Collection Of Mammals Research Articles

Effects of a community restoration fire on small mammals and herpetofauna in the southern Appalachians

As part of the Wine Spring Creek ecosystem management project on the Nantahala National forest, North Carolina, we assessed effects of a community restoration fire on small mammals and herpetofauna in the upper slope pitch pine ( Pinus rigida) stands, neighboring midslope oak ( Quercus spp.) stands and rhododendron ( Rhododendron maximum) dominated riparian areas during 1995 and 1996. Using drift-fence arrays with pitfalls and snap-trapping, we collected these small mammals: masked shrew ( Sorex cinereus), smoky shrew ( S. fumeus), water shrew ( S. palustris), pygmy shrew ( S. hoyi), northern short-tailed shrew ( Blarina brevicauda), deer mouse ( Peromyscus maniculatus), white-footed mouse ( P. leucopus), golden mouse ( Ochrotomys nuttalli), southern red-backed vole ( Clethrionomys gapperi), pine vole ( Microtus pinetorum) and woodland jumping mouse ( Napaeozapus insignis). Herpetofauna collected from drift-fence arrays and time-constrained searches included: eastern newt ( Notophtalmus viridescens), seepage salamander ( Desmognathus aeneus), mountain dusky salamander ( D. ochrophaeus), Blue Ridge two-lined salamander ( Eurycea wilderae), spring salamander ( Gyrinophilus porphyriticus), Jordan's salamander ( Plethodon jordani), wood frog ( Rana sylvatica), five-lined skink ( Eumeces fasciatus), eastern garter snake ( Thamnophis sirtalis), and northern ringneck snake ( Diadophis punctatus). Prior to the prescribed community restoration fire in the spring of 1995, there were no significant differences in small mammal or herpetofauna collections between burned and control areas. Post-treatment in 1995 and 1996, showed no significant differences among collections of most species between burned and control areas. Slope position accounted for more variation among the species of greatest abundance than did burning. Concern for the effects of prescribed fire as a management tool on small mammals and herpetofauna in the southern Appalachians seems unwarranted.

Mamíferos descritos do estado de Santa Catarina, Brasil

Sixteen species of mammals have been described from the State of Santa Catarina, Brazil. The region is poorly represented in mammal collections, and many of these species have been synonimized on the basis of geographical proximity, without a serious consideration of their validity. The sixteen species plus one described from Parana with a paratype from Santa Catarina are listed, with pertinent information on their type localities, correct bibliographical reference, and present status. Type localities are spelled exactly as they appear in the original descriptions.

First Record of the Least Weasel, Mustela nivalis (Carnivora: Mustelidae), from the Coastal Plain of Virginia

The first record of the least weasel, Mustela nivalis, for the Coastal Plain of Virginia is reported for a site more that 100 km from the nearest Piedmont records. The least weasel in now known in Virginia from seven sites in the mountains, two in the Piedmont, and this Coastal Plain record. The least weasel, Mustela nivalis, has a circumboreal distribution that includes most of northern North America (Sheffield and King 1994). In the eastern United States, the range of the subspecies M. n. allegheniensis Rhoads extends down the Appalachians to North Carolina and Tennessee (Sheffield and King 1994). At the time of the second symposium on Virginia's endangered species, M. nivalis was known from Virginia on the basis of 13 specimens from two sites in the Upper Piedmont and widely scattered localities in the mountains (Handley 1991:598). This report is on the first known specimen from the Coastal Plain of Virginia. On 31 March 1997 an adult female M. nivalis was collected (Virginia Commonwealth University Mammal Collection number 12617) 4.2 km northeast of Bowling Green, Caroline County (Fig. 1). This site is 108 km southeast of a piedmont record near Rectortown in Fauquier County, Virginia (Handley 1991:598), and 105 km south of a lower piedmont site in Montgomery County, Maryland, 19 km west of Glen Echo on the north bank of the Potomac River (Handley 1991:555). The site is 15 km east of the Fall Line. The altitude of the study area ranges from 30 to 70 m above sea level, and flat areas are interrupted by rolling and occasional steep hills. The weasel was collected in a 3.8-liter pitfall trap as part of a study of small mammal assemblages at Fort A. P. Hill, a U.S. Army training installation. Sampling in the study was conducted with pitfall arrays (modified after Handley and Varn 1994) and Museum Special mouse traps in 11 habitat types (three sites/habitat type; 33 sites total) that ranged from grassy meadow to mature deciduous forest. Trapping conducted from 1 March 1997 to 20 October 1997 amassed a 1 Department of Biology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23284-2012; 2 Department of Biology, University of Richmond, Richmond, VA 23173. 1999 6(3): 238-240 This content downloaded from 157.55.39.181 on Thu, 29 Sep 2016 06:23:02 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms A.S. Bellows, J.F. Pagels, and J.C. Mitchell total of 28,616 trap nights. A trap night represents the amount of time between trap checks, approximately 24 hr in this study. Habitat at the site where the specimen was captured was forested by a mix of conifer and deciduous species. Trees with a dbh of 4 cm or greater were American holly (Ilex opaca, 18.4%), loblolly pine (Pinus taeda, 15.5%), Virginia pine (P. virginiana, 13.8%), sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua, 17.8%) dogwood (Cornus florida, 11.5%), red maple (Acer rubrum, 5.2%) southern red oak (Quercus falcata, 5.2%), white oak (Q. alba, 4.0%), northern red oak (Q. rubra, 3.4%), black cherry (Prunus serotina, 2.9%), sassafras (Sassafras albidum, 1.7%) and black oak (Q. velutina, 0.6%). Canopy openness was 27% and a subcanopy was present at 47% of 200 points on a line intercept (method modified after Canfield 1941). Blueberry (Vaccinium spp.) was present at 38.0% of the points. Downed woody debris consisting of logs and limbs that ranged from 0.5 to 15.5 cm in diameter (mean 5.1 cm) was present at 24% of the points. Other small mammal species captured at the site for both trap types were Peromyscus leucopus (N=34, 66.7%), Blarina brevicauda (N=6, 11.8%), Sorex longirostris (N=6, 11.8%), Microtus pennsylvanicus (N=1, 2.0%), M. pinetorum (N=1, 2.0%), Glaucomys volans (N=1, 2.0%), and Tamias striatus (N=1, 2.0%). Considering both pitfall traps and snap traps, there were collectively 886 trapnights associated with

William John Burchell's travels in Brazil, 1825–1830, with details of the surviving mammal and bird collections

William John Burchell's travels in Brazil, 1825–1830, with details of the surviving mammal and bird collections

Mammals of the Sahyadri

The Sahyadri, also known as the Northern Western Ghats, is a significant mountain range covering around 65,000 km2 across the states of Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Goa. Once lush with forests, much of the area now suffers from deforestation. The dominant forest type is deciduous, with occasional evergreen and semi-evergreen patches. Politically, the region spans three states and comprises 12 districts. Early studies on the region's fauna date back over a century, with researchers like W. H. Sykes and T. C. Jerdon contributing to mammal collections. The establishment of the Bombay Natural History Society in 1883 marked a milestone in Indian natural history research. Notable work on the area's bat fauna was done by Brosset in the 1960s. The Sahyadri is home to a diverse range of mammals, with species falling into categories of abundance, commonness, occasional occurrence, rarity, and unknown status. The concentration of species decreases as one moves northward along the Western Ghats. The Sahyadri holds a unique place in Indian zoogeography, with approximately 70% of the vertebrate fauna (including 80% of mammals) found in the region. However, habitat loss and other factors are threatening the survival of certain species, with some facing the risk of becoming locally extinct.

Las colecciones de Aves y Mamíferos del Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (CSIC)

In this paper the taxonomic and geographic contents of the Spanish Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales Bird and Mammal collections, as well as its system and is revised. A brief summary of the history of these collections is also presented.

The removal of Museo Paleontologico "Rodrigo Botet" (Valencia, Spain) under disaster conditions

In 1989 a collection of South American Quaternary mammals, housed in the Rodrigo Botet Palaeontological Museum of Valencia, Spain was moved to new accommodation. This move was precipitated by the discovery of serious structural and other damage to the 15th century Arab building in which i t had been exhibited and housed since 1908. The collection numbered nearly 50,000 specimens including seventeen edentate and other mammals, three thousand skeletal fragments and 43,000 Recent molluscs. The rescue operation was divided into three phases: planning and funding acquisition; treatment, packing, transportation and unpacking of specimens; development of new exhibition in a temporary location in Valencia.

William J. Burchell's South African mammal collection, 1810–1815

William John Burchell (1782-1863) travelled 4,500 miles in South Africa between the years 1810 and 1815.1 He is often described as a botanist (McKay, 1941a; Mastert, 1992: 397) which had been his early training (McKay, 1941a) but he had an energetic curiosity in every branch of natural history (McKay, 1943). Whilst in South Africa he made meteorological and astronomical observations as well as being

A new listriodont suid,Bunolistriodon meidamonsp. nov., from the middle Miocene of Anatolia

ABSTRACT The early middle Miocene (MN 6; ca. 15 Ma) locality of Pasalar in western Anatolia (Turkey) has produced a large and well studied collection of land mammals, including hominoid primates. We confirm the co-occurrence of two species of listriodont suids at this locality, and describe one of them as Bunolistriodon meidamon sp. nov. The other species is referred to Listriodon splendens. B. meidamon is characterised by extreme widening of the central incisors, large size of the male upper canines, labiolingually compressed (“meidamonic”) lower male canines, and narrow cheek teeth. These synapomorphies define a clade comprising at least B. latidens and B. meidamon, which are thus separated from the plesiomorphic species complex of listriodonts lacking lophed molars (Listriodon, Lopholistriodon) or cranial appendages (the “horned” kubanochoeres).

Spatial and Temporal Distribution of the Polymorphism for Tail-Tip Albinism in the Hispid Pocket Mouse, Chaetodipus hispidus (Rodentia: Heteromyidae)

-A survey of almost 1000 study skins of Chaetodipus hispidus from Oklahoma and Texas indicates that ca. 7% of all individuals are marked by tail-tip albinism, and that the character is about equally distributed by sex and nominal subspecies. No significant frequency differences were noted among the eight major habitats represented in the study area, although the three pooled habitats which comprise the interior grasslands of the Southern Plains support a significandly higher incidence of the partial albinism than the peripheral, more sparsely populated regions (remaining pooled habitats). Data from a single Texas county, spanning four decades, indicate that local populations undergo repeated fluctuations, which account for the observed erratic microgeographic (by county) distribution of the character. As with previous studies which have used partial albinism data as genetic indicators for past events and current population structure, we propose that surveys of mammal collections for examples of partial albinism could prove useful in the design of population genetic studies. The possible roles of selection and stochastic events in producing and maintaining the observed distribution patterns are discussed.

Small mammals from the Koren Arctic Expedition to the Kolyma River, northeast Siberia 1914-1918

A small mammal collection from the Kolyma region in northeastern Siberia collected by the Norwegian trapper and naturalist Johan Koren between 1915 and 1917 comprises 152 specimens of 17 species. The collection was brought to Norway with Roald Amundsen's “Maud” expedition through the Northeast Passage and has been held by the Zoological Museum, University of Oslo. When comparing the collection with the current distribution of small mammals in the region, it is not possible to detect changes in the small mammal fauna. As several species which are common today are missing in the collection, the collection apparently does not give a complete account of the small mammal fauna in the Kolyma region from 1915 to 1917. This discrepancy can largely be explained by the fact that Koren caught small mammals only in parts of the Kolyma region and not in those areas where the missing species are found in abundance.

Small mammals from the Koren Arctic Expedition to the Kolyma River, northeast Siberia 1914-1918

A small mammal collection from the Kolyma region in northeastern Siberia collected by the Norwegian trapper and naturalist Johan Koren between 1915 and 1917 comprises 152 specimens of 17 species. The collection was brought to Norway with Roald Amundsen's “Maud” expedition through the Northeast Passage and has been held by the Zoological Museum, University of Oslo. When comparing the collection with the current distribution of small mammals in the region, it is not possible to detect changes in the small mammal fauna. As several species which are common today are missing in the collection, the collection apparently does not give a complete account of the small mammal fauna in the Kolyma region from 1915 to 1917. This discrepancy can largely be explained by the fact that Koren caught small mammals only in parts of the Kolyma region and not in those areas where the missing species are found in abundance.

Folivory in the Big Fruit-eating Bat, Artibeus lituratus (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae) in eastern Brazil

Information about the consumption of leaves by Neotropical bats is scarce and incomplete. Greenhall (1957) mentions leaves of Ficus religiosa in the diet of Artibeuis lituri-atuis, Tuttle (1968) found remains of chewed leaves under the roosting places of Artibeusjamaicensis, and Wilson (1971) found leaves under night feeding roosts of Allicronycteris hirsuta, which he believed had been chewed and swallowed accidentally while the bats fed on insects. Marshall (1985) reviews the occurrence of folivory amongst Old World phytophagous bats (Megachiroptera). In this note, we present the results of a study of folivory in Artibeus lituratus, a common Neotropical bat, whose frugivorous diet also includes insects, pollen and leaves (Gardner 1977). The study was carried out from August 1988 to August 1989 in the park of the Museu de Biologia Mello Leitao in Santa Teresa, Espirito Santo, eastern Brazil (19?50'S, 40?22'W). Following the Holdridge Life Zone System (Holdridge 1967), the region is dominated by Subtropical Lower Montane Moist Forest; the mean annual precipitation is about 1500 mm, with a wet season between October and March, and a mean monthly precipitation below 100 mm from April to September (Jackson 1978). The study area has mainly secondary arboreal vegetation mixed with shrubs and many introduced plants. We mapped all the night resting and feeding roosts of A. lituiratuis in an area of 4 ha. Every 15 days, feeding remains, composed of dry oral pellets, seeds, faeces and partially eaten foods, were collected in nylon nets which were stretched on the grounid under the roosts in the evening and retrieved the following morning. Pellets of leaves and fruit were dried in an oven at 80?C for 24 h, and weighed separately. The night roosts were inspected frequently and only A. lituratus was observed. Voucher specimens of A. litiuratuis were deposited in the Museu de Biologia Mello Leitao (mammal collection, MBML 1686). Throughout the observation period A. lititratuts fed on leaves of at least six

Condition of Type Specimens of the Genus Peromyscus

A 2-year survey was conducted to document the conditions of type specimens in eight collections of Recent mammals. Information on specimen condition, label condition, and storage environments for skins, skulls, and other specimen parts was entered into a computerized database. The aspect of the project discussed here compares the reports for 214 specimens of similar species (genus Peromyscus ), preserved and stored by methods common to most mammal collections. Over 85% of the specimens had a skin, skull, and associated labels that were damaged in one way or another. Historical records of the condition of the specimens indicate that damage has been progressive over time, suggesting a need to improve collection care to mitigate further damage.

Notes on Ectoparasites of Some Small Mammals from Santa Catarina State, Brazil

A small collection of mammals, including 34 individuals from Santa Catarina State, was examined for ectoparasites. One species of tick, eight species of mites, one species of sucking louse, one species of biting louse, and one species of flea are recorded for the first time from Santa Catarina. New host records are given for two species of Acari, one of louse, and one of flea. Species that occurred in single or multiple infestations are recorded.

Alaskan marine mammal tissue archival project

A project to establish an archive of Alaskan marine mammal tissues was conceived in 1987 to be a part of the National Biomonitoring Specimen Bank (NBSB). Protocols and field collection of marine mammals, long-term storage, and analysis are summarized in this paper. Instrumental neutron activation analysis has been used for an initial evaluation of trace element content in samples of northern fur seal (Callorhinus ursinus) from the Pribilof Islands. The findings agree with previously observed trace element levels in northern fur seals. The archived specimens can be used in future studies when comparison of past and present pollution levels are needed.

History of the 13th Earl of Derby's menagerie and aviary at Knowsley Hall, Liverpool (1806–1851)

Knowsley Hall, seat of the Earls of Derby, is situated in the borough of Knowsley, Merseyside, 10 km north-east of Liverpool. Part of the estate is now a Safari Park opened in 1971, where the public can watch freely roaming foreign animals. However, there was a collection of living animals at Knowsley much earlier in its history. Near the Hall are the remains of the Knowsley Aviaries which in the 1800s contained world-wide collections of birds and mammals, the work of the 13th Earl of Derby, Lord Edward Geoffrey Smith Stanley (1775-1851). The 13th Earl obtained both living animals and museum specimens from all over the world to fulfil his passionate lifelong interest in natural history. Birds were his first love and in 1806 he purchased his first major acquisition of over 100 mounted specimens at the sale of the Leverian Museum (Largen & Fisher, 1986; Largen, 1987). Alongside this, the Earl began to develop collections of live animals; between 1806 and 1851 he built up a large aviary and menagerie on the Knowsley estate, undoubtedly one of the finest and most important collections in Europe, unrivalled for the number, rarity and beauty of the species (Fraser, 1850). Animals that died in captivity became part of his equally extensive Knowsley Museum, which was later bequeathed to the public and so founded the Liverpool Museum in 1851.

A collection of small mammals from eastern Nepal

A collection of small mammals from eastern Nepal

Eutherian mammals from the Early Cretaceous of Mongolia

A collection of eutherian mammals consisting of 39 specimens (teeth and jaw fragments) from the ?Aptian or Albian Khoboor Beds in the Gobi Desert, Mongolia, is described. It contains 3 taxa: Prokenna1estes gen.n., assigned to the Otlestidae Nessov, new rank, with 2 shrew size species; P. trofimovi sp.n. and P. minor sp.n.; a heavily worn larger lower molar which will be described elsewhere. It cannot be excluded that P. trofimovi and P. minor are only sexual morphs within the same species. Prokennalestes and Bobolestes Nessov are possibly the oldest known eutherian mammals, but Prokennalestes is morphologically more primitive than Bobolestes. It has a labial mandibular foramen, 5 premolars and 3 molars, 3 cusps in parastylur region, paracone larger than metacone, unwinged conules, no pre‐ and posteingula, and lower molars with a 3‐cusped talonid, which is narrower than the trigonid, Otlestes and Kennalestes may be derived with little modification from Prokennalestes. Prokennalestes gen.n. is congeneric with Prokennalestes Trofimov and Prozalambdalestes Trofimov, which are both nomina nuda.

Additional Records of Bauerus dubiaquercus (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) in Mexico

Bauerus dubiaquercus Van Gelder, 1959) was supposed to be distributed in a disjunct pattern several parts of Middle America Van Gelder, 1959; Engstrom and Wilson, 1981; Medellin et al., 1986; Engstrom et al., 1987). Some specimens we have collected substantiate the more or less continuous occurrence of B. dubiaquercus in this part of the Continent. Three adult males MZFC No.991, 992, 993) were collected in Omiltemi 2,300 m), 36 km W Chilpancingo, Guerrero, oil 18 March and 13 April 1985. These specimens were captured in mist-nets that were placed over a narrow stream in it pine-dominated cloud forest at Arroyo Agua Fria. These males appeared to be reproductively ictive with testes 5.1 mm March), 5.0 mm March), and 4.8 mm April) in length. Body and skull measurements mm) are, respectively: total length, 106.0, 110.0, 104.0; length of tail, 49.0, 43.0, 46.0; length of forearm dry including carpals), 48.6, 50.6, 50.5; greatest length of skull, 19.8, 20.5, 20.5; zygomatic breadth, 12.2, 12.9, 12.8; postorbitary constriction, 4.1, 4.0, 4.1; length of maxillary toothrow, 6.6, 7.0, 6.8; breadth of braincase, 8.3, 8.2, 8.3; weight, 14.0, 20.0, 13.0 g. An adult lactating female CIQR0 No.170) was captured inside a Mayan house, 30 km S Felipe Carrillo Puerto 30 in), Quintana Roo on 28 June 1986. No embryos were observed during necropsy. Body and skull measurements mm) are: total lenght of body, 120.0; length of tail, 51.0; length of forearm dry including carpals), 52.1; greatest length of skull, 21.2; zygomatic breadth;, 13.3; postorbital constriction, 4.0; length of maxillary toothrow, 7.2; breadth of braincase, 8.4; weight, 16.0 g. These localities represent the first records for the states of Guerrero and Quintana Roo. The Guerrero record on the Pacific versant is about 670 km southeast of the record in Jalisco Engstrom and Wilson, 1981), and it extends upwards the known elevational range 850 m. The peninsular record from Quinta Roo extends the known distribution of this bat in the Caribbean lowlands northward approximately 285 kin NNE of the closest locality Augustine, Mountain Pine Ridge) in Belize McCarthy, in press) and extends downwards the known elevational range Engstrom et al., 1987) 370 m. The specimens were deposited in the Museo de Zoologia, Facultad de Ciencias, UniversidadnacionalAutonoma de Mexico and the mammal collection of Centro de Investigaciones de Quintana Roo. We followed Engstrom and Wilson 1981) and Martin and Schmidly 1982) for the generic ranking of Bauerus. T. McCarthy and D. Wilson reviewed an earlier draft and offered valuable information. F. Tuz and F. Romero assisted in the field.