding the Edwards Plateau (Schmidly 2004). This species usually is found in grassy or weedy areas. On 19 October 2002, two females (TTU 90399, 90403; TK 112610, 112614) were collected in an area dominated by a mesquite-grassland (UTM: 14-326241-3861555). Other species collected at this locality included C. hispidus, R. megalotis , and P. leucopus. Western Harvest Mouse Reithrodontomys megalotis This species typically is found in grassy or weedy areas ranging from the panhandle south and west to the Trans-Pecos region (Schmidly 2004). On 19 Oc¬ tober 2002, one female (TTU 90404; TK 112615) was collected in a mesquite-grassland habitat (UTM: 14- 326241-3861555). Other rodents collected at this same locality included C. hispidus, P. leucopus , and R. fulvescens. Plains Harvest Mouse Reithrodontomys montanus In Texas, the plains harvest mouse is found in central and western parts of the state, as far west as El Paso County and east to Madison County (Schmidly 2004). This species usually is found in climax grass¬ lands. On 27 September 2003, one female (TTU 100439; TK 121463) was collected (no UTM) in mes¬ quite-grassland habitat. Other species collected at this same time included N. micropus , Baiomys taylori and Sigmodon hispidus. Texas Mouse Peromyscus attwateri Peromyscus attwateri occupies a distribution throughout rocky areas in central and northern Texas, but generally does not extend into the plains of the panhandle (Schmidly 1974). On 19 October 2002, two males and one female (TTU 90418,90419,90424; TK 112629, 112630, 112635) were collected (UTM: 14-325295-3861143). These specimens were collected in a juniper-grassland habitat along with D. ordii, P. leucopus, P. merriami, N. micropus, and C hispidus. Haynie et al.— Mammal Records from Donley and Briscoe Counties, Texas 3 White-footed Mouse Peromyscus leucopus This species is distributed throughout North America east of the Rocky Mountains, including all of Texas. On 19 October 2002, six males and one fe¬ male (TTU 90400, 90416, 90417, 90420, 90421, 90422, 90423; TK 112611, 112627, 112628, 112631, 112632, 112633, 112634) were collected. One speci¬ men (TTU 90400) was collected in a mesquite-grass- land habitat (UTM: 14-326241-3861555) with C. hispidus, R. fulvescens, and R. megalotis. The re¬ maining six specimens were captured in a juniper-grass- land habitat (UTM: 14-325295-3861143) with/), ordii , P merriami, P. attwateri, N. micropus, and C. hispidus. These localities occur near the hypothesized border between the P. 1. texanus subspecies to the south and the P. I tornillo subspecies to the north and west (Lackey et al. 1985). Hispid Cotton Rat Sigmodon hispidus The hispid cotton rat is distributed throughout the state, occupying tail-grass habitats (Schmidly 2004). On 27 September 2003, one female and one male (TTU 100503, 101505;TK 121460, 121466) were captured (UTM: 14-325874-3862421) in mesquite- grassland habitat. Other species collected from this area included B. taylori, N. micropus, and R. montanus. Northern Grasshopper Mouse Onychomys leucogastor This species occurs throughout most of west and south Texas, excluding the Trans-Pecos region (Schmidly 2004). Typically, it is found in grasslands or open brushlands. A single specimen (TTU 100787; TK 119117) was collected in April from a mesquite- grassland habitat (no UTM). North American Porcupine Erethizon dorsatum Erethizon dorsatum occurs in the western half of the state of Texas, extending as far east as Bosque County, and has recently expanded into southern Texas as far south as Jim Wells County (Schmidly 2004). On 20 October 2002, a pregnant female (TTU 99999; TK 114634) was collected as road-kill 3.5 miles south of Clarendon (no UTM). American Badger Taxidea taxus American badgers are found throughout most of the state of Texas, excluding far eastern portions, and occupy a wide variety of habitats (Schmidly 2004). On 18 October 2002, one female (TK 99997; TK 114546) was collected as road-kill along Texas High¬ way 207 (no UTM). Acknowledgments We would like to thank the members of the Fall 2002 Mammalogy class at Texas Tech University, and E. R. and L. D. Bradley for help with collecting the specimens. We thank R. J. Baker, J. J. Bull, and D. M. Hillis for permission to collect on their property. This research was supported in part by a Howard Hughes Medical Institute grant through the Undergradu¬ ate Biological Sciences Education Program to Texas Tech University. Literature Cited Schmidly, D. J. 2004. The mammals of Texas, Revised edi- Schmidly, D. J. 1974. Peromyscus attwateri. Mammalian tion. University of Texas Press, Austin. Species 48:1-3. Lackey, J. A., D. G. Huckaby, and B. G. Ormiston. 1985. Peromyscus leucopus. Mammalian Species 247:1 - 10 . Addresses of authors : Address for Michelle L. Haynie, Brian R. Amman, B. Dnate Baxter, Nevin D, Durish, J, Delton Hanson, Francisca M. Mendez-Harclerode, Lisa K. Longhofer, Serena A Reeder, John R. Suchecki, and Robert D, Bradley. Department of Biological Sciences Texas Tech University Lubbock, TX 79409-3131 MLH e-mail: michelle.Lhaynie(d)ttu.cdu BRA e-mail: hrian.r.amman@ttu.edu BDB e-mail. dnabaxter@yahoo.com NDD e-mail nevin.d.durish@ttu.edu JDH e-mail: jdh95if@yahoo.com FMH e-mail: francisca. m. mendez-harclerodeCajttu. edu LKL e-mail: brombe@hotmail.com SAR e-mail: awx6@cdc.gov JRS e-mail: BPSuchecki@hotmail.com RDB e-mail: robert bradley@ttu.edu Address for Robert D. Bradley: Museum of Texas Tech University Box 43191 Lubbock, TX 79409-3191 RDB e-mail: robert. bradley(d),tiu.edu Current Address for Serena A. Reeder: Centers for Disease Control & Prevention NCID/D VRD/VRZB/Rabies 1600 Clifton Road, MS G-33 Atlanta, GA 30333 SAR e-mail: awx6@cdc.gov Current Address for John R. Suchecki: 155 Camp Ozark Drive Mt. Ida , AR, 71957 JRS e-mail' john@campozark.com Current Address for Brian A. Amman: Center for Disease Control and Prevention Division of Viral and Rickettsial Diseases/ Special Pathogens Branch 1600 Clifton Road, MS A-26 Atlanta, GA 30333 BAA e-mail: bamman@cdc.gov Publications of the Museum of Texas Tech University Institutional subscriptions are available through the Museum of Texas Tech University, attn: NSRL Publications Secretary, Box 43191, Lubbock, TX 79409-3191. Individuals may also purchase separate num¬ bers of the Occasional Papers directly from the Museum of Texas Tech University. ISSN 0149-175X Museum of Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409-3191