Occasional Papers

NOTEWORTHY RECORDS OF SMALL MAMMALS IN TEXAS

Heather R. Roberts, Ted W. Joliet, Lottie L. Peppers, Jaws C. Cathey, Roslyn Martinez,
John A. Peppers, April L. Bates, and Robert D. Bradley

Distributional records for 24 species of mammals
were obtained during faunal surveys conducted through¬
out Texas. These surveys were conducted in Dickens
Co. in 1994, Lubbock Lake Landmark State Historical
Park (Lubbock Co,) on 14 April and 7 August 1996,
Peach Point and Guadalupe Delta Wildlife Management
Areas (Brazoria, Calhoun, and Refugio Cos.) from 16
March to 22 March 1996, and Gus Engeling and
Richland Creek Wildlife Management Areas (Ander¬
son, Freestone, and Navarro Cos.) from 4 June to 10
June 1996. An additional county record for Taylor Co.
also is included. The records reported herein include
one taxon of the Order Didelphimorphia, one of
Inscctivora, two of Chiroptcra, one of Xcnarthra, three
of Lagomorpha, 13 of Rodentia, and three of Carnivora.
These specimens represent county records as interpreted
from distribution maps in Schmidly (1983) and Davis
and Schmidly (1994). All voucher specimens are de¬
posited in the Museum of Texas Tech University and
are identified by the museum catalog number (TTU).

Didelphis Virginian a virginian a
Kerr, 1792
Virginia Opossum

At the Afton locality, an adult female was col¬
lected in cattails and sedges surrounding a 13-acre im¬

poundment. This impoundment was surrounded by a
mixed mesquite grassland and farmland. The speci¬
mens collected at the Lubbock Lake Landmark Slate
Historical Park were trapped in a small, isolated forest
of deciduous trees surrounding a small spring-fed lake.
This wooded area was enclosed on all sides by a short-
grass prairie.

Specimens examined (12).— Dickens Co,, 0.5
mi E Afton, 1, female specimen (TTU 76242), 11 Sep¬
tember 1994; Lubbock Co., Lubbock Lake Landmark
State Historical Park, 8, two female specimens (TTU
76158; 76164) and six male specmiens (TTU 76157;
76159-76163), 14 April 1996. Previously collected but
imreported records from Lubbock Co. include: Lub¬
bock, 1, female specimen (TTU 12327), 1969; Ransom
Canyon, 1, female specimen (TTU 31598), 1977; 2.5
mi NE Lorenzo, 1, female specimen (TTU 60725),
1989.

Cryptotis parva parva
(Say, 1823)

Least Shrew

This specimen from the Peach Point Wildlife Man¬
agement Area was collected from an apparent nest and
associated run located under a wooden bridge or pier

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OCCASIONAL PAPERS, MUSEUM OF TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY

piling that probably had been deposited in this mid-grass
coastal prairie region during a hurricane or flood. The
habitat was a typical mid-grass coastal prairie. Although
the individual was a juvenile (eyes opened while in cap¬
tivity), no other individuals were present at the time of
capture. This species probably is rare for this area as
there arc very few' trees, fallen logs, rocks, or other types
of suitable cover.

Specimen examined (1).— Brazoria Co., 10 mi
E Brazoria, Peach Point Wildlife Management Area,
one juvenile specimen of undetermined sex (TTU
71581), 18 March 1996.

Lasiurus borealis borealis

(Muller, 1776)

Eastern Red Bat

These specimens from the Richland Creek Wild¬
life Managamcnt Area were captured in a mist net early
in the evening (before 2200 hrs) at a small pond of run¬
off water surrounded by forbs and grasses. A small
stand of oak trees was approximately 100 m away from
this pond and a large, solitary oak tree on the edge of
the pond may have served as a roost.

Specimens examined (4).— Navarro Co.,
Richland Creek Wildlife Management Area, 4, three
female specimens (TTU 75361; 76112; 76114) and one
male specimen (TTU 76113), 9 June 1996.

Nycticeius humeralis humeralis
(Rafinesque, 1818)

Evening Bat

This specimen from the Richland Creek Wildlife
Management Area was captured in the early evening
hours at the same pond reported for Lasiurus borealis.

Specimen examined (1).—Navarro Co., Richland
Creek Wildlife Management Area, 1, female specimen
(TTU 76115), 9 June 1996.

Dasypus novemcinctus mexicanus
Peters, 1864
Nine-banded Armadillo

Although only one specimen was collected at the
Peach Point Wildlife Management Area, several indi¬
viduals were seen over a period of three days. This
specimen was collected at the interface of a dense for¬
est and the roadside. Hie individual was pregnant and
nearing the end of the gestation period as evidenced by
four well-developed fetuses. This species appears to
be common to abundant in this area. The specimens
from the Gus Engeling Wildlife Management Area were
collected in a densely vegetated pmc-oak forest. The
specimen from the Richland Creek Wildlife Manage¬
ment Area was collected at the edge of a small pond
surrounded by a mix of grasses and forbs and small
stands of oak trees.

Specimens examined (4).— Brazoria Co., 10 mi
E Brazoria, Peach Point Wildlife Management Area,
1, female specimen (TTU 71990), 17 March 1996;
Anderson Co., Gus Engeling Wildlife Management
Area, 2, female specimens (TTU 75423; 75407), 5 and
6 June 1996; Navarro Co., Richland Creek Wildlile
Management Area, 1, female specimen (TTU 75360),
9 June 1996.

Sylvilagus aquaticus aquations
(Bachman, 1837)

Swamp Rabbit

Two individuals were observed at the Guadalupe
Delta Wildlife Management Area; however, only one
was collected. Personnel at this wildlife management
area stated that S. aquaticus routinely is observed on
the property and probably is common. The specimen
was collected at night along an open mesquite area in-
terspersed with medium-height grasses.

Specimen examined (1).— Calhoun Co., 15 mi
SW Port Lavaca, Guadalupe Delta Wildlife Manage¬
ment Area, 1, male specimen (TTU 75212), 19 March
1996.

ROBERTS ET AL,— SMALL MAMMALS IN TEXAS

3

Sylvilagus auduhonii neotnexicanus Geomys hreviceps

Nelson, 1907 Baird, 1855

Desert Cottontail Baird’s Pocket Gopher

The specimens happed at the Lubbock Lake Land-
mark State Historical Park were collected in the short
to medium-height grassland prairie typical of this re¬
gion.

Specimens examined (6).— Lubbock Co., Lub¬
bock Lake Landmark State Historical Park, 3, one fe¬
male specimen (TTU 76168) and two male specimens
(TTU 76166-76167), 14 April 1996. Previously col¬
lected but unreported records from Lubbock Co. include:
5 mi NE Wolforth, 1, female specimen (TTU 2511),
1966; 1 mi E Lubbock Hwy. 40, 0.5 mi N Lubbock, l,
female specimen (TTU 5554), 1967; 12.8 mi E Slaton,
1, male specimen (TTU 5556), 1967.

Sylvilagus floridan us alacer
(Bangs, 1896)

Eastern Cottontail

This specimen from the Gus Engeling Wildlife
Management Area was collected in a pine-oak forest of
moderate understory.

Specimen examined (1).— Anderson Co., Gus
Engeling Wildlife Management Area, I, male specimen
(TTU 75395), 5 June 1996.

Chaetodipus hispidus hispidus
(Baird, 1858)

Hispid Pocket Mouse

This specimen was collected in a sparsely veg¬
etated area characterized by sandy soils and fragmented
stands of oak forest at the Gus Engeling Wildlife Man¬
agement Area. A vegetated fence row surrounded this
site.

Specimen examined (1).— Anderson Co., Gus
Engeling Wildlife Management Area, 1, male specimen
(TTU 75422), 6 June 1996.

Geomys breviceps appears to be extremely abun¬
dant at the Peach Point Wildlife Management Area.
These gophers are prevalent in areas characterized by
well-drained, sandy soils.

Specimens examined (2).— Brazoria Co., 10 mi
W Brazoria, Peach Point Wildlife Management Area,
2, female specimens (TTU 71891; 75107), 18 March
1996.

Baiomys taylori taylori
(Thomas, 1887)

Northern Pygmy Mouse

The specimens from the Guadalupe Delta Wild¬
life Management Area were collected in a coastal, short-
grass prairie intermixed with mesquite. This area was
bordered on one side by the Victoria Barge Canal and
two oilier sides by various canals and creeks. Baiomys
is probably more common in the drier, more inland ar¬
eas. The specimens from the Gus Engeling Wildlife
Management Area were collected along oak forest/short-
grass prairie edges offering substantial cover.

Specimens examined (11).— Calhoun Co., 15 mi
SW Port Lavaca, Guadalupe Delta Wildlife Manage¬
ment Area, 4, three female specimens (TTU 75109-
75111) and one male specimen (TTU 75190), 21 March
1996; Anderson Co., Gus Engeling Wildlife Manage¬
ment Area, 7, two female specimens (TTU 75379;
75389) and five male specimens (TTU 75382-75385;
75415), 5 and 7 June 1996.

Neotoma floridana rubida
Bangs, 1898
Eastern Woodrat

This specimen was collected in a dense, brushy,
riparian habitat interspersed with numerous fallen logs
and brush piles at the Peach Point Wildlife Manage¬
ment Area. No other individuals were captured and no

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OCCASIONAL PAPERS, MUSEUM OF TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY

nests were seen. Area personnel reported frequent en¬
counters with this species in bams and post piles, there¬
fore this species probably is common in this area.

Specimen examined (1).— Brazoria Co., 10 mi
W Brazoria, Peach Point Wildlife Management Area,
1, female specimen (TTU 71587), 17 March 1996.

Neotoma micropus micropus
Baird, 1855

Southern Plains Woodrat

This specimen from the Guadalupe Delta Wild¬
life Management Area was collected near an outbuild¬
ing and associated wood and post piles. The surround¬
ing habitat was a coastal, short-grass prairie intermixed
with mesquite. This species probably is rare to com¬
mon in this region.

Specimen examined (1).— Calhoun Co., 15 mi
SW Port Lavaca, Guadalupe Delta Wildlife Manage¬
ment Area, 1, male specimen (TTU 75113), 21 March
1996.

Onychomys leucogaster arcticeps
Rhoads, 1898

Northern Grasshopper Mouse

The specimen from the Lubbock Lake Landmark
State Historical Park site was collected in a mid- to
short-grass prairie near a prairie dog town.

Specimens examined (16).— Lubbock Co., Lub¬
bock Lake Landmark State Historical Park, 1, female
specimen (TTU 76211), 7 August 1996. Previously
collected but unreported records from Lubbock Co. in¬
clude: Lubbock, 1, female specimen (TTU 2039), 1965;
5 mi N, 2 mi E Slaton, 3, one female specimen (TTU
2690) and two male specimens (TTU 2691; 2697),
1966; 12.8 mi SE Slaton, 1, female specimen (TTU
3750), 1967, 5 mi N Slaton, 2, one female specimen
(TTU 3756) and one male specimen (TTU 3757), 1967;
Lubbock, 1, female specimen (TTU 3758), 1967; 0.25
mi S Woodrow Road, 3 mi W Slide Road, 7, two fe¬
male specimens (TTU 37148-37149) and five male
specimens (TTU 37150-37154), 1981.

Oryzomys palustris texensis
J.A. Allen, 1894
Marsh Rice Rat

These specimens from the Richland Creek Wild¬
life Management Area were collected in a short to me¬
dium-height grassland prairie that supported several
species of herbaceous shrubs. Additionally, this habi¬
tat w r as adjacent to a marsh area containing a perma¬
nent source of water.

Specimens examined (7).— Freestone Co.,
Richland Creek Wildlife Management Area, 7, three
female specimens (TTU 75308-75309,75312) andfour
male specimens (TTU 75268; 75307; 75310-75311), 7
and 8 June 1996.

Peromyscus leucopus tornillo
Mearns, 1896
White-footed Mouse

The specimens collected from 0.5 mi E Alton were
trapped in a shincry-oak/mesquite grassland.

Specimens examined (22).— Dickens Co., 0.5
mi E Afton, 5, three female specimens (TTU 76237-
76238; 76240) and two male specimens (TTU 76239;
76241), 10 September 1994. Previously collected but
unreported records from Dickens Co. include: 7 mi S,
10.5 mi W Dickens, 12, two female specimens (TTU
37172; 37179) and ten male specimens (TTU 37170-
37171; 37173-37178; 37180-37181), 1981; Rylander
Ranch, 1, male specimen (TTU 38684), 1981; 3 miN,
8 mi W Spur, 1, male specimen (TTU 45570), 1987; 1
mi N, 4 mi E McAdoo, 3, one female specimen (TTU
57302) and two male specimens (TTU 57303-57304),
1989.

Reithrodontomys fulvescens laceyi
J. A. Allen, 1896
Fulvous Harvest Mouse

These specimens from the Afton locality were
collected in a shinery-oak/mesquite grassland.

ROBERTS ET AL.— SMALL MAMMALS IN TEXAS

5

Specimens examined (7). — Dickens Co., 0.5 mi
E Afton, 7, three female specimens (TTU 67777-67779)
and four male specimens (TTU 67776; 67780-67782),
13 February 1994.

Reithrodontomys fulvescens aurantius
J. A. Allen, 1895
Fulvous Harvest Mouse

These specimens from the Richland Creek Wild¬
life Management Area were collected in a short- to mid¬
grass prairie intermixed with substantial shrub cover.

Specimens examined (15).— Navarro Co.,
Richland Creek Wildlife Management Area, 15, five
female specimens (TTU 75325-75328; 75364) and ten
male specimens (TTU 75298; 75329; 75356-75358;
75365-75368; 75374), 10 June 1996.

Reith rodontomys megalotis megalotis

(Baird, 1858)

Western Harvest Mouse

The specimens collected at the Lubbock Lake
Landmark State Historical Park were trapped in the short
to medium-height grassland prairie typical of this re¬
gion. The specimens recorded from Dickens Co., 0.5
mi E Alton, were collected in a shinery-oak/mesquite
grassland.

Specimens examined (28).— Lubbock Co., Lub¬
bock Lake Landmark State Historical Park, 5, two fe¬
male specimens (TTU 76178; 76184) and three male
specimens (TTU 76179-76180; 76183), 14 April 1996;
Dickens Co., 0.5 mi E Afton, 8, four female specimens
(TTU 67786-67789) and four male specimens (TTU
67783-67785; 67795), 10 April 1994. Previously col¬
lected but unreported records from Lubbock Co. include:
1 ini N Loop 289,1 mi W University, 1, male specimen
(TTU 54940), 1987; 2 mi SW Idalou, 1, female speci¬
men (TTU 56135), 1989; 12 mi N, 2 mi E Idalou, 2,
one female specimen (TTU 57242) and one male speci¬
men (TTU 57243), 1989; Lubbock, 2, one female speci¬
men (TTU 58977) and one male specimen (TTU 58978),
1990; 2 mi E Lubbock, 2, one female specimen (TTU
59133) and one male specimen (TTU 59134), 1990;

Lubbock, 1, male specimen (TTU 61506), 1992. Pre¬
viously collected but unreported records from Dickens
Co. include: 1 mi N, 4 mi E McAdoo, 3, one female
specimen (TTU 57324) and two male specimens (TTU
57325; 57328), 1989; 1 mi N, 4 mi E McAdoo, 3, one
female specimen (TTU 57620) and two male specimens
(TTU 57621-57622), 1990.

Reithrodontomys montanus griseus

(Bailey, 1905)

Plains Harvest Mouse

The specimens collected at 0.5 mi E Afton were
trapped in a shinery-oak/mesquite grassland.

Specimens examined (5).— Dickens Co., 0.5 mi
E Afton, 3, female specimens (TTU 67790-67792), 13
February 1994. Previously collected but unreported
records from Dickens Co. include: 8 mi W, 3 mi N
Spur, 2, female specimens (TTU 45592-45593), 1987.

Sigmodon hispidus berlandieri
Baird, 1855
Cotton Rat

The specimens trapped at 0.5 mi E Afton were
collected in cattails and sedges surrounding a 13-acre
impoundment. This impoundment was surrounded by a
mixed mesquite grassland and farmland.

Specimens examined (8).— Dickens Co., 0.5 mi
E Afton, 2, two female specimens (TTU 76235-76236),
10 September 1994. Previously collected but unreported
records from Dickens Co. include: 10.5 mi W, 7 mi S
Dickens, 1, female specimen (TTU 37077), 1981, 1
mi N, 4 mi E McAdoo, 5, four female specimens (TTU
57628-57631) and one male specimen (TTU 57632),
1990.

Procyon lotor fuscipes
Mearns, 1914
Common Raccoon

The specimen trapped at 0.5 mi E Afton was col¬
lected in cattails and sedges surrounding a 13-acre ini-

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OCCASIONAL PAPERS, MUSEUM OF TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY

poundment. This impoundment was surrounded by a
mixed mesquite grassland and farmland.

Specimens examined (2).— Dickens Co., 0.5 mi
E Afton, 1, female specimen (TTU 67803), 13 Febru¬
ary 1994. Previously collected but unreported records
from Dickens Co. include: Spur Ranch, 1, specimen of
unknown sex (TTU 42), 1959.

Mephitis mephitis varians
Gray, 1837
Striped Skunk

Tliis specimen was collected at die edge of a short-
to mid-grass prairie interspersed with mesquite at the
Afton locality.

Specimen examined (I).— Dickens Co., 0.5 mi
E Afton, 1, male specimen (TTU 76243), 21 October
1994.

Conepatus mesoleucus mearnsi
Merriam, 1902
Common Hog-nosed Skunk

This specimen from near Abilene was a road-kill
from an area of intermixed oak/mesquite savanna.

Specimen examined (1).— Taylor Co., 8 mi SE
Abilene (Hwy. 36), 1, female specimen (TTU 75240),
22 March 1996.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We would like to thank the following personnel
at the state-owned properties for their cooperation; Todd
Merendino (Peach Point WMA), Mustafa Curtis
(Guadalupe Delta WMA), Donnie Frels and Hayden
Houcke (Gus Engeling and Richland Creek WMA), and
Sam Angulo (Lubbock Lake Landmark State Histori¬
cal Park). We would also like to thank S. Tiranti and B.
Hager for assistance in collecting specimens. Special
thanks to students of the Texas Tech University mam¬
malogy class of Fall 1994 for participating in specimen
collection. We also thank R. J. Baker for allowing the
collection of specimens on his property. The faunal
survey project was supported by funds appropriated by
the State of Texas through collaboration among Texas
Parks and Wildlife Department, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Coop Unit, and the Natural Sciences Research Labora¬
tory, the Museum, Texas Tech University, and a Texas
Parks and Wildlife Department grant to RDB, A grant
from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute through the
Undergraduate Biological Sciences Education Program
provided partial support for L. Peppers and R. Martinez.

LITERATURE CITED

Davis, W. B. and D. J. Schmidly 1994. The mammals
of Texas. Texas Parks and Wildlife Press,
Austin, 338 pp.

Schmidly, D. J. 1983. Texas mammals east of the
Balcones Fault Zone. Texas A&M Univ. Press,
College Station, 400 pp.

ROBERTS ET AL*— SMALL MAMMALS IN TEXAS

Addresses of authors:

HEATHER R. ROBERTS

Department of Biological Sciences,

Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409-3131
e-mail: izhrw@ttacsl. ttu. edu

TED W. JOLLEY

Department of Biological Sciences,

Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409-3131
e-mail: tjolley@ttacs. ttu.edu

LOTTIE L. PEPPERS

Department of Biological Sciences,

Texas Tech University Lubbock, TX 79409-3131
e-mail: lpeppers@ttacs. ttu. edu

JAMES C. CATHEY

Gus Engleing WMA, Rt. 1 Box 27,

Tennessee Colony, TX 75861
e-mail: ewma@e-tex.com

ROSLYN MARTINEZ

Department of Biological Sciences,

Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409-3131
e-mail: zbj59@ttacsl.ttu.edu

JOHN A. PEPPERS

Department of Biological Sciences,

Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409-3131
e-mail: bjjap@ttacs. ttu. edu

APRIL L. BATES

Museum of Texas Tech University
Lubbock, TX 79409-3191
e-mail: zjtl2@ttacs.ttu.edu

ROBERT D. BRADLEY

Department of Biological Sciences and
Museum of Texas Tech University,

Lubbock, TX 79409-3131
e-mail: izrdb@ttacsl. ttu. edu

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