Mammals of the Mexican state of San Luis Potosi

342 Pages·013.872 MB·English

by  Dalquest, Walter Woelber

MAMMALS OF THE MEXICAN STATE OF SAN LUIS POTOSI
A Thesis
Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of the
Louisiana State University and
Agricultural and Mechanical College
in partial fulfillment of the
requirements for the degree of
Doctor of Philosophy
in
The Department of Zoology
by
Walter Woelber Dalquest
B* S., University of Washington, 1940
M. S., University of Washington, 1941
June, 1951
UMI Number: DP69368
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LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY
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S4700
1 wish to aekaewledgs HOT indebtedness to Dr* George I* Lowery,
fTm$ d o n interest In the imbiIi nr Sin Luis Petesf to responsible
for tbo aeemmlatiem of tho material upon which the present report
to baaed* and under whose direction tho weifc was carried out. I m
grateful also for the advice of Dr». Ellinor H. Sehre, Moray J.
J* xnof Heberts, 0* W. Hescwall, and Adolph S* Sandberg,
whose suggestions boro contributed materially to tbo improvement of
tbo report* Mr* ond Mrs* Bobort J* lewMa ond Mr* Charles Show cel-
looted tbo bulk of tho materiel taken previous to 1950* A number of
specimens were oloo obtained by Mr* Herbert Stem, Mr* A. M. Robinson,
and Mr* 9* A* Any*
Thanhs ore especially doe Hr. Ernesto Cabrera of tho city of
Son Into Meet who* at no little expense to himself, obtained aped-
mbs and lafosmetlon concerning tho larger mammals of the state of
/ C vwfc
San Lola Petesf* Sr. Carlos Sanches tyljorada assisted la obtaining
credentials and permits from the Head earn government, necessary for
the field oosk in San Luis Potosf* the field work was aade possible
through the eoortesy of the officials of the Bireoolen General de la
Ferestal y In Oasa* HdbdLec, B. F* Sr. Francisco Angelos of Tasutsen-
shale one *y oeapenioii for nearly a year in the field, and his cm*
thaoinsn one responsible for obtaining nany important specimens*
1 an deeply indebted also to the following persons, who made
available to no notarial entrusted to their earei Dr. Hartley H* T.
Jackson and Mr. Stanley P. Teung, Malted States Fish and Wildlife
Service, Bureau of Biological Surveys ; Dr* David H* Johnson and
Dr. Henry W. Setser, United States National Museum; Dr. Eouaet
T. Hooper, University of Michigan, Museum of Zoology; Dr. Barbara
Lawrence, Harvard University, Museum of Comparative Zoology; and
Dr. Rollin H. Baker, University of Kansas, Museum of Natural History.
ill
TABLE OP CONTENTS
Page
TITLE PAGE.............. .................... i
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS.............................. 11
TABLE OF CONTENTS ............................ iv
ABSTBACT ..................... ............. T
INTRODUCTION................................. 1
METHODS AND TREATMENT........................ 4
GEOGRAPHY OF SAN LUIS POTOSI ................... 7
ZOOGEOGRAPHIC REGIONS OF SAN LUIS POTOSI ......... 11
1IFE-ZONES OF SAN LUIS POTOSI . • .............. 34.
CHECK LIST OF THE MAMMALS OF SAN LUI3 POTOSI . . . . 19
ACCOUNTS OF SPECIES AND SUBSPECIES .............. 26
UNIDENTIFIED MATERIAL . . . . . ................ 315
GAZETTEER................................... 316
BIBLIOGRAPHT ................................. 325
BIOGRAPHY............................... . . ♦ 332
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ABSTRACT
The state of San Luis Fotosf is on the Gulf or Atlantic side of
the Republic of Kdxioo, between 210H f and 24°34f north latitude and
between 9&°23* and 1Q2°13* west longitude* The Sierra Madre Oriental
crosses the eastern part of the state, separating the high, arid Mexi­
can Plateau with its desert flats and desert mountain ranges from the
trepieal forests, Jungles, and coastal plains of the low, eastern part
of the state.
Approximately three thousand specimens of mammals are now avail­
able from San Luis Potoef. Specimens were collected from many places
in the state, and the distribution of most of the species was ascer­
tained. About eighty per cent of the specimens examined are in the
soil action of the Louisiana State University Museum of Zoology; the
remainder were borrowed from other institutions.
Very little has been recorded concerning the kinds of mammals
that oeeur in San Luis Potoef, their distribution in the state, or
their natural history. The present study has revealed the presence
there of 141 kinds (species and subspecies) of mammals, belonging to
UR full species. Two species and eight subspecies were discovered
and described in the course of the present study. A number of mam­
mals that previously were known from only one or a few specimens are
now represented by a series of specimens. Information concerning the
natural history of most kinds of mammals found in San Luis Fotosf is
new available, Including forms whose natural history was previously
v
unknown*
The nammallan faunas of the Mexican Plateau and the tropical low­
land* of San Lula Potoef are distinct* Only twenty species of mammals
are oomon to both areas, and moat of these are represented by dif­
ferent subspecies in the two areas. The mammal* of the Mexican Pla­
teau belong to that great division of the fauna of the world termed
the Nearetic Realm, The mammal* of the Mexican Plateau in San Luis
Potosf are more closely related to the mammals of the state of Nevada,
in the United States, than to the mammals of the eastern part of Sanx
Luis Potosf* The manual* of the tropical lowland* of San Luis Potosf
belong to the Neotropical Realm and are more closely related to the
nanwals of the Republic of Panared than to the mammals of the western
part of San Luis Potosf. The fauna of the Mexican Plateau is rich in
species adapted to desert life, such as the Wood Rats, Kangaroo Rats,
and Pocket Mice. The fauna of the eastern part of San Luis Potosf
possesses Monkeys, ant-eaters, fruit-eating bats, and other jungle-
dwelling forms.
Although the two fauna* found in San Luis Potosf live almost side
by side, they are not actually in direct contact. The main crest of
the Sierra Madre lies between the Mexican Plateau and the tropical
lowlands. The Sierra Madre possesses a forest of scrub-oak that seems
to separate the two faunae. The mammalian fauna of the oak forest is
relatively Impoverished and includes forma of mammals found both on
the Mexican Plateau and in the tropics, with local colonies of tropi­
cal or desert speoies where conditions are favorable. There is no
broad contact or mingling of Neotropical and Neurotic species. The
vl
reasons for this are not apparent* The oak forest la only a few miles
in width and is pierced in one place by the valley of the Hlo Santa
Marla* The valley of the Bio Santa Marla night be expected to eerve
as a highway by which species from one fauna might invade the other
but, with a few exceptions, the potential highway seems not to have
been used*
vil
INTRODUCTION
The state of Sac Luis Potosf is on the Gulf or Atlantic side
of the Republic of M&dco. Its boundaries are irregular and angular,
outlining an elongate! somewhat rectangular, area of 63,241 square
kilometers. The state lies between 21° 11' and 24° 34* North lati­
tude and between 98° 23* and 102° 131 West longitude.
The Sierra Madre Oriental crosses the eastern part of San Luis
Potosf. Approximately four-fifths of the state lies west of the
Sierra Madre, on the Mexican Plateau. This Is a region of arid
plains, deserts, and desert mountain ranges. The eastern part of
the state, from the crest of the Sierra Madre eastward, is an area
of deep forest, tropical jungles, and low, tropical plains.
The massaali&n fauna of the Mexican Plateau in San Luis Potosf
belongs principally to that great faunal division of the world
called the Nearctic Realm. The eastern part of the state is more
typical of the Neotropical Realm. Because the geographic bounda-
ries of San Luis Potosf span two great faunal distributional areas,
and because each of these areas in San Luis Potosf is represented
by considerable differences in elevation and diversified ecologio
niches, the mammalian fauna of the state includes numerous species.
One hundred and eighteen full species and 141 kinds (species and
subspecies) of mammals are here recorded as occurring in the state
of San Luis Potosf. Two species and eight subspecies have been dis­
covered and described as new in the course of this study.
Very little has been recorded concerning the kinds of mammals
1