Occasional Papers

Museum of Texas Tech University

Number 234 28April 2004

Noteworthy Records of Mammals from Erath County, Texas

Jim R. Goetze, Philip D. Sudman, and Allan D. Nelson

Examination of specimens in the mammal col¬
lection of Tarleton State University (TSU) revealed
noteworthy distributional records for 16 genera and
18 species of mammals from Erath County, Texas that
were not previously reported in Davis and Schmidly
(1994). Aside from the monograph of Dalquest and
Homer (1984), which included a portion of the north¬
western Cross-Timbers region, the work of Riddle et
al. (1999) hi Palo Pinto County, and the work of Goetze
and Nelson (1998; 2000) in the southwestern Cross
Timbers region, little research concerning mammalian
distributions and biogeography has been reported from
this region of Texas. Documentation of the occur¬
rence of these species will aid researchers in biogeo-
graphical studies of the mammals of Texas, help de¬
fine mammalian distributions, and aid in GAP analysis
studies.

Species accounts are arranged according to
Davis and Schmidly (1994). Specimens examined
sections of each account include collection localities
geographically arranged from farthest north to south,
and east to west within Erath County. TSU dates of
collection, collection numbers, and sex are reported
whenever possible. Some specimen tags lack collec¬
tion dates and/or sex, and this is indicated within the
specimens examined section of each account.

Didelphis virginiano .—-The Virginia opossum is
relatively common throughout Texas (Davis and
Schmidly 1994; Manning and Jones 1998). Speci¬
mens have been reported from Comanche and Mills

counties (Goetze and Nelson 2000), but are absent for
most of the Cross-Timbers region. Three specimens
of this marsupial are reported.

Specimens examined (3).—Stephenviile city lim¬
its, 7 April 1968 (TSU 441, female); 21 March 1969
(TSU 436, male); 27 October 1973 (TSU413, female).

Crypto tis parva ,—The least shrew has been re¬
ported from the Cross-Timbers region from Palo Pinto
County (Riddle et al. 1999) immediately north of Erath
and Mills counties (Goetze and Nelson 2000). Six
specimens of C. parva are reported.

Specimens examined (6).—6 mi. N Stephenviile,
4 November 1976 (TSU 513, male); 5 mi. N, 1 mi. E
Stephenviile, 5 December 1970 (TSU 104, male); 4.9
mi. W Stephenviile, 17 November 1975 (TSU 510,
unknown sex; TSU 512, male), 18 November 1975
(TSU 511, male); 7.1 mi. S Stephenviile, 17 Novem¬
ber 1976 (TSU 514, female).

Sylvilagus flaridanus .—The eastern cottontail
is widely distributed in Texas, but records are scarce
for the Cross-Timbers region. S. floridanus previ¬
ously has been reported from Palo Pinto and Mills coun¬
ties (Davis and Schmidly 1994; Riddle et al. 1999).
Eight specimens from the TSU collection are reported.

Specimens examined (8).-—-20 mi. E Stephenviile,
19 July 1968 (TSU 427, male); 5 mi. E Stephenviile, 3
December 1973 (TSU 407, male); 0.3 mi. S Stephenviile,

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Occasional Papers, Museum of Texas Tech University

Hwy 108, Bosque River, 13 June 1998 (TSU 1191,
female; TSU 1192, female); 1 mi, S Stephenville, 6
February 1968 (TSU 440, female); 7 mi. S Stephenville,
12 April 1980 (TSU 1223, female); 10 mi. S
Stephenville, 23 February 1967 (TSU 428, male); 4
mi. SW Dublin, Hwy 219, BYJ Cattle Co., 27 June
1997 (TSU 1150, female).

Lepus califo micas .—Records of the black-tailed
jackrabbit are lacking for the southwestern Cross-Tim¬
bers region of Texas, Three specimens from Erath
County document the species’ range within this area.

Specimens examined (3),—7,5 mi. W
Stephenville, unknown date (TSU 426, male); 5 mi.
SW Lingleville, 12 August 1968 (TSU 434, unknown
sex); 5 mi. NW Dublin, 9 October 1972 (TSU 248,
male).

Perognathus merriami. —Merriam’s pocket
mouse has been reported from Eastland and Palo Pinto
counties adjacent to Erath County (Davis and Schmidly
1994), Three specimens are reported.

Specimens examined (3).—2 mi. NE Stephenville,
18 September 1975 (TSU 676, female); 7 mi. SE
Dublin, 2 September 1975 (TSU 572, male), 9 Janu¬
ary 1976 (TSU 573, male).

Chaetodipus hispid us .—The hispid pocket
mouse has been reported from Eastland and Palo Pinto
counties of the southwestern Cross-Timbers (Davis
and Schmidly 1994). Three specimens are reported.

Specimens examined (3).-—1 mi. W, 1 mi. N
Stephenville, 31 October 1970 (TSU 110, male); 4.9
mi. W Stephenville, 23 November 1975 (TSU 519,
male); 7 mi. SE Stephenville, 8 January 1976 (TSU
583, male).

Reithrodontomys fulvescem .—The fulvous har¬
vest mouse has been reported from Brown, Comanche,
Eastland, and Mills counties on the southwestern Cross-
Timbers (Goetze and Nelson 2000). Nineteen speci¬
mens are reported.

Specimens examined (19).—12 mi. WNW
Stephenville, 18 November 1970 (TSU 160, female);
9 mi. NE Stephenville, specific date unknown (Janu¬
ary 1975) (TSU 584, male); 6 mi. NE Stephenville, 14

March 1978 (TSU 1043, female; TSU 1044, male; TSU
1045, female); 6 mi. NW r Stephenville, 25 November
1973 (TSU 376, male; TSU 377, female); 5 mi. NE
Stephenville, 4 February 1971 (TSU 123, female; TSU
162, female); 5 mi. NE Stephenville, 16 February 1971
(TSU 161, male); 1 mi, S Stephenville, 2 April 1971
(TSU 164, female); 4 mi. W Stephenville, 23 March
1971 (TSU 163, male); 4 mi. S Stephenville, 28 Sep¬
tember 1976 (TSU 543, male); 5 mi, S Stephenville, 8
October 1976 (TSU 544, male); 7 mi. S Stephenville,
28 October 1975 (TSU 1028, female), 12 April 1980
(TSU 997, female), 27 April 1980 (TSU 999, male); 8
mi. S Stephenville, 17 April 1980 (TSU 998, female);
8.5 mi. S Stephenville, 2 November 1976 (TSU 542,
female).

Reithrodontomys montanus .—The plains har¬
vest mouse has been reported from Callahan and
Eastland counties of the southwestern Cross-Timbers
(Davis and Schmidly 1994). Specimens from Erath
County extend the range of this species eastward within
the region.

Specimens examined (21).—8 mi. E Stephenville,
1 December 1970 (TSU 120, female); 2 mi. W
Stephenville, 26 November 1975 (TSU 540, male); 4.9
mi. W Stephenville, 16 November 1975 (TSU 539,
male), 24 November 1975 (TSU 538, female); 7 mi, S
Stephenville, 9 February 1975 (TSU 556, female); 7
mi. SE Stephenville, 22 February 1975 (TSU 557,
male), 4 March 1975 (TSU 553, male), 8 March 1975
(TSU 554, male), 13 March 1975 (TSU 555, male), 2
April 1975 (TSU 752, female), 26 April 1975 (TSU
751, female), 23 May 1975 (TSU 750, female), 27
May 1975 (TSU 749, female), 9 January 1976 (TSU
558, male), 11 January 1976 (TSU 755, male; TSU
756, male), 7.1 mi. S Stephenville, 13 October 1976
(TSU 535, male), 17 November 1976 (TSU 536); 7.1
mi. S Stephenville, Hwy 914, 13 October 1976 (TSU
754, male); 8 mi. S Stephenville, 6 December 1976
(TSU 537, female); Dublin Airport, 23 February 1976
(TSU 924, male).

Peromyscus attwateri .—The Texas mouse has
been reported from Brown, Bosque, Comanche,
Eastland, Mills, and Palo Pinto counties of the south¬
western Cross-Timbers region (Davis and Schmidly
1994; Goetze and Nelson 2000). The TSU mammal
collection contained 34 specimens from Erath County.

Goetze et al.— Noteworthy Records of Mammals from Erattt County, Texas

3

Specimens examined (34).—4 mi. NE
Stephenville, 11 January 1976 (TSU 639, male), 12
January 1976 (TSU 921, male); 3.9 mi. NE
Stephenville, 12 January 1976 (TSU 730, female); 15
mi. E Stephenville, 24 February 1975 (TSU 739, fe¬
male); 7 mi. E Stephenville, 3 April 1975 (TSU 546,
female), 5 April 1975 (TSU 547, female; TSU 548,
female; TSU 549, male; TSU 550, female; TSU 551,
male; TSU 552, female); 4,1 mi. S Stephenville (FM
914), 10 October 1976 (TSU 488, female); 5 mi. SW
Stephenville, 1 December 1976 (TSU 489, male); 6
mi. SE Stephenville, Honewell [Hunewell] Ranch, 1
June 1997 (TSU 1120, male; TSU 1121, female; TSU
1122, male; TSU 1126, female; TSU 1205, female), 2
June 1997 (TSU 1119, female; TSU 1123, male; TSU
1124, female), 5 June 1997 (TSU 1125, female); 6.1
mi. ESE Stephenville, Honewell [Hunewell] Ranch, 3
June 1998 (TSU 1164, male; TSU 1165, male; TSU
1166, male; TSU 1167, male; TSU 1168, female; TSU
1169, female; TSU 1170, male; TSU 1171, male; TSU
1172, male); 7 mi. SE Stephenville, Honewell
[Hunewell] Ranch, 30 March 1974 (TSU 304, female),
31 March 1974 (TSU 305, female); 7 mi. SE
Stephenville, 31 March 1974 (TSU 303, female).

Peromyscus leu cop us .—The white-footed mouse
has been recorded from Comanche, Eastland, and Palo
Pinto counties, all of which are immediately adjacent
to Erath County (Davis and Schmidly 1994; Riddle et
al. 1999; Goetze and Nelson 2000). Thirty-two speci¬
mens are reported.

Specimens examined (32),-—11,2 mi. NE
Stephenville, 11 December 1970 (TSU 169, female); 7
mi. N Stephenville, 11 December 1973 (TSU 312,
male); 7 mi. N, 2 mi. W Stephenville, 23 November
1970 (TSU 167, female); 6 mi. NW Stephenville, 25
November 1973 (TSU 313, male); 5 mi. NE
Stephenville, 2 December 1976 (TSU 499, female);
4.2 mi. NW Stephenville, CR 389, Corinth Cemetery,
5 June 1997 (TSU 1127, female; TSU 1128, male; TSU
1129, female; TSU 1132, male; TSU 1133, female); 4
mi. NW Stephenville, 1 October 1973 (TSU 316, male);
4 mi. WNW Stephenville, 24 March 1971 (TSU 165,
male); 3 mi. NE Stephenville, 10 June 1975 (TSU 500,
female); 2.6 mi. NW Lingleville, Konvicka Ranch, 11
June 1997 (TSU 1206, female); 2 mi. NW Stephenville,
10 June 1975 (TSU 682, female); 1 mi. N Stephenville,
22 October 1975 (TSU 498, male); 2 mi. E Stephenville,
3 February 1968 (TSU 100, male); 3 mi. W

Stephenville, 1 December 1970 (TSU 130, female);
City Limits Stephenville, unknown date (TSU 171,
male); 16 November 1970 (TSU 172, male), 23 No¬
vember (TSU 173, female), 12 September 1975 (TSU
501, female); 1 mi. S Stephenville, 15 October 1973
(TSU 314, male; TSU 315, female); 5 mi. S
Stephenville, 23 November 1975 (TSU 497, female);
6 mi. SE Stephenville, 1 June 1997 (TSU 1131, male),
5 June 1997 (TSU 1130, female); 6 mi. SE Stephenville,
Honewell [Hunewell] Ranch, 14 June 1997 (TSU 1135,
male); 7 mi, SE Stephenville, Honewell [Hunewell]
Ranch, 10 December 1970 (TSU 168, male); 7.1 mi,
S Stephenville, 13 October 1976 (TSU 494, male); 7,9
mi. S Alexander, 29 September 1975 (TSU 496, male);
8 mi. S Alexander, 6 October 1975 (TSU 495, male).

Sigmodon hispidus. —The hispid cotton rat
ranges throughout Texas. Specimens have been re¬
ported from Bosque, Comanche, Eastland, Mills, and
Palo Pinto counties (Davis and Schmidly 1994; Riddle
et al. 1999; Goetze and Nelson 2000). Eleven speci¬
mens were found in the TSU collection.

Specimens examined (11).—4 mi, NW
Stephenville, 5 October 1973 (TSU 399, female); 2
mi. N, 1 mi. E Stephenville, 27 September 1997 (TSU
1178, male; TSU 1179, male); 1 mi. W, 1 mi, N
Stephenville, 1 November 1970 (TSU 175, male); 1
mi. NW Stephenville, 20 October 1973 (TSU 396,
male); 1 mi. W Stephenville, 21 August 1973 (TSU
398, male); 0.25 mi. West End of Harbin Street,
Stephenville, 21 November 1970 (TSU 180, male);
Stephenville, 3 July 1975 (TSU 607, female);
Stephenville City Limits, 25 September 1973 (TSU 400,
male), 18 June 1998 (TSU 1177, male); 7 mi. SE
Dublin, 28 July 1968 (TSU 416, female).

Microtuspinetorum .—The woodland vole’s dis¬
tribution within Texas has been reported as extending
throughout northeastern Texas and onto the eastern
edge of the Edwards Plateau (Davis and Schmidly
1994). However, only a few, scattered specimens
support this extensive range. Habitats in Kerr and
Gillespie counties on the Edwards Plateau, where the
woodland vole was once collected, have been drasti¬
cally altered by human activities (Goetze 1998). A
single specimen represents an important record for
M. pinetorum within the southwestern Cross-Timbers
region.

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Occasional Papers, Museum of Texas Tech University

Specimens examined { 1).-—5 mi. N Stephenville,
CR 456, 5 June 1998 (TSU 1203, female).

Myocastor coypus. —This introduced species is
extending its range through many of the river systems
of Texas (Davis and Schmidly 1994). The nutria has
been reported from Bosque, Brown, and Palo Pinto
counties of the southwestern Cross-Timbers (Davis
and Schmidly 1994). A recently obtained specimen
verifies the presence of this species within this portion
of its reported range.

Specimens examined ( 1). — 2.5 mi. W Stephenville
Post Office, Walmart Parking Lot, 4 February 2002
(TSU 1260, female).

Vrocyon cinere&argenteus. —'The gray fox
ranges throughout Texas, but records are more
common in the eastern portion of the state. With¬
in the southwestern Cross-Timbers region, U ,
cinereoargenteus has been reported from Bosque,
Brown, Eastland, Mills, and Palo Pinto counties (Davis
and Schmidly 1994; Goetze and Nelson 2000). Two
specimens are reported.

Specimens examined (2).—3 mi. W Stephenville,
21 June 1991 (TSU 1261, male); 3 mi. S Stephenville,
16 March 1969 (TSU 1262, female).

Bassariscus astutus.— Ringtails have been re¬
corded from Bosque, Brown, Callahan, Eastland, and
Hamilton counties on the southwestern Cross-Tim¬
bers (Davis and Schmidly 1994). One specimen is
reported.

Specimens examined (1).—3 mi. S Gordon, no
specific date (April 1973) (TSU 424, male).

Procyon lotor .—Although the range of P. lotar
extends throughout Texas, specimens are lacking from
the southwestern Cross-Timbers region. The raccoon
has been recorded from Comanche, Eastland, and Mills
counties (Goetze and Nelson 1998; Goetze and Nelson
2000). Five specimens are reported.

Specimens examined (5).—10 mi. N Stephenville,
19 September 1973 (TSU 411, male); 7 mi. S
Stephenville, Alexander Hwy, Ed Horton Ranch, 10
November 1996 (TSU 1151, female; TSU 1152, fe¬
male; TSU 1210, female); 10 mi. SE Stephenville, 1
February 1968 (TSU 435, male).

Spilogale putorius —The range of the eastern
spotted skunk reaches the central edge of the south¬
western Cross-Timbers of Texas (Davis and Schmidly
1994). Records exist only from Bosque and Palo Pinto
counties within the region (Davis and Schmidly 1994).
Two specimens help define margins of the species’
range.

Specimens examined (2).—Wooded brushy area
[unspecified locality], specific date unknown (March
1968) (TSU 1263, male); 6 mi. WNW Stephenville,
10 November 1971 (TSU 1264, unknown sex).

Mephitis mephitis .—The striped skunk is wide¬
spread within Texas. Records may be found from
Eastland, Mills, and Palo Pinto counties within the
southwestern Cross-Timbers (Davis and Schmidly
1994; Goetze and Nelson 2000). A single specimen is
reported.

Specimens examined (1), — 1 mi. E Selden, 29
June 1971 (TSU 272, male).

COETZE ET AL.-NOTEWORTHY RECORDS OF MAMMALS FROM ER4TH COUNTY, TEXAS

5

Literature Cited

Dalquest, W. W., and N. V. Homer. 1984. Mammals of
north-central Texas. Midwestern State Univer¬
sity Press, Wichita Falls, Texas, 254 pp.

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

Goetze, J. R. 1998. The mammals of the Edwards Plateau,
Texas. Special Publications of the Museum, Texas
Tech University, 41:1-263.

Goetze, J. R., and A. D. Nelson. 1998. Noteworthy
records of mammals from Central and South
Texas. Texas Journal of Science, 50:255-258.

Goetze, J. R., and A. D. Nelson. 2000. Distributional records
and comments on mammals from six Texas coun¬
ties. Occasional Papers Museum, Texas Tech
University, 195:1-7.

Manning, R. W., and C. Jones. 1998. Annotated checklist
of recent land mammals of Texas, 1998. Occa¬
sional Papers Museum, Texas Tech University,
182:1-19.

Riddle, W. W., B. L. Blossman-Myer, K. D. Spradling, and
F. B. Stangl, Jr. 1999. Noteworthy records of mam¬
mals from Palo Pinto County, Texas, Texas Jour¬
nal of Science, 51:335-338.

6

Occasional Papers, Museum of Texas Tech University

Addresses of authors:

Jim R. Goetze

Allan D. Nelson

Laredo Community College
Science Department
West End Washington Street
Laredo, Texas 78040
jrgzoo@lmtonline.com

Tarleton State University
Department of Biological Sciences

Box T-0100

Stephenville, Texas 76402
nelson@tarleton.edu

Philip D. Sldman

Tarleton State University
Department of Biological Sciences
Box T-OJOO

Stephenville, Texas 76402
sudman@tarleton.edu

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