Mammals of Colorado PDF
Preview Mammals of Colorado
MaMMals of colorado S e c o n d e d i t i o n MaMMals of colorado S e c o n d e d i t i o n David M. Armstrong, James P. Fitzgerald, and Carron A. Meaney Denver Museum of Nature & Science and University Press of Colorado © 2011 by the Denver Museum of Nature & Science Published by the University Press of Colorado 5589 Arapahoe Avenue, Suite 206C Boulder, Colorado 80303 All rights reserved Printed in the United States of America The University Press of Colorado is a proud member of the Association of American University Presses. The University Press of Colorado is a cooperative publishing enterprise supported, in part, by Adams State College, Colorado State University, Fort Lewis College, Mesa State College, Metropolitan State College of Denver, Regis University, University of Colorado, University of Northern Colorado, and Western State College of Colorado. The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of the American National Standard for Information Sciences—Permanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials. ANSI Z39.48-1992 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Armstrong, David Michael, 1944– Mammals of Colorado / David M. Armstrong, James P. Fitzgerald, and Carron A. Meaney. — 2nd ed. p. cm. Rev. ed. of: Mammals of Colorado / James P. Fitzgerald, Carron A. Meany, David M. Armstrong. 1994. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978-1-60732-047-0 (hardcover : alk. paper) — ISBN 978-1-60732-048-7 (e-book) I. Fitzgerald, James P., 1940- II. Meaney, Carron A., 1950– III. Fitzgerald, James P., 1940– Mammals of Colorado. IV. Title. QL719.C6F58 2011 599.09788—dc22 2011006206 Design by Daniel Pratt 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Contents Introduction xi Chapter 1—environments of Colorado 1 Chapter 2—Mammals in General 31 • Geography 1 • Mammalian Origins 31 • Geology and Landforms 2 • Mammalian Characteristics 32 Jaw-Ear Complex 32 • Watersheds 5 Teeth 32 • Climates and Climate Change 5 Hair 34 • Soils 9 Mammary Glands 36 • Humans in the Landscape 10 Heart and Circulation 36 • Ecosystems of Colorado 10 Brain 36 Grasslands 14 Reproduction 37 Semidesert Shrublands 20 Development 38 Piñon-Juniper Woodland 21 Skeleton 39 Montane Shrublands 22 • The Diversity of Mammals 43 Montane Woodlands and Forests 23 • Orders of Mammals 44 Subalpine Forest 24 • Key to the Orders of Mammals in Colorado 44 Alpine Tundra 26 Riparian and Wetland Systems 27 • Biogeography: Patterns of Mammalian Distribution 28 v C o n t e n t s Chapter 3—history of Mammals and Chapter 7—Order primates: Monkeys, apes, Mammalogy in Colorado 45 and Kin 103 • Mammalian Evolution in Colorado: The Record • Family Hominidae—Humans and Kin 104 in the Rocks 47 Humankind—Homo sapiens 104 • Development of the Modern Fauna 53 • History of Coloradan Mammalogy 57 Chapter 8—Order rodentia: rodents 107 Millennia of Subsistence 58 • Key to the Families of the Order Rodentia in The Nineteenth Century: Exploration and Colorado 109 Exploitation 59 • Family Sciuridae—Squirrels 109 Scientific Study of Coloradan Mammals 61 • Key to the Species of the Family Sciuridae in Academic Mammalogy 62 Colorado 110 Cliff Chipmunk—Neotamias dorsalis 111 Chapter 4—people and Wildlife: Stewardship Least Chipmunk—Neotamias minimus 113 of Wild Mammals in Colorado 65 Colorado Chipmunk—Neotamias quadrivittatus 114 • Recreational Values 66 Hopi Chipmunk—Neotamias rufus 116 Hunting and Trapping 73 Uinta Chipmunk—Neotamias umbrinus 118 • Aesthetic Values 76 Yellow-bellied Marmot—Marmota flaviventris 120 • Scientific Values 77 White-tailed Antelope Squirrel— Ammospermophilus leucurus 123 • Educational Values 77 Rock Squirrel—Otospermophilus variegatus 125 • Urban Wildlife Values 78 Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel— • Unintended Human Impacts on Wildlife 79 Callospermophilus lateralis 127 Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrel—Ictidomys • Wildlife and Public Health 80 tridecemlineatus 129 Rabies 80 Franklin’s Ground Squirrel—Poliocitellus Plague 81 franklinii* 131 Tularemia 82 Spotted Ground Squirrel—Xerospermophilus Other Tick-borne Diseases 82 spilosoma 132 Hantavirus 83 Wyoming Ground Squirrel—Urocitellus elegans 134 • Problem Mammals 83 Gunnison’s Prairie Dog—Cynomys gunnisoni 137 • Futures of Wildlife Management: The Human White-tailed Prairie Dog—Cynomys leucurus 140 Dimension 85 Black-tailed Prairie Dog—Cynomys ludovicianus 143 Conflicting Views 87 Abert’s Squirrel—Sciurus aberti 149 Wildlife Ethics 88 Fox Squirrel—Sciurus niger 152 Pine Squirrel, Chickaree, or “Red Squirrel”— Chapter 5—Order Didelphimorphia: Tamiasciurus hudsonicus 155 Opossums and Kin 91 Northern Flying Squirrel—Glaucomys sabrinus* 157 • Family Didelphidae—Opossums 92 • Family Castoridae—Beavers 158 Virginia Opossum—Didelphis virginiana 92 American Beaver—Castor canadensis 158 • Family Heteromyidae—Pocket Mice and Kin 162 Chapter 6—Order Cingulata: armadillos 97 • Family Dasypodidae—Armadillos 98 Nine-banded Armadillo—Dasypus novemcinctus 98 * Species of possible occurrence in Colorado. vi C o n t e n t s • Key to the Species of the Family Heteromyidae Subfamily Neotominae: New World Rats and in Colorado 163 Mice 215 Olive-backed Pocket Mouse—Perognathus • Key to the Species of the Subfamily Neotominae fasciatus 164 Known or Expected to Occur in Colorado 215 Plains Pocket Mouse—Perognathus flavescens 166 Western Harvest Mouse—Reithrodontomys Silky Pocket Mouse—Perognathus flavus 168 megalotis 217 Great Basin Pocket Mouse—Perognathus parvus 170 Plains Harvest Mouse—Reithrodontomys Hispid Pocket Mouse—Chaetodipus hispidus 171 montanus 218 Ord’s Kangaroo Rat—Dipodomys ordii 173 Brush Mouse—Peromyscus boylii 220 Banner-tailed Kangaroo Rat— Canyon Mouse—Peromyscus crinitus 222 Dipodomys spectabilis* 176 White-footed Mouse—Peromyscus leucopus 223 Deer Mouse—Peromyscus maniculatus 225 • Family Geomyidae—Pocket Gophers 177 Northern Rock Mouse—Peromyscus nasutus 229 • Key to the Species of the Family Geomyidae in Piñon Mouse—Peromyscus truei 230 Colorado 177 Northern Grasshopper Mouse—Onychomys Botta’s Pocket Gopher—Thomomys bottae 178 leucogaster 232 Northern Pocket Gopher—Thomomys talpoides 180 Western White-throated Woodrat— Neotoma albigula 234 Plains Pocket Gopher—Geomys bursarius 183 Bushy-tailed Woodrat—Neotoma cinerea 236 Yellow-faced Pocket Gopher—Cratogeomys Eastern Woodrat—Neotoma floridana 239 castanops 186 Desert Woodrat—Neotoma lepida 241 • Family Dipodidae—Jumping Mice and Kin 187 Eastern White-throated Woodrat— Neotoma leucodon 243 • Key to the Species of the Family Dipodidae in Mexican Woodrat—Neotoma mexicana 244 Colorado 188 Southern Plains Woodrat—Neotoma Meadow Jumping Mouse—Zapus hudsonius 188 micropus 246 Western Jumping Mouse—Zapus princeps 191 Stephens’ Woodrat—Neotoma stephensi* 248 • Family Cricetidae—Native Rats, Mice, and Voles 193 Subfamily Sigmodontinae 248 • Key to Subfamilies of Cricetidae in Colorado 194 Hispid Cotton Rat—Sigmodon hispidus 249 Subfamily Arvicolinae: Voles, Meadow Mice, • Family Muridae—Old World Rats and Mice 251 and Muskrat 194 • Key to the Species of the Subfamily Murinae • Key to the Species of the Subfamily Arvicolinae Known or Expected to Occur in Colorado 251 in Colorado 195 Norway Rat—Rattus norvegicus 251 Southern Red-backed Vole—Myodes gapperi 195 House Mouse—Mus musculus 253 Western Heather Vole—Phenacomys • Family Erethizontidae—New World Porcupines 254 intermedius 198 North American Porcupine—Erethizon dorsatum 255 Long-tailed Vole—Microtus longicaudus 200 Mogollon Vole—Microtus mogollonensis 201 Montane Vole—Microtus montanus 203 Chapter 9—Order Lagomorpha: pikas, Prairie Vole—Microtus ochrogaster 206 rabbits, and hares 259 Meadow Vole—Microtus pennsylvanicus 208 • Key to the Families of the Order Lagomorpha Sagebrush Vole—Lemmiscus curtatus 210 in Colorado 260 Common Muskrat—Ondatra zibethicus 212 Southern Bog Lemming—Synaptomys • Family Ochotonidae—Pikas 260 cooperi* 214 American Pika—Ochotona princeps 260 • Family Leporidae—Rabbits and Hares 263 * Species of possible occurrence in Colorado. vii C o n t e n t s • Key to the Species of the Family Leporidae in • Key to the Species of the Family Vespertilionidae Colorado 264 Known or Expected to Occur in Colorado 312 Desert Cottontail—Sylvilagus audubonii 264 California Myotis—Myotis californicus 314 Eastern Cottontail—Sylvilagus floridanus 266 Western Small-footed Myotis—Myotis Mountain, or Nuttall’s, Cottontail—Sylvilagus ciliolabrum 315 nuttallii 268 Long-eared Myotis—Myotis evotis 317 Snowshoe Hare—Lepus americanus 271 Little Brown Myotis—Myotis lucifugus* 318 Black-tailed Jackrabbit—Lepus californicus 274 Fringed Myotis—Myotis thysanodes 321 White-tailed Jackrabbit—Lepus townsendii 276 Cave Myotis—Myotis velifer* 323 Long-legged Myotis—Myotis volans 323 Yuma Myotis—Myotis yumanensis 325 Chapter 10—Order Soricomorpha: Shrews, Moles, and Kin 279 Eastern Red Bat—Lasiurus borealis 327 Hoary Bat—Lasiurus cinereus 328 • Key to the Families of the Order Soricomorpha Silver-haired Bat—Lasionycteris noctivagans 330 in Colorado 280 Western Pipistrelle, or Canyon Bat— • Family Soricidae—Shrews 280 Parastrellus hesperus 332 • Key to the Species of the Family Soricidae in Eastern Pipistrelle, or Tricolored Bat— Colorado 281 Perimyotis subflavus 333 Masked Shrew—Sorex cinereus 282 Big Brown Bat—Eptesicus fuscus 335 Pygmy Shrew—Sorex hoyi 283 Evening Bat—Nycticeius humeralis* 338 Merriam’s Shrew—Sorex merriami 285 Spotted Bat—Euderma maculatum 339 Montane, or Dusky, Shrew—Sorex monticolus 287 Townsend’s Big-eared Bat—Corynorhinus Dwarf Shrew—Sorex nanus 288 townsendii 340 American Water Shrew—Sorex palustris 290 Allen’s Big-eared Bat—Idionycteris phyllotis* 342 Preble’s Shrew—Sorex preblei* 292 Pallid Bat—Antrozous pallidus 343 Elliot’s Short-tailed Shrew—Blarina hylophaga 292 Least Shrew—Cryptotis parva 294 Chapter 12—Order Carnivora: Carnivores 347 Crawford’s Desert Shrew—Notiosorex crawfordi 296 • Key to the Families of the Order Carnivora in • Family Talpidae—Moles 298 Colorado 349 Eastern Mole—Scalopus aquaticus 298 • Family Felidae—Cats 349 • Key to the Species of the Family Felidae in Chapter 11—Order Chiroptera: Bats 301 Colorado 350 • Key to the Families of the Order Chiroptera in Mountain Lion, Puma, or Cougar—Puma Colorado 308 concolor 350 Canada Lynx—Lynx canadensis 356 • Family Molossidae—Free-tailed Bats 308 Bobcat—Lynx rufus 360 • Key to the Species of the Family Molossidae in Colorado 308 • Family Canidae—Dogs, Foxes, and Kin 364 Brazilian Free-tailed Bat—Tadarida brasiliensis 308 • Key to the Species of the Family Canidae in Big Free-tailed Bat—Nyctinomops macrotis 310 Colorado 364 Coyote—Canis latrans 365 • Family Vespertilionidae—Vesper Bats 312 Gray Wolf—Canis lupus 369 Kit Fox—Vulpes macrotis 374 Swift Fox—Vulpes velox 377 * Species of possible occurrence in Colorado. viii C o n t e n t s Red Fox—Vulpes vulpes 380 Chapter 13—Order perissodactyla: Odd-toed Common Gray Fox—Urocyon cinereoargenteus 384 hoofed Mammals 437 • Family Ursidae—Bears 386 • Family Equidae—Horses and Kin 438 Feral Horse—Equus caballus 438 • Key to the Species of the Family Ursidae in Colorado 386 American Black Bear—Ursus americanus 387 Chapter 14—Order artiodactyla: even-toed Grizzly, or Brown, Bear—Ursus arctos 391 hoofed Mammals 443 • Family Mustelidae—Weasels and Kin 394 • Key to the Families of the Order Artiodactyla in Colorado 444 • Key to the Species of the Family Mustelidae Known or Expected to Occur in Colorado 395 • Family Cervidae—Deer and Kin 445 American, or Pine, Marten—Martes americana 395 • Key to the Species of the Family Cervidae in Fisher—Martes pennanti* 399 Colorado 445 Ermine, or Short-tailed Weasel—Mustela American Elk, or Wapiti—Cervus canadensis 446 erminea 400 Mule Deer—Odocoileus hemionus 451 Long-tailed Weasel—Mustela frenata 402 White-tailed Deer—Odocoileus virginianus 456 Black-footed Ferret—Mustela nigripes 405 Moose—Alces alces 459 Least weasel—Mustela nivalis* 408 • Family Antilocapridae—Pronghorn 463 American Mink—Neovison vison 408 Pronghorn—Antilocapra americana 463 Wolverine—Gulo gulo 411 American Badger—Taxidea taxus 414 • Family Bovidae—Cattle, Sheep, Goats, and Kin 467 Northern River Otter—Lontra canadensis 417 • Key to the Species of the Family Bovidae (Including Domestic Livestock) in Colorado 467 • Family Mephitidae—Skunks and Stink Badgers 420 Bison, or American Buffalo—Bison bison 468 • Key to the Species of the Family Mephitidae in Mountain Goat—Oreamnos americanus 473 Colorado 421 Mountain, or Bighorn, Sheep—Ovis canadensis 476 Western Spotted Skunk—Spilogale gracilis 421 Eastern Spotted Skunk—Spilogale putorius 423 • Family Suidae—Swine 481 Feral Pig—Sus scrofa 481 Striped Skunk—Mephitis mephitis 425 White-backed Hog-nosed Skunk—Conepatus Appendix A: The Metric System 483 leuconotus 428 Appendix B: Glossary 485 • Family Procyonidae—Raccoons, Ringtails, and Kin 430 Literature Cited 497 • Key to the Species of the Family Procyonidae in Colorado 431 Index 609 Ringtail—Bassariscus astutus 431 Northern Raccoon—Procyon lotor 433 * Species of possible occurrence in Colorado. ix
The list of books you might like
