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Preface     Introduction     Taxa Introduction     Fish and Amphibians     Reptiles     Turtles     Birds     Mammals     Sites Introduction     Sites     Environments     Mensural Data     Acknowledgements     Glossary     Literature A-I     Literature J-Z     Other Literature     Stuff     Abbreviations

   

Copyright 2014 by Arthur H. Harris Text, maps, and those images credited to A. H. Harris may be used freely for non-commercial purposes with attribution: Arthur H. Harris, UTEP Biodiversity Collections, University of Texas at El Paso. Other images in this work have been used by permission and usage may require express permission from the copyright holders.

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Preface This work was originally intended to end up as a printed book. As work progressed, however, the advantages of a web format where color images could be added with ease (and without worry about cost), definitions of terms could be accessed with the click of a mouse, links to other resources could provide depth otherwise impractical in terms of space and time, and updates quickly incorporated made it evident that internet publishing, though lacking the academic status of printed works, would best serve the audience—thus the presentation on the web. The ease of making changes is both an advantage and a disadvantage: the advantage lies in the ease of correcting errors and adding pertinent new data; the disadvantage is the instability of the text. This leads to the present pdf format, where a snapshot as of mid August 2014 is captured in a more permanent form. This work started out in 2008 as intending to document the Pleistocene vertebrate fauna of New Mexico and Trans-Pecos Texas, the region I am most familiar with. In the Fall of 2012, the original aims mostly met, the decision was made to add Arizona. This in part was because a considerable portion of Arizona lies at lower elevations than found in New Mexico, allowing a new dimension to the elucidation of Pleistocene changes. Another consideration, however, was that the Southwestern biogeographic picture was conspicuously incomplete without knowing what occurred to the west of New Mexico. Although summaries of New Mexican Pleistocene taxa and sites have appeared (Harris 1993c; Morgan and Lucas 2003, 2005) and various papers concerned with individual taxa, sites, or regions of New Mexico and Trans-Pecos Texas have been published, there has been no work bringing the Pleistocene record of the entire region together in one place. Morgan and Lucas (2003, 2005) have done a magnificent job on open sites (i.e., non-cave sites) for New Mexico, and many details of individual sites and some of the taxa treated by them have received minimal treatment here. Much of the information that is included here is from their reviews. For the serious student, I strongly recommend that their publications be consulted. For Arizona, the first major summary (Lindsay and Tessman) dates back to 1974. A wide variety of other papers has appeared since the summary of Lindsay and Tessman, including consolidation of amphibian and reptile data Mead (2005) for the latter portion of the Pleistocene (the Rancholabrean)and for mammoths (Agenbroad and Mead 1989). Lucas and Morgan (2005) gave an overview for mammals, but not a comprehensive treatment of sites and taxa. However, a comprehensive work came out the same year when Mead et al. 2005 brought together both sites and taxa for Arizonan mammals. Also in 2005, Morgan and White 2005 brought together vertebrate records for the late Blancan of Arizona. I have relied heavily on the 2005 papers for data up to the time of publication.

Hopefully, the present effort will bring together all Pleistocene vertebrate records for the region for the first time, and one of the reasons behind presenting this work on the web is to allow easy updating as new, missed, or corrected data become available. It is the aim of this work to provide information useful to both the interested lay person and scientists. I am well aware that such efforts often end up serving neither audiences well, but if the person with a general interest can manage to overlook some of the more esoteric material and the lists of fauna and sites, and the scientist some of what might seem elementary, perhaps both may find it not too bitter a pill. Several conventions have been adopted in an attempt to make the site friendly. Terms that may be unfamiliar to the general reader are internal links in green, such as this example for the glossary. Other internal links, such as for citations, sites, taxa, or other divisions of the site, are in gray, as for the citations in paragraph four. Off-site links are as in the browser default (usually blue for unvisited and red for visited). Access to an account of a Pleistocene fossil taxon is by following a link in the menu at the top of the page to a major group of interest, such as reptiles or birds. Each link will take you to an index page for that group, arranged in taxonomic order. Links on the index page then will take you to accounts at lower taxonomic levels, arranged alphabetically. Similarly, links under "Sites" will take you to site accounts. I have been somewhat cavalier about literature citations. Citations in the accounts often are to the summary papers mentioned above rather than to the original publication; these summaries often contain multiple citations opening the literature more efficiently than would a citation to the original or the most recent publication. © 2008-2012 [email protected], UTEP Biodiversity Collections, Department of Biological Sciences, and Centennial Museum, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX 79968.

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INTRODUCTION It is sometimes said that the present is the key to the past. It is equally true, however, that the past is the key to the present and, perhaps to a limited degree, to the future. To a degree, Arizona, New Mexico, and Trans-Pecos Texas form a natural unit, united by warm and near-warm desert conditions interrupted by mountain ranges that often allow cooler, more mesic conditions. The modern character of the flora and fauna of Arizona, New Mexico, and Trans-Pecos Texas has been set largely by climatic and biological events of the Pleistocene and Holocene geologic epochs. Without an understanding of these events, the present day constitution and distribution of our regional flora and fauna make little sense. To the degree that future climatic change and disturbance may be similar to occurrences in the past, knowledge of that past may allow anticipation of future problems. A major aim of this work is to bring together Pleistocene records and information about the vertebrate fauna for the region in a manner useful to both the interested lay person and scientists. I am well aware that such efforts often end up serving neither audiences well, but if the person with a general interest can manage to overlook some of the more esoteric material and the lists of fauna and sites, and the scientist some of what might seem elementary, perhaps both may find it not too bitter a pill. A major reason for presenting this work on the web is to allow easy updating as new, missed, or corrected data become available.

Dating the Pleistocene In earlier days, geologists were stuck with relative dating—that is, they often were able to determine by stratigraphy whether a given geologic bed was older, the same age, or younger than another bed. In general, a stratigraphic bed lying above another was younger than the second, etc., and physical attributes and fossils often allowed correlation of beds not in direct contact. The system was not perfect, but generally workable. What such a system could not do was to assign a date, other than extremely rough estimates based on such things as the thickness of a stratum. More recently, dates have been assignable based on the decay of radioactive elements into different isotopes of the element or into a different element. The decay rate is invariant for the elements used in dating, and the proportion of decay products to the original element or isotope allows calculation of the time passed. For the most part, the "clock" is set when molten rock solidifies, capturing the element, and as they are formed, its decay products. Thus most radiometric dates are associated with igneous rock, and older fossils usually are dated by whether they are above, between, or below dated igneous beds, or are correlated with such a bed occurring elsewhere. An exception to the once-molten rock requirement occurs with 14C (carbon 14). This radioactive isotope of carbon is usable for dating organic material up to about 50 ky.

Unlike the other radioactive elements commonly used, 14C is formed by the action of cosmic radiation changing nitrogen atoms to the radioactive carbon isotope. Some of this 14C ends up in the CO2 used by plants for photosynthesis and is incorporated into the tissues of the plants. From the plants, the radioactive carbon is passed up the food chain to herbivores and carnivores. At the death of an organism, new 14C no longer enters the body and the "clock" is started; the radioactive carbon decays back into nitrogen with a half life of about 5730 years. For an expanded exposition of radiocarbon dating, see the web pages of the Radiocarbon Laboratory, University of Waikato, New Zealand. Because of the way that 14C is created, the amount in the atmosphere (and thus in organisms) varies through time. In order to determine a calendar date, the 14C date must be calibrated so that higher levels of 14C don't give dates too recent and low levels dates too old. Somewhat simplified, this is done by radiocarbon dating substances that have known ages, such as tree rings, and comparing the radiocarbon dates with the known calendar dates. During much of the time since 14C dating began in the middle of the last century, only raw 14C dates were available and as such reported in the scientific literature as year BP (Before Present, which has been standardized to mean before 1950). In the present work, uncalibrated 14C dates are given as appearing in the literature; calendar dates are given with the addition of "cal" (e.g., 22,522 ± 737 cal kya). When calendar years are given without a reference, the calendar date has been calculated through CalPal-2007online (Danzeglocke et al. 2012). Both raw 14C dates and calibrated dates usually are reported with ± a standard deviation. This denotes a statistical uncertainty such that we would expect the true date to fall into the range indicated about 68% of the time; with the standard deviation doubled, about 95% of the time. It is usual to accept such a 95% chance with the knowledge that about 5% of the time the true date will fall outside of the range. Dating the Pleistocene beyond the range of radiocarbon has been largely through radioactive elements with greater half lives than that of 14C. Time zero for such material is usually set when melted rock solidifies, preventing the addition of more of the radioactive element or the loss of it other than by radioactive decay. Since fossils are usually found in sedimentary rather than igneous settings, dating usually is by bracketing such sediments by lava flows or volcanic ash. In many cases, a dated sediment can be correlated with sedimentary beds that are not so bracketed, extending the dating to those beds. Another dating technique involves minerals that are susceptible to magnetic fields. Minerals free to orient themselves to the magnetic field of the earth may do so in melted rock (such as lava) or during deposition as sediments. The magnetic field of the earth undergoes reversals erratically, with the north and south magnetic poles switching places. These reversals are preserved in the rocks, allowing knowledge as to the polarity at the time of solidification or deposition. Unfortunately, one reversal looks like another, but if other data can restrict the possible time span somewhat, then the magnetic data may allow pin-pointing the date of a specific horizon. For example, the Brunhes-Matuyama Reversal occurred approximately 780 kya, providing

a fixed reference point. Mammalian paleontologists often use associations of mammalian taxa to characterize segments of time. The North American Land Mammal Ages (NALMA) for the Pleistocene consist of the later portion of the Blancan; the Irvingtonian, encompassing most of the Pleistocene; and the Rancholabrean, consisting of about the last 240,000 years or so and ending with the megafaunal extinction at the end of the Pleistocene. Until recently, the Pleistocene Epoch, often known as the Ice Age, officially began about 1.8 million years ago (1.8 mya) and ended about 11 thousand years ago (11 kya), followed by our present epoch, the Holocene. A different definition now has been accepted by the International Union of Geological Sciences: The Pleistocene now begins at approximately 2.6 mya, when northern hemisphere glacial activity ramped up. The geologic epoch The Pleistocene now begins immediately before the Pleistocene is the Pliocene. With at approximately 2.6 mya the change in definition of the Pleistocene, 0.8 my has been transferred from the last portion of the Pliocene to the Pleistocene (and to the Quaternary Period, consisting of the Pleistocene and Holocene epochs). This action also has transferred the latest part of the Blancan North American Land Mammal Age (NALMA) from the Pliocene into the Pleistocene. The Blancan is followed by the Irvingtonian age, starting at about 1.8 mya, and then the last land mammal age of the Pleistocene, the Rancholabrean, apparently lasting from something less than about 250 kya to the beginning of the Holocene (Scott 2010); Sanders et al. (2009) recommended 240 kya on the basis of a well-founded first appearance of Bison in the lower 48 of 240-200 kya. With the late Blancan not lining up nicely with the boundaries of the geologic epochs, it becomes somewhat of a problem to determine which faunas to include in the Pleistocene. Relying heavily on dates from Morgan and White (2005), I am omitting the late Blancan Wolf Ranch and Pearson Mesa faunas as being pre-Pleistocene. It appears that the lower 30 m or so of the 111 Ranch fauna also is Pre-Pleistocene (Morgan and White 2005), but the upper portion is not; since it is not clear which taxa are in the Pleistocene portion and which in latest Pliocene, the 111 Ranch fauna is included in its entirety. The Pleistocene climate consisted of a series of glacial ages separated by interglacials similar to the one we presently inhabit. Traditionally, it was thought that the Pleistocene was characterized by the initiation of glaciation in the northern hemisphere, and four glacial ages were recognized, named after the states where they were recognized. The oldest, the Nebraskan, was followed by the Kansan, the Illinoian, and the Wisconsin (or Wisconsinan). In more recent times, it's been recognized that many more than four glacial advances and retreats have occurred within the Pleistocene, with about 20 within the traditional 1.8 my. Events assigned to a particular glacial age when it was thought that there were only four in actuality may not have been contemporaneous and actually separated by appreciable spans of time. Only events of the most recent age, the Wisconsin, seems to generally be firmly based, thanks to radiocarbon dating techniques and the recency of the deposits; the Illinoian generally is still recognized by Quaternary workers, but Nebraskan and Kansan glacial ages have been abandoned, with glacial cycles preceding the Illinoian merely assigned to pre-Illinoian.

Information from deep-sea cores of sediments indicate the Wisconsin age was separated from an earlier major ice advance by a warm interglacial, the Sangamon (or Sangamonian), centered roughly at about 122 thousand years ago (Marine Isotope Stage [MIS] 5e). The earlier glacial is the Illinoian glaciation. Earlier substages of MIS 5 (5a, 5b, 5c, and 5d) often are considered as part of the Sangamon Interglacial (and this definition is followed here), but MIS 5a to 5d by some are considered as part of the Wisconsin (the Eowisconsin or Early Wisconsin) with 5b and 5d being stadials (relatively cold intervals) and 5a and 5c interstadials (relatively warm intervals). Following MIS 5, an early stadial (MIS 4) lasted roughly from 75 kya to 60 kya. This, rather than the MIS 5a-d span, sometimes is considered as the Early Wisconsin glacial, and is followed here. MIS 3 (Mid Wisconsin) is interstadial, though markedly cooler than MIS 5 and with significant climatic variability within the roughly 35-ky year span. The Mid Wisconsin ends at about 25 kya as the climatic deteriorates into the severe pleniglacial (full glacial, MIS 2). The most severe glacial climatic conditions of the Wisconsin centered around 20 kya. Starting at about 15 kya, the climate rapidly ameliorated (though with setbacks) and, depending on the author, the Pleistocene climate gave way to that of the Holocene around 14-10 kya. A major setback in the return from glacial to interglacial conditions occurred around 10.9 kya BP (12.9 cal kya) with the onset of an interval known as the Younger Dryas; return to warmer conditions occurred about 1300 years later. The Early Holocene of the Southwest still was cooler and moister than today, with these conditions replaced by more modern conditions around 8 kya. Fully modern vegetational conditions in southern New Mexico, however, may not have been established until about 4-5 kya. During glacial conditions, much of northern portion of the continent was covered by ice sheets. At farthest advance, ice reached well into the northern parts of the United States. Glaciers occurred at high elevations in the northern part of our Southwestern region, with a small glacier occurring as far south as Sierra Blanca in southern New Mexico. Cooler temperatures and more effective precipitation strongly affected the biotic Cooler temperatures and environment in the Southwest. Plants now limited to more effective precipitation affected the biotic farther north or to higher elevations were able to move strongly environment in the Southwest southward or descend, in many cases connecting patches of montane forest vegetation currently isolated by intervening lowland vegetation. Other moisture-loving plants found expanded habitat. Animals, so often reliant on vegetation as well as on direct climatic conditions, shifted their geographic ranges accordingly. Fossil faunas document the presence of the various kinds of vertebrates at specific places during specific times. They thus provide biogeographic data for themselves and, through their connection with vegetation, for floral elements. Shifts in geographic ranges in turn cast light upon the climatic events ultimately largely responsible for the distribution of organisms. The latter part of the Pleistocene record and that of the Holocene also clarify the environments under which man entered and adapted to the New World. Overlap of extinct vertebrates with humans and, in some cases, the evidence of interaction between them emphasizes the differences in ecological relationships between the

period during which man was adapting to New World conditions and those of today. Literature. Balter 2006; Danzeglocke et al. 2012; Fairbanks et al. 2005; Sanders et al. 2009; Scott 2010.

Last Update: 9 Jul 2014

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Introduction: Pleistocene Vertebrate Taxa An attempt is made here to consider all Pleistocene species-level and generic-level vertebrate taxa from Arizona, southern California, Chihuahua, extreme southern Nevada, New Mexico, Sonora, Baja California, and Trans-Pecos Texas recorded in the literature or in the Paleobiology Collection of the UTEP Biodiversity Collections (formerly the Laboratory for Environmental Biology), Department of Biological Sciences, and Centennial Museum, University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP). Taxa are given by currently accepted scientific names, but synonyms also are given where they have been used in the literature and are apt to cause confusion. Names of higher taxa of many groups are in a state of flux. The arrangement of the higher taxa (families and above) here follows the Center for North American Herpetology's "Standard Common and Current Scientific Names" for amphibians and reptiles, the AOU Checklist for birds, and Mammalian Species of the World (Wilson and Reeder 2005) for mammals. In the case of the mammals, the on-line version is followed, where Rodentia is placed before Lagomorpha, rather than the printed version where the Rodentia is placed in volume 2 after all other taxa (presumably so that the rodents wouldn't be split between two volumes). In the case of mammals, taxonomic changes occurring after the publication date of Mammalian Species will be entered if there seems a high likelihood of general acceptance. Genera and species within families are listed alphabetically Bucking the generally accepted taxonomy recognizing the Chelonia (or Testudinata) as an order within the class Reptilia, turtles are recognized as a separate taxonomic class as are the crocodilians (class Eusuchia).

Nomenclature Nomenclature has to do with the naming of things, with the legalistics, so to speak. This section is primarily for the non-biologist, for most organismal biologists are familiar with the material covered here. The zoologist is bound by the "International Code of Zoological Nomenclature." (Plants, bacteria, and viruses likewise have codes of nomenclature that apply to those taxa; although somewhat similar, they differ in detail.) Historically, it was found necessary to introduce a standard common to all workers in a field so as to promote stability and communication. One of the problems is obvious —common names are useless on other than a regional basis. The fledermaus of German is the ratón volador of Spanish and the "bat" of English. This was incentive to go to the common language of science during the 18th Century, which was Latin. A Latin (or Latinized) name applied to a taxon could be understood everywhere as belonging to a specific group—or so it was thought. New problems of communication arose, however. Not infrequently, the same taxon was named by workers in different places (and, of course, with different names), usually due to ignorance of earlier names. Once used in a particular region, there was

local reluctance to abandon a name for another. Thus it became necessary to erect a set of rules governing which name would serve. The rule of priority states that the first name applied according to the rules of nomenclature is the legitimate name (there are provisions for suppressing obscure "long-lost" names in favor of widely used ones, however). Names that were applied according to the rules but that are invalid for any of several reasons are synonyms. Another problem was the nature of the name itself. Before treated by Linnaeus, the "name" of a species was a descriptive phrase in Latin. Linnaeus, in the 1758 10th edition of Systema Naturae, stabilized the name of a species as consisting of two words (the binomial system of nomenclature), a noun followed by adjective (in Latin, of course). The first word is also the name of the genus that the species belongs to. Thus the real name of humankind is Homo sapiens, and the genus to which we belong is Homo. Note that the generic part of the species name is always capitalized and that the specific portion is, in animals, never capitalized. The species to which we belong is not sapiens (this is akin to trying to call a red barn a "red")—both parts of the name are necessary (when no confusion can occur, it is legitimate to abbreviate, usually by the first letter, the generic portion; e.g., H. sapiens). The rules also call for setting apart generic names, subgeneric names, species names, and subspecies names in different type from that used in the main text; by tradition, this is done by use of italics (or, in manuscript, by underlining, which is the printer's symbol for italics). You may have noticed, for example, that in the italicized figure captions in these web pages, the species names are not italicized, thus separating them from the rest of the caption. The novice may wonder why there may be a name and date after the scientific name. This primarily is to aid the practicing taxonomist and can be ignored by others. The name is the author(s) (the person or persons who named the taxon) and the date is the year of publication. If the description of a species was published under a different generic name, the name is placed in parentheses. For example, Neotoma cinerea (Ord 1815) was described by Ord in 1815 as Mus cinereus (Mus currently is the genus of the house mouse and close relatives, but in the earlier days included animals that today we consider quite different). It became Neotoma cinerea in 1858 when Baird shifted it to the genus Neotoma. The plural of genus is genera, and both the singular and plural of species is species: thus one genus, two genera; one species, two species. Another problem treated by the rules relates to tying the name and the taxon together. Many of the early descriptions (or specimens on which the descriptions were based) were so poor that the animal being described was later unrecognizable. In other cases, a name was based on a series of specimens that eventually was found to include several different species (or even higher taxa). Today, there is a set of rules governing the requirements for a legitimate species (or generic or subspecific) description. Among other things, including the requirements concerning publication, a single specimen, the holotype, must be named so as to tie the name to a particular taxon. Originally, the "type" referred to the ideal essence (a metaphysical concept) of a species; variation in a species was considered essentially a series of imperfections, of deviations from the essence (reportedly, in the early days, if a specimen thought to better reflect the essence was found, a new holotype was substituted for the old). As

taxonomy matured and it was realized that variation is a property of a species, it was accepted that no single specimen can adequately represent it. Thus, this concept was dropped (though it still lingers on subconsciously in many cases). Today, the type (holotype) is merely a name bearer. Whatever taxon is actually represented by the holotypic specimen is the taxon that the name is associated with forever. There are seven ranks of the taxonomic hierarchy which are considered minimal to classify a taxon—this is the obligate taxonomic hierarchy: Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family Genus Species

To minimally classify an animal, it must be placed within each of these seven ranks— that is, assigned to a kingdom, a phylum, etc. In addition to these obligate levels, however, is a large number of finer divisions, such as subkingdom, superphylum, infraclass, etc. (there are more than 30 in fairly common use—this site occasionally will use a few of these that are self evident). The principle in each case is the same— if we haven't made errors, all entities within a given taxon are more closely related to one another than any is to an entity in a different taxon; e.g., members of a subgenus are more closely related to each other than to any member of a different subgenus of the same genus. There are different traditions regarding capitalization of common names. As examples, common names of birds usually are capitalized as proper nouns when referring to a specific kind; this is not the usual case for mammals, however. Rather than allow inconsistency in this volume, I've chosen to capitalize all proper nouns. Thus Common Raven and Chihuahua Raven, but not ravens in general.

Annotations Starting with the addition of Arizona records (and picking up earlier as time allow), some annotations have been added to taxa in the site faunal lists. These annotations appear like this, in different sized font and inset beneath the taxon involved.

The most common annotation is the listing of the name under which the taxon was reported if the name has changed. Less commonly, some other aspect is commented upon. Annotations may be added to earlier site accounts as time allows.

Site Presentation Each taxon has its sites of occurrence mapped. Be warned that no attempt has been made to be extremely accurate in placement of the dots representing the sites, the maps being designed largely to show the pattern of distribution. Site names, however, are listed in each account. Rancholabrean sites are shown with a red-centered dot, Irvingtonian-age sites with a green-centered dot, Blancanage sites with a yellow-centered dot, and Pleistocene sites

not specified as to a lower chronological level with a dark blue-centered dot. Sites where two land mammal ages are found or where it is uncertain to which of two ages applies are shown with a split dot. In a few cases, records have been rejected and the site to which the taxon was assigned shown with a light-blue-centered dot. Where a reasonable approximation of the locality of a site cannot be made, a black dot is placed in the center of the dot's color field. Usually the dot will be placed near the center of the county involved (some taxa are cited only as Grand Canyon; in those cases, the dot will be placed toward the center of the canyon). In the site and taxon accounts, citations usually are to those deemed by me to likely be most useful to the reader. In many cases, this is to one of the summaries of Pleistocene taxa (such as Harris 1993c; Morgan and Lucas 2003, 2005, Jefferson 1991a and 1991b). Occasionally, in addition to literature cited, other pertinent references may be listed to allow the reader to delve deeper if so inclined. In some cases, I have not personally reviewed these references. Although most people can easily visualize horses, bison, and camels, relatively few have a mental image of a Bushy-tailed Woodrat or a Merriam's Shrew. Since a large portion of the Pleistocene fauna survives today, I have tried to include images of many of the taxa; hopefully, this will help some of the dried bones come alive in the minds of the viewer. A "?" indicates considerable doubt regarding the identification. Usually this means that the (often fragmented) specimen is consistent with the taxon, but there is no diagnostic feature present to separate it from some other taxa; a sort of "playing the odds". A "cf." (abbreviation of the Latin word for "compare") indicates a likely correct identification, but one that is not certain. The listing of "?" or "cf." alone indicates the uncertainty applies to the species, but not the genus unless only the generic name is given; where the uncertainty applies to genus and species, the listing is given as ? or cf. gen. et sp. "UTEP" indicates that the taxon is represented by unpublished material in the Paleobiology Collection, UTEP Biodiversity Collection, or that some change in the published data has occurred. Situations where a genus can be recognized but the species cannot be identified is given as the generic name followed by "sp." For example, Neotoma sp. The rapid and far-flung changes in nomenclature and taxonomy pose special difficulties when attempting to compile fossil records from publications spanning a number of decades. Straight-forward synonymy is only a minor problem; where the real difficulty lies is where taxa have been split since publication and insufficient data were given in the publication (or may have been unavailable) to surely assign the record to a currently recognized taxon. An example is the recent splitting of the

genus Spermophilus into eight genera (Helgen et al. 2009). A literature record of "Spermophilus sp." without further information fails translation to a currently recognized genus. Likewise, the splitting of a species may leave no recourse but to assign a record to the related taxon now nearest geographically to the fossil site. In many cases, the only real solution is reexamination of the fossil material, not easily accomplished in a majority of cases. A word or two regarding identifications is advisable. Dealing with fragmentary material greatly increases the probability of misidentifications. Furthermore, identifications frequently are based in part on current geographic distributions. As an example, species of cottontail rabbits now limited to eastern North America (such as the Appalachian Cottontail) are not considered when identifying Southwestern cottontails. This is suggested as potentially important in herptiles, for example. Bell and Gauthier (2002) questioned the reliability of the general supposition that lizards and snakes were stable taxonomically and geographically throughout much of the Quaternary. They noted the circularity of reasoning in that the identifications of the fossils are based on the current distributions. They also pointed out that based on morphology alone, the majority of these Quaternary fossils cannot be identified to species on the currently known criteria. Driving home the difficulties in determining herpetological species identification, Bevers (2005) could find no mensural or morphological characters that as of themselves could surely discriminate any one of the 27 extant species of bufonid toads that he studied from all of the other 26 species. These uncertainties of identification appertain to the records given in this current work. Different ways of assigning specimens to a time span are used. The most general is "Pleistocene", meaning the time span cannot be narrowed further; subdivisions, however, sometimes are possible, such as late Pleistocene. Somewhat more limited are the North American Land Mammal Ages (NALMA): that portion of the Late Blancan falling within the Pleistocene (2.6-1.8 my), Irvingtonian (ca. 1.80-0.25 my), and Rancholabrean (ca. 0.250 mya-10 kya). In some cases, subdivisions are possible (e.g., early Irvingtonian). Most Pleistocene fossils are from the last of the glacial ages, the Wisconsin, and may be so recorded; again, sometimes with divisions possible. Age in years is possible in some cases where radiometric data are available. Unfortunately, a number of sites have been disturbed. This is especially the case for cave sites; by their nature, cave often have features susceptible to stratigraphic mixing (e.g., interstices between loosely fitting rock fall; strong water currents entering during storms) or support animals, such as woodrats and snakes, that burrow within the cave fill. A further(and often worse) factor is human disturbance because of pot hunting or the seeking of Spanish gold. A handicap when working with earlier excavated sites is that often relatively little care was taken in terms of stratigraphy and perhaps less in recording stratigraphic notes. Because of this, in many cases it now is impossible to reconstruct the relationships. Because of such problems, some sites are recorded as, for example, "Late Wisconsin/Holocene," meaning that deposition is known to have occurred in both the late Wisconsin and the Holocene, and assignment to one or the other on stratigraphic grounds is not possible. In such cases, assignment to the Pleistocene may be made with considerable assuredness for extinct forms (and I have done so in at least some cases) and for taxa that now occur nowhere near the site; however, in the absence of reliable stratigraphic data, such taxa have lost an appreciable part of their value for

interpretation. It also becomes problematical as to whether extant, local animals were present in the late Wisconsin or are present in the recovered fauna because of later occurrence. I have been somewhat more daring (or, in the judgment of some, reckless) in assigning sites to limited time spans than were Morgan and Lucas (2005), and it should be recognized that there is a degree of danger in this as well as the possibility of illuminating short-term changes. I have made decisions as to the finer divisions of age of various cave faunas on the basis of stratigraphy where available and based upon my interpretation of the chronological distribution of Pleistocene biotas. Others may interpret the chronology differently; however, it is likely that where such designations as Mid Wisconsin, Late Wisconsin, or Early/Mid Wisconsin have been made, that at least assignment to the Wisconsin is firm. I have assigned Wisconsin faunas younger than 25,000 rcy (radiocarbon years) as Late Wisconsin; faunas judged to be between about 60,000 and 25,000 as Mid Wisconsin, and older than 60,000 are Early Wisconsin. Literature. Bell and Gauthier 2002; Bever 2005; Harris 1993c; Helgen et al. 2009; Morgan and Lucas 2003, 2005.

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Index to the Regional Pleistocene Orders and Families of Class Osteichthyes and Class Amphibia Class Osteichthyes—Bony Fish Class Amphibia—Amphibians Order Clupeiformes—Herrings and Relatives Family Clupeidae—Herrings and Relatives

Family Ambystomatidae Ambystoma—Mole Salamanders

Family Plethodontidae

Dorosoma petenense— Threadfin Shad

Aneides lugubris—Arboreal Salamander

Order Salmoniformes—Trout and Salmon-like Fishes Family Salmonidae—Trout Salmon

Order Caudata—Salamanders

Batrachoseps sp.—Slender Salamanders

and

Oncorhynchus clarkii— Cutthroat Trout Oncorhynchus mykiss— Rainbow Trout

Order Cypriniformes—Minnows Family Cyprinidae—Minnows Agosia chrysogaster—Longfin Dace

Family Salamandridae Taricha—Western Newts

Order Anura—Frogs and Relatives Family Bufonidae—True Toads Family Frogs

Craugastoridae—Fleshbelly

Family Hylidae—Tree Frogs and Chorus Frogs Family Leptodactylidae—Neotropical Thin-toed Frogs

Gila bicolor—Tui Chub

Family Microhylidae—Microhylid Frogs and Toads

Gila elegans—Bonytail Chub

Family Ranidae—Frogs

Gila orcuttii—Arroyo Chub Gila robusta—Roundtail Chub Ptychocheilus—Pike-minnow Rhinichthys osculus—Speckled Dace

Family Poeciliidae—Livebearers Poeciliopsis occidentalis/monachaoccidentalis—Gila Topminnow or All-female Topminnow

Family Catostomidae—Suckers Catostomus discobolus Cope— Bluehead Sucker Catostomus wigginsi Cope— Opata Sucker Xyrauchen—Razorback Sucker

Order Siluriformes—Catfish and Relatives Family Ictaluridae‐Catfish Ictalurus sp.—Catfish

Order Gasterosteiformes— Sticklebacks and Relatives Family Sticklebacks

Gasterosteidae—

Family Scaphiopodidae—Spadefoot Toads

Gasterosteus aculeatus— Three-spined Stickleback

Order Scorpaeniformes—MailCheeked Fishes Family Cottidae—Sculpins Leptocottus armatus—Pacific Staghorn Sculpin

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Index to the Regional Pleistocene Members of Class Reptilia Class Reptilia Order Squamata Suborder Sauria Family Anguidae Elgaria kingii—Madrean Alligator Lizard Elgaria multicarinata—Southern Alligator Lizard

Family Anniellidae Anniella sp.—North American Legless Lizards

Family Crotaphytidae Crotaphytus collaris—Eastern Collared Lizard

Suborder Serpentes Family Boidae Boa constrictor—Boa constrictor

Family Colubridae Arizona elegans—Glossy Snake Bogertophis subocularis—Trans-Pecos Rat Snake Chionactis occipitalis—Western Shovelnosed Snake Coluber/Masticophis—Racer/Coachwhip Gyalopion canum—Chihuahuan Hooknosed Snake

Gambelia wislizenii—Long-nosed Leopard Lampropeltis getula—Common Lizard Kingsnake

Family Eublepharidae Coleonyx variegatus—Banded Gecko

Family Helodermatidae Heloderma suspectum—Gila Monster

Lampropeltis pyromelana—Sonoran Mountain Kingsnake Lampropeltis triangulum—Milk Snake Liochlorophis vernalis—Smooth Green Snake Masticophis sp.—Whipsnakes

Family Iguanidae

Masticophis flagellum—Coachwhip

Dipsosaurus dorsalis—Desert Iguana

Masticophis lateralis—Striped Racer

Iguana iguana—Green Iguana

Masticophis mentovarius—Tropical Whipsnake

Sauromalus ater—Chuckwalla

Family Phrynosomatidae Callisaurus draconoides—Zebratail Lizard Cophosaurus texanus—Greater Earless Lizard Holbrookia maculata—Lesser Earless Lizard Phrynosoma—Horned Lizard Phrynosoma blainvillii—Blainville's Horned Lizard

Pantherophis emoryi—Great Plains Rat Snake Pituophis catenifer—Gopher Snake Rhinocheilus lecontei—Long-nosed Snake Salvadora sp.—Patch-nosed Snakes Salvadora hexalepis—Western Patchnosed Snake Sonora semiannulata—Ground Snake Tantilla sp.—Black-headed Snakes

Phrynosoma cornutum—Texas Horned Lizard

Trimorphodon lyrophanes—California Lyre Snake

Phrynosoma coronatum—Coast Horned Lizard

Trimorphodon vilkinsonii—Chihuahuan Lyre Snake

Phrynosoma hernandesi—Mountain Short-horned Lizard Phrynosoma modestum—Round-tailed Horned Lizard

Family Crotalidae Crotalus atrox—Western Diamondback Rattlesnake

Phrynosoma platyrhinos—Desert Horned Crotalus lepidus—Rock Rattlesnake Lizard Crotalus michellii/oreganus—Speckled or Sceloporus—Spiny Lizards Western Rattlesnake Sceloporus sp. (small)—Small Spiny Lizard Sceloporus sp. (large)—Large Spiny Lizard Sceloporus clarkii—Clark's Spiny Lizard Sceloporus cowlesi—Southern Plateau Lizard Sceloporus jarrovii—Yarrow's Spiny Lizard

Crotalus oreganus—Western Rattlesnake Crotalus molossus—Black-tailed Rattlesnake Crotalus scutulatus—Mohave Rattlesnake Crotalus viridis—Prairie Rattlesnake

Family Dipsadidae Diadophis punctatus—Ring-necked

Snake Sceloporus magister—Desert Spiny Lizard

Heterodon nasicus—Western Hog-nosed Snake

Sceloporus occidentalis—Western Fence Hypsiglena chlorophaea—Desert Night Lizard Snake Sceloporus poinsettii—Crevice Spiny Hypsiglena jani—Chihuahuan Night Lizard Snake Sceloporus tristichus—Northern Plateau Hypsiglena torquata—Night Snake Lizard Urosaurus ornatus—Tree Lizard Uta stansburiana—Side-blotched Lizard

Family Scincidae Plestiodon gilberti—Gilbert's Skink Plestiodon multivirgatus—Many-lined Skink

Family Leptotyphlopidae Rena sp.—Blind Snakes

Family Natricidae Nerodia erythrogaster—Plainbelly Water Snake Thamnophis sp.—Garter Snakes

Plestiodon (P. multivirgatus size)—Skink Thamnophis cyrtopsis—Black-necked (Many-lined Skink Size) Garter Snake Plestiodon obsoletus—Great Plains Skink Thamnophis elegans—Western Terrestrial Garter Snake Plestiodon skiltonianus—Western Skink

Family Teiidae Aspidoscelis—Whiptails Aspidoscelis sp. (small)—Small Whiptail Lizard Aspidoscelis sp. (large)—Large Whiptail Lizard Aspidoscelis sp. (A. tigris size)—Whiptail Lizard (Western Whiptail Size) Aspidoscelis tigris—Western Whiptail Lizard

Family Xantusiidae Xantusia vigilis—Desert Night Lizard

Thamnophis proximus—Western Ribbon Snake Thamnophis sirtalis—Common Garter Snake

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Index to the Regional Pleistocene Members of the Class Chelonia Class Chelonia Family Cheloniidae Chelonia mydas—Green Sea Turtle

Family Emydidae Actinemys pallida— Southern Western Pond Turtle

Family Kinosternidae

Family Testudinidae

Kinosternon sp.—Mud Turtles

Gopherus sp.—Gopher Tortoises

Kinosternon flavescens— Yellow Mud Turtle

Gopherus agassizii— Agassiz's Desert Tortoises

Kinosternon sonoriense— Sonora Mud Turtle

Gopherus flavomarginatus—Bolson Tortoise

Terrapene sp.—Box Turtles

Gopherus morafkai— Morafka's Desert Tortoise

Terrapene carolina— Eastern Box Turtle

†Hesperotestudo sp.— Hesperotestudo Tortoises

Terrapene ornata—Ornate Box Turtle

†Hesperotestudo wilsoni— Wilson's Tortoise

Trachemys gaigeae/scripta—Big Bend Slider/Slider

Main Menu   Aves Introduction

Index to the Regional Pleistocene Orders and Families of Class Aves Class Aves Order Anseriformes—Ducks, Geese, Order Cuculiformes—Cuckoos and Swans Family Anatidae—Ducks, Geese, and Swans

Order Galliformes—Galliform Birds Family Odontophoridae—Quail

Family Phasianidae—Grouse, Ptarmigan, and Prairie Chickens Subfamily Tetraoninae—Grouse and Relatives Subfamily Meleagridinae—Turkeys

Order Gaviiformes—Loons Family Gaviidae—Loons

Order Podicipediformes—Grebes Family Podicipedidae—Grebes

Order Phoenicopteriformes— Flamingos Family Phoenicopteridae— Flamingos

Family Cuculidae—Cuckoos and Roadrunners

Order Strigiformes—Owls Family Tytonidae—Barn Owls Family Strigidae—Typical Owls

Order Caprimulgiformes—Nightjars Family Caprimulgidae—Nighthawks, Poorwills, and Whip-poor-will

Order Apodiformes—Swifts and Hummingbirds Family Apodidae—Swifts and Hummingbirds

Order Piciformes—Woodpeckers Family Picidae—Woodpeckers

Order Falconiformes—Falcons Family Falconidae—Falcons

Order Psittaciformes—Parrots Order Procellariiformes—Boobies and Herons

Order Passeriformes—Perching Birds

Family Domedeidae—Albatrosses

Family Tyrannidae—Tyrant Flycatchers

Family Procellariidae—Shearwaters

Family Laniidae—Shrikes

Family Hydrobatidae—Storm Petrels

Family Vireonidae—Vireos

Order Ciconiiformes—Storks

Family Corvidae—Ravens, Jays, and Magpies

Family Ciconiidae—Storks Family Alaudidae—Larks

Order Suliformes—Boobies and Herons

Family Hirundinidae—Swallows

Family Sulidae—Gannets

Family Paridae—Chickadees and Titmice

Family Phalacrocoracidae— Cormorants

Family Sittidae—Nuthatches

Order Pelecaniformes—Pelicans and Herons Family Pelecanidae—Pelecans

Family Troglodytidae—Wrens Family Timallidae—Wrentits

Family Ardeidae—Herons

Family Cinclidae—American Dippers

Family Threskiornithidae—Ibisis

Family Regulidae—Kinglets

Order Accipitriformes—Diurnal Raptors Family Teratornithidae—Teratorns Family Cathartidae—Condors and Vultures Family Accipitridae—Eagles and Hawks

Order Gruiformes—Rails and Cranes

Family Turdidae—Thrushes Family Mimidae—Mockingbirds and Thrashers Family Bombycillidae—Waxwings Family Parulidae—Warblers Family Emberizidae—Sparrows, Buntings, and Towhees Family Cardinalidae—Cardinals,

Family Gruidae—Cranes Family Rallidae—Rails

Order Charadriiformes—Shorebirds Family Burhinidae—Thick-knees Family Recurvirostridae—Avocets and Stilts Family Haematopodidae— Oystercatchers Family Charadriidae—Plovers and Relatives Family Scolopacidae—Sandpipers and Relatives Family Alcidae—Murres Family Laridae—Gulls

Order Columbiformes—Pigeons and Doves Family Columbidae—Pigeons and Doves

Grosbeaks, and Dickcissels Family Icteridae—Blackbirds Family Fringillidae—Finches

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Index to the Regional Pleistocene Orders and Families of Class Mammalia The following list of taxa will take you to the named group. Links to lower-level taxa are on the appropriate pages. Some liberties have been taken with common names in order to better serve non-biologists.

Family Soricidae – Shrews

Order Didelphimorphia, Family Didelphidae – Virginia Opossum

Family Talpidae – Moles

Order Chiroptera – Bats

Order Proboscidea – Mastodont, Gomphotheres, and Mammoths

Family Phyllostomidae – Leaf-nosed Bats

Family Elephantidae – Mammoths †Family Gomphotheriidae Gomphotheres †Family Mammutidae Mastodont

–

–

American

Family Molossidae – Free-tailed Bats Family Vespertilionidae – Common Bats

Carnivora – Carnivores

Order Cingulata – Armadillo-like Xenarthrans

Family Felidae – Cats Family Hyaenidae – Hyaenas

Family Dasypodidae – Armadillos †Family Glyptodontidae – Glyptodonts

Family Canidae – Wolves, Coyotes, and Foxes

†Family Pampatheriidae Pampatheres

Family Ursidae – Bears

–

Family Felidae/Ursidae Bears

Order Pilosa – Sloths Family Megalonychidae Megalonychid Sloths

–

†Family Nothrotheriidae – Nothotheriid Ground Sloths

–

Cats

or

Family Otariidae – Eared Seals Family Mustelidae – Weasels and Ferrets Family Mephitidae – Skunks

†Family Mylodontidae – Mylodontid Ground Sloths †Family Myrmecophagidae – Anteaters

Order Perissodactyla – Tapirs and Horses

Order Primates – Humans Family Hominidae – Humans

Family Equidae – Horses

Order Rodentia – Rodents

Family Tapiridae – Tapirs

Family Sciuridae – Squirrels

Order Artiodactyla – Even-toed Ungulates

Family Castoridae – Beaver Family Heteromyidae – Pocket Mice and Kangaroo Rats Family Geomyidae – Pocket Gophers

Subfamily Neotominae – Mice and Rats

–

–

American

Family Caviidae – Capybaras and Relatives

Order Lagomorpha – Pikas, Hares, and Rabbits Family Leporidae – Jackrabbits and Cottontails Family Ochotonidae – Pikas

Family Tayassuidae – Peccaries

Family Camelidae – Camels Suborder Ruminantia

Subfamily Arvicolinae – Voles

Subfamily Sigmodontinae Sigmodontine Rodents

Suborder Suiformes

Suborder Tylopoda

Family Cricetidae – Native Mice and Rats

Family Erethizontidae Porcupine

Family Procyonidae – Ringtails and Raccoons

Family Cervidae – Deer Family Antilocapridae – Pronghorns ("Antelopes") Family Bovidae – Bison, Sheep, and Relatives

Order Soricomorpha – Shrews

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Introduction: Pleistocene Vertebrate Sites Each Pleistocene fossil locality (site) has an account. Usually age, a general description of the site, and a list of the taxa identified from the site is given. Open sites that were treated by Morgan and Lucas (2003, 2005) have been given minimal treatment; the original publications give considerably more detail and there is little sense in my plagiarizing their work beyond the bare minimum. Each locality also has a literature section that includes authors who are cited in the text of the taxon account or faunal list, as well as sometimes those otherwise pertinent to the site. Each site is mapped if sufficient data to do so are available; placement of a site is only approximate. Blancan-age sites are shown with a yellow-centered dot; Irvingtonian-age sites with a green-centered dot; and Rancholabrean sites are noted with a red-centered dot. Originally, sites dated only as Pleistocene also received a red-centered dot; however, this is deemed to be misleading, and such red-centered dots are slowly being replaced with dark-blue-centered dots. Where both Irvingtonian and Rancholabrean or Blancan and Irvingtonian remains are present at a site (or the site age is indeterminate between two ages), the colored portion is divided between the two. Where a reasonable approximation of the locality of a site cannot be made due to the lack of data, a black dot is placed in the center of the dot's color field. Usually such dots will be placed near the center of the county involved (some taxa are cited only as Grand Canyon; in those cases, the dot will be placed toward the center of the canyon). The "Sites" link on the Main Menu will take you to a page where there are links to the individual states that, in turn, have links to all the sites within the state. If, within the list of taxa, the nomenclature of a taxon has changed since publication, the currently accepted name is listed. Except for some of the earlier completed sites, the original name published by the cited author(s) is given beneath the line in indented and smaller type. Taxa represented in the UTEP Paleobiology Collection that have either not appeared in the literature, have had changes from a published account, or have appeared only in lists without being attributed, are indicated by the UTEP acronym. Generally, only taxa below the family level have been listed. Literature. Morgan and Lucas 2003, 2005.

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QUATERNARY VERTEBRATE SITES: SOUTHWESTERN USA AND NORTHWESTERN MEXICO Separate site lists having links to the various sites are given for Arizona, Southern California, New Mexico, Southern Nevada, Trans-Pecos Texas, Baja California, Chihuahua, and Sonora. Each site has a brief location description, many have comments, and a list of taxa recovered from the site is given. The "Literature" given for a site does not pretend to be complete, but should be sufficient to allow the reader to access further information if desired. Where the taxonomy has changed, the currently accepted names are listed. For many taxa, the name under which a taxon was recorded in the literature is given below the currently accepted name in smaller type and inset from the left margin; other annotations also may appear in this format. Taxa represented in the UTEP Paleobiology Collection that have either not appeared in the literature or have appeared only in lists without being attributed are indicated by the UTEP acronym. At present, site data for sites in California and Nevada have only the most basic information; these will be updated as time progresses.

Last Update: 9 Aug 2014

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Pleistocene Environments Early Wisconsin or Early Mid Wisconsin // Mid Wisconsin // Mid Wisconsin to Pleniglacial // Full-glacial Wisconsin Blancan A caution is necessary. Until late in the Pleistocene, fine chronologic control is the exception (and rather crude even in later Pleistocene times). Any faunas in the early and mid Pleistocene (and to considerable degree in the late Pleistocene) may be separated by expanses of time long enough to create confusion between different spans of similar environments, much as the early interpretation of four Pleistocene glaciations left us lumping together faunas from different glacial or interglacial ages. Marine isotope data, among other sources of information, make it clear that alternations of cooler and warmer climates extend back into the Blancan, thus rendering useless any broad characterizations of Blancan climate. To some degree, an individual fauna may characterized as indicating warm or cool conditions (for example, presence of glyptodont usually is taken as indicating relative warmth), but seldom allows for generalizations except of the broadest form.

Irvingtonian There is little environmental information specifically applicable to our region from the early Pleistocene. This largely is because published faunal material from the Irvingtonian Land Mammal Age of the region consists almost entirely of megafaunal elements. The widespread presence of horses, camels, and antilocaprids indicates at least moderate presence of open areas with grasses and forbs, but such habitat is available in almost every region except, possibly, those with heavy forest cover. Sloths and gomphotheres such as Stegomastodon indicate presence of browse, but there are few data to indicate relative proportions of grassland and wooded habitats, especially since most of the fossil deposits likely were in riparian situations not necessarily representative of habitats in the uplands. The early Irvingtonian Mesilla C fauna (Morgan and Lucas 2003) suggests mild temperatures, with glyptodonts and ground sloths likely unable to withstand severe freezing winter conditions. Likewise, the large tortoises recorded indicate a temperate climate. Relatively mild climatic conditions apparently extended northward, with Glyptotherium recorded in the Tijeras Arroyo fauna in north-central New Mexico (Morgan and Lucas 2005). The major exception to a paucity of microfaunal fossils is San Antonio Cave, where medial Irvingtonian faunas were present and interpreted by Rogers et al. (2000). However, the high elevation (2737 m) and position in the extreme northern part of our region (about 2.5 mi south of the New Mexico/Colorado border) leaves little

applicability to the areas to the south and at lower altitudes. Rogers et al. (2000) indicated that the oldest faunas (dating from between ca. 1 mya and 0.85 mya) from the cave indicate mild, warm climatic conditions with moisture varying from rather dry to relatively wet. The somewhat later, but still medial Irvingtonian, deposits were said to suggest growth and regression of glacial conditions, probably with times of severe drought and other times forested, with much more effective moisture than in the area today.

? Early Wisconsin or Early Mid Wisconsin The Dry Cave sites of Lost Valley, Room of the Vanishing Floor, Sabertooth Camel Maze, and Balcony on Lost Valley, along with possibly some sites within Anthony Cave, appear to be earlier than other late Pleistocene cave localities. Although generally recorded in the site and taxonomic accounts as "Early or Early Mid Wisconsin", there is the possibility that some or all predate the Wisconsin. The dates associated with the Dry Cave sites are 29,290 ± 1060 for Lost Valley, 25,160 ± 1730 for the Sabertooth Camel Maze, and 33,590 ± 1500 for the Room of the Vanishing Floor. All dates are radiocarbon dates on bone carbonates, collagen being absent for all practical purposes. I consider all of these dates as too recent based on the generally untrustworthiness of carbonate dates and that the faunas (Tables 1-3) seem too different from similarly dated faunas (Pendejo Cave, U-Bar Cave). The relative commonness of Corvus neomexicanus and Neotoma pygmaea, the appearance of Hesperotestudo wilsoni, and the extreme eastern occurrence of Gopherus agassizii are notable. Only the latter is known from elsewhere in the region, and it is absent from all other Guadalupe Mountains sites. A large tortoise, probably Gopherus, does occur in disturbed deposits in Sierra Diablo Cave; however, presence of Desmodus stocki and Aztlanolagus agilis  suggests that at least some of those fossils represent a time well before the late Wisconsin. Climatically sensitive taxa indicate warm winter temperatures, at least lacking the severe cold fronts that would be expected to bar the tortoises from the region. The Greater Roadrunner appears to be the smaller form characteristic of the warm postPleistocene climate rather than the larger Conkling's Roadrunner more characteristic of glacial climates (Harris and Crews 1982). The Texas and Round-tailed horned lizards suggest summer temperatures warm enough to allow successful egg development, whereas glacial faunas of the area supported only the live-bearing Mountain Short-horned Lizard that is able to breed successfully where the summer growing season is too short for the other species. On the other hand, several taxa are indicative of temperatures slightly cooler than currently characteristic of Dry Cave. The Mountain Short-horned Lizard currently occurs at slightly higher elevations than Dry Cave. Merriam's Shrew is the Southwestern species of Sorex most adapted to arid conditions, but doesn't currently occur in southern New Mexico at the elevation of Dry Cave. The Prairie Vole, currently occurring in extreme northeastern New Mexico and out into the Great Plains, is present in these site and of a size fitting better the northeastern New Mexican modern specimens than members of the Nebraskan/Kansan populations characterized by smaller sized individuals (Harris 1988). Presence of the Mountain Cottontail (see the Sylvilagus account for taxonomic problems) suggests woodland habitat nearby.

Overall, the record indicates relatively warm winter temperatures and moderately warm summers that were cooler than today and/or with more effective precipitation. Absence in a rather large faunal sample of marmot, mesic-adapted shrews, and voles other than the Prairie Vole seemingly places an upper limit to the amount of precipitation and cooling. A mixture of woodland and grasslands with a climate similar to that of today's northeastern New Mexico appears reasonable.

Mid Wisconsin The Wisconsin Age commenced with the resurgence of continental glaciation following the Sangamon Interglacial. The early Wisconsin glacial advances paused and retreated to a degree, though climatic conditions in general remained cooler than during either the Sangamon Interglacial or the current Holocene Interglacial. This somewhat less severe climate, here considered to be the Mid Wisconsin, lasted from about 60,000 B.P. to the major renewal of glacial activity in the Late Wisconsin that commenced around 32,000 to 27,000 B.P. By about 25,000 radiocarbon years ago, the regional climate was such as to have more in common with late glacial conditions than with the somewhat milder Mid Wisconsin. The 25,000 B.P. date is used here as the division between Mid and Late Wisconsin. It should be kept in mind that throughout the Wisconsin, climatic fluctuation with major facies changes was the rule. In hindsight, a comparison of the older Dry Cave sites with two major sites west of the Guadalupe Mountains under the intent to compare Mid-Wisconsin climates (Harris 1987) may have been comparing sites of two different ages, and some of the differences between the eastern and western sites may be due to this. The Pit North & West Animal Fair site, judging from stratigraphic relationships, is more certainly comparable to the western sites, but unfortunately has a relatively restricted fauna. The differences between the early Dry Cave summarized as follows (Harris 1987:150-151):

sites

and

U-Bar

Cave were

Although both the Dry Cave and U-Bar Cave faunas indicate more equable conditions than today, there were significant differences between the sites. At Dry Cave, there was greater seasonality of precipitation, particularly in the form of winter-early spring drought, and summer temperatures probably were depressed less than at U-Bar Cave. Thus animals that require continuous availability of green fodder through the warm season, and forms stressed by hot temperatures, were barred from the area. Somewhat cooler temperatures than today enhanced effective moisture, allowing the occurrence of woodland plants and animals now found mostly in the nearby highlands, but with the presence of a few more-northern animals. At U-Bar Cave, absence of high temperatures together with greater effective moisture during the spring allowed occurrence of now-distant plants and animals favored by cool summers and moderate year-round moisture. As a result, the U-Bar Cave fauna differed more from the present fauna of southwestern New Mexico than did the Dry Cave fauna from the present fauna of southeastern New Mexico. This may record primarily geographic

differences in climatic regimes or, conversely, temporal differences between the faunas. The broad overlap in radiocarbon dates from the two sites suggests the former, but uncertainty is sufficient to prevent ruling out the latter. My tentative conclusion is that the older Dry Cave sites likely are older than the relatively well dated sites west of the Guadalupe Mountains. Speculatively, they may represent an early stage of post-Sangamon cooling or an exceptionally warm period of the Mid Wisconsin. On the other hand, of course, they may merely reflect differences similar to those seen today between the extreme climatic conditions at the edge of the Great Plains compared to the more protected interior Southwest. Table 1. Fish and herptile taxa recorded from the Dry Cave "old" sites and Mid Wisconsin sites in New Mexico. U-Bar = U-Bar Cave Mid Wisconsin; Pendejo = Pendejo Cave Mid Wisconsin; Pit = Pit N & W Animal Fair; BLV = Balcony on Lost Valley; LV = Lost Valley; RVF = Room of the Vanishing floor; SCM = Sabertooth Camel Maze. ? gen = ? genus and species; cf gen = cf genus and species. Taxon

UPendejo Pit BLV LV RVF SCM Bar

Osteichthyes—Bony Fish

 

 

 

 

X

X

 

Ambystoma mavortium—Barred Tiger Salamander

X

X

 

 

 

 

 

Anura—Frogs and Toads

 

 

 

 

X

 

 

Scaphiopus/Spea—Spadefoot

X

 

 

 

 

 

 

Spea multiplicata—New Mexico Spadefoot

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

Anaxyrus/Ollotis sp.—True Toad

X

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cophosaurus texanus—Greater Earless Lizard

 

 

 

 

?   gen

 

Crotaphytus collaris—Eastern Collared Lizard

X

X

 

 

X

X

 

Phrynosoma cornutum—Texas Horned Lizard

X

 

 

 

X

 

 

Phrynosoma hernandesi—Mountain Shorthorned Lizard

X

X 

 

 

X

X

 

Phrynosoma modestum—Round-tailed Horned Lizard

 

X 

 

 

X

 

 

Sceloporus (small)—Spiny Lizard (small)

X

 

 

 

X

X

 

Sceloporus (large)—Spiny Lizard (large)

X

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sceloporus cowlesi—Southern Plateau Lizard

 

cf gen

 

 

 

 

 

Urosaurus ornatus—Tree Lizard

cf

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cnemidophorus (large)—Whiptail (large)

X

 

 

 

 

 

 

Serpentes—Snakes

 

 

 

 

X

 

 

Bogertophis subocularis—Trans-Pecos Rat Snake

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

Coluber/Masticophis—Racer/Whipsnake

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

Elaphe emoryi—Great Plains Rat Snake

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

Pituophis sp.—Gopher Snake

?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pituophis catenifer—Gopher Snake

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

Rhinocheilus lecontei—Long-nosed Snake

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

Salvadora sp.—Patchnose Snake

?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Salvadora grahamiae—Mountain Patchnose   Snake

? gen

 

 

 

 

 

Sonora semiannulata—Ground Snake

 

? gen

 

 

 

 

 

Trimorphodon biscutatus—Lyre Snake

 

? gen

 

 

 

 

 

Crotalus sp.—Rattlesnake

X

 

 

 

 

X

 

Diadophis punctatus—Ringneck Snake

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

Hypsiglena torquata—Night Snake

 

cf gen

 

 

 

 

 

Thamnophis sp.—Garter Snake

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

Chelonia—Turtles

X

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gopherus agassizii—Desert Tortoise

 

X

 

 

 

X

X

 

 

 

 

 

X

†Hesperotestudo wilsoni—Wilson's Tortoise  

Table 2. Bird taxa recorded from the Dry Cave "old" sites and Mid Wisconsin sites in New Mexico. U-Bar = U-Bar Cave Mid Wisconsin; Pendejo = Pendejo Cave Mid Wisconsin; Pit = Pit N & W Animal Fair; BLV = Balcony on Lost Valley; LV = Lost Valley; RVF = Room of the Vanishing floor; SCM = Sabertooth Camel Maze. ? gen = ? genus and species; cf gen = cf genus and species. Taxon

UBar

Pendejo Pit BLV LV RVF SCM

†Anabernicula sp.—Sheldgoose

cf

 

 

 

 

 

 

Anas sp.—Duck

 

?

 

 

 

 

 

Anas americana—American Wigeon

 

 

 

 

 

?

 

Anas platyrhynchos—Mallard

cf

 

 

 

 

 

 

Callipepla squamata—Scaled Quail 

 

cf 

 

 

 

 

cf

Colinus virginianus—Northern Bobwhite

? gen

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cyrtonyx montezumae—Montezuma Quail

 

 

 

 

 

?   gen

Meleagris sp.—Turkey

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

†Meleagris crassipes—Big-foot Turkey

 

 

 

 

 

 

X

†Breagyps clarkii—Clark's Condor

 

 

 

 

X

 

X

Cathartes aura—Turkey Vulture

cf gen

 

 

 

 

 

 

†Coragyps occidentalis—Western Vulture

 

X 

X

X

X

X

X

Accipiter cooperi—Copper's Hawk

 

 

X

 

 

 

 

Accipiter striatus—Sharp-shinned Hawk

 

X

 

 

 

cf

 

Aquila chrysaetos—Golden Eagle

X

 

 

 

cf ?

 

Buteo sp.—Buteo Hawk

 

 

 

 

 

X

 

Buteo swainsoni—Swainson's Hawk

 

cf

X

 

 

 

 

Circus cyaneus—Harrier

 

cf gen

 

 

 

 

 

Caracara cheriway—Crested Caracara

 

 

X

 

 

 

 

Falco mexicanus—Prairie Falcon

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

Falco peregrinus—Peregrine Falcon

 

 

 

 

 

?

 

Falco sparverius—American Kestrel

cf gen

X

 

 

 

 

 

Fulica americana—American Coot

 

 

 

 

 

X

 

Zenaida sp.—Zenaida Dove

 

 

 

 

 

 

cf

Zenaida macroura—Mourning Dove

X

X

 

 

cf X

 

Geococcyx californianus californianus— Greater Roadrunner

 

X

 

 

 

X

 

Geococcyx californianus conklingi— Conkling's Roadrunner

X

X 

 

 

 

 

 

Asio flammeus—Long-eared Owl

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

Bubo virginianus—Great Horned Owl

 

X

 

 

X

X

 

Megascops kennicottii—Western Screechowl

 

 

 

 

 

cf   gen

Otus flammeolus—Flammulated Owl

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

Strix occidentalis—Spotted Owl

cf

 

 

 

 

 

 

Colaptes auratus—Northern Flicker

X

X

 

 

X

cf

 

Melanerpes lewis—Lewis Woodpecker

 

cf gen 

 

 

 

 

 

Aphelocoma californica—Western Scrub-jay  

X

 

 

 

X

 

Corvus corax—Common Raven

 

 

X

 

X

 

 

Corvus cryptoleucus—Chihuahua Raven

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

†Corvus neomexicanus—New Mexican Raven

 

 

 

 

X

X

X

Cyanocitta—Blue Jays

 

 

 

 

?

X

 

Cyanocitta stelleri—Steller's Jay

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus—Pinyon Jay

 

cf gen

 

 

 

 

 

Pica hudsonia—Black-billed Magpie

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

Sitta pygmaea—Pygmy Nuthatch

 

cf gen

 

 

 

 

 

Salpinctes sp.—Rock Wren

 

cf

 

 

 

 

 

Salpinctes obsoletus—Rock Wren 

cf gen

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sialia sp.—Bluebird

 

cf

 

 

 

 

 

Turdus migratorius—American Robin

 

cf gen

 

 

 

cf   gen 

Mimus polyglottis—Mockingbird

 

? gen

 

 

 

cf   gen

Aimophila sp.—Aimophila Sparrows

 

 

 

 

 

X

 

Amphispiza bilineata—Desert Sparrow

 

? gen

 

 

 

 

 

Calamospiza melanocorys—Lark Bunting

 

cf gen

 

 

 

 

 

Pipilo sp.—Towhee

 

cf

 

 

 

 

 

Euphagus cyanocephalus—Brewer's Blackbird

 

cf gen

 

 

 

 

 

Quiscalus quiscala—Common Grackle

 

cf gen

 

 

 

 

 

Sturnella sp.—Meadow Lark

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus—Yellowheaded Blackbird

? gen

 

 

 

 

 

 

Carpodacus sp.—Purple Finches

 

?

 

 

 

 

 

Table 3. Mammalian taxa recorded from the Dry Cave "old" sites and Mid Wisconsin sites in New Mexico. U-Bar = U-Bar Cave Mid Wisconsin; Pendejo = Pendejo Cave Mid Wisconsin; Pit = Pit N & W Animal Fair; BLV = Balcony on Lost Valley; LV = Lost Valley; RVF = Room of the Vanishing floor; SCM = Sabertooth Camel Maze. ? gen = ? genus and species; cf gen = cf genus and species. Taxon

UPendejo Pit BLV LV RVF SCM Bar

†Nothrotheriops shastensis—Shasta Ground Sloth

X

 

 

 

 

X

 

Ammospermophilus sp.—Antelope Squirrel

 

 

 

 

X

 

 

Ammospermophilus interpres—Texas Antelope Squirrel

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

Cynomys sp.—Prairie Dog

X

 

 

 

 

X

 

Cynomys gunnisoni—Gunnison's Prairie Dog

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

Cynomys ludovicianus—Black-tailed Prairie Dog

 

 

X

 

 

 

 

Cynomys mexicanus—Mexican Prairie Dog

 

 

 

 

cf  

 

Marmota flaviventris—Yellow-bellied Marmot

X

X

 

 

 

 

Spermophilus (Ictidomys)—Ground Squirrel

 

X

X

 

 

X

X

 

Spermophilus sp., S. elegans size—Wyoming Ground Squirrel size

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

Spermophilus spilosoma—Spotted Ground Squirrel

 

 

cf

 

 

 

 

Spermophilus variegatus—Rock Squirrel

X

 

 

 

 

X

 

Tamias sp.—Chipmunk

 

 

 

 

X

 

 

Tamias canipes/quadrivittatus—Gray-footed or Colorado Chipmunk

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

Tamias dorsalis—Cliff Chipmunk

?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tamias minimus—Least Chipmunk

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

Dipodomys sp. (small)—Small Kangaroo Rat

 

 

 

 

 

X

X

Dipodomys ordii—Ord's Kangaroo Rat

 

X

 

 

X

 

 

Dipodomys spectabilis—Banner-tailed Kangaroo Rat 

cf

X

 

 

X

 

 

Chaetodipus sp.—Spiny Pocket Mouse

 X

 

 

 

 

X

 

Perognathus sp.—Silky Pocket Mouse

 

 

 

 

X

X

 

Perognathus flavus/flavescens—Silky Pocket Mice

cf

X

 

 

 

 

 

Cratogeomys castanops—Yellow-faced Pocket   Gopher

X

X

 

X

X

X

Geomys arenarius/bursarius—Desert/Great Plains Pocket Gopher

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

Thomomys bottae—Botta's Pocket Gopher

 X

X

 X  

X

X

X

Thomomys talpoides—Northern Pocket Gopher

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

Lemmiscus curtatus—Sagebrush Vole

X

X

 

 

 

 

 

Microtus mogollonensis—Mogollon Vole

X

X

X

 

 

 

 

Microtus ochrogaster—Prairie Vole

 

 

X

 

X

 

 

Microtus pennsylvanicus—Meadow Vole

X

 

 

 

 

 

 

Neotoma albigula—White-throated Woodrat

X

 

 

 

 

 

 

Neotoma cinerea—Bushy-tailed Woodrat

X

X

X

 

 

 

 

†Neotoma findleyi—Findley's Woodrat

X

 

 

 

X

X

 

Neotoma leucodon—White-toothed Woodrat

 

X

cf

 

X

X

X

Neotoma mexicana—Mexican Woodrat

X

 

 

 

 

 

 

Neotoma micropus—Southern Plains Woodrat  

 

 

 

X

 

 

†Neotoma pygmaea—Pygmy Woodrat

 

 

 

 

X

X

cf

Neotoma stephensi—Stephen's Woodrat

X

 

 

 

 

 

 

(subgenus Ictidomys)

Onychomys leucogaster— Northern Grasshopper Mouse

 

X

X

 

cf  

 

Peromyscus sp.—White-footed Mouse

 

X

X

 

 

X

 

Peromyscus boylii—Brush Mouse

 ?

 

 

 

X

 

 

Peromyscus difficilis—Rock Mouse

X

 

 

 

 

 

 

Peromyscus eremicus—Cactus Mouse

X

 

 

 

 

 

 

Peromyscus maniculatus—Deer Mouse

X

 

 

 

 

 

 

Peromyscus truei—Pinyon Mouse

X

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reithrodontomys sp.—Harvest Mouse

 

X

 

 

 

X

 

Reithrodontomys megalotis—Western Harvest Mouse

cf

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sigmodon sp.—Cotton Rat

X

X

 

 

X

 

 

Erethizon dorsata—American Porcupine

 

 

 

 

 

?   gen

†Aztlanolagus agilis—Aztlán Rabbit

X

X

 

 

X

X

X

Lepus sp.—Jackrabbit

X

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lepus californicus—Black-tailed Jackrabbit

 

X

X

X

X

X

X

Lepus townsendii—White-tailed Jackrabbit

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

Sylvilagus sp.—Cottontail

 

 

 

X

 

 

 

Sylvilagus audubonii/floridanus—Desert or Eastern Cottontail

X

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sylvilagus audubonii—Desert Cottontail

 

X

X  X 

 

X

X

Sylvilagus floridanus—Eastern Cottontail

 

X

 

cf  

 

Sylvilagus nuttallii—Mountain Cottontail)

X

X

X  X 

X

X

cf

Notiosorex crawfordi—Desert Shrew

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

Sorex merriami—Merriam's Shrew

X

X

 

 

X

 

 

Sorex preblei—Preble's Shrew

X

 

 

 

X

 

 

? Nyctinomops sp.—Large Free-tailed Bat

 

 

 

 

?

 

X

Tadarida brasiliensis—Mexican Free-tailed Bat

X 

 

 

 

cf  

 

†Desmodus stockii—Stock's Vampire Bat

X

 

 

 

 

 

 

Antrozous pallidus—Pallid Bat

X

X 

 

 

X

 

 

Corynorhinus sp.—Big-eared Bat

X

 

 

 

X

X

 

Eptesicus fuscus—Big Brown Bat

X

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lasiurus cinereus—Hoary Bat

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

Myotis sp.—Myotis Bats

 

X 

 

X

 

 

 

Myotis lucifugus—Little Brown Bat

?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Myotis thysanodes—Fringe-tailed Myotis

 

 

 

 

 

?

 

Myotis velifer—Cave Myotis

X

 

 

 

X

X

 

Lynx sp.—Bobcat

 

 

 

 

 

 

?

Lynx rufus—Bobcat

X 

X

 

 

X

X

 

†Panthera atrox—American Lion

 

 

X

 

 

X

 

Panthera atrox/Arctodus simus—American Lion or Giant Short-faced Bear

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

Panthera onca—Jaguar

 

 

 

 

 

Xa

 

Puma concolor—Mountain Lion

 

 

 

 

cf cf

X

Canis latrans—Coyote

 

X

 

 

X

X

 

Canis dirus—Dire Wolf

 

 

 

 

 

 

X

Canis lupus—Gray Wolf

 

? gen

X

 

 

X

X

Urocyon sp.—Gray Foxes

 

 

 

cf

 

 

 

Urocyon cinereoargenteus—Gray Fox

X

X 

 

 

X

X

 

Vulpes velox/macrotis—Swift or Kit Fox

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

Vulpes velox—Swift Fox

 

 

X

 

 

 

cf

Arctodus simus—Giant Short-faced Bear

X

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ursus sp.—Bear

 

 

 

 

 

cf

?

Ursus americanus—American Black Bear

cf

X

 

 

 

 

 

Mustela frenata—Long-tailed Weasel

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

Taxidea sp.—Badger

 

 

 

 

 

cf

 

Taxidea taxus—Badger

X

X

 

 

 

 

 

†Brachyprotoma sp.—Short-faced Skunk

 

 

 

 

?

 

 

Conepatus leuconotus—Hognosed Skunk

 

 

X

 

 

 

 

Mephitis mephitis—Striped Skunk

X

X

 

 

 

 

 

Spilogale sp.—Spotted Skunk

X 

X 

X

 

X

 

 

Bassariscus astutus—Ringtail

 

 

 

 

 

 

X

Tapirus sp.—Tapir

 

 

 

 

X

 

 

Equus sp.—Horse

 

 

 

 

X

 

 

Equus conversidens—Mexican Horse

X

X

X

 

 

 

 

Equus niobrarensis—Niobrara Horse

cf

X

X

 

 

 

 

Equus occidentalis—Western Horse

cf

 

 

 

 

X

 

Platygonus sp.—Flat-headed Peccary

 

 

 

 

 

X

 

Camelops sp.—American Camel

cf 

X 

 

 

 

X

 

Camelops hesternus—Yesterday's Camel 

 

 

 

 

cf  

cf

 

X 

 

 

 

X

Hemiauchenia macrocephala—Big-headed

 

Llama

a

†Navahoceros fricki—Mountain Deer

?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Odocoileus sp.—Deer

X 

 

 

 

 

?

cf

Odocoileus hemionus—Mule Deer

 

cf

 

 

 

 

 

Antilocapra americana—Pronghorn

 

X 

 

 

X

 

 

Capromeryx sp.—Miniature Pronghorn

X 

X 

X   

X

X

X

Stockoceros conklingi—Conkling's Pronghorn

X

X

 

 

 

 

 

†Bison antiquus—Ancient Bison

 

cf

 

 

 

 

 

Euceratherium collinum—Shrub-ox

cf

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oreamnos harringtoni—Harrington's Mountain cf Goat

 

 

 

 

 

 

Also South Chimney, likely about the same age

Literature. Harris 1987, 1988; Harris and Crews 1982; Morgan and Lucas 2003, 2005; Rogers et al. 2000.

Last Update: 4 Jan 2010

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Pleistocene Environments—Transitional Early Wisconsin to Mid Wisconsin // Mid Wisconsin to Pleniglacial // Full-glacial Wisconsin Transitional: Mid Wisconsin to Pleniglacial The Animal Fair site of Dry Cave shows a stratigraphic sequence of faunas recording the transition from Mid-Wisconsin to near pleniglacial conditions (Harris 1993a). The time gap between the end of this sequence and that from the same site recording apparent full-glacial conditions (Harris 1989) is unknown, but likely short. The abstract from Harris 1993a is given below. Interpretation of a 1.5-m mid- to late-Wisconsinan stratigraphic sequence containing fossil vertebrates from the Animal Fair Site in Dry Cave, Eddy County, New Mexico, suggests a progression of habitats, all cooler and moister than today. Mid-Wisconsinan semiarid, moderately warm grasslands or grassy woodlands initially were replaced by cooler, more mesic, grassy woodlands; these were followed by cool, relatively dense sagebrush-grassland– woodland with elements from mixed-coniferous forest. A minor reversal of trend toward earlier, warmer conditions appears at the top of the section. Species collected from each level were basically harmonious until climatic deterioration, documented by invasion of new biotic elements at the end of the mid-Wisconsinan, permitted incursion of taxa associated with more boreal areas; these replaced most of the local fauna but failed to dislodge several taxa with southern affinities. The progression can be seen in Fig. 1 of selected, climate-sensitive taxa.

Fig. 1. Relative abundances (%) of climate-sensitive taxa for each of 15 excavation units from Grid D7 of Animal Fair. Percent scales vary. After Harris (1993a). Literature. Harris 1989, 1993a;

Last Update: 1 Oct 2009

Main Menu Early to Mid Wisconsin // Mid Wisconsin to Pleniglacial // Fullglacial Wisconsin

Pleistocene Environments—Full Glacial For our region, the full-glacial Wisconsin environments (broadly construed) have the best Pleistocene data sets for vertebrate faunas and for vegetation as revealed in the woodrat midden record. On the basis of these as then recognized, life zones for the region were constructed (Harris 1985a, 1990a) and mapped (Harris 1990). As used here, a life zone is a biotic term indicating "broad commonality of plant and mammal taxa ... and does not imply coevolutionary relationships or long-term stability of the included biota" (Harris 1990a:220). Descriptions of the life zones are predominantly from Harris (1990a). Because increasing latitude and increasing elevation decrease temperatures, elevations were standardized to "equator equivalents" (Harris 1990) by multiplying the latitude of a site by 107 (on the assumption that increasing elevation by 107 m decreases temperature by about the same amount as moving through 1° of latitude). The elevation of the site is added to this result to give the equator equivalent. As an example, a site at 35° N that is at an elevation of 1600 m would have an equator equivalent elevation (eee) of 5345 (35 X 1.7 + 1600). Northern Highland zone This zone was set up on the basis of western North American sites displaying full-glacial vegetational communities of tundra, boreal forest ("spruce-fir forest"), sagebrush, and grassland (Harris 1985a). In Fig. 1, this is shown as solid black. For this life zone, as for the others, the elevational boundaries are adjusted for latitude. In our region, this life zone was continuous in north-central New Mexico, but otherwise consisted of isolated highland areas. Tundra was present on high peaks and probably on exposed northern mountain slopes. Southern slopes and protected habitats supported

boreal forest, subalpine meadows and sagebrush grassland interrupted the forest.

though

Although there are a number of sites north of our region within this zone, our only cave site is SAM Cave at about 6700 m eee. Unfortunately, this is an Irvingtonian site. Fig. 1. Map of New Mexico and adjacent regions showing the hypothesized distribution of full-glacial life zones. Black, Northern Highland Zone; hatched, Middle Elevation Savanna Zone; stippled, Sagebrush Steppe-woodland Zone; white, combined Steppewoodland and Steppe zones. The regions south of the U.S. border (solid gray) has not been mapped. Adapted from Harris (1990). Middle Elevation Savanna Zone This zone differs from the Northern Highland Zone primarily in the loss of tundra elements and probably the absence of boreal forest in low-elevation areas possessing low relief. Thus most of the region mapped to this zone supported areas of boreal forest, sagebrush, and grassland (likely largely in the form of mixed sagebrush and grass). In southern New Mexico and much of Trans-Pecos Texas, woodland elements may have been mixed in below about 2000 m. The general conception is of scattered groves of trees with open expanses of sagebrush-grassland. Sites within this life zone include Atlatl Cave, the Isleta Caves, Upper and Lower Sloth caves, Dust Cave, Howell's Ridge Cave, Muskox Cave, and Hermits Cave (Harris 1990a). Sagebrush Steppe-woodland Zone

Boreal elements drop out at lower elevations, possibly excepting favorable microhabitats. Open woodland with grassy undergrowth and patches of sagebrush were typical. A number of New Mexican sites fall within this zone, including the Blackwater Draw sites, Williams Cave, Burnet Cave, Shelter Cave, Conkling Cavern, the Dry Cave sites, Algerita Blossom Cave, and Dark Canyon Cave. Fowlkes Cave probably falls within this zone, though elevational data are not given by Dalquest and Stangl (1984b). Steppe-woodland Zone and Steppe Zone Few sites are available to aid in interpretation of these hypothesized zones. The Steppe-woodland zone is envisioned as similar to the Sagebrush Steppe-woodland Zone without the sagebrush element, while the Steppe Zone lacked woodland elements except in exceptionally favorable habitat. The zones are based on meager data from outside of our region and no informative sites occur within our region. Literature. Harris 1985a, 1990a; Dalquest and Stangl 1984b.

Last Update: 1 Oct 2009

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Mensural Data Measurements are important in identification and systematics, but often are difficult to come by in the literature. This page allows entry into mensural data, some winnowed from the literature and some from measurements taken by myself or colleagues. More data will be added as time goes on. Sylvilagus Measurements Antilocaprid Measurements Navahoceros Measurements Euceratherium collinum Measurements

Last Update: 25 Mar 2009

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Abbreviations Various abbreviations are used in the body of this work. Some of these are widespread, others mostly used in limited disciplines.

(....) Following a date (and with the periods replaced by other characters), the

laboratory number tied to the date. ± Plus and minus 1 standard deviation. Example: 15,030 ± 210. ? When associated with the scientific name of a taxon, it indicates considerable doubt about the identification; that is, the identification is consistent with the material, but other taxa cannot be ruled out. Example: ? Stockoceros; indicates that the genus is quite uncertain. aff. affinis (affinity). Used by some authors to indicate a taxon is very similar to another but probably not the other; whereas cf. indicates probable conspecificity, aff. tends to be used to indicate that probably some unknown, closely related entity is present. Example: Dipodomys aff. merriami, suggesting that the taxon is very similar to D. merriami but probably not D. merriami. BP Before present, with "present" defined as 1950 and usually used for radiocarbon dates. Example: The event occurred in 10,000 BP [equal to 10,000 years before 1950]. ca. Circa, about. Example: The height of the last glacial maximum was ca. 20 kya. cal Calibrated radiocarbon date. Example: The Younger Dryas started at 12.9 cal kya. cf. Confer [compare]. Used to indicate similarity, a likely identification. Example: Lepus cf. californicus indicates that likely the species Lepus californicus is represented. (Strictly speaking, it probably should be Lepus, cf. Lepus californicus, but since the first formulation is clear, I will use it). cf. gen. A likely but uncertain identification at the generic level. cf. sp. A likely but uncertain identification at the specific level. cf. gen. et sp. Confer [compare] at both the generic and specific levels. cm Centimeters. Example: One inch is equal to 2.54 cm. Co. County. rckya Thousands of years ago as determined by radiocarbon dating. Most of our 14C dates are younger than actual dates and require calibration to obtain the calendar dates. Most dates cited in this work actually are rckya dates unless specified as calendar or calibrated dates (see"cal" above). ka Thousands of years. Example: The length of the Late Wisconsin is 15 ka. kya Thousands of years ago. Example: The start of the Holocene is given as 10 kya. m Meters (=3.28 feet). mm Millimeters (25.4 mm/inch). my Millions of years. Example: The Pleistocene lasted 2.6 my.

mya Millions of years ago. Example: The beginning of the Pleistocene is ca. 2.6 mya. sp. Short for species. Usually used after a generic name to indicate the species within the genus is unidentified.

Last Update: 14 Feb 2013

Start Page Preface Introduction Taxa Introduction Fish and Amphibians Turtles Reptiles Eusuchia Birds Mammals Sites Introduction Sites Mensural Data Environments Acknowledgements Glossary Literature A-I Literature J-Z Other Literature Stuff Abbreviations

         

Main Menu Class Osteichthyes

Dorosoma petenense —Threadfin Shad // Oncorhynchus clarkii — Cutthroat Trout // Oncorhynchus mykiss —Rainbow Trout // Agosia chrysogaster—Longfin Dace // Gila sp.—Chubs // Gila bicolor —Tui Chub // Gila elegans —Bonytail Chub // Gila orcutti —Arroyo Chub // Gila robusta—Roundtail Chub // Poeciliopsis—Topminnow // Ptychocheilus —Pike-minnow // Rhinichthys osculus —Speckled Dace // Catostomus discobolus—Bluehead Sucker // Xyrauchen — Razorback Suckers // Ictalurus sp.—Catfish // Gasterosteus aculeatus —Three-spined Stickleback // Leptocottus armatus—Pacific Staghorn Sculpin

Class Osteichthyes—Bony Fish Most permanent bodies of water in the Southwest have one or more species of fish as inhabitants, and ephemeral streams may temporarily support fish. Thus, presence of "fish," without further identification, is relatively uninformative. Fish do, of course, imply presence of water within some distance of a site, but that distance may be highly variable. Various species of birds may capture or scavenge fish and later deposit the fish remains at a distant site. Harris (1977) suggested that most carry-in elements likely originate from less than 6 miles away, and that there is a practical limit of about 15-20 miles. Thus in areas currently extremely arid, some useful information on the presence of permanent water may be obtained. Sites. Pleistocene: Perico Creek (Morgan and Lucas 2005). Early/Medial Irvingtonian: East Isleta (Morgan and Lucas 2005). Rancholabrean: Tramperos Creek (Morgan and Lucas 2005). Late Pleistocene (?): Variadero (Morgan and Lucas 2005). Early Wisconsin/Early Mid-Wisconsin: Lost Valley (Harris 1993c). Late Wisconsin: Animal Fair 18-20 ka (Harris 1989); Lake San Agustín (Morgan and Lucas 2005); U-Bar Cave 14-15 ka (Harris 1989); U-Bar Cave 15-18 ka (Harris

1989); VLA (Morgan and Lucas 2005) . Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Balcony Room (Harris 1993c). Literature. Harris 1977, 1989, 1993c; Morgan and Lucas 2005.

Main Menu   Class Osteichthyes Order Clupeiformes Family Clupeidae

Dorosoma petenense (Günther 1866)— Threadfin Shad This relatively small fish lives in large lakes and rivers (Sublette et al. 1990). Its current range does not approach closely (map) to the southeastern New Mexican locality reported by Miller (1982). Fig. 1. Dorosoma petenense. Photograph courtesy of the USGS. The Gatuña Formation, from which the specimen was recovered, is a gravel and sand fill of the Pecos Valley and apparently straddles the Blancan and Irvingtonian Land Mammal Ages (Miller 1982). Sites. Blancan/Irvingtonian: Loving (Miller 1982). Literature Cited. Miller 1982; Sublette et al. 1990

Last Update: 3 Nov 2008

Main Menu   Class Osteichthyes Order Salmoniformes Family Salmonidae

Oncorhynchus clarkii (Richardson 1836)—Cutthroat Trout In New Mexico, Cutthroat Trout occurred historically in cold headwaters of streams and in cold lakes. Bachhuber (1989) reported fossils of Cutthroat Trout from several ages in the Estancia Basin. He considered that invasion from the Pecos River to the east likely occurred during overflow of Early Lake Estancia (preIllinoian or Illinoian), with the fish surviving in mountain headwaters to the west during subsequent times of lake drawdown. The fossils date from three phases of Late Lake Estancia and from the terminal Wisconsin (Lake Willard), with 14C dates between 24,300 ± 560 and about 12,460 ± 135 BP. Behnke and Platte (1990) questioned the overflow hypothesis, noting that Cutthroat Trout have overcome barriers between basins by headwater stream capture, and thus presence of the trout in the Estancia Basin may be due to stream capture from the Rio Grande Drainage to the west. They suggest that if only the one species of fish is present in the Estancia Basin sediments, that this is the likely source since overflow to the Pecos should have allowed a number of species to invade.

Fig. 1. Cutthroat Trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii). US Fish & Wildlife Photograph.

Sites. Illinoian or pre-Illinoian: Early Lake Estancia, Estancia Basin (Bachhuber 1989). Late Wisconsin: Late Lake Estancia and Lake Willard, Estancia Basin (Bachhuber 1989). Literature. Bachhuber 1989; Behnke and Platts 1990.

Last Update: 3 Nov 2008

Main Menu   Class Osteichthyes Order Salmoniformes Family Salmonidae

Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum 1792)—Rainbow Trout Rainbow Trout inhabit relatively cold streams in western North America and Asia. Some populations are anadromous, spawning in freshwater streams, but spending the bulk of their lives in the northern Pacific Ocean. Although now widely introduced worldwide, the historic New World distribution was from Alaska south to the Mexican border (U.S. Dept. of Agriculture 2000). Sites. Mid Wisconsin Rancho La Brea (Swift 1989). Literature. Swift 1989; U.S. Dept. of Agriculture 2000.

Last Update: 12 Mar 2014

Main Menu   Class Osteichthyes Order Cypriniformes Family Cyprinidae

Agosia chrysogaster (Girars 1856)—Longfin Dace Sites. Sangamon: La Brisca (Van Devender et al. 1985). Mid Wisconsin: Térapa (White et al. 2010). Literature Cited. Van Devender et al. 1985; White et al. 2010.

Last Update: 5 Nov 2008

Main Menu   Class Osteichthyes Order Cypriniformes Family Cyprinidae

Members of the genus Gila form a diverse assortment of primitive minnows in western United States and northwestern Mexico (Page and Burr 1991). Literature. Page and Burr 1991.

Gila sp.—Chubs Sites. Late Blancan/Irvingtonian: Anza-Borrego Desert (Gensler et al. 2006) ?Rancholabrean: Bedford Properties (Jefferson 1991a). Wisconsin: Mojave River Bluffs (Jefferson 1991a). Late Wisconsin: Antelope Cave (Reynolds, Reynolds Bell, and Pitzer 1991). Literature Cited. Gensler et al. 2006; Jefferson 1991a.

Gila bicolor (Girard 1856)—Tui Chub The Tui Chub currently is widely distributed in the internal drainages of Nevada and southern California within our region (Page and Burr 1991). Sites. Irvingtonian/Rancholabrean: Manix Lake (Jefferson 1991a). Rancholabrean: Cool Water Coal Gasification Solid Waste Site (Jefferson 1991a); Silver Lake (Jefferson 1991a). Wisconsin: Coyote Lake (Jefferson 1991a). Late Wisconsin: China Lake (Jefferson 1991a).

Literature. Jefferson 1991a; Page and Burr 1991.

Gila elegans Baird and Girard 1853—Bonytail Chub The current distribution is within the Colorado River Basin (Page and Burr 1991). Sites. Rancholabrean: Flowing Wells no. 10, East Mesa (Jefferson 1991a). Literature. Jefferson 1991a; Page and Burr 1991.

Gila orcutti C. H. Eigenmann & R. S. Eigenmann, 1890—Arroyo Chub The Arroyo Chub is limited to coastal streams of southern California. Sites. ?Late Irvingtonian/Rancholabrean: Emery Borrow Pit (Jefferson 1991a). Sangamon: Naval Housing Unit (Jefferson 1991a). Mid Wisconsin: Rancho La Brea (Swift 1989). Literature. Jefferson 1991a); Swift 1989.

Gila robusta Baird and Girard 1853— Roundtail Chub Van Devender and Worthington (1977) tentatively reported this fish on the basis of a vertebra from the 60-70 cm depth of Howell's Ridge Cave. Presumably this reflects permanent water in nearby Playas Lake, which has internal drainage. Playas Lake currently holds water only intermittently. At present, the nearest approaches of this medium-sized fish are in the Gila River drainage to the north and the Rio

Bavispe to the southwest (map of current distribution). Sites. Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Howell's Ridge Cave (Van Devender and Worthington 1977: cf.). Literature. Van Devender and Worthington 1977

Last Update: 28 May 2014

Main Menu   Class Osteichthyes Order Cypriniformes Family Cyprinidae

Ptychocheilus sp.—Pike-minnow Historically, one species (P. lucius, Colorado Squawfish) inhabited the Colorado River drainage (Page and Burr 1991). Sites. Irvingtonian: El Golfo (Croxen et al. 2007: cf.). Literature. Croxen et al. 2007; Page and Burr 1991.

Last Update: 15 May 2014

Main Menu   Class Osteichthyes Order Cypriniformes Family Cyprinidae

Rhinichthys osculus (Girard 1856)—Speckled Dace Page and Burr (1991) noted this species as the most ubiquitous fish in the western United States, occurring from British Columbia south into Sonora. Czaplewski and Mead et al. (1999) reported this fish from Papago Springs Cave on the basis of a lower pharyngeal element. Sites. Mid Wisconsin: Papago Springs Cave (Czaplewski and Mead et al. 1999). Literature. Czaplewski and Mead et al. 1999; Page and Burr 1991.

Last Update: 15 May 2014

Main Menu   Class Osteichthyes Order Cyprinodontiformes Family Poeciliidae

Poeciliopsis occidentalis or Poeciliopsis monacha-occidentalis—Gila Topminnow or All-female Topminnow Poeciliopsis monacha-occidentalis is used to designate an all-female form of the Gila Minnow (Van Devender et al. 1985). Both this form and P. occidentalis occur at La Brisca today (Van Devender et al. 1985). Sites. Sangamon: La Brisca (Van Devender et al. 1985). Literature Cited. Van Devender et al. 1985.

Last Update: 5 Nov 2008

Main Menu   Class Osteichthyes Order Cypriniformes Family Catostomidae

Catostomus discobolus Cope 1871— Bluehead Sucker Miller and Smith (1984) reported presumed late Wisconsin remains from Stanton's Cave. The species occurs nearby now in the Colorado River. Sites. Late Wisconsin: Stanton's Cave (Miller and Smith 1984). Literature Cited. Miller and Smith 1984.

Last Update: 12 Jan 2013

Main Menu   Class Osteichthyes Order Cypriniformes Family Catostomidae

Catostomus wigginsi Herre & Brock in Herre, 1936—Opata Sucker Sites. Sangamon: La Brisca (Van Devender et al. 1985). Literature Cited. Van Devender et al. 1985.

Last Update: 5 Nov 2008

Main Menu   Class Osteichthyes Order Cypriniformes Family Catostomidae

Xyrauchen sp.—Razorback Sucker Croxen et al. (2007) reported this fish from El Golfo, Sonora, Mexico. Sites. Irvingtonian: El Golfo (Croxen et al. 2007. Literature Cited. Croxen et al. 2007.

Xyrauchen texanus (Abbott 1860)— Razorback Sucker Historically present in medium and large rivers of the Colorado River Basin (Page and Burr 1991). Sites. Late Blancan/Irvingtonian: Anza-Borrego Desert (Gensler et al. 2006: cf.) Rancholabrean: Flowing Wells no. 3, East Mesa (Jefferson 1991a). Literature. Gensler et al. 2006; Jefferson 1991a; Page and Burr 1991.

Last Update: 15 May 2014

Main Menu   Class Osteichthyes Order Siluriformes Family Ictaluridae

Ictaluridae—Catfish Catfish of various species occur natively in New Mexico, mostly in the eastern drainages and into the Rio Grande. The Blancan beds in the vicinity of La Union produced a single specimen (a fragment of pectoral spine, UTEP 33-60, Fig. 1) that Vanderhill (1986) thought closely resembles that of the channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus). Vanderhill took its presence as a sign that permanent water, probably in the form of large streams, was present. Two records within our time span are identified only to the family level (as "catfish"). One is from Early Irvingtonian deposits near Albuquerque; the other from Rancholabrean deposits in the northeastern corner of New Mexico.

Fig. 1. Fossil fragment of a catfish pectoral spine from the vicinity of La Union, Doña Ana Co., NM. Sites. Early Irvingtonian: Tijeras Arroyo (Morgan and Lucas 2005). Rancholabrean: Tramperos Creek (Morgan and Lucas 2005). Literature: Morgan and Lucas 2005; Vanderhill 1986.

Main Menu   Class Osteichthyes Order Gasterosteiformes Family Gasterosteidae

Gasterosteus aculeatus Linnaeus 1758— Three-spined Stickleback Most populations of this fish live in oceanic waters but breed in brackish or freshwater; some populations, however, live entirely in freshwater. Occurrence generally is north of about 40° N latitude. Sites. Irvingtonian/Rancholabrean: Bedford Properties (Jefferson 1991a); Manix Lake (Jefferson 1991a). Rancholabrean: Cool Water Coal Gasification Solid Waste Site (Jefferson 1991a). Sangamon: Naval Housing Unit (Jefferson 1991a); San Pedro Lumber Co. (Jefferson 1991a). Wisconsin: Coyote Lake (Jefferson 1991a). Mid Wisconsin: Rancho La Brea (Swift 1989). Literature Cited. Jefferson 1991a; Swift 1989.

Last Update: 28 Feb 2014

Main Menu   Class Osteichthyes Order Scorpaeniformes Family Cottidae

Leptocottus armatus Girard 1854—Pacific Staghorn Sculpin Sites. Sangamon: Naval Housing Unit (Jefferson 1991a). Literature Cited. Jefferson 1991a.

Last Update: 17 Jan 2014

Main Menu   Class Amphibia

Ambystoma—Mole Salamanders // Aneides —Arboreal Salamanders // Batrachoseps—Slender Salamanders // Taricha—Western Newts // Class Anura—Frogs and Toads Class Amphibia—Amphibians Those amphibians of our region that are represented as fossils are tied to water for reproduction. Eggs of these forms are laid in water and hatch into a larval, aquatic stage (the tadpole or pollywog). The larvae eventually undergo a gradual metamorphosis with some structures, such as external gills, being absorbed and other structures, such as legs, forming. Lacking waterproof skins, the adults must stay in habitats moist enough to prevent desiccation. Our amphibians fall into two taxonomic orders: Caudata (salamanders) and Anura (frogs and toads). Except for California, the former is represented in the regional fossil record only by the genus Ambystoma. Adult salamanders often are found some distance from water, moving about during wet weather and otherwise sheltering in high-humidity microhabitats such as rodent burrows. Various anurans have been recovered from fossil sites within the region. As adults, some, such as the ranids and hylids, are tied closely to water, receiving some protection from terrestrial predators and from drying out. The adult spadefoot toads, however, spend much of their time in suspended animation underground except during the rainy season and generally enter standing water only for reproduction. All of the amphibians presumably would benefit from increased effective precipitation.

Last Update: 15 May 2014

Main Menu   Class Amphibia Order Caudata Family Ambystomatidae

Ambystoma sp.—Mole Salamanders McMullen and Zakrzewski (1972) listed this salamander from the possibly Illinoian Casados local fauna. In view of the uncertainty of age, assignment is to the Rancholabrean. Sites. Late Blancan: Caballo (Morgan et al. 2011); Kelly Canyon (Morgan et al. 2011). Rancholabrean: Casados Ranch (Morgan and Lucas 2005). Late Wisconsin: VLA (Morgan et al. 2009). Literature Cited. McMullen and Zakrzewski 1972; Morgan et al. 2009; Morgan et al. 2011.

Ambystoma mavortium Baird 1850—Barred Tiger Salamander Synonyms. Ambystoma tigrinum. Southwestern tiger salamanders have generally been recognized as A. tigrinum. Shaffer and McKnight (1996), however, published evidence that the subspecies A. tigrinum tigrinum is a species distinct from other subspecies of tiger salamanders. Thus the more western populations, as a different species from A. tigrinum, received the next available name, A. mavortium. Most authorities have accepted this changed taxonomy. Published records of fossils from our region have been under the name A. tigrinum. In the Southwest, most assignments to species of ambystomatid salamanders likely are on the basis of geography rather than morphology since there is only one lowland salamander in the region today (other regional salamanders are small, montane forms). The result is the tendency to assign any moderate-size salamander to this species, and late Wisconsin occurrences are listed here as that species.

Most moderate to large faunas include at least a few specimens. Although often taken to imply wet conditions, individuals often occur in arid situations well away from standing water, taking refuge in crevices and rodent burrows; pools of water are necessary for breeding, however.

 

Fig. 1 (left). Barred Tiger Salamander (Ambystoma mavortium). Photograph by Carl S. Lieb. Fig. 2 (right). Fossil Ambystoma mavortium vertebra from Harris' Pocket, Dry Cave. Sites. Late Blancan: California Wash (Morgan and White 2005); Curtis Ranch (Brattstrom 1955). Medial Irvingtonian: SAM Cave (Rogers et al. 2000). Rancholabrean: Papago Springs Cave (Czaplewski and Mead et al. 1999: cf.); Pit Stop Quarry (Mead 2005; Murray et al. 2005); Tramperos Creek (White and Morgan 2011). Wisconsin: White Lake (UTEP).

Mid Wisconsin: Papago Springs Cave (Czaplewski and Mead et al. 1999: cf.); Pendejo Cave (Harris 2003); U-Bar Cave (Harris 1987). Mid/Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Jimenez Cave (Messing 1986); Sierra Diablo Cave (UTEP). Late Wisconsin: Animal Fair 18-20 ka (Harris 1993c); Arroyo de las Tinajas 7A (UTEP); Balcony Room (UTEP); Bison Chamber (Holman 1970); Charlies Parlor (Harris 1993c); Dark Canyon Cave (UTEP); Estancia Valley (Bachhuber 1990); Harris' Pocket (Holman 1970); Lake Otero (UTEP); Pendejo Cave (Harris 2003); Stalag 17 (Harris 1993c); TT II (Harris 1993c); U-Bar Cave 14-15 ka; U-Bar Cave 15-18 ka; U-Bar Cave 18-22 ka (UTEP). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Bat Cave (Scarbrough 1986); Conkling Cavern (UTEP); Howell's Ridge Cave (Van Devender and Worthington 1977); Pendejo Cave (Harris 2003); SAM Cave (Rogers et al. 2000); Sheep Camp Shelter (Harris 1993c). Literature Cited. Bachhuber 1989; Brattstrom 1955; Czaplewski and Mead et al. 1999; Harris 1993c, 2003; Holman 1970; Mead 2005; Messing 1986; Morgan and White 2005; Murray et al. 2005; Rogers et al. 2000; Scarbrough 1986; Shaffer and McKnight 1996; Van Devender and Worthington 1977; White and Morgan 2011.

Last Update: 23 Oct 2013

Main Menu   Class Amphibia Order Caudata Family Plethodontidae

Lungless Salamanders Aneides lugubris (Hallowell 1849)—Arboreal Salamander Arboreal Salamanders occur in southern California and Baja California, usually in oak woodlands and thick chaparral (Stock and Harris 1992). Sites. Sangamon: Newport Bay Mesa (Jefferson 1991a). Wisconsin: Costeau Pit (Jefferson 1991a). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Rancho La Brea (Stock and Harris 1992). Literature Cited. Jefferson 1991a; Stock and Harris 1992.

Batrachoseps sp.—Slender Salamanders Two species of Batrachoseps are known to occupy the Channel Islands at present and, along with Aneides lugubris, are the only salamanders known to be present (Mead et al. 2004). Sites. Late Wisconsin: Carrington Point, Santa Rosa Island (Mead et al. 2004). Literature Cited. Mead et al. 2004).

Last Update: 15 May 2014

Main Menu   Class Amphibia Order Caudata Family Salamandridae

Taricha sp.—Western Newts Sites. ?Late Irvingtonian/Rancholabrean: Emery Borrow Pit (Jefferson 1991a). Rancholabrean: Century City, Los Angeles (Jefferson 1991a). Sangamon: Newport Bay Mesa (Jefferson 1991a); San Pedro Lumber Co. (Jefferson 1991a). Literature Cited. Jefferson 1991a.

Taricha torosa (Rathke 1833)—California Newt Sites. Sangamon: Naval Housing Unit (Jefferson 1991a: cf.). Literature Cited. Jefferson 1991a.

Last Update: 26 Jan 2014

Main Menu   Class Amphibia Order Anura

Bufonidae —True Toads // Craugastoridae —Barking Frogs // Hylidae—Tree Frogs // Leptodactylidae—Neotropical Thin-toed Frogs // Microhylidae—Narrowmouth Frogs // Ranidae—Leopard Frogs // Scaphiopodidae—Spadefoots Anura—Frogs, Toads, and Relatives As with many other tetrapods, taxonomic re-classification, especially at the higher taxonomic levels, is currently active. Thus for most of the period during which the literature on fossil anurans in our region was published, the spadefoots were considered to be in the family Pelobatidae and the barking frogs in the Leptodactylidae. Members of the order vary widely in their moisture requirements, though there is a fairly direct correlation between the number of species of anurans of an area and how mesic the area is. A number of sites have unstudied anuran specimens, but have not been listed if "Anura" is the lowest taxonomic level listed. The lack of systematic identification of anuran remains from many of the Quaternary sites means that relatively little confidence can be placed in the absence of specific taxa in a time or place. Furthermore, considerable doubt has been raised in recent years that much of the herpetological fauna can be identified to species at our current level of understanding —see "Taxa Introduction".

Last Update: 6 Nov 2013

Main Menu Class Amphibia Order Anura Family Bufonidae

Anaxyrus/Incilius—Nearctic or Middle American Toads // Anaxyrus—Nearctic Toads // Incilius—Middle American Toads Bufonidae Laurenti 1768—True Toads The common name of the family sometimes is given as Common Toads, which fits well since various members occur from low desert to high mountains and many have fairly large populations. Until recently, all members of the family in our region were assigned to the genus Bufo. Nomenclature has been changing rapidly; when this page first went up, the Center for North American Herpetology, our standard for herpetological taxonomy, recognized two genera (Anaxyrus and Ollotis) within our region, with the genus Bufo having been limited to the eastern hemisphere (Frost et al. 2006). Now, our species that had been placed in the genus Ollotis have been assigned to the genus Incilius (Frost et al. 2009). Bever (2005) conducted extensive research on the utility of the bufonid ilium, an element frequently used for identification of fossil taxa. The beginning of his discussion and conclusions section is quoted below (Bever 2005): My data indicate that characters traditionally used to identify fossil ilia of North American Bufo exhibit too much intraspecific variation and are too widely distributed among species to be useful in species-level identifications. No discrete characters or nonoverlapping continuous characters were found that unambiguously identify any of the 27 extant species and nine species groups examined in this study. Although Bever shows that some taxa may be discriminated from some other taxa (e.g., on size), there appears to be no known character or suite of characters that will separate any of the 27 extant species studied from all other North American species. This being the case, specific identifications given here are suspect. Literature. Bever 2005; Frost et al. 2006; Frost et al. 2009.

Anaxyrus/Incilius—Nearctic or Middle American Toads Taxa identified only as Bufo potentially could be now assigned to either Anaxyrus or Incilius. Sites.

Mid Wisconsin: Térapa (Mead et al. 2006). Literature. Mead et al. 2006

Last Update: 1 Nov 2013

Main Menu Class Amphibia Order Anura Family Bufonidae

Anaxyrus boreas—Western Toad // Anaxyrus cognatus —Great Plains Toad // Anaxyrus debilis —Green Toad // Anaxyrus kelloggi—Little Mexican Toad // Anaxyrus microscaphus —Southwestern Toad // Anaxyrus punctatus—Red-spotted Toad // Anaxyrus woodhousii— Woodhouse's Toad

Anaxyrus sp.—True Toads Synonyms. Bufo As a group, the Pleistocene fossil anurans of the region have been understudied. Several sites have a fair amount of bufonid material that have been identified only to genus. The specimens likely represent Anaxyrus, not Incilius. Van Devender and Worthington (1977) identified two small members of the genus from Howell's Ridge Cave to species, but in addition noted the presence of material representing one or more large species, citing as possibilities A. cognatus, A. woodhousii, and A. speciosus. Sites. Late Blancan: Caballo (Morgan et al. 2011: ?). Late Blancan/Irvingtonian: Vallecito Creek, Anza-Borrego Desert (Cassiliano 1999). Early Irvingtonian: Gypsum Ridge (Wagner and Prothero 2001). Rancholabrean: Bedford Properties (Jefferson 1991a); Century City, Los Angeles (Jefferson 1991a); Tule Springs (Springer et al. 2005); Tramperos Creek (Morgan and Lucas 2005). Sangamon: Naval Housing Unit (Jefferson 1991a); San Pedro Lumber Co. (Jefferson 1991a). Mid Wisconsin: U-Bar Cave (Harris 1987). Mid/Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Sierra Diablo Cave (UTEP). Late Wisconsin: Charlies Parlor (Harris 1989); U-Bar Cave 13-14 ka (Harris 1989); U-

Bar Cave 14-15 ka (Harris 1989); U-Bar Cave 15-18 ka (Harris 1989); U-Bar Cave 18-20 ka (Harris 1989); Valley Wells (Springer et al. 2010: cf.); White Lake (Harris 1993c: cf.). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Conkling Cavern (UTEP); Howell's Ridge Cave (Van Devender and Worthington 1977); Pendejo Cave (Harris 2003). Literature. Cassiliano 1999; Harris 1987, 1989, 1993c; Jefferson 1991a; Morgan and Lucas 2005; , Springer et al. 2005, 2010, Van Devender and Worthington 1977; Wagner and Prothero 2001.

Anaxyrus boreas (Baird & Girard, 1852)—Western Toad Synonyms. Bufo boreas, Bufo nestor. The Western Toad is widely spread from Alaska to Baja California Norte and east through the Intermontane West and the Rockies. Sites. ?Late Irvingtonian/Rancholabrean: Emery Borrow Pit (Jefferson 1991a). Sangamon: Newport Bay Mesa (Jefferson 1991a>. Wisconsin: Costeau Pit (Jefferson 1991a). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Diamond Valley (Spring et al. 2009: cf.); Rancho La Brea (Brattstrom 1953; Tihen 1962). Literature. Brattstrom 1953; Springer et al. 2009; Tihen 1962.

Anaxyrus cognatus (Say 1823)—Great Plains Toad Synonyms. Bufo cognatus Applegarth (1979) reported this toad, currently rather widespread in the Southwest, to be limited to areas of deep, soft alluvium. His identifications from the Animal Fair deposits in Dry Cave indicated a rather low frequency, leading him to suggest that occurrence was not strictly local but probably represented predator carry-ins from the Pecos Valley to the east. Fig. 1. Anaxyrus cognatus. Photograph by Carl S. Lieb.

Sites. Sangamon: La Brisca (Van Devender et al. 1985: cf.). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Animal Fair, prepleniglacial (Applegarth 1979). Late Wisconsin: Animal Fair 18-20 ka (Applegarth 1979); TT II (Harris 1993c: cf.). Literature. Harris 1993c; Applegarth 1979; Van Devender et al. 1985.

Anaxyrus debilis (Girard 1854)—Green Toad Synonyms. Bufo debilis Van Devender and Worthington (1977) gave grassland and desertscrub habitats as typical for this small toad. Applegarth (1979) gave semiarid grassland with relatively warm temperatures and with summer precipitation as their preferred habitat. Its absence from fullglacial deposits in southeastern New Mexico is not surprising. Fig. 1. Anaxyrus debilis. Photograph by Carl S. Lieb. Sites. Late Wisconsin: U-Bar Cave 15-18 ka (Harris 1989: cf.). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Howell's Ridge Cave, 120-130 cm level (Van Devender and Worthington 1977). Literature. Applegarth 1979; Harris 1989; Van Devender and Worthington 1977

Anaxyrus kelloggi Taylor 1936—Little Mexico Toad The occurrence at La Brisca is to the northeast of its present known distribution (Van Devender

et al. 1985). Sites. Sangamon: La Brisca (Van Devender et al. 1985: cf.). Literature Cited. Van Devender et al. 1985.

Anaxyrus microscaphus (Cope, 1866)— Arizona Toad

Synonyms. Bufo microscaphus The identification of this toad from U-Bar Cave is extremely tentative. Fig. 1. Anaxyrus microscaphus. Photograph courtesy of Jeff Servoss and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Sites. Mid/Late Wisconsin: Rancho La Brea (Stock and Harris 1992). Late Wisconsin: U-Bar Cave 14-15 ka (Harris 1989: ?). Literature. Harris 1989; Stock and Harris 1992.

Anaxyrus punctatus (Baird & Girard 1852)—Red-spotted Toad Synonyms. Bufo punctatus This rock-loving toad appears to be one of a suite of vertebrates moving into the southern portions of the region in the terminal Wisconsin,

presumably in response to warmer summer temperatures and, possibly, increased summer precipitation. Today, it occurs in New Mexico in rocky habitats up to about 1800-2000 m (Applegarth 1979; Van Devender and Worthington 1977). Fig. 1. Anaxyrus punctatus. Photograph by Carl S. Lieb. Late Wisconsin: Red Tail Peak Midden (Jefferson 1991a); TT II (UTEP: cf.); Tunnel Ridge Midden (Jefferson 1991a); U-Bar Cave (UTEP: cf.); Wolcott Peak #5 (Mead 2005). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Balcony Room (Holman 1970); Deadman Cave (Mead et al. 1984); Howell's Ridge Cave (Van Devender and Worthington 1977). Rejected. Late Wisconsin: Bison Chamber (Holman 1970): rejected by Applegarth (1979) as a misidentification. Literature. Applegarth 1979; Holman 1970; Jefferson 1991a; Mead 2005; Mead et al. 1984; Van Devender and Worthington 1977.

Anaxyrus punctatus/retiformis—Red-spotted Toad or Sonoran Green Toad Sites. Sangamon: La Brisca (Van Devender et al. 1985). Literature. Van Devender et al. 1985.

Anaxyrus punctatus/woodhousii—Red-spotted/Woodhouse's Toad Synonyms. Bufo punctatus/Bufo woodhousii Czaplewski and Mead et al. (1999) were able to narrow down two ilia from Papago Springs Cave to one or the other of these two species. Sites. Mid Wisconsin: Papago Springs Cave (Czaplewski and Mead et al. 1999). Literature. Czaplewski, Mead, et al. 1999.

Anaxyrus woodhousii (Girard 1854)—Woodhouse's Toad Synonyms. Bufo woodhousei This widespread toad apparently tends to prefer a relatively sandy substrate and somewhat mesic conditions according to Applegarth (1979), who also remarked that it is absent from Eddy County, NM, today except along the Pecos northward from Lake McMillan (a lake formed by damming the Pecos River north of Carlsbad). Holman (1970) made a point of comparing the Dry Cave specimens that he examined with an extinct Pleistocene subspecies of Anaxyrus woodhousii (A. w. bexarensis). The latter is recorded from Pleistocene sites on the Edward's Plateau, to the east, and at Lubbock Lake in the Panhandle of Texas (Johnson 1987). Large size appears to be the sole criterion for recognition of the subspecies. The New Mexican specimens represent A. w. woodhousii. Fig. 1. Anaxyrus woodhousii. Photograph by Carl S. Lieb. Sites. Mid/Late Wisconsin: Animal Fair pre-pleniglacial (Applegarth 1979); Dark Canyon

Cave (Applegarth 1979). Late Wisconsin: Animal Fair 18-20 ka (Applegarth 1979); Bison Chamber (Holman 1970); Harris' Pocket (Holman 1970). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Deadman Cave (Mead et al. 1984); Fowlkes Cave (Parmley 1988); Howell's Ridge Cave (Van Devender and Worthington 1977); U-Bar Cave (UTEP: ?). Literature. Applegarth 1979; Holman 1970; Johnson 1987; Mead et al. 1984; Parmley 1988; Van Devender and Worthington 1977.

Last Update: 15 May 2014

Main Menu Class Amphibia Order Anura Family Bufonidae

Incilius alvarius—Sonoran Desert Toad // Incilius mazatlanensis — Sinaloa Toad // Incilius nebulifer—Coastal Plain Toad Incilius alvarius (Girard 1859)—Sonoran Desert Toad Synonyms. Bufo alvarius, Cranopsis alvaria, Ollotis alvaria. Today, the

Sonoran Desert Toad just barely makes it into the extreme southwestern tip of New Mexico's bootheel on the east, where the Yaqui River drainage enters New Mexico, but inhabits most of the southern half of Arizona. The only fossil New Mexican record for the area is relatively close to the eastern limits, at U-Bar Cave. A large permanent spring is within several miles of the cave today and Pleistocene Playas Lake occurred to the northwest, both likely presenting suitable habitat. Fig. 1. Incilius alvarius. Photograph courtesy of Jeff Servoss and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. This is a very large toad, as can be seen in Fig. 2, where a partial tibiofibula is compared to the same element tentatively identified as that of Anaxyrus woodhousii. Fig. 2. U-Bar Cave specimens of Incilius alvarius. A partial tibiofibula (center) (U-Bar Cave, 5689-1-158) is compared to the same element in a moderately large toad (Anaxyrus ? woodhousii, 5689-73-29) (right) from the same site. The vertebra (5689-140-59) is shown from the anterior (top) and in dorsal

aspect. Sites. Late Blancan: California Wash (Lindsay 1984). Irvingtonian: El Golfo (Croxen et al. 2007). Sangamon: La Brisca (Van Devender et al. 1985). Mid Wisconsin: U-Bar Cave

(UTEP). Late Wisconsin: U-Bar Cave 15-18 ka (Harris 1989).

Literature. Croxen et al. 2007; Harris 1989; Lindsay 1984; Van Devender et al. 1985.

Incilius mazatlanensis (Taylor 1940)—Sinaloa Toad Synonyms. Bufo mazatlanensis, Cranopsis mazatlanensis. Sites. Sangamon: La Brisca (Van Devender et al. 1985). Literature Cited. Van Devender et al. 1985.

Incilius nebulifer (Girard 1854)—Coastal Plain Toad

Synonyms. Bufo valliceps, Bufo nebulifer, Cranopsis nebulifer, Ollotis nebulifer. The Fowlkes Cave record apparently is about 150 km north-northwest of the nearest present-day occurrence in Brewster County, Texas (Parmley 1988). Fig. 1. Incilius nebulifer. Photograph courtesy of Dana Drake, Amphibian Research and Monitoring Initiative, U.S. Geological Survey. Sites. Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Fowlkes Cave (Parmley 1988). Literature. Parmley 1988.

Last Update: 15 May 2014

Main Menu   Class Amphibia Order Anura Family Craugastoridae

Craugastor augusti (Dugés 1877)—Barking Frog Synonyms. Eleutherodactylus augusti, Hylactophryne augusti. Fig. 1. A modern specimen of Craugastor augusti. Photograph courtesy of Carl Lieb. Perceived rarity may be because it apparently spends much of its time in deep limestone crevices and other such protected places. Applegarth (1979) summarized modern occurrences in southeastern New Mexico and

reported remains from Dark Canyon Cave and two archaeological sites (one of which may have had Pleistocene material present). "In Arizona, it is rare in habitats similar to the la [sic] Brisca fossil site" (Van Devender et al. 1985:34). Sites. Sangamon: La Brisca (Van Devender et al. 1985). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Dark Canyon Cave (Applegarth 1979). Literature. Applegarth 1979; Van Devender et al. 1985.

Last Update: 6 Nov 2008

Main Menu Class Amphibia Order Anura Family Hylidae

Hyla arenicolor —Canyon Treefrog // Hyla wrightorum—Arizona Treefrog // Pseudacris cadaverina—California Treefrog // Pseudacris rigilla —Pacific Treefrog // Pseudacris triseriata —Western Chorus Frog // Smilisca fodiens —Lowland Burrowing Treefrog Hyla sp.—Treefrogs Treefrogs are small anurans noted for their climbing abilities. Although frequently active out of water, water will be nearby. Sites. ?Late Irvingtonian/Rancholabrean: Emery Borrow Pit (Jefferson 1991a). Rancholabrean: Tule Springs (Springer et al. 2005: large sp. and small sp.). Rancholabrean (Sangamonian): Papago Springs Cave (Czaplewski and Mead et al. 1999). Mid Wisconsin: Papago Springs Cave (Czaplewski and Mead et al. 1999); Térapa (White et al. 2010). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Rancho La Brea (Brattstrom 1953). Late Wisconsin: Valley Wells (Springer et al. 2010). Literature. Brattstrom 1953; Czaplewski and Mead et al. 1999; Jefferson 1991a; Springer et al. 2005, 2010; White et al. 2010.

Hyla arenicolor Cope 1886—Canyon Treefrog An inhabitant of rocky canyons, this small frog was tentatively identified only by a single element (a 3rd vertebra) from a single stratigraphic level (150-160 cm) from Howell's Ridge Cave. Van Devender and Worthington

(1977) separated it from H. eximia wrightorum on the basis of the relatively larger neural canal. The taxon was identified from La Brisca on the basis of a number of ilia (Van Devender et al. 1985). Fig. 1. Canyon Treefrog (Hyla arenicolor). Photograph by Carl S. Lieb. The pads that can be seen at the end of the toes allow these frogs to easily climb vertical surfaces and are typical of the members of the family. Sites. Sangamon: La Brisca (Van Devender et al. 1985). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Howell's Ridge Cave (Van Devender and Worthington 1977: cf.). Literature. Van Devender and Worthington 1977; Van Devender et al. 1985.

Hyla wrightorum Taylor 1939—Arizona Treefrog Synonyms. Hyla eximia. Lindsay (1984) reported Hyla eximia from California Wash. Since then, the northern populations have been recognized as a separate species, H. wrightorum (Duellman 2001). The Arizona Treefrog currently occurs in the mountains of central Arizona and centralwestern New Mexico. A disjunct population occurs in the Huachuca Mountains of southeastern Arizona, and other populations occur south in Mexico. Occurrence usually is in damp or wet areas such as along streams or in marshes in higher elevations. Sites. Late Blancan: California Wash (Lindsay 1984)

Literature. Duellman 2001; Lindsay 1984.

Pseudacris cadaverina (Baird & Girard, 1852)— California Treefrog Sites. Mid/Late Wisconsin: Diamond Valley (Springer et al. 2009: cf.). Literature. Springer et al. 2009.

Pseudacris rigilla (Cope 1866)— Pacific Treefrog Sites. Sangamon: Newport Bay Mesa (Jefferson 1991a). Literature. Jefferson 1991a.

Pseudacris triseriata (Wied-Neuwied 1838)—Western Chorus Frog Both Holman (1970) and Applegarth (1979) have identified this small hylid from Dry Cave sites. Applegarth placed the point of nearest known modern occurrence as 327 km to the northwest and interpreted the frog as very common near the cave and indicative of "substantial winter snowfall and plenty of green grass in the summer" (p. 86).

Fig. 1. Western Chorus Frog (Pseudacris triseriata). Photograph courtesy of US Geological Survey, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center. Sites. Medial Irvingtonian: SAM Cave (Rogers et al. 2000). Late Wisconsin: Animal Fair 18-20 ka (Applegarth 1979); Harris' Pocket (Holman 1970); TT II (Harris 1993c). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: SAM Cave (Rogers et al. 2000). Literature. Applegarth 1979; Holman 1970; Rogers et al. 2000.

Smilisca fodiens (Boulenger 1882)—Lowland Burrowing Treefrog Synonyms. Pternohyla fodiens. This hylid is an inhabitant of arid subtropical habitats and occurs relatively near the La Brisca site at present (Van Devender et al. 1985). Sites. Sangamon: La Brisca (Van Devender et al. 1985). Literature. Van Devender et al. 1985.

Last Update: 15 May 2014

Main Menu   Class Amphibia Order Anura Family Leptodactylidae

Leptodactylus melanonotus (Hallowell 1861)—Sabinal Frog Current occupied habitat in southern Sonora is subtropical riparian growth with permanent surface water (Van Devender et al. 1985). Sites. Sangamon: La Brisca (Van Devender et al. 1985). Literature. Van Devender et al. 1985.

Last Update: 6 Nov 2008

Main Menu Class Amphibia Order Anura Family Microhylidae

Gastrophryne olivacea Hallowell 1856—Western Narrow-mouth Toad Narrow-mouthed Frogs of the species G. olivacea, the species currently inhabiting our region, include populations in southernmost Arizona south into Mexico, then east and north again into the Great Plains. Sites. Sangamon: La Brisca (Van Devender et al. 1985: cf.). Mid Wisconsin: Papago Springs Cave (Czaplewski and Mead et al. 1999: cf. gen.). Literature. Czaplewski and Mead et al. 1999; Van Devender et al. 1985

Last Update: 6 Nov 2013

Main Menu Class Amphibia Order Anura Family Ranidae

Lithobates sp.—True Frogs // Lithobates catesbeianus —Bullfrog // Lithobates blairi/pipiens —Plains/Northern Leopard Frog // Lithobates pipiens Group —Leopard Frogs // Rana sp.—Brown Frogs // Rana aurora —Northern Red-legged Frog Ranidae—True Frogs The genus Rana has been split into two genera (in our region), with Rana (Brown Frogs) now restricted to taxa of the Pacific region and the remaining North American ranids being placed in the genus Lithobates (North American True Frogs). All specimens from our region were published under the name Rana. Although ranids tend to be fairly easily identified to family from fragmentary remains, the recognition in recent years of a number of species earlier subsumed under the species Rana pipiens leaves many past identifications suspect and greatly complicates specific identification of medium sized "leopard frogs."

Lithobates sp.—North American True Frogs Some specimens have not been identified beyond the genus Lithobates and are listed here. Synonyms. Rana Sites. Late Blancan: California Wash (Lindsay 1984); Kelly Canyon (Morgan et al. 2011). Irvingtonian: El Golfo (Croxen et al. 2007). Rancholabrean: Alkali Flat (Morgan and Lucas 2005); Starvation Draw (Morgan and Lucas 2005); Tramperos Creek (Morgan and Lucas 2005). Wisconsin: White Lake (Harris 1993c). Mid Wisconsin: Papago Springs Cave (Czaplewski and Mead et al. 1999); Térapa (Mead et al. 2006). Late Wisconsin: Animal Fair (UTEP); Arroyo de las Tinajas 7A (UTEP); Blackwater Loc.

No. 1 (Slaughter 1975); VLA (Morgan and Lucas 2005); TT II (UTEP). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Deadman Cave (Mead et al. 1984); Fowlkes Cave (Parmley 1988); Howell's Ridge Cave (UTEP). Literature. Croxen et al. 2007; Czaplewski and Mead et al. 1999; Harris 1993c; Lindsay 1984; Mead et al. 1984; Mead et al. 2006; Morgan and Lucas 2005; Morgan et al. 2011; Parmley 1988; Slaughter 1975.

Lithobates catesbeianus (Shaw 1802)— Bullfrog Synonyms. Rana catesbeiana Wiley (1972) reported this large frog from Dark Canyon Cave, but Applegarth found the material (two vertebrae) to represent a large Woodhouse's Toad and a somewhat smaller, unidentifiable toad. Johnson (1987) reported Bullfrog material from Lubbock Lake, in the Panhandle of Texas east of our area. This is an eastern species occurring west into the Great Plains. It has been widely introduced in historic times, including sites in New Mexico and Arizona. Fig. 1. Photograph of Lithobates catesbeianus, courtesy of the U.S. Geological Survey. Rejected Sites. Mid/Late Wisconsin: Dark Canyon Cave (Wiley 1972); misidentified according to Applegarth (1979). Literature. Applegarth 1979; Johnson 1987; Wiley 1972.

Lithobates blairi/pipiens (Mecham et al. 1973/Schreber 1782)—Plains/Northern Leopard Frog Synonyms. Rana blairi/pipiens Applegarth (1979) discussed the modern distribution and habitats of leopard frogs in New Mexico. Lithobates berlandieri represents a relatively warm-adapted species now reaching only extreme southeastern New Mexico; it is unknown from the region as a fossil. Lithobates

blairi, in the same species group as L. pipiens, is characteristic of open grasslands in eastern New Mexico and isolated populations across southern New Mexico into southeastern Arizona. Lithobates pipiens occurs in the northern and western mountains and down the Rio Grande Valley as far as El Paso, Texas. Applegarth (1979) believed some of the Animal Fair ranids represent Lithobates pipiens, but that possibly L. blairi also was present. He also noted that L. pipiens may be represented at Dark Canyon Cave. Fig. 1. Lithobates pipiens. Image courtesy of USGS Western Ecological Research Center, photograph by Brad Shaffer. Sites. Mid/Late Wisconsin: Dark Canyon Cave (Applegarth 1979: cf.). Late Wisconsin: Animal Fair 18-20 ka (Applegarth 1979); Bison Chamber (Harris 1993c). Literature. Applegarth 1979; Harris 1993c.

Lithobates pipiens Group—Leopard Frogs Synonyms. Rana pipiens Group Most of the records given here were published as Rana pipiens (=Lithobates pipiens), but date from before the full extent of the leopard-frog taxonomic problem was appreciated. Thus they may represent L. pipiens or some other, related species. Sites.

Sangamon: La Brisca (Van Devender et al. 1985). Mid Wisconsin-Holocene: Shelter Cave (Brattstrom 1964: cf). Late Wisconsin: Brown Sand Wedge (Slaughter 1975); Gypsum Cave (Brattstrom 1954). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Howell's Ridge Cave (Van Devender and Worthington 1977: cf.). Literature. Brattstrom 1954; Morgan et al. 2011; Slaughter 1975; Van Devender and Worthington 1977; Van Devender et al. 1985.

Rana sp.—Brown Frogs Sites. Rancholabrean: Bedford Properties (Jefferson 1991a); Tule Springs (Springer et al. 2005). Sangamon: Naval Housing Unit (Jefferson 1991a: ? gen.); San Pedro Lumber Co. (Jefferson 1991a: cf. gen.). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Diamond Valley (Spring et al. 2009). Late Wisconsin: La Mirada (Jefferson 1991a: cf. gen.). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Calico Lakes (Jefferson 1991a). Literature. Jefferson 1991a); Springer et al. 2005, 2009.

Rana aurora Baird & Girard, 1852—Northern Red-legged Frog It is unclear whether the fossil taxa should be assigned to this species or to Rana draytonii (California Red-legged Frog). At the time these frogs were identified, R. draytonii was considered a subspecies of the Northern Redlegged Frog. Although it seems more likely that R. draytonii is the taxon involved, since the sites are within its current general range, it is listed here as given by Jefferson (1991a) and Brattstrom (1953). Sites. ?Late Irvingtonian/Rancholabrean: Emery Borrow Pit (Jefferson 1991a).

Sangamon: Newport Bay Mesa (Jefferson 1991a). Wisconsin: Costeau Pit (Jefferson 1991a). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Rancho La Brea (Brattstrom 1953). Literature. Brattstrom 1953; Jefferson 1991a.

Last Update: 8 Jun 2014

Main Menu Class Amphibia Order Anura Family Scaphiopodidae

Scaphiopus/Spea —Spadefoots // Scaphiopus couchii —Couch's Spadefoot // Spea —Spea Spadefoots Scaphiopodidae—Spadefoots Synonyms. Pelobatidae The spadefoot toads are widespread in the lower elevations of our region. Dry and cold seasons normally are spent in limbo underground; the summer rains bring them to the surface to feed and, above all, to reproduce. At the start of the summer rainy season, temporary ponds are ringed with calling spadefoots. With luck, the eggs will hatch and the larvae mature before the ponds dry up. Most of the literature concerning fossil spadefoot toads in our region placed them in the family Pelobatidae and all of them in the genus Scaphiopus. Our spadefoots now are placed in the Scaphiopodidae and the genus has been split into two: Scaphiopus and Spea.

Last Update: 31 Dec 2009

Main Menu Class Amphibia Order Anura Family Scaphiopodidae

Scaphiopus/Spea—Spadefoot Toads Spadefoot toads tend to be rather well adapted to arid and semiarid conditions and are widespread today at low to moderate elevations in the Southwest, as they were during the Quaternary. Identifications often can be made with confidence to the family level, but assignment to genus or species may not be possible with much of the material. These toads were long assigned to the European family Pelobatidae, but relatively recently have been placed in their own family (Scaphiopodidae). Likewise, the two genera occurring in our region had been placed in a single genus, Scaphiopus, before being recognized as two separate genera. Identifications to genus made before the split into separate genera now can only be assigned to this duel classification without re-examination of the specimens. Also, many skeletal elements currently cannot be identified to genus and may end up in this category. Sites. Rancholabrean: Cool Water Coal Gasification Solid Waste Site (Jefferson 1991a). Wisconsin: White Lake (Harris 1993c: cf.). Mid Wisconsin: Papago Springs Cave (Czaplewski and Mead et al. 1999); U-Bar Cave (Harris 1989). Late Wisconsin: Harris' Pocket (Applegarth 1979); TT II (Harris 1993c); U-Bar Cave 15-18 ka (Harris 1989). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Balcony Room (Applegarth 1979). Literature. Applegarth 1979; Czaplewski and Mead et al. 1999; Harris 1989, 1993c; Jefferson 1991a.

Last Update: 25 Feb 2014

Main Menu Class Amphibia Order Anura Family Scaphiopodidae

Scaphiopus couchii Baird 1854—Couch's Spadefoot Applegarth (1979:94) indicated that although generally "associated with grasslands, the actual factors governing its distribution and relative abundance seem to be the combination of soft sandy alluvium, relatively warm summer temperatures, and summer rainfall." Absence during full-glacial times, then, is not surprising. Johnson (1987), citing personal communication from Van Devender, distinguished the urococcyx from that of S. hammondii (currently recognized as S. multiplicata in our region) and S. bombifrons by the angle between the shaft and wing being greater in the latter two species; upper surface of vertebral portion reduced in those species but not in S. couchii; and cotyle being a flat oval. Fig. 1 (left). Major skeletal elements of Scaphiopus couchii, modern specimen, and urococcyx of a modern Spea multiplicata. Upper row, left to right: ilium, tibiofibula, humerus, radioulna, femur, and coracoid; lower row, braincase, urococcyx of Scaphiopus couchii, and urococcyx of Spea multiplicata. The urococcyx of the two genera is shown in Fig. 1 (both have abnormalities on their left sides as shown). The urococcyx of Spea multiplicata has been reversed and enlarged to better allow comparison. Fig. 2 (right). Couch's Spadefoot (Scaphiopus couchii). Carl S. Lieb photograph. Sites. Sangamon: La Brisca (Van Devender et al. 1985).

Mid Wisconsin/Holocene: Shelter Cave (Brattstrom 1964: cf.). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Animal Fair, F Grid (Applegarth 1979); Dark Canyon Cave (Applegarth 1979); Shafter Midden (UTEP). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Deadman Cave (Mead et al. 1984); Howell's Ridge Cave (Van Devender and Worthington 1977). Literature. Applegarth 1979; Brattstrom 1964; Johnson 1987; Mead et al. 1984; Van Devender and Worthington 1977; Van Devender et al. 1985.

Last Update: 6 Nov 2013

Main Menu Class Amphibia Order Anura Family Scaphiopodidae

Spea bombifrons —Plains Spadefoot // Spea hammondi—Western Spadefoot // Spea multiplicata —Mexican Spadefoot Spea Cope 1866—Spea Spadefoot Toads Spadefoot toads tend to be rather well adapted to arid and semiarid conditions and are widespread today at low to moderate elevations in the Southwest, as they were during the Quaternary. Identifications often can be made with confidence to the family level, but assignment to genus or species may not be possible with much of the material.

Spea bombifrons (Cope 1863)—Plains Spadefoot Synonyms. Scaphiopus bombifrons. According to Van Devender and Worthington (1977), this toad lives in grassland and desertscrub habitats in the Southwest. As yet, it has not been identified in deposits that can be surely assigned to the full-glacial. Holman (1970) and Applegarth (1979) disagreed on the identifiability of some spadefoot-toad elements from UTEP Locs. 12 and 6; the more conservative tack has been

taken here (i.e., as identifiable only to genus where questioned— see "Rejected" below). Fig. 1. Plains Spadefoot (Spea bombifrons). Carl S. Lieb photograph. Sites. Mid/Late Wisconsin: Animal Fair, D7 L13 (Applegarth 1979). Late Wisconsin: Bison Chamber (Holman 1970).

Worthington 1977).

Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Howell's Ridge Cave (Van Devender and

Rejected Sites. Late Wisconsin: Harris' Pocket (Holman 1970); Applegarth (1979) cited as identifiable only to genus. Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Balcony Room (Holman 1970); identifiable only to genus according to Applegarth (1979). Literature. Applegarth 1979; Holman 1970; Van Devender and Worthington 1977.

Spea hammondii (Baird 1859)—Western Spadefoot Sites. Mid/Late Wisconsin: Diamond Valley (Spring et al. 2009). Literature. Springer et al. 2009.

Spea multiplicata (Cope 1863)—Mexican Spadefoot Synonyms. Scaphiopus hammondii, Scaphiopus multiplicata.

In much of the literature for our area, this has been recorded as Scaphiopus hammondii before that species was split, with the population in our region becoming S. multiplicata; yet later, it was assigned to the genus Spea.

Van Devender and Worthington (1977) noted occurrence from desert into more mesic grassland, woodland, and forest in parts of Chihuahua. Its presence in the pleniglacial fauna at Dry Cave fits well with this. Fig. 1. Mexican Spadefoot (Spea multiplicata). Carl S. Lieb photograph. Sites. Late Blancan: California Wash (Lindsay 1984). Mid Wisconsin: Pendejo Cave (Harris 2003). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Dark Canyon Cave (Applegarth 1979). Late Wisconsin: Animal Fair 18-20 ka (Applegarth 1979); Bison Chamber (Holman 1970); Picacho Peak (Mead 2005); Sheep Camp Shelter (Harris 1993c). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Deadman Cave (Mead 2005); Howell's Ridge Cave (Van Devender and Worthington 1977. Literature. Applegarth 1979; Holman 1970; Harris 1993c, 2003; Mead 2005; Van Devender and Worthington 1977.

Last Update: 15 Mar 2014

Main Menu Class Chelonia

Cheloniidae—Sea Turtles // Emydidae —Pond Turtles // Kinosternidae—Mud Turtles // Testudinidae —Tortoises Chelonia—Turtles The turtles, known under various names, including Chelonia and Testudines, have long been considered as members of the Reptilia. However, I follow here a classification that recognizes the Chelonia as a taxonomic class. For those interested, Becker et al. (2011) and their references address much of the evidence. Meylan (2001) gives characters and other information and is accessible on the web. The most notable characteristic of turtles is, of course, the shell, possessed in one form or another by all. The relatively solid armor preserves well as a fossil. Although many turtles are aquatic, those generally called tortoises are terrestrial. Most Pleistocene records of turtles in the literature from our region are of tortoises, though aquatic taxa are expectable in open sites. Literature. Becker et al. 2011; Meylan 2001.

Last Update: 26 Jan 2013

Main Menu Class Chelonia Family Cheloniidae

Chelonia mydas (Linnaeus 1758)—Green Sea Turtle Sites. Sangamon: Newport Bay Mesa (Jefferson 1991a). Literature. Jefferson 1991a.

Last Update: 26 Jan 2014

Main Menu Class Chelonia Family Emydidae

Actinemys —Pond Turtles // Terrapene —Box Turtles // Trachemys — Sliders

Emydidae—Box and Water Turtles This large family includes many aquatic species and a few that are terrestrial. One species of box turtles occurs currently in our region along with several marginal aquatic species. Two fossil box turtles and one aquatic turtle are recorded from the Pleistocene. Fig. 1. Chrysemys picta . One of the many species belonging to the Emydidae. Photograph by Carl S. Lieb.

Last Update: 5 Dec 2013

Main Menu Class Chelonia Family Emydidae

Actinemys sp.—Pond Turtles Sites. Rancholabrean: Harbor Freeway and 112-113th streets (Jefferson 1991b); Lakeview Hot Spring (Jefferson 1991a); Los Angeles Police Station (Jefferson 1991b); Salt Springs (Jefferson 1991a). Sangamon: Kelly Pits (Jefferson 1991a); Naval Fuel Reserve Quarry (Jefferson 1991a); Pacific Ave. and Olive St., San Pedro (Jefferson 1991a); San Pedro Lumber Co. (Jefferson 1991a); U. S. Veterans Hospital, Long Beach (Jefferson 1991b: cf.). Wisconsin: Zuma Creek (Jefferson 1991a). Late Wisconsin: La Mirada (Jefferson 1991a). Literature. Jefferson 1991a.

Actinemys pallida (Seeliger 1945)—Southern Western Pond Turtle Until recently, Actinemys marmorata was considered to consist of a single species; two species are now recognized (Spinks et al. 2014): A. marmorata to the north and A. pallida to the south. Fossils noted here fall into the current range of A. pallida and are recognized here as that species solely on the basis of the current geographic distribution. The Western Pond Turtle is an aquatic species of the west coast of temperate North America west of the crests of the Cascade and Sierra Nevada ranges. Synonyms. Actinemys marmorata, Clemmys marmorata. Sites. Late Blancan/Irvingtonian: Vallecito Creek, Anza-Borrego Desert (Cassiliano 1999). ?Late Irvingtonian/Rancholabrean: Emery Borrow Pit (Jefferson 1991a).

Irvingtonian/Rancholabrean: Manix Lake (Jefferson 1991a). Rancholabrean: Century City, Los Angeles (Jefferson 1991a); Flowing Wells no. 3, East Mesa (Jefferson 1991a: ? gen. et sp.); Los Angeles Brick Yard No. 3 (Jefferson 1991a). Sangamon: Naval Housing Unit (Jefferson 1991a). Wisconsin: Carpinteria (Jefferson 1991a); Costeau Pit (Jefferson 1991a). Early Wisconsin: Stevens Lake (Jefferson 1991a). Mid Wisconsin: McKittrick (Jefferson 1991a). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Diamond Valley (Springer et al. 2009); Rancho La Brea (Brattstrom 1953). Literature. Brattstrom 1953; Cassiliano 1999; Jefferson 1991a; Spinks et al. 2014; Springer et al. 2009.

Last Update: 8 Jun 2014

Class Chelonia Family Emydidae

Terrapene carolina —Eastern Box Turtle // Terrapene ornata —Ornate Box Turtle

Terrapene sp.—Box Turtles Two species of box turtles are reported as fossil from our region. Milstead (1967) summarized the fossil history of Terrapene to the mid 1960s. Today, box turtles are common throughout the lower elevations of the Trans-Pecos to Arizona and south into Mexico; only the Ornate Box Turtle (T. ornata) occurs in the U.S. portion of the region. Terrapene nelsoni occurs in the Sierra Madre Occidental of northern Mexico. The Eastern Box Turtle currently occurs in eastern Texas, thence east and north. With suitable shell material, the Eastern and Ornate box turtles can be told apart on osteological features, but most fragmentary items can be identified only to genus. Sites. Late Blancan: California Wash (Lindsay 1984); Virden (Morgan et al. 2008). Sangamon: La Brisca (Van Devender et al. 1985: cf. gen.) Mid Wisconsin: Térapa (White et al. 2010); U-Bar Cave (UTEP: ?). Mid/Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Sierra Diablo Cave (UTEP). Late Wisconsin: Human Corridor (Harris 1993c); Pendejo Cave (UTEP: cf.). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Boyd's Cave (UTEP). Literature. Harris 1993c; Milstead 1967; Morgan et al. 2008; Van Devender et al. 1985; White et al. 2010.

Terrapene carolina (Linnaeus 1758)—Eastern Box Turtle Synonyms. Terrapene canaliculata. Terrapene carolina is primarily an eastern species, extending today almost as far west as central Texas and occurring northward into

Oklahoma and Kansas. Lundelius (1972) reported Terrapene canaliculata Hay from Blackwater Draw (Gray Sand unit). Terrapene canaliculata now is considered to be a large, extinct subspecies of T. carolina, T. c. putnami (Milstead 1967). Slaughter (1975) reported T. carolina cf. putnami from the terminal Pleistocene Brown Sand Wedge local fauna, noting the material as larger than most individuals of T. carolina. To the east, at Lubbock Lake, in the Panhandle of Texas, T. c. putnami occurred pre-11,000 B.P., with T. ornata occurring only after that time (Johnson 1987). Gehlbach and Holman (1974) reported T. carolina from Burnet Cave; Moodie and Van Devender (1979) examined the specimen and identified it as T. c. putnami. Likely this specimen was from very late Wisconsin times and part of the late Wisconsin surge of eastern forms into New Mexico. There have been recent taxonomic changes within Terrapene (Martin et al. 2013), but T. c. major has, at least for the time being, been retained in T. carolina, and thus the presumably related T. c. putnami also. Slaughter (1975) pointed out that the geographic range of all subspecies of T. carolina is within a region that receives more than 30 inches of precipitation per year; furthermore, the modern subspecies nearest in size (T. c. major) lives only in areas with more than 300 frost-free days. Johnson (1987:86) considered T. carolina as "perhaps the best indicator of trees in the area." Sites. Late Wisconsin: Blackwater Draw Fauna (Slaughter 1975: cf.). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Burnet Cave (Gehlbach and Holman 1974; Moodie and Van Devender 1979). Literature. Gehlbach and Holman 1974; Johnson 1987; Lundelius 1972; Martin et al. 2013; Milstead 1967; Moodie and Van Devender 1979; Slaughter 1975.

Terrapene ornata (Agassiz 1857)—Ornate Box Turtle Occurrences of box turtles identified as T. ornata east of the Guadalupe

Mountains appear to be postPleistocene. Gehlbach and Holman (1974) recorded T. ornata from Pratt Cave, presumably Holocene, and, according to Johnson (1987), occurrences in the Clovis area (see Milstead 1967) also are post-Pleistocene. The Pendejo Cave turtles are mostly from Zones A through C; A and B are Holocene and much of C also is Holocene. Fig. 1. Ornate Box Turtle (Terrapene ornata). Photograph by Carl S. Lieb. Sites. Late Blancan: Curtis Ranch (Lindsay 1984: cf.) Late Wisconsin: Wilcox (Moodie and Van Devender 1978); U-Bar Cave 13-14 ka (Harris 1989: cf.); U-Bar Cave 14-15 ka (Harris 1989: cf.). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Pendejo Cave (Harris 2003). Early Holocene: Anderson Basin et al. (Morgan and Lucas 2005). Literature. Gehlbach and Holman 1974; Harris 1989, 2003; Johnson 1987; Lindsay 1984; Milstead 1967; Moodie and Van Devender 1978 ; Morgan and Lucas 2005.

Last Update: 9 Jun 2014.

Main Menu Class Chelonia Family Emydidae

Trachemys—Sliders Sliders are aquatic turtles. The two species referenced here were long considered as a single species, Trachemys scripta, but the populations of the Rio Grande and Conchas drainages in New Mexico, western Texas, and northern Chihuahua have been raised to specific status as T. gaigeae.

Trachemys gaigeae (Hartweg 1939)/T. scripta (Schoepff 1792)—Big Bend Slider/Slider Synonyms. Trachemys gaigeae was earlier considered a subspecies of T. scripta. An earlier name for T. scripta is Pseudemys scripta. Fig. 1. Trachemys gaigeae from Sierra Co., NM. Photograph by Carl S. Lieb. Trachemys from Salt Creek likely are T. gaigeae, but cannot be distinguished from T. scripta on the material available. Harris (1993c)

reported the taxon from the vicinity of La Union as Irvingtonian, but Vanderhill (1986) placed it in his Faunule B, which Morgan and Lucas (2003) have shown fits best as late Blancan (La Union). Fig. 2. Costal plate of Trachemys from Salt Creek (UTEP 34.13). Sites. Late Blancan: La Union (Vanderhill 1986).

Creek (UTEP). Literature. Harris 1993c; Morgan and Lucas 2003;

Late Wisconsin: Salt

Vanderhill 1986.

Trachemys scripta (Schoepff 1792)—Slider Synonyms. Pseudomys scripta. Sites. Late Blancan/Irvingtonian: Vallecito Creek, Anza-Borrego Desert (Cassiliano 1999). Irvingtonian: El Golfo (Croxen et al. 2007). Rancholabrean: Arizpe (White et al. 2010). Sangamon: La Brisca (Van Devender et al. 1985: cf.). Mid Wisconsin: Térapa (White et al. 2010). Literature. Cassiliano 1999; Croxen et al. 2007 ; Van Devender et al. 1985; White et al. 2010.

Last Update: 26 Mar 2014

Class Chelonia Family Kinosternidae

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Kinosternon Spix 1824—Mud Turtles These aquatic turtles are widespread in North America.

Kinosternon sp.—Mud Turtles Discussion. Presumably Pleistocene Lake San Agustín would have been ideal habitat, and various taxa indicate the presence of freshwater habitats at El Golfo. Sites. Late Blancan/Irvingtonian: Vallecito Creek, Anza-Borrego Desert (Cassiliano 1999). Irvingtonian: El Golfo (Croxen et al. 2007: cf.). Mid Wisconsin: Térapa (White et al. 2010). Late Wisconsin: VLA (Morgan and Lucas 2005: cf.). Literature. Cassiliano 1999; Croxen et al. 2007; Morgan and Lucas 2005; White et al. 2010.

Kinosternon flavescens (Agassiz 1857)— Yellow Mud Turtle Sites. Late Blancan: Curtis Ranch (Lindsay 1984) Sangamon: La Brisca (Van Devender et al. 1985). Literature. Lindsay 1984; Van Devender et al. 1985.

Kinosternon sonoriense LeConte 1854— Sonora Mud Turtle Fig. 1. Sonoran Mud Turtle. Photograph courtesy of Carl S. Lieb. Sites. Late Blancan/Irvingtonian: Anza-Borrego Desert (Gensler et al. 2006: cf.) Sangamon: La Brisca (Van Devender et al. 1985). Literature. Gensler et al. 2006; Van Devender et al. 1985.

Last Update: 11 Jun 2014

Main Menu Class Chelonia Family Testudinidae

Gopherus agassizii —Agassiz's Desert Tortoise // Gopherus morafkai —Morafka's Desert Tortoise // Gopherus/Hesperotestudo — Gopherus or Hesperotestudo Tortoises // Hesperotestudo sp.— Hesperotestudo Tortoises // Hesperotestudo campester—Flat Giant Tortoise // Hesperotestudo wilsoni—Wilson's Tortoise Testudinidae—Tortoises Members of the family are terrestrial and mostly large. Various giant tortoises of the Pleistocene are referred to this family as are the living species of Gopherus, such as Morafka's Desert Tortoise.

Gopherus sp.—Gopher Tortoises

Identification of the Early Irvingtonian specimens are tentative (Vanderhill 1986), but represent a large tortoise. The Wisconsin specimens likely represent G. morafkai, but those listed here are insufficient for species identification. The Salt Creek specimen is only tentatively identified as Gopherus, but the elements appear consistent with those of that genus. Fig. 1. A peripheral element from the carapace of a large tortoise (cf. Gopherus) from the vicinity of La Union, Doña Ana Co., NM. UTEP 33-12. Metric

scale. Fig. 2. Dorsal and ventral views of two elements of a large chelonian from Salt Creek.

Sites. Pleistocene: Samalayuca (UTEP). Late Blancan: Caballo (Morgan et al. 2011). Early Irvingtonian: El Paso (UTEP: ? ); Adobe Ranch (Morgan and Lucas 2005). Irvingtonian: El Golfo (Croxen et al. 2007: ?). Late Irvingtonian/Early Rancholabrean: El Evado (Jefferson 1991a). Rancholabrean: Bitter Springs Playa (Jefferson 1991a); Broadwell Lake West (Jefferson 1991a); Carr Ranch (Jefferson 1991a); Campbell Hill (Jefferson 1991a); Desemboque del los Seris (White et al. 2010); Desemboque del Río Ignacio (White et al. 2010); Kramer (Jefferson 1991a); Playa San Bartolo A (White et al. 2010); Tule Springs (Springer et al. 2005).

Wisconsin: Costeau Pit (Jefferson 1991a). Mid Wisconsin: U-Bar Cave (UTEP: cf.). Late Wisconsin: Salt Creek (UTEP: cf.); U-Bar Cave 13-14 ka (Harris 1989: cf.); UBar Cave 14-15 ka (Harris 1989); U-Bar Cave 18-20 ka (Harris 1989). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Conkling Cavern (Brattstrom 1964). Literature. Croxen et al. 2007; Brattstrom 1964; Harris 1989; Jefferson 1991a; Morgan and Lucas 2005; Morgan et al. 2011; Springer et al. 2005; Vanderhill 1986.

Gopherus agassizii Cooper 1861—Agassiz's Desert Tortoise Until relatively recently, the Mojave and Sonoran desert tortoises were considered to belong to this species. Agassiz's Desert Tortoise now is considered to be limited to west of the Colorado River—see the discussion under Gopherus morafkai below. Sites. Late Blancan/Irvingtonian: Vallecito Creek, Anza-Borrego Desert (Cassiliano 1999). Irvingtonian/Rancholabrean: Manix Lake (Jefferson 1991a). Rancholabrean: Cool Water Coal Gasification site (Jefferson 1991a); Ludlow Cave (Jefferson 1991a); Mescal Cave (Jefferson 1991a). Rancholabrean/?Early Holocene: Mitchell Caverns (Jefferson 1991a: cf.). Mid Wisconsin: McKittrick (Jefferson 1991a). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Diamond Valley (Springer et al. 2009). Late Wisconsin: Antelope Cave (Reynolds, Reynolds, Bell, and Pitzer 1991); Gypsum Cave (Brattstrom 1954). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Kokoweef Cave (Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991); Newberry Cave (Jefferson 1991a); Schuiling Cave (Jefferson 1991a); Solar One (Jefferson 1991b). Literature. Brattstrom 1954; Cassiliano 1999; Jefferson 1991a; Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991; Reynolds, Reynolds, Bell, and Pitzer 1991; Springer et al. 2009.

Gopherus flavomarginatus Legler 1959—Bolson Tortoise The Bolson Tortoise is the largest of the living

species of Gopherus. The historic range approaches the Jimenez Cave area. Sites. Mid/Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Jimenez Cave (Messing 1986: cf.). Literature. Messing 1986.

Gopherus morafkai Murphy, Berry, Edwards, Leviton, Lathrop, and Riedle, 2011— Morafka's Desert Tortoise Fig. 1. Morafka's Desert Tortoise. Photograph by Jeff Servoss, courtesy of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Synonyms. Gopherus agassizii (part). According to Murphy et al. (2011), Gopherus agassizii occurs only west and north of the Colorado River. The tortoises east and south of the Colorado River, previously also considered to represent G. agassizii, instead represent a separate species, G. morafkai. It's long been known that the tortoises of the Mojave Desert and those of the Sonoran Desert differ in morphology and behavior. Murphy et al. (2011) clarified nomenclatural problems and named the taxon east and south of the Colorado River as a new species. Discussion. Today, Morafka's Tortoise is primarily limited to the Sonoran Desert. However, tortoises apparently conspecific to the Sonoran species extended far to the east during at least two times in the Wisconsin and apparently at least once earlier in the Rancholabrean (Pate 2002). Remains from Slaughter Canyon Cave, presumably

from the same level as the extinct bat Tadarida constantinei, would be in excess of 209 ± 9 ka (Lundberg and McFarlane 2006; Pate 2002). At Pendejo Cave, remains are found in Zone M, radiocarbon dated at about 35,500 ka, and in Zone C, which includes both terminal Wisconsin and Holocene material. Although the Dry Cave occurrences could also pertain to the ca. 35 ka date, they may be older. The other occurrences east of the present range are terminal Wisconsin with some possibility of Holocene presence. Dates on tortoise epidermal scutes from Shelter Cave (Thompson et al. 1980) range from 12,250 ± 200 (A-1728) to 11,130 ± 500 (A-2141) radiocarbon years B.P.

Brattstrom (1964) noted that many of the bones from Shelter Cave were burned. In view of its apparent present inability to withstand the periodic hard freezes now typical of even southern New Mexico, Harris (1987) used its presence in conjunction with other taxa to infer mild winters during the times it occurred in the region east of its present range. Fig. 2. Gopherus morafkai from the Room of the Vanishing Floor, Dry Cave, Eddy County, NM. UTEP 27-88. The Pleistocene situation in the Lower Grand Canyon region is unclear. Pending clarification, occurrences from the area are considered to pertain to Gopherus morafkai, but the uncertainty should be recognized. Sites.

Rancholabrean: Slaughter Canyon Cave (Pate 2002). Early/Early-Mid Wisconsin: Rm Vanishing Floor (Van Devender et al. 1976); Sabertooth Camel Maze (Van Devender et al. 1976). Mid Wisconsin: Pendejo Cave (Harris 2003); Vulture Cave (Mead 2005: 33,600 ± 1,000 BP to 29,810 ± 1,980 BP). Mid/Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Sierra Diablo Cave (UTEP); Shelter Cave (Brattstrom 1964). Late Wisconsin: Muav Gate (Mead 2005: 12,430 ± 270 BP); Rampart Cave (Mead 2005: 16,330 ± 270 BP to 12,230 ± 350 BP); Vulture Canyon (Van Devender et al. 1977a); Vulture Cave No. 8 (Mead 2005: 13,820 ± 220 BP) Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Conkling Cavern (Brattstrom 1961); Pendejo Cave (Harris 2003); Robledo Cave (Van Devender et al. 1976: cf.) Literature. Brattstrom 1961, 1964; Harris 1987, 2003; Lundberg and McFarlane 2006; Mead 2005; Murphey et al. 2011; Pate 2002; Thompson et al. 1980; Van Devender et al. 1976, 1977a.

Gopherus/Hesperotestudo—Gopher or Hesperotestudo Tortoises Tortoise remains may be identifiable as tortoise, but not to the generic level. Tortoise remains from La Libertad were given as mostly Gopherus in text but as Gopherus/Hesperotestudo in the table of occurrences (White et al. 2010); they are listed here. Sites. Rancholabrean: Hermosillo (White et al. 2010); La Libertad (White et al. 2010); Marlett Locality (White et al. 2010); Playa San Bartolo B (White et al. 2010). Literature. White et al. 2010.

Hesperotestudo sp.—Hesperotestudo Tortoises Synonyms. Geochelone, Testudo. Known as Geochelone in most of the Pleistocene paleontological publications, most of the species were large to very large, with a

tendency to decrease in size and retreat to the south geographically through the Pleistocene. Vanderhill (1986) reported fragmentary material from the Rio Grande Valley-edge deposits in extreme southern New Mexico, tentatively identified to this taxon because of their large size, but the possibility of a large species of Gopherus was noted. A fragmentary specimen (identified as Testudo) from the Gray Sand at Blackwater Loc. No. 1 was thought by Lundelius (1972) to have been redeposited from older beds, and is not included here. Sites. Late Blancan: Caballo (Morgan et al. 2011); California Wash (Lindsay 1978); Curtis Ranch (Brattstrom 1955); Virden (Morgan and Lucas 2003). Late Blancan/Irvingtonian: Vallecito Creek, Anza-Borrego Desert (Cassiliano 1999). Early Irvingtonian: Adobe Ranch (Morgan and Lucas 2005); Tijeras Arroyo (Morgan and Lucas 2005). Irvingtonian: El Golfo (Croxen et al. 2007). Rancholabrean: Cerro Colorado (Mead et al. 2005); Desemboque del Río San Ignacio (White et al. 2010); La Playa (White et al. 2010); Melrose Ave. and La Cienega Blvd. (Jefferson 1991a); O'Neil Pass (White et al. 2010); Rancho Aigame (White et al. 2010). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Rancho La Brea (Natural History Museum, Los Angeles County: ?, visited 27 Nov 2013]). Literature. Cassiliano 1999; Croxen et al. 2007; Brattstrom 1955; Jefferson 1991a; Lundelius 1972; Lindsay 1978; Lundelius 1972; Mead et al. 2005; Morgan and Lucas 2003, 2005; Morgan et al. 2011; Vanderhill 1986.

Hesperotestudo campester (Hay 1908)—Flat Giant Tortoise Synonyms. Geochelone campester. Sites. Early Irvingtonian: Gypsum Ridge (Wagner and Prothero 2001: cf.). Literature. Wagner and Prothero 2001.

†Hesperotestudo wilsoni (Milstead 1956)—Wilson's Tortoise Synonyms. Geochelone wilsoni, Testudo wilsoni. Wilson's Tortoise is the smallest of a wide variety of Cenozoic species of Hesperotestudo. It appears to be a Wisconsin form distributed from Texas and Oklahoma to eastern New Mexico (Johnson 1987). Dry Cave is the westernmost locality for Wilson's Tortoise and it is associated with the easternmost occurrence of Gopherus morafkai (Van Devender et al. 1976). At Lubbock Lake, TX, and at Blackwater Draw, it apparently survived until Clovis times (Moodie and Van Devender 1979). Fig. 1. Carapace elements (5245) from the Sabertooth Camel Maze, Dry Cave. UTEP specimens. Moodie and Van Devender (1979) speculated that presence of this taxon implies an absence of prolonged hard frosts. Sites. Early/Early-Mid Wisconsin: Sabertooth Camel Maze (Van Devender et al. 1976). Late Wisconsin: Blackwater Draw Fauna (Brown Sand Wedge) (Slaughter 1975: cf.). Literature. Johnson 1987; Moodie and Van Devender 1979; Slaughter 1975; Van Devender et al. 1976.

Main Menu Class Reptilia

Squamata—Lizards and Snakes Class Reptilia—Reptiles Reptiles traditionally included, among others, turtles, crocodilians, and the snakes and lizards. As the higher taxonomy continues to address new data and new approaches, the traditional taxonomic class has been split to better show the evolutionary relationships. The turtles have been deemed to be distinctive enough to warrant a class by themselves (class Chelonia) as have the crocodilians (class Eusuchia), leaving only the lizards and snakes to represent the Reptilia in our region. Although most people tend to think of lizards and snakes are very different, they are placed in the same taxonomic order (Squamata, the name referring to the scales characteristic of the order) in recognition of their close relationship. The feature that many would use to separate them, the lack of limbs, actually does not; some lizards are limbless (as are some amphibians). Separation is largely on the basis of some skull characteristics plus the great multiplication of vertebrae seen in the snakes as compared to the lizards.

Last Update: 31 Aug 2008

Main Menu Class Reptilia Order Squamata

Sauria—Lizards // Serpentes—Snakes Squamata—Lizards and Snakes The higher-level nomenclature within the Squamata, as with numerous other groups, is still in flux. The subordinal level taxonomy followed here is conservative, with the suborders Sauria and Serpentes serving to denote the lizards and snakes, respectively. Lizard and snake diversity tends to be greatest in warm climates that possess a plethora of ecological niches; diversity falls off in simpler ecological conditions and as cooler climates are encountered to the north or higher elevations. Because of the great number of vertebrae (several hundred) of snakes, the propensity of many to hunt and hibernate underground, and the seeking of protection against heat in caves and crevices, snakes tend to be strongly represented in cave faunas, often in large numbers. Lizards, on the other hand, are less likely to venture far beyond the entrance area of caves. Both often are deposited by predators in caves, however. Recovery from open sites tends to be uncommon unless extensive washing of fossiliferous sediments is carried out. See "Taxa Introduction" for comments that suggest that identifications to species are untrustworthy.

Last Update: 2 Jan 2010

Main Menu Class Reptilia Order Squamata Suborder Sauria

Anguidae—Alligator Lizards // Anniellidae—North American Legless Lizards // Crotaphytidae—Collared and Leopard Lizards // Eublepharidae—Geckos // Helodermatidae —Gila Monster // Iguanidae—Iguanas // Phrynosomatidae—Spiny Lizards // Scincidae—Skinks // Teiidae —Whiptails // Xantusiidae —Night Lizards Suborder Sauria—Lizards As used here, all the lizards are included within the suborder. The Southwest is rich in both modern and, thanks to plentiful remains in caves, fossil lizard faunas. Most of our regional lizards are diurnal, introducing a bias in cave faunas since the most prolific suppliers of fossil faunas in caves, the owls, have little chance to harvest saurian prey. Thus, most fossil lizard remains in the region probably come from deaths in the immediate vicinity of the deposits or from diurnal falconiform birds and small predatory mammals.

Last Update: 20 Aug 2014

Main Menu Class Reptilia Order Squamata Suborder Sauria Family Anguidae

Elgaria sp.—Alligator Lizards // Elgaria kingii—Madrean Alligator Lizard // Elgaria multicarinata —Southern Alligator Lizard Anguidae—Glass and Alligator Lizards The Anguidae include three current genera in North America.

Elgaria sp.—Alligator Lizards Sites. Late Blancan/Irvingtonian: Anza-Borrego Desert (Gensler et al. 2006). Rancholabrean: Cool Water Coal Gasification Solid Waste Site (Jefferson 1991a). Sangamon: Naval Housing Unit (Jefferson 1991a). Wisconsin: Glen Abbey (Majors 1993: cf. gen.). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Diamond Valley (Springer et al. 2009). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Solar One (Jefferson 1991a). Literature. Gensler et al. 2006; Jefferson 1991a; Majors 1993; Springer et al. 2009.

Elgaria kingii Gray 1838—Madrean Alligator Lizard

Synonyms. Gerrhonotus kingii. Van Devender and Worthington (1977) reported the Madrean Alligator Lizard as a fossil from Howell's Ridge Cave and also as occurring at present in a nearby wash. Most modern occurrences, however, were said to be in somewhat more mesic, montane situations. Fig. 1. Madrean Alligator Lizard (Elgaria kingii). Photograph by Carl S. Lieb. Sites. Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Howell's Ridge Cave (Van Devender and Worthington 1977). Literature. Van Devender and Worthington 1977.

Elgaria multicarinata Blainville, 1835—Southern Alligator Lizard Synonyms. Gerrhonotus multicarinatus. The current range includes much of southern California. Sites. ?Late Irvingtonian/Rancholabrean: Emery Borrow Pit (Jefferson 1991a). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Rancho La Brea (Brattstrom 1953); San Miguel Island (Guthrie 1993). Late Wisconsin: Maricopa (Jefferson 1991a) Literature. Brattstrom 1953; Guthrie 1993; Jefferson 1991a.

Last Update: 16 May 2014

Main Menu Class Reptilia Order Squamata Suborder Sauria Family Anniellidae

Anniella sp.—North American Legless Lizards Although the layman tends to think that all long, legless creatures are either worms or snakes, a number of amphibians and lizards also lack limbs; members of the genus Anniella, included. Fig. 1. California Legless Lizard. Photograph by Chris Brown. Courtesy of the U.S. Geological Survey. Sites. Irvingtonian: Elsinore: Microtus/Mammuthus (Bell 1993). Literature. Bell 1993.

Last Update: 16 May 2014

Main Menu Class Reptilia Order Squamata Suborder Sauria Family Crotaphytidae

Crotaphytus collaris —Eastern Collared Lizard // Gambelia wislizenii— Longnose Leopard Lizard

Crotaphytidae—Collared and Leopard Lizards Synonyms. Iguanidae. The Iguanidae has been split into a number of families in recent years, of which the Crotaphytidae is one. Two species of these relatively large, active predators are common in region today, and both are represented in our fossil record.

Crotaphytus sp.—Collared Lizard A number of different species of Crotaphytus has been recognized in recent years. Because of this, Czaplewski and Mead et al. (1999) felt that the fossil material from Papago Springs Cave should be left at the generic level pending new data. Sites. Rancholabrean: Mescal Cave (Jefferson 1991a). Mid Wisconsin: Papago Springs Cave (Czaplewski and Mead et al. 1999). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Fowlkes Cave (Parmley and Bahn 2012); Solar One (Jefferson 1991a). Literature. Czaplewski and Mead et al. 1999; Jefferson 1991a; Parmley and Bahn 2012.

Crotaphytus collaris (Say 1823)—Eastern Collared Lizard This large lizard is one of the two most common lizards recovered from the eastern portions of the region (the other being Phrynosoma hernandesi). It seemingly occurred

throughout the Wisconsin record. It's currently widespread within the region and into southern Colorado except in the highest elevations. Fig. 1. Crotaphytus collaris. Photograph by Carl S. Lieb. Applegarth (1979) believed it must have been at its upper altitudinal distributional limit during the full glacial at Dry Cave, with a frequency of lizard remains of 0.03% (after adjustment for relative recoverability). Both rocks and some open areas appear to be requirements, according to Applegarth. Fig. 2. Fossil dentaries of Crotaphytus collaris from U-Bar Cave. UTEP 5689-4112 (top, labial view) and UTEP 568916.3 (bottom, lingual view). Sites. Early/Early-Mid Wisconsin: Lost Valley (Harris 1993c); Rm Vanishing Floor (Harris 1993c). Mid Wisconsin: Pendejo Cave (Harris 2003); U-Bar Cave (Harris 1987). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Animal Fair (Applegarth 1979); Dark Canyon Cave (Applegarth 1979); Diamond Valley (Spring et al. 2009); Pintwater Cave (Hockett 2000). Mid Wisconsin-Holocene: Shelter Cave (Brattstrom 1964). Mid/Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Sierra Diablo Cave (UTEP). Late Wisconsin: Animal Fair 18-20 ka (Applegarth 1979); Antelope Cave (Reynolds, Reynolds, Bell, and Pitzer 1991); Bison Chamber (Holman 1970); Chuar Valley (Cole and Mead 1981); Desert Almond (Van Devender et al. 1977a); Gypsum Cave (Brattstrom 1954); Pendejo Cave (Harris 2003); Picacho Peak (Van Devender et al. 1991); Shafter Midden (UTEP); Tucson Mountains (Van Devender and Mead 1978); Vulture Cave (Mead and Phillips 1981); TT II (Harris 1993c); U-Bar Cave 14-15 ka

(Harris 1989). Pleistocene/Holocene: Wylde Cave (Brattstrom 1964). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Balcony Room (Holman 1970); Burnet Cave (Rickart 1977: cf. gen. et sp.); Deadman Cave (Mead et al. 1984); Howell's Ridge Cave (Van Devender and Worthington 1977); Kokoweef Cave (Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991); Pendejo Cave (Harris 2003); Stanton's Cave (Olsen and Olsen 1984); Wolcott Peak (Van Devender and Mead 1978); Kokoweef Cave (Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991); Wylde Cave (Brattstrom 1964). Withdrawn. The record by Harris and Findley (1964) from the Isleta Caves apparently is Holocene. Literature. Applegarth 1979; Brattstrom 1954, 1964; Cole and Mead 1981; Harris 1987, 1989, 1993c, 2003; Harris and Findley 1964; Hockett 2000; Holman 1970; Mead and Phillips 1981; Mead et al. 1984; Olsen and Olsen 1981; Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991; Reynolds, Reynolds, Bell, and Pitzer 1991; Rickart 1977; Springer et al. 2009; Van Devender and Mead 1978; Van Devender and Worthington 1977; Van Devender et al. 1977a; Van Devender et al. 1991.

Gambelia wislizenii (Baird & Girard 1852)—Long-nosed Leopard Lizard This is a large predatory lizard of open sandy or gravelly, desertscrub habitats (Applegarth 1979; Van Devender and Worthington 1977). Applegarth (1979) particularly emphasized the desirability of low-growing shrubs. In

view of its normal habitat of desertscrub, which is not known until late in New Mexico, the Howell's Ridge Cave likely is part of the Holocene fauna rather than being Late Wisconsin. Fig. 1. Gambelia wislizenii. Photograph by Carl S. Lieb. Sites. Rancholabrean: Cool Water Coal Gasification Solid Waste Site (Jefferson 1991a). Wisconsin: Carpinteria (Jefferson 1991a). Mid Wisconsin: McKittrick (Jefferson 1991a). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Pintwater Cave (Hockett 2000).

Late Wisconsin: Antelope Cave (Reynolds, Reynolds, Bell, and Pitzer 1991). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Howell's Ridge Cave (Van Devender and Worthington 1977); Kokoweef Cave (Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991). Literature. Applegarth 1979; Hockett 2000; Jefferson 1991a; Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991; Reynolds, Reynolds, Bell, and Pitzer 1991; Van Devender and Worthington 1977.

Last Update: 28 May 2014

Main Menu Class Reptilia Order Squamata Suborder Sauria Family Eublepharidae

Coleonyx variegatus (Baird 1858)—Western Banded Gecko This lizard now inhabits most of the southwestern half of Arizona, southeastern California, and well up into the Grand Canyon. There are some isolated populations north of the canyon. It also extends into the extreme southwestern part of New Mexico. Fig. 1. Western Banded Gecko, San Diego County, California. Image courtesy of Gary Nafis and CaliforniaHerps.com. Sites. Late Wisconsin: Antelope Cave (Reynolds, Reynolds, Bell, and Pitzer 1991); Desert Almond (Van Devender et al. 1977a); Picacho Peak (Van Devender et al. 1991). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Kokoweef Cave (Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991).

Devender et al. 1977a; Van Devender et al. 1991.

Last Update: 28 May 2014

Literature. Jefferson 1991a; Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991; Reynolds, Reynolds, Bell, and Pitzer 1991; Van

Main Menu Class Reptilia Order Squamata Suborder Sauria Family Helodermatidae

Heloderma sp.—Helodermatids The Coyote Badlands record is based on an osteoderm recovered during matrix washing (Gensler 2001). Sites. Late Irvingtonian: Coyote Badlands, AnzaBorrego Desert (Gensler 2001). Literature. Gensler 2001.

Heloderma suspectum Cope 1869—Gila Monster The current range of the Gila Monster is primarily Sonoran Desert, although its range does extend into southwestern New Mexico. Fig. 1. Gila Monster (Heloderma suspectum). Photograph by Jeff Servoss, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. A right dentary (Fig. 2) was recovered from the mid Wisconsin deposits of U-Bar Cave. This site currently is near the edge of the geographic range of this large, poisonous lizard. Mead (2005) notes that there is not adequately dated recovery in Arizona to affirm its presence in the last glacial. There appears to be conflicting chronologic data from Vulture Cave, and it is not recorded below.

Fig. 2. Medial (top) and lateral views of the right dentary of Heloderma suspectum from U-Bar Cave, Hidalgo Co., NM. Sites. Mid Wisconsin: U-Bar Cave (Harris 1993c). Late Wisconsin: Gypsum Cave (Brattstrom 1954). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Deadman Cave (Mead et al. 1984). Literature. Harris 1993c; Mead 2005; Mead et al. 1984.

Last Update: 1 May 2014

Main Menu Class Reptilia Order Squamata Suborder Sauria Family Iguanidae

Dipsosaurus sp.—Desert Iguanas // Dipsosaurus dorsalis—Desert Iguana // Iguana iguana —Green Iguana // Sauromelas sp.— Chuckwallas // Sauromalus ater —Chuckwalla

Iguanidae—Iguanas In recent years, the Iguanidae has been split into several families, including the Crotaphytidae and the Phrynosomatidae. As now constituted, the Iguanidae includes two genera in our region, Dipsosaurus and Sauromalus. They are limited to the Sonoran and Mojave deserts in the United States.

Dipsosaurus sp.—Desert Iguanas Sites. Late Blancan/Irvingtonian: Vallecito Creek, Anza-Borrego Desert (Cassiliano 1999). Literature. Cassiliano 1999.

Dipsosaurus dorsalis (Baird & Girard 1852)—Desert Iguana Desert Iguanas are desert lizards that prefer habitats allowing a high body temperature (Bell 1993). Sites. Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Solar One (Jefferson 1991b); Luz Solar Trough (Jefferson 1991a). Literature. Bell 1993; Jefferson 1991a.

Iguana iguana—Green Iguana Sites. Late Blancan/Irvingtonian: Vallecito Creek, Anza-Borrego Desert (Cassiliano 1999). Literature. Cassiliano 1999.

Sauromalus ater Duméril 1856—Chuckwalla Synonyms. Sauromalus obesus. Occurrence at Rampart and Vulture caves is within the general range of the Chuckwalla, though the usual habitat of desert scrub, especially creosotebush, would be unexpected at the site during the last part of the Pleistocene. Fig. 1. Chuckwalla, Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge. Photograph by Cyndi Souza, courtesy of U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Sites. Late Wisconsin: Antelope Cave (Reynolds, Reynolds, Bell, and Pitzer 1991); Desert Almond (Van Devender et al. 1977a); Falling Arches (Jefferson 1991a); Gypsum Cave (Brattstrom 1954); Pintwater Cave (Hockett 2000); Rampart Cave (Van Devender et al. 1977a); Vulture Canyon (Van Devender et al. 1977a); Vulture Cave (Mead and Phillips 1981); Window Rock (Van Devender et al. 1977a); Wolcott Peak (Van Devender and Mead 1978). Wisconsin/Holocene: Kokoweef Cave (Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991); Luz Solar Trough (Jefferson 1991a); Newberry Cave (Jefferson 1991a); Schuiling Cave (Jefferson 1991a); Solar One (Jefferson 1991b); Stanton's Cave (Olsen and Olsen 1984). Literature. Brattstrom 1954; Hockett 2000; Jefferson 1991a; Mead and Phillips 1984; Olsen and Olsen 1984; Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991; Reynolds, Reynolds,

Bell, and Pitzer 1991; Van Devender et al. 1977a.

Last Update: 28 May 2014

Main Menu Class Reptilia Order Squamata Suborder Sauria Family Phrynosomatidae

Callisaurus draconoides —Zebratail Lizard // Cophosaurus texanus— Greater Earless Lizard // Holbrookia maculata—Lesser Earless Lizard // Phrynosoma—Horned Lizards // Sceloporus —Spiny Lizards // Urosaurus ornatus—Tree Lizard // Uta stansburiana—Side-blotched Lizard

Phrynosomatidae—Spiny Lizards Synonyms. Iguanidae. The Iguanidae has been split into a number of families in recent years, of which the Phrynosomatidae is one of the larger.

Callisaurus sp.—Zebratail Lizards Sites. Late Blancan/Irvingtonian: Vallecito Creek, Anza-Borrego Desert (Cassiliano 1999). Literature. Cassiliano 1999.

Callisaurus draconoides Blainville 1835—Zebratail Lizard This is an inhabitant of the western portion of our region, with its eastern boundary barely entering into extreme southwestern New Mexico. It generally occurs in rather open desertscrub habitats (Mead et al. 1984). Sites. Rancholabrean: Tule Springs (Springer et al. 2005: cf.).

Sangamon: La Brisca (Van Devender et al. 1985: cf. gen. et sp.). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Deadman Cave (Mead et al. 1984). Literature. Mead et al. 1984; Springer et al. 2005; Van Devender et al. 1985.

Cophosaurus texanus Troschel 1852—Greater Earless Lizard This lizard currently occupies southern and, at lower elevations, central New Mexico. Van Devender and Worthington (1977) described it as occupying rocky habitats in desertscrub and in grasslands at relatively low elevations. This being the case, it seems likely that the Wisconsin/Holocene records are of Holocene age.

The Dry Cave (Lost Valley) identification is highly suspect. Fig. 1. Cophosaurus texanus. Photograph by Carl S. Lieb. Sites. Early/Early-Mid Wisconsin: Lost Valley (? gen. et sp.) (Harris 1993c). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Deadman Cave (Mead et al. 1984); Howell's Ridge Cave (Van Devender and Worthington 1977). Literature. Harris 1993c; Mead et al. 1984; Van Devender and Worthington 1977.

Holbrookia maculata Girard 1851—Lesser Earless Lizard

This lizard is widespread in Mexico, Arizona, New Mexico, and the Great Plains north to South Dakota. According to Van Devender and Worthington (1977:93), this "is a grassland and woodland species that may occasionally occur in desert areas."

Applegarth (1979) suggested that level, sandy, open areas were favored. He also noted that presence in the older "F" grid of Animal Fair and absence at the full glacial "A" end of the excavation area probably meant absence from the Dry Cave area during the colder parts of the Wisconsin; however, he went on to note that occurrence in other sites in the area that were generally indicative of warmer conditions suggested that the upper elevational limits were near Eddy County during the Wisconsin, while today Eddy County is near the lower elevational limits. Fig. 1. Holbrookia maculata. Photograph courtesy of Carl S. Lieb. Sites. Mid/Late Wisconsin: Animal Fair, F2 L5 (Applegarth 1979); Dark Canyon Cave (Applegarth 1979). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Deadman Cave (Mead et al. 1984); Howell's Ridge Cave (Van Devender and Worthington 1977). Literature. Applegarth 1979; Mead et al. 1984; Van Devender and Worthington 1977.

Last Update: 17 May 2014

Main Menu Class Reptilia Order Squamata Suborder Sauria Family Phrynosomatidae

Phrynosoma anzaense —Anza Horned Lizard // Phrynosoma blainvillii —Blainville's Horned Lizard // Phrynosoma cornutum— Texas Horned Lizard // Phrynosoma coronatum —Coast Horned Lizard // Phrynosoma hernandesi—Mountain Short-horned Lizard // Phrynosoma modestum—Round-tailed Horned Lizard // Phrynosoma platyrhinos —Desert Horned Lizard // Phrynosoma solare —Regal Horned Lizard

Phrynosoma sp.—Horned Lizards Species of Phrynosoma are useful in that they often are easily identified and tend to inhabit different ecological niches. Phrynosoma hernandesi is adapted for cooler temperatures than the other species of our region. As livebearers (eggs are retained within body rather than being laid), they can provide sufficient heat for embryonic development by behavioral practices, such as basking in the sun. Egglayers are at a disadvantage in cool climates, having to depend on sites that are situated to receive sufficient heat. Sites. Late Blancan: California Wash (Lindsay 1984). Irvingtonian/Early Rancholabrean: Archer (Jefferson 1991a). Rancholabrean: Helendale (Jefferson 1991a); Tule Springs (Springer et al. 2005). Wisconsin: Glen Abbey (Majors 1993). Mid/Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Messing 1986. Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Bat Cave (Scarbrough 1986). Literature. Jefferson 1991a; Lindsay 1984; Majors 1993; Messing 1986; Scarbrough 1986; Springer et al. 2005.

†Phrynosoma anzaense Nowell 1989—Anza Horned Lizard Sites. Late Blancan/Irvingtonian: Vallecito Creek, Anza-Borrego Desert (Cassiliano 1999). Literature. Cassiliano 1999.

Phrynosoma blainvillii Gray 1839—Blainville's Horned Lizard The current geographic range is from the California Bay Area south into Baja California, mostly west of the Sierra Nevada. Sites. ?Late Irvingtonian/Rancholabrean: Emery Borrow Pit (Jefferson 1991a). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Rancho La Brea (Brattstrom 1953). Literature. Brattstrom 1953; Jefferson 1991a.

Phrynosoma cornutum (Harlan 1825)—Texas Horned Lizard

The Texas Horned Lizard is a relatively warm-climate lizard showing a moreor-less typical grassland distribution from northern Kansas south into Mexico and hooking westward across southern New Mexico into southeastern Arizona.

Applegarth (1979) listed a soft soil, a warm climate, and presence of some dense vegetation (grass, bushes, or weeds) as requirements. Fig. 1. Texas Horned Lizard (Phrynosoma cornutum). Photograph by Lauri L. Lear. Sites. Early/Early-Mid Wisconsin: Lost Valley (Harris 1993c). Mid Wisconsin: Papago Springs Cave (Czaplewski and Mead et al. 1999); U-Bar Cave (Harris 1987). Mid Wisconsin-Holocene: Shelter Cave (Brattstrom 1964). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Dark Canyon Cave (Applegarth 1979) Mid/Late Wisconsin/Holocene:Sierra Diablo Cave (UTEP). Late Wisconsin: Bison Chamber (Holman 1970); Pendejo Cave (Harris 2003); Rocky Arroyo midden, 10,560 ± 150 (Van Devender 1980); TT II (Harris 1993c); U-Bar Cave 14-15 ka (Harris 1989: cf.). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Burnet Cave (Rickart 1977); Deadman Cave (Mead et al. 1984); Howell's Ridge Cave (Van Devender and Worthington 1977); Pendejo Cave (Harris 2003). Literature. Applegarth 1979; Brattstrom 1964; Czaplewski and Mead et al. 1999; Harris 1987, 1989, 1993c, 2003; Holman 1970; Mead et al. 1984; Rickart 1977; Van Devender 1980; Van Devender and Worthington 1977.

Phrynosoma coronatum (Blainville 1835)—Coast Horned Lizard Current distribution of the Coast Horned Lizard is from California's Central Valley south into Baja California. Sites. Irvingtonian: Elsinore: Microtus/Mammuthus (Bell 1993). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Diamond Valley (Springer et al. 2009). Late Wisconsin: Maricopa (Jefferson 1991a). Literature. Bell 1993; Jefferson 1991a; Springer et al. 2009.

Phrynosoma hernandesi Girard 1858—Mountain Short-horned Lizard

Synonyms. Phrynosoma douglasii. Virtually all of the fossil records of this lizard from our region were recorded under the name Phrynosoma douglasii (often given as Phrynosoma douglassi). Phrynosoma douglasii is now considered to be limited to similarappearing lizards in the northwestern portion of United States and adjacent Canada, and the former subspecies P. d. hernandesi raised to specific status. Fig. 1. Mountain Short-horned Lizard (Phrynosoma hernandesi). Photograph by Carl S. Lieb. Widespread from southern Canada south through to the high Sierra Madre Occidental of Mexico, this lizard inhabits grasslands into open forest. Its viviparous habit apparently allows it to occur in many habitats too cold for most lizards. It is absent today from the desertscrub lowlands, though it occurs in grassland and woodland at higher elevations. lizards from the Wisconsin of our region. Applegarth (1979) hypothesized that only this species of lizard was able to thrive at Dry Cave during the pleniglacial; that the other three species of lizards noted as present at that time occurred only in small numbers due to marginal soil temperatures for egg development.

This is one of the most widespread

Fig. 2. Left dentary of Phrynosoma hernandesi from the Lost Valley site, Dry Cave, Eddy Co., NM. UTEP 1-166. Sites. Medial Irvingtonian: SAM Cave (Rogers et al. 2000) Early/Early-Mid Wisconsin: Lost Valley (Harris 1993c); Rm Vanishing Floor (Harris 1993c).

Mid Wisconsin: CC:5:2 (Mead et al. 2003); Pendejo Cave (Harris 2003); U-Bar Cave (Harris 1987) Mid/Late Wisconsin: Dark Canyon Cave (Rickart 1977); NW Talus Slope (Harris 1993c); Sierra Diablo Cave (UTEP). Late Wisconsin: Algerita Blossom Cave (Harris 1993c); Animal Fair 18-20 ka (Applegarth 1979; Harris 1989); Bison Chamber (Holman 1970); CC:5:4 (Mead et al. 2003); Charlies Parlor (Harris 1989); Dust Cave (this work: cf.); Harris' Pocket (Holman 1970); Sheep Camp Shelter (Harris 1993c); TT II (Harris 1993c); U-Bar Cave 13-14 ka (Harris 1989); U-Bar Cave 14-15 ka (Harris 1989: cf.); U-Bar Cave 15-18 ka (Harris 1989); U-Bar Cave 18-20 ka (Harris 1989). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Balcony Room (Harris 1993c); Beyond Bison Chamber (Holman 1970); Burnet Cave (Rickart 1977); Deadman Cave (Mead et al. 1984); Howell's Ridge Cave (Van Devender and Worthington 1977); Pendejo Cave (Harris 2003); SAM Cave (Rogers et al. 2000). Literature. Applegarth 1979; Harris 1987, 1989, 1993c, 2003; Holman 1970; Mead et al. 1984; Mead et al. 2003; Rickart 1977; Rogers et al. 2000; Van Devender and Worthington 1977.

Phrynosoma modestum Girard 1852—Roundtail Horned Lizard

This is a predominantly desert species of sparse vegetation and, usually, a gravelly terrain (Applegarth 1979). Applegarth pointed out that the three horned lizard species in southern New Mexico represent a gradient of preferred habitats, from cool mesic grasslands (P. hernandesi) to warm grasslands (P. cornutum) to open desert terrain and a warm climate (P. modestum). Fig. 1. Round-tailed Horned Lizard (Phrynosoma modestum). Photograph by Carl S. Lieb. Sites. Early/Early-Mid Wisconsin: Lost Valley (Harris 1993c). Mid Wisconsin: Pendejo Cave (Harris 2003); U-Bar Cave (Harris 1993c).

Mid/Late Wisconsin: Dark Canyon Cave (Applegarth 1979). Mid/Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Sierra Diablo Cave (UTEP). Late Wisconsin: Rocky Arroyo midden, 10,560 ± 150 (Van Devender 1980); TT II (Harris 1993c). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Deadman Cave (Mead et al. 1984); Howell's Ridge Cave (Van Devender and Worthington 1977); Pendejo Cave (Harris 2003). Literature. Applegarth 1979; Harris 1993c, 2003; Mead et al. 1984; Van Devender 1980; Van Devender and Worthington 1977.

Phrynosoma platyrhinos Girard 1852—Desert Horned Lizard Currently, Phrynosoma platyrhinos inhabits western Arizona and to the west and north. Sites. Rancholabrean: Cool Water Coal Gasification Solid Waste Site (Jefferson 1991a); Devil Peak (Reynolds, Reynolds, and Bell 1991). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Pintwater Cave (Hockett 2000). Late Wisconsin: Antelope Cave (Reynolds, Reynolds, Bell, and Pitzer 1991); Gypsum Cave (Brattstrom 1954); Picacho Peak (Van Devender et al. 1991). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Kokoweef Cave (Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991); Luz Solar Trough (Jefferson 1991a); Solar One (Jefferson 1991a). Literature. Brattstrom 1954; Hockett 2000; Jefferson 1991a; Reynolds, Reynolds, and Bell 1991; Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991; Reynolds, Reynolds, Bell, and Pitzer 1991; Van Devender et al. 1991.

Phrynosoma solare Gray 1845—Regal Horned Lizard Present distribution is southeastern Arizona with an extension northwest to southern Mohave County and, on the southeast, barely overlapping into New Mexico. Sites. Wisconsin/Holocene: Deadman Cave (Mead et al. 1984). Literature. Mead et al. 1984.

Last Update: 10 Jun 2014

Main Menu Class Reptilia Order Squamata Suborder Sauria Family Phrynosomatidae

Sceloporus (small)—Small Spiny Lizard // Sceloporus (large)—Large Spiny Lizard // Sceloporus clarkii —Clark's Spiny Lizard // Sceloporus cowlesi—Southern Plateau Lizard // Sceloporus graciosus— Sagebrush Lizard // Sceloporus jarrovii—Yarrow's Spiny Lizard // Sceloporus magister—Desert Spiny Lizard // Sceloporus occidentalis —Western Spiny Lizard // Sceloporus poinsettii —Crevice Spiny Lizard // Sceloporus tristichus —Northern Plateau Lizard Sceloporus sp.—Spiny Lizards A number of species of spiny lizards occur in the Southwest today in a variety of ecological habitats. The result is that a generic identification is of little aid for biogeography and is not helpful in environmental interpretation. Sites. Late Blancan: California Wash (Lindsay 1984). Rancholabrean: Cool Water Coal Gasification Solid Waste Site (Jefferson 1991a). Wisconsin: Costeau Pit (Jefferson 1991a). Late Wisconsin: Antelope Cave (Reynolds, Reynolds, Bell, and Pitzer 1991); Burro Canyon (Van Devender and Mead 1978); Nankoweap Canyon (Cole and Mead 1981); Picacho Peak (Van Devender et al. 1991); Wolcott Peak (Van Devender and Mead 1978). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Burnet Cave (Rickart 1977); Kokoweef Cave (Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991); Luz Foundation (Jefferson 1991a); Luz Solar Trough (Jefferson 1991a). Literature. Cole and Mead 1981; Jefferson 1991a; Lindsay 1984; Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991; Reynolds, Reynolds, Bell, and Pitzer 1991; Rickart 1977; Van Devender and Mead 1978; Van Devender et al. 1991.

Sceloporus sp. (small)—Small Spiny Lizard With several small species of spiny lizards possible, little interpretation is possible. Sites. Early/Early-Mid Wisconsin: Lost Valley (Harris 1993c); Rm Vanishing Floor (Harris 1993c). Mid Wisconsin: Papago Springs Cave (Czaplewski and Mead et al. 1999); U-Bar Cave (Harris 1987). Literature. Czaplewski and Mead et al. 1999; Harris 1987, 1993c.

Sceloporus sp. (medium)—Medium-size Spiny Lizard With several medium-size species of spiny lizards possible, little interpretation is possible. Sites. Mid Wisconsin: Papago Springs Cave (Czaplewski and Mead et al. 1999). Literature. Czaplewski and Mead et al. 1999.

Sceloporus sp. (large)—Large Spiny Lizard The same comments as for the two former entries for Sceloporus apply here, also. Sites. Mid Wisconsin: U-Bar Cave (Harris 1987). Early/Late Wisconsin: Animal Fair (Harris 1993c). Late Wisconsin: Charlies Parlor (Harris 1989: cf.); U-Bar Cave 15-18 ka (Harris 1989); U-Bar Cave 18-20 ka (Harris 1989: cf.). Literature. Harris 1987, 1989, 1993c.

Sceloporus clarkii Baird & Girard 1852—Clark's Spiny Lizard

With a distribution from central Arizona southeast to southwestern New Mexico and south into Mexico, Clark's Spiny Lizard occurs primarily in woodland habitats. The sole record is from within the present geographic range of the species, but at a lower elevation than known records (Van Devender and Worthington 1977). Fig. 1. Clark's Spiny Lizard (Sceloporus clarkii). Photograph by Carl S. Lieb. Sites. Sangamon: La Brisca (Van Devender et al. 1985: cf.). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Deadman Cave (Mead et al. 1984: cf.); Howell's Ridge Cave (Van Devender and Worthington 1977: cf.). Literature. Mead et al. 1984; Van Devender and Worthington 1977; Van Devender et al. 1985.

Sceloporus cowlesi Lowe & Norris 1956—Southern Plateau Lizard Synonyms. Sceloporus undulatus, Eastern Fence Lizard. Leaché and Reeder (2002) limited the name S. undulatus to populations east of the Mississippi. Those populations mostly west of the Mississippi to eastern New Mexico and then southeast to the Gulf Coast became S. consobrinus, while populations bordering that species on the southwest became S. cowlesi. All of our New Mexican records are from the current range of S. cowlesi, and are sorecorded here based entirely on the current geographic distribution. Sceloporus cowlesi extends from central New Mexico and adjacent eastern Arizona southeast to southern Texas and well into Mexico (Leaché 2009).

Applegarth (1979) indicated that the various subspecies of S. undulatus tend to have their own favored habitats, differing somewhat from one another; however, what then were considered subspecies, may now belong to different species. In the vicinity of Dry Cave at present, some dense vegetation in conjunction with loose rocks and rock crevices appears ideal. Van Devender and Worthington (1977) indicated that its habitats include grassland and woodland, and that it occasionally gets into desertscrub. Fig. 1. Southern Plateau Lizard (Sceloporus cowlesi). Photograph by Carl S. Lieb. This is one of the few species to occur at Dry Cave during full-glacial time. Sites. Wisconsin: Arroyo de las Tinajas 1 (UTEP). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Dark Canyon Cave (Applegarth 1979). Late Wisconsin: Animal Fair 18-20 ka (Applegarth 1979); Bison Chamber (Holman 1970); Dust Cave (this work: cf.); Harris' Pocket (Holman 1970); TT II (Harris 1993c); Upper Sloth Cave (Logan and Black 1979); Vulture Cave (Mead and Phillips 1981 cf.). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Balcony Room (Holman 1970); Deadman Cave (Mead et al. 1984: cf.); Howell's Ridge Cave (Van Devender and Worthington 1977: cf.). Literature. Applegarth 1979; Harris 1993c; Holman 1970; Leaché 2009; Leaché and Reeder 2002; Logan and Black 1979; Mead and Phillips 1981; Mead et al. 1984; Van Devender and Worthington 1977.

Sceloporus graciosus Baird & Girard 1852—Sagebrush Lizard Sites. Mid/Late Wisconsin: Diamond Valley (Springer et al. 2009: cf.). Literature. Springer et al. 2009.

Sceloporus jarrovii Cope 1875—Yarrow's Spiny Lizard

Yarrow's Spiny Lizard occurs in southeastern Arizona and the bootheel of southwestern New Mexico, thence south into Mexico. It is a dweller in montane rocky habitats, but at higher elevation than the sites noted below. Fig. 1. Yarrow's Spiny Lizard (Sceloporus jarrovii). Photograph by Carl S. Lieb. Sites. Late Wisconsin: U-Bar Cave 15-18 ka (Harris 1993c: cf.); U-Bar Cave 18-20 ka (Harris 1993c: cf.). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Howell's Ridge Cave (Van Devender and Worthington 1977: cf.). Literature. Harris 1993c; Van Devender and Worthington 1977.

Sceloporus magister Hallowell 1854—Desert Spiny Lizard

This is a desertscrub species now widely distributed throughout much of the lower elevations of the Southwest. Van Devender and Worthington (1977) indicated that it is expectable in the vicinity of Howell's Ridge Cave at present. Fig. 1. Desert Spiny Lizard (Sceloporus magister). Photograph by Carl S. Lieb. Sites. Late Blancan/Irvingtonian: Vallecito Creek, Anza-Borrego Desert (Cassiliano 1999). ?Late Irvingtonian/Rancholabrean: Emery Borrow Pit (Jefferson 1991a). Mid Wisconsin: Papago Springs Cave (Czaplewski and Mead et al. 1999: cf.). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Rancho La Brea (Brattstrom 1953). Late Wisconsin: Brass Cap Point (Van Devender and Mead 1978: cf.); Burro Canyon (Van Devender and Mead 1978: cf.); Desert Almond (Van Devender et al. 1977a: cf.); New Water Mountains (Van Devender and Mead 1978: cf.); Peach Springs Wash (Van Devender et al. 1977a: cf.); Rampart Cave (Van Devender et al. 1977a: cf.); Vulture Cave (Mead and Phillips 1981: cf.); Wellton Hills (Van Devender and Mead 1978: cf.); Window Rock (Van Devender et al. 1977a: cf.). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Deadman Cave (Mead et al. 1984: cf.); Howell's Ridge Cave (Van Devender and Worthington 1977); Kokoweef Cave (Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991). Literature. Brattstrom 1953; Cassiliano 1999; Czaplewski and Mead et al. 1999: Jefferson 1991a; Mead and Phillips 1981; Mead et al. 1984; Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991; Van Devender and Mead 1978; Van Devender and Worthington 1977; Van Devender et al. 1977a.

Sceloporus occidentalis Baird & Girard 1852—Western Fence Lizard Sites. ?Late Irvingtonian/Rancholabrean: Emery Borrow Pit (Jefferson 1991a).

Rancholabrean: Mescal Cave (Jefferson 1991a); Tule Springs (Springer et al. 2005. Wisconsin: Carpinteria (Jefferson 1991a). Mid Wisconsin: McKittrick (Jefferson 1991a). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Diamond Valley (Springer et al. 2009); Rancho La Brea (Brattstrom 1953). Literature. Brattstrom 1953; Jefferson 1991a; Springer et al. 2005, 2009.

Sceloporus poinsettii Baird & Girard 1852—Crevice Spiny Lizard The current distribution is southern New Mexico south into Mexico. It occurs now in the vicinity of Upper Sloth Cave (Logan and Black 1979). Sites. Late Wisconsin: Upper Sloth Cave (Logan and Black 1979). Literature. Logan and Black 1979.

Sceloporus tristichus Cope 1875—Northern Plateau Lizard Synonyms. Sceloporus undulatus, Eastern Fence Lizard. Leaché and Reeder (2002) limited the name S. undulatus to populations east of the Mississippi. Those populations mostly west of the Mississippi to eastern New Mexico and then southeast to the Gulf Coast became S. consobrinus, while populations bordering that species on the southwest became S. cowlesi. Populations in north-central Arizona and north into Utah and Colorado became S. tristichus. The material listed here is assigned to the latter solely on the current geographic distribution, although S. occidentalis is a distinct possibility. Sites.

Late Wisconsin: Desert Almond (Van Devender et al. 1977a); Rampart Cave (Van Devender et al. 1977a); Shinumo Creek (Van Devender et al. 1977a); Vulture Canyon (Van Devender et al. 1977a); Vulture Cave (Mead and Phillips 1981). Literature. Leaché and Reeder 2002; Mead and Phillips 1981; Van Devender et al. 1977a.

Last Update: 27 May 2014

Main Menu Class Reptilia Order Squamata Suborder Sauria Family Phrynosomatidae

Urosaurus ornatus (Baird & Girard 1852)—Tree Lizard

This is a small, widespread lizard common in much of the Southwest from lower forest into desert habitats. Its small size almost certainly negatively biases recovery. Fig. 1. Tree Lizard (Urosaurus ornatus). Photograph by Carl S. Lieb. Sites. Mid Wisconsin: U-Bar Cave (Harris 1987: cf. gen. et sp.). Late Wisconsin: Picacho Peak (Van Devender et al. 1991); Shafter Midden (UTEP); Upper Sloth Cave (Logan and Black 1979). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Deadman Cave (Mead et al. 1984); Howell's Ridge Cave (Van Devender and Worthington 1977). Literature. Harris 1987; Logan and Black 1979; Mead et al. 1984; Van Devender and Worthington 1977; Van Devender et al. 1991.

Uta stansburiana Baird & Girard, 1852—Side-blotched Lizard

Fig. 1. Uta stansburiana photograph by Carl S. Lieb. Another small lizard widespread in the Southwest, the Side-blotched Lizard is a reptile of arid, sparsely vegetated areas. Absence from the full-glacial deposits of Dry Cave (which were carefully picked for small herptiles by J. Applegarth) implies absence from the area in pluvial times; Davis and Verbeek (1972) thought that these lizards were limited to areas warm enough to allow maturity after only one hibernation period. Thus absence from Eddy County likely was due to low warm-season temperatures (Applegarth 1979). Sites. Late Blancan/Irvingtonian: Vallecito Creek, Anza-Borrego Desert (Cassiliano 1999). ?Late Irvingtonian/Rancholabrean: Emery Borrow Pit (Jefferson 1991a). Rancholabrean: Bedford Properties (Jefferson 1991a). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Diamond Valley (Springer et al. 2009); Rancho La Brea (Brattstrom 1953). Late Wisconsin: Brass Cap Point (Van Devender and Mead 1978); Desert Almond (Van Devender et al. 1977a); Maricopa (Jefferson 1991a); Vulture Cave (Mead and Phillips 1981); Wellton Hills (Van Devender and Mead 1978) Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Howell's Ridge Cave (Van Devender and Worthington 1977); Solar One (Jefferson 1991a). Literature. Applegarth 1979; Brattstrom 1953; Cassiliano 1999; Davis and Verbeek 1972; Jefferson 1991a; Mead and Phillips 1981; Springer et al. 2009; Van Devender and Mead 1978; Van Devender and Worthington 1977; Van Devender et al. 1977a.

Last Update: 26 Mar 2014

Main Menu Class Reptilia Order Squamata Suborder Sauria Family Scincidae

Plestiodon gilberti—Gilbert's Skink // Plestiodon multivirgatus— Many-lined Skink // Plestiodon multivirgatus size—Size of Many-lined Skink // Plestiodon obsoletus—Great Plains Skink // Plestiodon skiltonianus—Western Skink Scincidae—Skinks The Scincidae is a very large family distributed virtually worldwide except Antarctica. Our regional species recovered as fossils traditionally have been considered members of the genus Eumeces. However, recent taxonomic work (Smith 2005, Brandley et al. 2005) has indicated that the New World Eumeces are distinct from the Old World forms at the generic level. The North American Center for Herpetology has accepted Plestiodon as the correct name for the American taxa. Literature. Brandley et al. 2005; Smith 2005.

Plestiodon sp.—Skinks Synonyms. Eumeces sp. Various species of skinks are widespread in the Southwest. Sites Late Blancan: California Wash (Lindsay 1984). Late Blancan/Irvingtonian: Vallecito Creek, Anza-Borrego Desert (Cassiliano 1999). Irvingtonian: Elsinore: Microtus/Mammuthus (Bell 1993). Rancholabrean: Bedford Properties (Jefferson 1991a). Wisconsin: Glen Abbey (Majors 1993). Late Wisconsin: Upper Sloth Cave (Logan and Black 1979). Literature. Bell 1993; Cassiliano 1999; Jefferson 1991a; Lindsay 1984; Logan and Black 1979; Majors 1993.

Plestiodon gilberti (Van Denburgh 1896)—Gilbert's Skink Sites Mid Wisconsin: McKittrick (Jefferson 1991a). Late Wisconsin: Antelope Cave (Reynolds, Reynolds, Bell, and Pitzer 1991: cf.) Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Kokoweef Cave (Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991). Literature. Jefferson 1991a; Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991; Reynolds, Reynolds, Bell, and Pitzer 1991.

Plestiodon multivirgatus Hallowell 1857—Many-lined Skink Synonyms. Eumeces multivirgatus. According to Applegarth (1979), P. multivirgatus tends, in the Southwest, to occur in mesic situations near permanent water. He identified the Many-lined Skink from the fullglacial "A" grid of Animal Fair, Dry Cave, on the basis of a frontal and a tibia; nine other items are consistent with this species. More than 18 items representing small Plestiodon were identified from the older, "F" grid. Applegarth suggested on the basis of these records, that permanent water likely was within 5 km of Dry Cave during the pre-pleniglacial and full-pluvial time span. Sites Late Wisconsin: Animal Fair 18-20 kya (Applegarth 1979); Animal Fair F2L5 (Applegarth 1979); Upper Sloth Cave (Logan and Black 1979). Literature. Applegarth 1979; Logan and Black 1979.

Plestiodon (P. multivirgatus size)—Skink (Many-lined Skink Size) Applegarth (1979) identified one element of a small skink from Dark Canyon Cave. The size is consistent with P. multivirgatus and it probably represents that species.

Sites. Mid/Late Wisconsin: Dark Canyon Cave. Literature. Applegarth 1979.

Plestiodon obsoletus Baird & Girard 1852—Great Plains Skink

Synonyms. Eumeces obsoletus. Van Devender and Worthington (1977) described the Great Plains Skink as an inhabitant of mesic canyons that may also extend out from the mountainous areas into riparian situations. Applegarth (1979) noted it as ranging widely in southern New Mexico in woodland and grassland situations, though tending to favor riparian habitat with rocks present. Fig. 1. Great Plains Skink (Plestiodon obsoletus). Photograph by Carl S. Lieb. Applegarth (1979) ascribed absence from the Dry Cave full glacial as likely due to cool temperatures. The Wylde Cave record very likely is Holocene. Sites. Mid Wisconsin-Holocene: Shelter Cave (Brattstrom 1964). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Fowlkes Cave (Parmley and Bahn 2012: cf.); Howell's Ridge Cave (Van Devender and Worthington 1977); Wylde Cave (Brattstrom 1964). Literature. Applegarth 1979; Brattstrom 1964; Parmley and Bahn 2012; Van Devender and Worthington 1977.

Plestiodon skiltonianus Baird & Girard 1852—Western Skink The Western Skink geographic range includes coastal southern California. Sites. ?Late Irvingtonian/Rancholabrean: Emery Borrow Pit (Jefferson 1991a). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Rancho La Brea (Brattstrom 1953). Late Wisconsin: Maricopa (Jefferson 1991a). Literature. Brattstrom 1953; Jefferson 1991a.

Last Update: 28 May 2014

Main Menu Class Reptilia Order Squamata Suborder Sauria Family Teiidae

Aspidoscelis sp.—Whiptails // Aspidoscelis (small)—Small-sized Whiptail // Aspidoscelis (large) —Large-sized Whiptail // Aspidoscelis (A. tigris size) —Western Whiptail Size // Aspidoscelis tigris—Western Whiptail Aspidoscelis—Whiptails Synonyms. Cnemidophorus. Reeder, Cole, and Dessauer (2002) assigned North American species north of Mexico that were earlier assigned to Cnemidophorus to the genus Aspidoscelis Fitzinger 1843. A number of species of whiptail lizards occur in the Southwest, with osteological differences little studied. The various species differ notably in habitat requirements, but most require relatively benign temperature regimes. Asplund (1974) suggested that smaller species tend to inhabit more open habitats while the larger species tend to live in more shaded areas. Literature. Asplund 1974; Reeder et al. 2002.

Ameivra/Aspidoscelis—Jungle-runner or Whiptail A number of species of Ameivra now occur from South America north into Mexico. Aspidoscelis is common throughout most of our region. Sites. Late Blancan/Irvingtonian: Vallecito Creek, Anza-Borrego Desert (Cassiliano 1999). Literature. Cassiliano 1999

Aspidoscelis sp.—Whiptails Sites.

Late Blancan: California Wash (Lindsay 1984). Irvingtonian: Elsinore: Microtus/Mammuthus (Bell 1993: cf.). ?Late Irvingtonian/Rancholabrean: Emery Borrow Pit (Jefferson 1991a). Rancholabrean: Cool Water Coal Gasification Solid Waste Site (Jefferson 1991a). Wisconsin: Costeau Pit (Jefferson 1991a). Late Wisconsin: Dark Canyon Cave (Rickart 1977); Desert Almond (Van Devender et al. 1977a); Gypsum Cave (Brattstrom 1954); Pintwater Cave (Hockett 2000). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Balcony Room (UTEP); Deadman Cave (Mead et al. 1984); Fowlkes Cave (Parmley and Bahn 2012); Kokoweef Cave (Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991); Luz Solar Trough (Jefferson 1991a); Solar One (Jefferson 1991a). Literature. Bell 1993; Brattstrom 1954; Hockett 2000; Jefferson 1991a; Lindsay 1984; Mead et al. 1984; Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991; Parmley and Bahn 2012; Rickart 1977; Van Devender et al. 1977a.

Aspidoscelis sp. (smaller)—Smaller Whiptail Van Devender and Worthington (1977) noted a number of elements of Aspidoscelis from Howell's Ridge Cave that were smaller than those of A. tigris, but unidentifiable to species. Sites. Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Howell's Ridge Cave (Van Devender and Worthington 1977). Literature. Van Devender and Worthington 1977.

Aspidoscelis sp. (large)—Large Whiptail Applegarth (1979) inspected 743 identifiable lizard items from Dark Canyon Cave without finding Aspidoscelis, leading him to suggest that Rickart's (1977) record from that cave may

have represented contamination from the postPleistocene. He also suggested that the apparent absence of whiptails from the Pleistocene of Dark Canyon Cave and Dry Cave "may have been due to a relatively dense growth of grasses at that time" (p. 108). Sites. Mid Wisconsin: U-Bar Cave (Harris 1987). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Dark Canyon Cave (Rickart 1977); Deadman Cave (Mead et al. 1984). Literature. Applegarth 1979; Harris 1987; Mead et al. 1984; Rickart 1977.

Aspidoscelis sp. (A. tigris size)—Whiptail (Western Whiptail Size) Only three whiptail elements from New Mexico seem to surely be Pleistocene in age (assuming Applegarth, 1979, is correct in assigning the Dark Canyon Cave specimen to the postPleistocene). The two specimens from the terminal Wisconsin deposits of Dry Cave are large, the size of the Western Whiptail. The UBar Cave specimen also is a large whiptail, but is mid-Wisconsin in age. The Pendejo Cave specimens both appear to be intrusive, and a specimen from Balcony Room likely is Holocene. Sites. Mid Wisconsin: U-Bar Cave (Harris 1993c: as Cnemidophorus [large]); Mid/Late Wisconsin: Pendejo Cave (Harris 2003) Late Wisconsin: Pendejo Cave (UTEP); TT II (Harris 1993c). Literature. Applegarth 1979; Harris 1993c, 2003.

Aspidoscelis tigris (Baird & Girard 1852)—Western Whiptail

Van Devender and Worthington (1977) identified frontals from Howell's Ridge Cave as certainly A. tigris based on the rugose dorsal surface of the frontals; a number of other elements attributable to the genus were not surely identifiable to species but were consistent in size with this lizard. Fig. 1. Western Whiptail (Aspidoscelis tigris). Photograph by Carl S. Lieb. Sites. Rancholabrean: Mescal Cave (Jefferson 1991a: cf.). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Diamond Valley (Springer et al. 2009); Rancho La Brea (Brattstrom 1953). Late Wisconsin: Antelope Cave (Reynolds, Reynolds, Bell, and Pitzer 1991); Maricopa (Jefferson 1991a); Picacho Peak (Van Devender et al. 1991); Tunnel Ridge Midden (Jefferson 1991a); Vulture Cave (Mead and Phillips 1981: cf.); Vulture Canyon (Van Devender et al. 1997a: cf.); Wolcott Peak (Mead and Phillips 1981: cf.). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Howell's Ridge Cave (Van Devender and Worthington 1977: cf.). Literature. Brattstrom 1953; Jefferson 1991a; Mead 2005; Mead and Phillips 1981; Reynolds, Reynolds, Bell, and Pitzer 1991; Springer et al. 2009; Van Devender and Worthington 1977; Van Devender et al. 1977a.

Last Update: 28 May 2014

Main Menu Class Reptilia Order Squamata Suborder Sauria Family Xantusiidae

†Xantusia downsi Norell 2001—Down's Night Lizard Sites. Late Blancan/Irvingtonian: Vallecito Creek, Anza-Borrego Desert (Cassiliano 1999). Literature. Cassiliano 1999.

Xantusia vigilis Baird 1859—Desert Night Lizard Sites. ?Late Irvingtonian/Rancholabrean: Emery Borrow Pit (Jefferson 1991a). Rancholabrean: Cool Water Coal Gasification Solid Waste Site (Jefferson 1991a: sp.). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Calico Lakes (Jefferson 1991a); Luz Foundation (Jefferson 1991a: cf.). Literature. Jefferson 1991a.

Last Update: 26 Mar 2014

Main Menu Class Reptilia Order Squamata Suborder Serpentes

Boidae—Boas // Colubridae—Harmless Egg-laying Snakes // Crotalidae —Pitvipers // Dipsadidae—Slender Rear-fanged Snakes // Leptotyphlopidae—Slender Blind Snakes // Natricidae—Harmless Live-bearing Snakes

Suborder Serpentes—Snakes The snakes form a large, highly successful, widely distributed group of carnivorous reptiles. Snakes are limbless, have a greatly increased number of vertebrae, and lack eyelids (the eye is covered by a clear scale). A number of species are venomous. The vertebrae are easily separable from those of lizards by an extra set of articulations. Specialists in identification of snakes are said to be able to identify many down to the species level on the basis of vertebral characters. However, a contrary view is given by Czaplewski and Mead et al. (1999:11): "Without invoking modern geographic distribution of taxa as a criterion for at least limiting the species used for comparative purposes, we consider accurate diagnosis of isolated fossil vertebrae to species (and in many cases to genus) an unobtainable goal at present."

Last Update: 19 Nov 2012

Main Menu Class Reptilia Order Squamata Suborder Serpentes Family Boidae

Boa constrictor Linnaeus 1758—Boa Constrictor Discussion. Currently, Boa Constrictors inhabit Central and South America. Sites. Irvingtonian: El Golfo (Croxen et al. 2007: cf.). Literature. Croxen et al. 2007.

Lichanura trivirgata (Cope 1861)—Rosy Boa Sites. Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Luz Solar Trough (Jefferson 1991a). Literature. Jefferson 1991a.

Last Update: 28 Feb 2014

Main Menu Class Reptilia Order Squamata Suborder Serpentes Family Colubridae

Arizona elegans —Glossy Snake // Bogertophis subocularis—TransPecos Rat Snake // Chionactis occipitalis—Western Shovel-nosed Snake // Coluber/Masticophis—Racer/Coachwhip // Gyalopion canum —Chihuahuan Hook-nosed Snake // Lampropeltis —Kingsnakes // Liochlorophis —Smooth Green Snake // Masticophis flagellum — Coachwhip // Masticophis mentovarius—Tropical Whipsnake // Pantherophis emoryi —Great Plains Rat Snake // Pituophis catenifer —Gopher Snake // Rhinocheilus lecontei —Long-nosed Snake // Salvadora sp.—Patch-nosed Snakes // Sonora sp.—Ground Snakes // Tantilla sp.—Black-headed Snakes // Trimorphodon —Lyre Snakes Colubridae—Harmless Egg-laying Snakes The Colubridae encompasses most of the common snakes of our region. Colubrids are pretty much worldwide in distribution and on most continents are the most numerous snakes in terms of species richness. It thus comes as no surprise that more species of colubrids are identified as fossils from our region than are those from any other family of snakes.

Last Update: 20 Aug 2014

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Arizona sp.—Glossy Snakes Sites. Rancholabrean: Tule Springs (Springer et al. 2005: cf. gen.). Literature. Springer et al. 2005.

Arizona elegans Kennicott 1859—Glossy Snake

Glossy Snakes are widespread in the Southwest and into the Great Plains to northeastern Colorado. Van Devender and Worthington (1977) described the habitat preferred by this snake as desertscrub and desert grassland. Fig. 1. Glossy Snake (Arizona elegans). Photograph by Carl S. Lieb. Sites. Mid Wisconsin: Rancho La Brea (LaDuke 1991). Late Wisconsin: New Water Mountains (Van Devender and Mead 1978); Picacho Peak (Van Devender et al. 1991); Upper Sloth Cave (Logan and Black 1970). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Conkling Cavern, Midden 2 (Harris 1993c); Fowlkes Cave

(Parmley 1990); Deadman Cave (Mead et al. 1984); Howell's Ridge Cave (Van Devender and Worthington 1977). Literature. Harris 1993c; LaDuke 1991; Logan and Black 1970; Mead et al. 1984; Parmley 1990; Van Devender and Mead 1978; Van Devender and Worthington 1977; Van Devender et al. 1991.

Last Update: 6 May 2014

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Bogertophis subocularis (Brown 1901)—Trans-Pecos Rat Snake Synonyms. Elaphe subocularis

The present range of this snake lies mostly south of south-central New Mexico. It does include part of New Mexico east of the Rio Grande as far north as Rincon. The Bishop's Cap sites are within the present range, but the U-Bar Cave record indicates earlier occurrence west of its present distribution. The occurrence at U-Bar Cave (F-227-1/F-227-2, top) appears to be either terminal Wisconsin or Holocene, most probably the latter. Fig. 1. Trans-Pecos Rat Snake. Photograph by Carl S. Lieb.

Fig. 2. Current distribution of Bogertophis subocularis. The heavy outline delimits the Chihuahuan Desert. Sites. Pleistocene/Holocene: Wylde Cave (Brattstrom 1964). Mid Wisconsin/Holocene: Shelter Cave (Brattstrom 1964). Mid Wisconsin: Pendejo Cave (Harris 2003); U-Bar Cave (UTEP). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Sierra Diablo Cave (UTEP). Late Wisconsin: Upper Sloth Cave (Logan and Black 1979). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Conkling Cavern (Brattstrom 1964); Fowlkes Cave (Parmley 1990); U-Bar Cave (UTEP).

Literature. Brattstrom 1964; Harris 2003; Logan and Black 1979; Parmley 1990.

Last Update: 16 Jan 2013

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Chionactis occipitalis (Hallowell 1854) - Western Shovel-nosed Snake Sites. Late Wisconsin: Falling Arches (Jefferson 1991a); Tunnel Ridge Midden (Jefferson 1991a). Literature. Jefferson 1991a.

Last Update: 9 Mar 2014

Main Menu Class Reptilia Order Squamata Suborder Serpentes Family Colubridae

Coluber sp.—Racers // Coluber constrictor—Eastern Racer // Masticophis sp.—Coachwhip Snakes // Masticophis flagellum— Coachwhip // Masticophis lateralis —Striped Racer // Masticophis mentovarius—Topical Coachwhip Coluber/Masticophis—Eastern Racer or Coachwhip A number of sources, including the authority used here for reptile nomenclature (North American Center for Herpetology), are accepting merger of Coluber and Masticophis under the generic name of Coluber. There appears to be rather strong uncertainty among herpetologists about such acceptance—thus for the time being, I am maintaining the two genera as separate, awaiting greater consensus among the reptilian taxonomists. In many or perhaps all cases, Coluber and Masticophis vertebrae are indistinguishable (Parmley 1990; Van Devender and Worthington 1977). In general, workers have tended to identify vertebrae from outside the present range of Coluber as Masticophis. However, racers are a definite possibility in parts of the region under Pleistocene conditions. Because of the difficulty in discrimination between these two genera, a compound term often must serve. Sites. Mid Wisconsin: Pendejo Cave (Harris 2003). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Sierra Diablo Cave (UTEP). Late Wisconsin: Dust Cave (Harris and Hearst 2012); Pendejo Cave (Harris 2003); Upper Sloth Cave (Logan and Black 1979): TT II (UTEP). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Conkling Cavern (UTEP); Fowlkes Cave (Parmley 1990); Pendejo Cave (UTEP). Literature. Harris 2003; Harris and Hearst 2012; Logan and Black 1979; Parmley 1990; Van Devender and Worthington 1977.

Coluber sp.—Racers Sites. Late Blancan: California Wash (Lindsay 1978). ?Late Irvingtonian/Rancholabrean: Emery Borrow Pit (Jefferson 1991a). Literature. Jefferson 1991a; Lindsay 1978.

Coluber constrictor Linnaeus 1758—Eastern Racer Brattstrom (1964) identified vertebrae from two sites in Bishop's Cap as Eastern Racers. He tentatively separated Masticophis from Coluber on the basis of a less flattened subcentrum keel in the latter. Fig. 1. Coluber constrictor. Photograph courtesy of Carl S. Lieb. Sites. Late Blancan: Curtis Ranch (Brattstrom 1955). Mid Wisconsin: Rancho La Brea (LaDuke 1991). Mid Wisconsin-Holocene: Shelter Cave (Brattstrom 1964). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Conkling Cavern (Brattstrom 1964).

1991.

Masticophis sp.—Coachwhip Snakes Van Devender and Worthington (1977) stated that the various species of Masticophis cannot be discriminated by vertebral characters. There

Literature. Brattstrom 1955, 1964; LaDuke

is a current attempt to merge Masticophis in Coluber. Sites. Late Blancan: California Wash (Lindsay 1978). Irvingtonian: El Golfo (Croxen et al. 2007); Tule Springs (Springer et al. 2005). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Diamond Valley (Springer et al. 2009). Late Wisconsin: TT II (Harris 1993c); U-Bar Cave 15-18 ka (Harris 1989). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Deadman Cave (Mead et al. 1984); Howell's Ridge Cave (Van Devender and Worthington 1977); Isleta Cave No. 2 (UTEP); Kokoweef Cave (Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991). Literature. Croxen et al. 2007; Harris 1989, 1993c; Mead et al. 1984; Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991; Springer et al. 2005, 2009; Van Devender and Worthington 1977.

Masticophis flagellum (Shaw 1802)—Coachwhip

Synonyms. Coluber flagellum. This taxon currently is recognized under this name by the Center for North American Herpetology. Although this web book generally follows the taxonomy of that institution, there seems to be an inordinate amount of controversy about this taxon, and I'll maintain it as M. flagellum for the time being. Although perhaps absent from the Colorado Plateau area, the Coachwhip otherwise occurs throughout our region in a wide variety of habitats. Fig. 1. Coachwhip. Photograph by Carl S. Lieb.

Sites. Late Blancan/Irvingtonian: Vallecito Creek, Anza-Borrego Desert (Cassiliano 1999). Sangamon: Newport Bay Mesa (Jefferson 1991a). Mid Wisconsin-Holocene: Shelter Cave (Brattstrom 1964) Late Wisconsin: Gypsum Cave (Brattstrom 1954) Literature. Brattstrom 1964; Cassiliano 1999; Jefferson 1991a.

Masticophis lateralis (Hallowell 1853)—Striped Racer Synonyms. Coluber lateralis. Mid Wisconsin: Rancho La Brea (LaDuke 1991). Literature. LaDuke 1991.

Masticophis mentovarius (Duméril, Bibron, and Duméril 1854)—Tropical Coachwhip Synonyms. As with M. flagellum, this taxon has usually been considered to be within the genus Masticophis, but some sources currently recognize it as Coluber mentovarius. Sites. Sangamon: La Brisca (Van Devender et al. 1985: cf.). Literature. Van Devender et al. 1985.

Last Update: 5 Aug 2014

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Gyalopion canum Cope 1860—Western Hooknose Snake

Van Devender and Worthington (1977) gave the most common habitat of this snake as desertscrub and grassland, but noted that it may occur in more mesic environments on occasion. In our region, it occurs now largely from central New Mexico and southeastern Arizona south. Fig. 1. Gyalopion canum. Photograph by Carl S. Lieb. Sites. Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Deadman Cave (Mead et al. 1984); Fowlkes Cave (Parmley 1990); Howell's Ridge Cave (Van Devender and Worthington 1977). Literature. Mead et al. 1984; Parmley 1990; Van Devender and Worthington 1977.

Last Update: 5 Mar 2013

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Lampropeltis sp. // Lampropeltis getula—Common Kingsnake // Lampropeltis intermedius —Intermediate Kingsnake // Lampropeltis pyromelana—Sonoran Mountain Kingsnake // Lampropeltis triangulum—Eastern Milksnake Lampropeltis sp.—Kingsnakes Various species of kingsnakes are possible within our region, but limited samples may prevent identification to species. Sites. Rancholabrean: Bedford Properties (Jefferson 1991a). Wisconsin: CC:5:1 (Mead et al. 2003: cf.) Mid/Late Wisconsin: Diamond Valley (Springer et al. 2009: cf. gen.). Late Wisconsin: Dust Cave (this work: cf.). Literature. Jefferson 1991a; Mead et al. 2003; Springer et al. 2009.

Lampropeltis getula (Linnaeus 1766)—Common Kingsnake

Van Devender and Worthington (1977)

gave the preferred habitat as mesic grasslands but noted that it also occurs out into desert environments along riparian washes. Fig. 1. Common Kingsnake. Photograph courtesy of Carl S. Lieb. Sites. Late Blancan/Irvingtonian: Vallecito Creek, Anza-Borrego Desert (Cassiliano 1999). ?Late Irvingtonian/Rancholabrean: Emery Borrow Pit (Jefferson 1991a). Sangamon: Newport Bay Mesa (Jefferson 1991a); San Pedro Lumber Co. (Jefferson 1991a). Mid Wisconsin: McKittrick (Jefferson 1991a); Pendejo Cave (UTEP); Rancho La Brea (LaDuke 1991). Mid Wisconsin-Holocene: Shelter Cave (Brattstrom 1964). Late Wisconsin: Gypsum Cave (Brattstrom 1954); Red Tail Peak Midden (Jefferson 1991a); Picacho Peak (Van Devender et al. 1991); Rampart Cave (Van Devender et al. 1977a); Stanton's Cave (Olsen and Olsen 1984); Test Trench II (UTEP). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Deadman Cave (Mead et al. 1984); Fowlkes Cave (Parmley 1990); Kokoweef Cave (Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991); Shelter Cave (Brattstrom 1964); Howell's Ridge Cave (Van Devender and Worthington 1977); Pendejo Cave (UTEP). Literature. Brattstrom 1954, 1964; Cassiliano 1999; Harris 2003; Jefferson 1991a; LaDuke 1991; Mead et al. 1984; Olsen and Olsen 1984; Parmley 1990; Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991; Van Devender and Worthington 1977; Van Devender et al. 1977a; Van Devender et al. 1991.

†Lampropeltis intermedius Brattrom 1955—Intermediate Kingsnake The type locality is Curtis Ranch (Brattstrom 1955).

Sites. Late Blancan: California Wash (Lindsay 1978); Curtis Ranch (Brattstrom 1955). Literature. Brattstrom 1955; Lindsay 1984.

Lampropeltis pyromelana (Cope 1866)—Sonoran Mountain Kingsnake This is a snake of mesic or riparian montane habitats (Van Devender and Worthington 1977). It currently is widespread in montane situations in a broad band from northwestern Arizona to extreme southwestern New Mexico and south in Mexico. Fig. 1. Sonoran Mountain Kingsnake (Lampropeltis pyromelana). Photograph by Jeff Servoss, courtesy of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Sites. Late Wisconsin: Vulture Cave (Mead and Phillips 1981). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Howell's Ridge Cave (Van Devender and Worthington 1977: cf.). Literature. Mead and Phillips 1981; Van Devender and Worthington 1977.

Lampropeltis triangulum (Lacépède 1788)—Eastern Milk Snake

Synonyms. Lampropeltis doliata. The fossil

records are within or at the margins of the current range, which is largely to the north or east. Fig. 1. Eastern Milk Snake (Lampropeltis triangulum). Photograph by Carl S. Lieb. Sites. Late Wisconsin: Blackwater Draw Fauna ((Slaughter 1975: cf.). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Fowlkes Cave (Parmley 1990). Literature. Parmley 1990; Slaughter 1975.

Last Update: 26 May 2014

Class Reptilia Order Squamata Suborder Serpentes Family Colubridae

Liochlorophis vernalis (Harlan 1827)—Smooth Green Snake Synonyms. Opheodrys vernalis. The Smooth Green Snake is widespread in the more mesic portions of New Mexico and likely occurs now in the southern Guadalupe Mountains. Sites. Late Wisconsin: Upper Sloth Cave (Logan and Black 1979). Literature. Logan and Black 1979.

If there is no green site menu at the very top, go to START Last Update: 5 Mar 2013

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Pantherophis emoryi (Baird & Girard 1853)—Great Plains Rat Snake Synonyms. Elaphe emoryi, Elaphe guttata

Elaphe guttata is the name under which most of our fossil records were published. Splitting of that taxon resulted in snakes of our region becoming E. emoryi. The generic name of Pantherophis for New World snakes formerly known as Elaphe is now being used as a result of the contention that New World Elaphe is a genus separate from Old World Elaphe. Since the genus Elaphe was described from Old World populations, the name applies to those species. There also is some suggestion that Pantherophis may be congeneric with the genus Pituophis. Fig. 1. Great Plains Rat Snake. Photograph by Carl S Lieb. The fossil records given here are within the current range of P. emoryi. Sites. Mid Wisconsin: Pendejo Cave (Harris 2003) Late Wisconsin: Bison Chamber (Holman 1970) Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Fowlkes Cave (Parmley 1990: cf.) Literature. Harris 2003; Holman 1970; Parmley 1990.

Last Update: 16 Jan 2013

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Pituophis catenifer (Blainville 1835)—Gopher Snake Synonyms. Pituophis melanoleucus. At

present, the geographically widespread Gopher Snake is one of the most common snakes in our region. It inhabits virtually all terrestrial habitats in the Southwest (Van Devender and Worthington 1977). The scientific name of the Southwestern populations of Pituophis has swung back and forth between P. catenifer and P. melanoleucus.   Fig. 1. Pituophis catenifer. Photograph courtesy of Carl S. Lieb. Sites. Late Blancan: California Wash (Lindsay 1984). ?Late Irvingtonian/Rancholabrean: Emery Borrow Pit (Jefferson 1991a). Sangamon: San Pedro Lumber Co. (Jefferson 1991a). Wisconsin: Costeau Pit (Jefferson 1991a). Mid Wisconsin: Pendejo Cave (Harris 2003); Rancho La Brea (LaDuke 1991); U-Bar Cave (Harris 1987: ? gen. et sp.). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Diamond Valley (Springer et al. 2009). Mid Wisconsin/Holocene: Shelter Cave (Brattstrom 1964). Mid/Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Sierra Diablo Cave (UTEP).

Late Wisconsin: Desert Almond (Van Devender et al. 1977a); Gypsum Cave (Brattstrom 1954); Picacho Peak (Van Devender et al. 1991); Pendejo Cave (Harris 2003); Rampart Cave (Van Devender et al. 1977a); Test Trench II (UTEP); Wolcott Peak (Van Devender and Mead 1978). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Conkling Cavern (Brattstrom 1964); Deadman Cave (Mead et al. 1984); Fowlkes Cave (Parmley 1990); Howell's Ridge Cave (Van Devender and Worthington 1977); Isleta Cave No. 2 (UTEP); Kokoweef Cave (Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991); Shelter Cave (Brattstrom 1964); U-Bar Cave (UTEP). Literature. Brattstrom 1954, 1964; Harris 1987, 2003; Jefferson 1991a; LaDuke 1991; Lindsay 1984; Mead et al. 1984; Parmley 1990; Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991; Springer et al. 2009; Van Devender and Mead 1978; Van Devender and Worthington 1977; Van Devender et al. 1977a; Van Devender et al. 1991.

Last Update: 26 May 2014

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Rhinocheilus lecontei Baird & Girard—Long-nosed Snake

Devender and Worthington (1977).

This is an animal of desertscrub and xeric grassland, according to Van

Fig. 1. Rhinocheilus lecontei. Photograph by Carl S. Lieb. Sites. Irvingtonian: El Golfo (Croxen et al. 2007). Mid Wisconsin: Rancho La Brea (LaDuke 1991). Late Wisconsin: Dust Cave (this work); Pendejo Cave (Harris 2003); Picacho Peak (Van Devender et al. 1991); Rampart Cave (Van Devender et al. 1977a); Tucson Mountains (Van Devender and Mead 1978); Tunnel Ridge Midden (Jefferson 1991a); Wolcott Peak (Van Devender and Mead 1978). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Conkling Cavern (Harris 1993c); Deadman Cave (Mead et al. 1984); Fowlkes Cave (Parmley 1990); Howell's Ridge Cave (Van Devender and Worthington 1977); Kokoweef Cave (Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991); New Water Mountains (Van Devender and Mead 1978). Literature. Croxen et al. 2007; Harris 1993c, 2003; LaDuke 1991; Mead et al. 1984; Parmley 1990; Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991; Van Devender and Mead 1978; Van Devender and Worthington 1977; Van Devender et al. 1977a; Van Devender et al. 1991.

Main Menu Class Reptilia Order Squamata Suborder Serpentes Family Colubridae

Salvadora sp.—Patchnose Snakes

Holman (1970) and Van Devender and Worthington (1977) were unable to distinguish the Southwestern species of patchnose snakes on vertebral characters. The latter noted that, depending on the species, anything from desertscrub to forest can be inhabited. Fig. 1. Mountain Patchnose Snake (Salvadora grahamiae), one of the modern regional species of Salvadora. Photograph by Carl S. Lieb. Sites. Sangamon: La Brisca (Van Devender et al. 1985). Mid Wisconsin: U-Bar Cave (Harris 1993c: cf.). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Animal Fair (Harris 1993c). Late Wisconsin: Charlies Parlor (Harris 1989: cf.); Bison Chamber (Holman 1970); Harris' Pocket (Holman 1970); Upper Sloth Cave (Logan and Black 1979: cf.). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Deadman Cave (Mead et al. 1984); Howell's Ridge Cave (Van Devender and Worthington 1977); Pendejo Cave (UTEP). Literature. Harris 1989, 1993c, 2003; Holman 1970; Logan and Black 1979; Mead et al. 1984; Van Devender and Worthington 1977; Van Devender et al. 1985.

Salvadora hexalepis (Cope 1866)—Western Patch-nosed Snakes Sites.

Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Kokoweef Cave (Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991) Literature. Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991.

Last Update: 26 May 2014

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Sonora semiannulata Baird & Girard 1853—Ground Snake As the only named living species of Sonora, presumably all the Wisconsin specimens belong to this species. "Sonora sp." and "Sonora semiannulata are plotted together on the distribution map and not separated out in the sites list. These are small, arid-land snakes. Van Devender and Worthington (1977) gave the habitat as most communities below woodland. Fig. 1. Ground Snake from El Paso County, TX. Photograph by Carl S. Lieb. Late Wisconsin: Desert Almond (Van Devender et al. 1977a); Picacho Peak (Van Devender et al. 1991); U-Bar Cave 15-18 ka (Harris 1989: ?). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Fowlkes Cave (Parmley 1990: as sp.); Howell's Ridge Cave (Van Devender and Worthington 1977; New Water Mountains (Van Devender and Mead 1978). Literature. Harris 1989, 2003; Parmley 1990; Van Devender and Mead 1978; Van Devender and Worthington 1977; Van Devender et al. 1977a; Van Devender et al. 1991.

Last Update: 5 Mar 2013

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Tantilla sp.—Blackhead, Flathead, & Crowned Snakes Several species are known in the Southwest. Vertebral characters that could allow assignment to species are unknown (Parmley 1990). Occurrence in many habitats at most elevations was noted by Van Devender and Worthington (1977).

Fig. 1. Plains Blackhead Snake. Photograph by Carl S. Lieb.

Sites. Mid Wisconsin: Rancho La Brea (LaDuke 1991). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Diamond Valley (Springer et al. 2009). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Fowlkes Cave (Parmley 1990); Howell's Ridge Cave (Van Devender and Worthington 1977). Literature. LaDuke 1991; Parmley 1990; Springer et al. 2009; Van Devender and Worthington 1977.

Tantilla hobartsmithi Taylor 1936—Southwestern Blackhead Snake This small snake is widespread today

throughout the Southwest and northern Mexico. Sites. Late Wisconsin: Picacho Peak (Van Devender et al. 1991: cf.) Literature. Van Devender et al. 1991.

Last Update: 16 Mar 2014

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Trimorphodon lambda Cope 1886—Sonoran Lyre Snake Synonyms. Trimorphodon biscutatus. The taxonomy of Trimorphodon has recently been revised, with T. biscutatus being recognized as consisting of several species. The populations in the Sonoran Desert area are now T. lambda. Mead et al. (1984) listed T. biscutatus for Deadman Cave; placement of this identification as T. lambda is solely on the basis of current geographic distribution. Distribution is primarily within desertscrub habitat (Mead et al. 1984). Sites. Late Wisconsin: Brass Cap Point (Van Devender and Mead 1978) Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Deadman Cave (Mead et al. 1984); New Water Mountains (Van Devender and Mead 1978). Literature. Mead et al. 1984; Van Devender and Mead 1978.

Trimorphodon lyrophanes (Cope 1860)—California Lyre Snake Sites. ?Late Irvingtonian/Rancholabrean: Emery Borrow Pit (Jefferson 1991a). Literature. Jefferson 1991a>

Trimorphodon vilkinsonii Cope 1886—Chihuahuan Lyre Snake Synonyms. Trimorphodon biscutatus. The taxonomy of Trimorphodon has recently been revised, with T. biscutatus being recognized as consisting of several species. The populations in the Chihuahuan Desert region become T. vilkinsonii. Placement is on the basis of current geographic distribution. This lyre snake occurs from desert into lower woodland habitats (Van Devender and Worthington 1977). The Shelter Cave specimen reported by Harris (1993c) was identified by Van Devender. Fig. 1. Photograph of Trimorphodon vilkinsonii by Carl S. Lieb. Sites. Mid Wisconsin-Holocene: Shelter Cave (Harris 1993c). Late Wisconsin: Upper Sloth Cave (Logan and Black 1979).

Worthington 1977).

Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Howell's Ridge Cave (Van Devender and

Literature. Harris 1993c; Logan and Black 1979; Van Devender and Worthington 1977.

Last Update: 27 Jan 2014

Main Menu Class Reptilia Order Squamata Suborder Serpentes Family Crotalidae

Crotalus sp.—Rattlesnakes // Crotalus atrox—Western Diamondback Rattlesnake // Crotalus lepidus—Rock Rattlesnake // Crotalus michellii/oreganus—Speckled or Western Rattlesnake // Crotalus michellii —Speckled Rattlesnake // Crotalus oreganus —Western Rattlesnake // Crotalus molossus—Black-tailed Rattlesnake // Crotalus scutulatus—Mohave Rattlesnake // Crotalus viridis —Prairie Rattlesnake

Crotalidae—Pitvipers The pitvipers include the rattlesnakes, Copperhead, and Cottonmouth. The name of the family refers to its members having a pit (Fig. 1) on the side of the head that detects infrared radiation, and thus is able to accurately locate the position of warm-blooded prey in the dark. The Copperhead and Cottonmouth occur only east of our region. However, the region hosts a large number of species of rattlesnake, all of which are placed in the genus Crotalus except for the Massasauga (Sistrurus catenatus). Although crotalid vertebrae are distinctive from those of other snakes of our region, few if any species are identifiable with certainty on the basis of vertebrae. Although there are differences in adult size among the species, this seldom is conclusive in identification. Fig. 1. Black-tailed Rattlesnake showing the position of the pit (within the white rectangle). The nostril is separate and located just above the rectangle toward the right. Photograph by A. H. Harris. All members of the family are venomous with a sophisticated injection system. The fangs, located at the front of the mouth, normally are folded back, but become erect when the mouth opens for a strike. The fangs are hollow, with the cavity being connected with the poison glands; an opening toward the distal, anterior portion of a fang allows injection of the venom. The venom is primarily for the acquisition of prey, but of course also is utilized as a defensive weapon.

Crotalus sp.—Rattlesnakes Rattlesnakes can be found in the Southwest in virtually every habitat from low desert into high-mountain forested areas. Their remains are frequent in cave deposits, presumably from a combination of often seeking protection from hot weather and hibernating in crevices and caves and in hunting small mammals such as woodrats that often inhabit caves. During excavations at U-Bar Cave, living rattlesnakes were present on a number of occasions. Although identification to genus is reasonably secure, there appears to be no published characters reliably separating the species on the basis of vertebral characters, other than some species reaching a larger maximum size. The Howell's Ridge Cave specimens include a medium-sized and a small-sized species (Van Devender and Worthington 1977). They mention five species as possibilities, including C. lepidus and C. viridis; the specimens identified by them (UTEP collection) include two tentative species identifications: C. lepidus and C. viridis (see account, below); it's unclear whether these identifications represent further study after the publication was submitted or just represent identifications the authors were unwilling to submit to print. Sites. Late Blancan/Irvingtonian: Vallecito Creek, Anza-Borrego Desert (Cassiliano 1999). Irvingtonian: El Golfo (Croxen et al. 2007). Rancholabrean: Devil Peak (Reynolds, Reynolds, and Bell 1991); Marlett Locality (White et al. 2010). Early/Early-Mid Wisconsin: Lost Valley (UTEP); Rm Vanishing Floor (Harris 1993c). Mid Wisconsin: Pendejo Cave (Harris 2003); U-Bar Cave (Harris 1987). Mid/Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Jimenez Cave (Messing 1986); Sierra Diablo Cave (UTEP). Late Wisconsin: Algerita Blossom Cave (Harris 1993c); Animal Fair 18-20 ka (Harris 1989); Antelope Cave (Reynolds, Reynolds, Bell, and Pitzer 1991); Balcony Room (UTEP); Beyond Bison Chamber (Harris 1993c); Camel Room (Harris 1993c); Charlies Parlor (Harris 1989); Dust Cave (this work); Harris' Pocket (Harris 1989); Pendejo Cave (Harris 2003); Shafter Midden (UTEP); TT II (Harris 1993c); U-Bar Cave 13-14 ka (Harris 1989); U-Bar Cave 14-15 ka (Harris 1989); U-Bar Cave 15-18 ka (Harris 1989); U-Bar Cave 18-20 ka (Harris 1989); Upper Sloth Cave (Logan and Black 1979); Vulture Cave (Van Devender et al. 1977a). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Beyond Bison Chamber (Harris 1993c); Fowlkes Cave (Parmley 1990); Howell's Ridge Cave (Van Devender and Worthington 1977); Isleta

Cave No. 2 (UTEP); Kokoweef Cave (Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991 [two species]); Newberry Cave (Jefferson 1991a); Pendejo Cave (Harris 2003). Literature. Cassiliano 1999; Croxen et al. 2007; Harris 1987, 1989, 1993c, 2003; Jefferson 1991a; Logan and Black 1979; Messing 1986; Parmley 1990; Reynolds, Reynolds, and Bell 1991; Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991; Reynolds, Reynolds, Bell, and Pitzer 1991; Van Devender and Worthington 1977; Van Devender et al. 1977a.

Crotalus atrox Baird & Girard 1853—Western Diamondback Rattlesnake

Holman's (1970) identification of this species from the Dry Cave sites of Bison Chamber and Balcony Room is based on two skull parts, a maxilla and a right angular. Brattstrom (1964) noted over 3,000 diamondback vertebrae in just one box of elements from Shelter Cave; other specimens were present from all sections. He also had available various cranial elements. Fig. 1. Western Diamondback Rattlesnake. Photograph courtesy of Carl S. Lieb. Sites. Sangamon: La Brisca (Van Devender et al. 1985). Mid Wisconsin-Holocene: Shelter Cave (Brattstrom 1964). Late Wisconsin: Bison Chamber (Holman 1970); Gypsum Cave (Brattstrom 1954); Tunnel Ridge Midden (Jefferson 1991a). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Balcony Room (Holman 1970); Conkling Cavern (Brattstrom 1964); Deadman Cave (Mead et al. 1984); Fosberg Cave (Brattstrom 1964); Schuiling Cave (Jefferson 1991a). Literature. Brattstrom 1954, 1964; Holman 1970; Jefferson 1991a; Mead et al. 1984; Van Devender et al. 1985.

Crotalus cerastes Hallowell 1854—Sidewinder Sites.

Mid/Late Wisconsin: Diamond Valley (Springer et al. 2009: cf.). Literature. Springer et al. 2009.

Crotalus lepidus (Kennicott, 1861)—Rock Rattlesnake Sites. Currently this small snake occupies southeastern Arizona east across southern New Mexico to southwestern Texas and south into Mexico. Late Blancan: Curtis Ranch (Brattstrom 1955: cf.) Literature. Brattstrom 1955.

Crotalus michellii/oreganus—Speckled or Western Rattlesnake These are relatively small rattlesnakes. Crotalus oreganus was included in Crotalus viridis until recently (see Crotalus viridis account). Sites. Late Wisconsin: Desert Almond (Van Devender et al. 1977a); Vulture Cave (Mead and Phillips 1981) Literature. Mead and Phillips 1981; Van Devender et al. 1977a.

Crotalus michellii (Cope 1861)—Speckled Rattlesnake Sites. Late Wisconsin: Gypsum Cave (Brattstrom

1954) Literature. Brattstrom 1954.

Crotalus molossus Baird & Girard 1853—Black-tailed Rattlesnake Northern populations of Black-tailed Rattlesnakes recently have been recognized as actually consisting of two species, Crotalus molossus and C. ornatus (Anderson and Greenbaum 2012). Populations west of southwestern New Mexico are recognized as C. molossus, but relatively little change in the boundary would put C. ornatus into the California Wash area. Sites. Late Blancan: California Wash (Lindsay 1984: cf.). Literature. Anderson and Greenbaum 2012; Lindsay 1984.

Crotalus oreganus Holbrook 1840—Western Rattlesnake Synonyms. Crotalus viridis. Sites. ?Late Irvingtonian/Rancholabrean: Emery Borrow Pit (Jefferson 1991a). Rancholabrean: Mescal Cave (Jefferson 1991a). Sangamon: Newport Bay Mesa (Jefferson 1991a); San Pedro Lumber Co. (Jefferson 1991a). Wisconsin: Costeau Pit (Jefferson 1991a). Mid Wisconsin: McKittrick (Jefferson 1991a); Rancho La Brea (LaDuke 1991).

Late Wisconsin: Gypsum Cave (Brattstrom 1954) Mid/late Wisconsin: San Miguel Island (Guthrie 1993). Literature. Brattstrom 1954; Guthrie 1993; Jefferson 1991a; LaDuke 1991.

Crotalus scutulatus (Kennicott, 1861)—Mohave Rattlesnake "The Mohave rattlesnake is a common desertgrassland and desertscrub snake in southern Arizona and near Deadman Cave today" (Mead et al. 1984:260). Sites. Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Deadman Cave (Mead et al. 1984). Literature. Mead et al. 1984.

Crotalus viridis (Rafinesque 1818)—Prairie Rattlesnake

Until early in this century, populations assigned to C. viridis occurred across the western U.S. DNA evidence that two major phylogenetic groups were included under that name resulted in splitting the species into a western species (C. oreganus) and an eastern species that retains the name C. viridis. Most of New Mexico falls into the modern geographic range of C. viridis; C. oreganus occurs throughout Arizona and extends eastward into the highlands of west-central New Mexico. Specimens tentatively identified by Van Devender (UTEP collection) from Howell's Ridge Cave as C. viridis are from an area that might have been inhabited by C. oreganus. These specimens were listed only to genus in Van Devender and Worthington (1977). Fig. 1. Prairie Rattlesnake. Photograph by Carl S. Lieb.

The Prairie Rattlesnake reaches higher elevations than other species in the region, and this may be partly the basis for the identification from the high-elevation SAM Cave. Sites. Medial Irvingtonian: SAM Cave (Rogers et al. 2000). Literature. Rogers et al. 2000; Van Devender and Worthington 1977

Last Update: 29 May 2014

Main Menu Class Reptilia Order Squamata Suborder Serpentes Family Dipsadidae

Diadophis punctatus—Ringneck Snake // Heterodon nasicus— Western Hognosed Snake // Hypsiglena—Nightsnakes // Hypsiglena chlorophaea—Desert Nightsnake // Hypsiglena jani —Chihuahuan Night Snake // Hypsiglena ochrorhyncha—Coast Nightsnake // Hypsiglena "torquata" —Nightsnake Dipsadidae—Slender and Robust Rear-Fanged Snakes In the past, the members of this family have usually been placed in the Colubridae, with Heterodon more recently placed in the Xenodontidae and, as of late 2009, Dipsadidae. These small snakes have enlarged, grooved teeth toward the back of the jaw that are used to introduce venom into their prey. They are generally considered harmless to humans.

Diadophis punctatus (Linnaeus 1766)—Ringneck Snake

Ringneck Snakes are widespread in the Southwest, but mainly limited to woodlands between 1200 and 2200 m, although dispersal along riparian corridors occurs; desertscrub is a definite barrier (Van Devender and Worthington 1977). Fig. 1. Ringneck Snake. Carl S. Lieb photograph. Sites. Wisconsin: CC:5:5 (Mead et al. 2003).

Mid Wisconsin: Pendejo Cave (Harris 2003); Rancho La Brea (LaDuke 1991). Late Wisconsin: Upper Sloth Cave (Logan and Black 1979). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Fowlkes Cave (Parmley 1990: cf.); Howell's Ridge Cave (Van Devender and Worthington 1977). Literature. Harris 2003; LaDuke 1991; Logan and Black 1979; Mead et al. 2003; Parmley 1990; Van Devender and Worthington 1977.

Heterodon nasicus Baird & Girard 1852—Western Hog-nosed Snake All

records are from areas within the present range of the Western Hognose Snake. Van Devender and Worthington (1977) give the preferred habitat as grasslands with less common occurrence in desertscrub. Sites. Late Wisconsin: Blackwater Draw Fauna (Slaughter 1975: cf.); TT II (UTEP). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Howell's Ridge Cave (Van Devender and Worthington 1977). Literature. Slaughter 1975; Van Devender and Worthington 1977.

Hypsiglena Cope 1860—Night Snakes Most records of Hypsiglena in our region were reported as H. torquata. However, Mulcahy (2008) recognized a number of species among populations previously recognized as H. torquata. The Pleistocene records have been parceled out according to the modern distribution (with the exception of those from southeastern Arizona, southwestern New Mexico, and northern Sonora—see below). This is deemed by me to be the lesser of two evils (the other evil is just recognizing all to the generic level only).

Hypsiglena sp.—Night Snakes Sites. Late Blancan/Irvingtonian: Vallecito Creek, Anza-Borrego Desert (Cassiliano 1999). Literature. Cassiliano 1999.

Hypsiglena chlorophaea Cope 1860—Desert Night Snake Synonyms. Hypsiglena torquata. With the breakup of Hypsiglena torquata into several species, literature records of H. torquata have necessarily been listed here solely on the basis of present distribution. Sites. Late Wisconsin: New Water Mountains (Van Devender and Mead 1978); Picacho Peak (Van Devender et al. 1991; Red Tail Peak Midden (Jefferson 1991a); Vulture Canyon (Van Devender et al. 1977a); Vulture Cave (Mead and Phillips 1981); Wolcott Peak (Van Devender and Mead 1978). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Whipple Mountains Midden (Jefferson 1991a). Literature. Jefferson 1991a; Mead and Phillips 1981; Van Devender and Mead 1978; Van Devender et al. 1977a; Van Devender et al. 1991.

Hypsiglena jani (Dugès 1865)—Chihuahuan Night Snake Synonyms. Hypsiglena torquata. Sites. Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Fowlkes Cave (Parmley 1990). Literature. Parmley 1990.

Hypsiglena ochrorhyncha—Coast Nightsnake Synonyms. Hypsiglena torquata. Sites. ?Late Irvingtonian/Rancholabrean: Emery Borrow Pit (Jefferson 1991a). Mid Wisconsin: Rancho La Brea (LaDuke 1991). Literature. LaDuke 1991.

Hypsiglena "torquata" (Günther 1860)—Night Snake

The night snakes pose a problem in identification of fossil material in southeastern Arizona, southwestern New Mexico, and northern Sonora. Mulcahy (2008) divided the species Hypsiglena torquata into a number of species, with three (H. chlorophaea, H. jani, and an unnamed species [Cochise clade]) in the region mentioned. Hypsiglena torquata itself was limited to Mexico. The records given here were identified as H. torquata before the splitting into separate species. Not only are there no known osteological features separating the species, but relatively small shifts in geographic ranges could put any of the three at a given fossil site. Thus I have retained the name H. torquata, but with the specific

epithet in quotes. Fig. 1. Hypsiglena torquata. Photograph courtesy of Carl S Lieb. Van Devender and Worthington (1977) indicated that H. torquata was probably most common in desertscrub but also occupies elevationally higher habitats into pine forest. Sites. Sangamon: La Brisca (Van Devender et al. 1985). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Deadman Cave (Mead et al. 1984); Howell's Ridge Cave (Van Devender and Worthington 1977). Literature. Mead et al. 1984; Mulcahy 2008; Parmley 1990; Van Devender and Worthington 1977; Van Devender et al. 1985.

Last Update: 26 Mar 2014

Main Menu Class Reptilia Order Squamata Suborder Serpentes Family Leptotyphlopidae

Leptotyphlopidae—Blind Snakes Synonyms. A recent revision of the family (Adalsteinsson et al. 2009) changes the generic name of our regional blind snakes from Leptotyphlops to Rena. These are very small animals, sometimes called worm snakes since they superficially resemble earthworms. The eyes are vestigial. Teeth are limited to the lower jaw. These are specialists preying on ants and termites.

Rena sp.—Blind Snakes Van Devender and

Worthington (1977) recovered a number of vertebrae from a small, burrowing snake of this genus. The current ranges of the two species, Rena dissecta and R. dulcis, likely include the fossil site. Fig. 1. Western Blind Snake (Rena humilis). Photograph courtesy of Carl S. Lieb. Sites. Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Howell's Ridge Cave (Van Devender and Worthington 1977). Literature. Adalsteinsson et al. 2009; Van Devender and Worthington 1977.

Rena humilis Baird & Girard, 1853—Western Blind Snake Sites. Late Wisconsin: Picacho Peak (Mead 2005).

Late Wisconsin/Holocene:Wolcott Peak (Van Devender and Mead 1978: cf.). Literature. Mead 2005; Van Devender and Mead 1978.

Last Update: 17 Jan 2013

Main Menu Class Reptilia Order Squamata Suborder Serpentes Family Natricidae

Nerodia erythrogaster —Plainbelly Water Snake // Thamnophis sp.— Garter Snakes // Thamnophis couchii —Couch's Garter Snake // Thamnophis cyrtopsis—Blackneck Garter Snake // Thamnophis elegans —Western Terrestrial Garter Snake // Thamnophis marcianus —Checkered Garter Snake // Thamnophis proximus— Western Ribbon Snake // Thamnophis sirtalis—Common Garter Snake Most members of this family are associated with water. Although at home in aquatic habitats, they may wander some distance from permanent or ephemeral water sources, especially in wet weather. The species identified as fossils are live-bearers, which may allow the developing eggs to maintain the optimal temperature for development through basking of the female and other behavioral methods that aid in controlling body temperature.

Nerodia sp.—Water Snakes Synonyms. Natrix sp. Sites. Late Blancan: Curtis Ranch (Brattstrom 1955) Literature. Brattstrom 1955.

Nerodia erythrogaster (Forster 1771)—Plainbelly Water Snake As indicated by the common name, this is a snake perfectly at home in and around water. It narrowly enters our region following the Pecos and Rio Grande drainages from farther to the east and southeast. Either permanent or seasonal water in drainages leading from the Pecos River to the vicinity of Fowlkes Cave may

have enabled this snake to reach the site.

Fig. 1. Plainbelly Water Snake. Photograph by Carl S. Lieb. Sites. Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Fowlkes Cave (Parmley 1990). Literature. Parmley 1990.

Thamnophis sp.—Garter Snakes Holman (1970) recorded at least two species of Thamnophis from Dry Cave. One of these (T. proximus) is noted below; the other(s) belong to the T. cyrtopsis, T. elegans, T. marcianus, T. radix group, but Holman was unable to discriminate between these four species on vertebral characters. Sites. Late Blancan: California Wash (Lindsay 1978); Curtis Ranch (Brattstrom 1955). Late Blancan/Irvingtonian: Vallecito Creek, Anza-Borrego Desert (Cassiliano 1999). Sangamon: Newport Bay Mesa (Jefferson 1991a). Mid Wisconsin: Pendejo Cave (Harris 2003). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Diamond Valley (Springer et al. 2009). Late Wisconsin: Animal Fair 18-20 ka (Harris 1989); Balcony Room (UTEP); Bison Chamber (Holman 1970); Dust Cave (this work: cf.); Harris' Pocket (Holman 1970); Pendejo Cave (Harris 2003); TT II (Harris 1993c); Upper Sloth Cave (Logan and Black 1979). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Balcony Room (Holman 1970); Pendejo Cave (UTEP).

Literature. Brattstrom 1955; Cassiliano 1999; Harris 1989, 1993c, 2003; Holman 1970; Lindsay 1978; Logan and Black 1979; Springer et al. 2009.

Thamnophis couchii Complex—Couch's Garter Snake Complex Sites. Mid Wisconsin: Rancho La Brea (LaDuke 1991). Literature. LaDuke 1991.

Thamnophis cyrtopsis (Kennicott 1860)—Blackneck Garter Snake A

Devender and Worthington 1977).

creature of riparian habitats and usually montane, this snake is barred from arid grassland and desertscrub habitats (Van

Fig. 1. Blackneck Garter Snake (Thamnophis cyrtopsis). Photograph by Carl S. Lieb. Sites. Sangamon: La Brisca (Van Devender et al. 1985: cf.). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Howell's Ridge Cave (Van Devender and Worthington 1977: cf.). Literature. Van Devender and Worthington 1977; Van Devender et al. 1985.

Thamnophis elegans (Baird & Girard 1853)—Western Terrestrial Garter Snake This snake has a very wide range of ecological tolerance, but tends to be a montane forest form in our region. Sites. Medial Irvingtonian: SAM Cave (Rogers et al. 2000). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: SAM Cave (Rogers et al. 2000). Literature. Rogers et al. 2000.

Thamnophis marcianus (Baird & Girard 1853)—Checkered Garter Snake The current range of this snake includes much of southern Arizona, especially toward the southeast, and most of the eastern and southern portions of New Mexico and the TransPecos.

Fig. 1. Checkered Garter Snake. Photograph by Carl S. Lieb. Sites. Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Fowlkes Cave (Parmley 1990: cf.). Literature. Parmley 1990.

Thamnophis proximus (Say)—Western Ribbon Snake Predominantly an eastern form, this snake does enter parts of eastern New Mexico today. Slaughter's record (1975) from Blackwater Draw of T. sauritus is assumed to pertain to this species since he noted (p. 181) that "The Ribbon Snake may still be found in New Mexico along streamways, but is rarely seen far from water." This description fits the Western Ribbon

Snake, but not T. sauritus, the Eastern Ribbon Snake, which is separated from our region by nearly the entire state of Texas. Sites. Late Wisconsin: Bison Chamber (Holman 1970); Blackwater Draw Fauna (Slaughter 1975). Literature. Holman 1970; Slaughter 1975.

Thamnophis sirtalis (Linnaeus)—Common Garter Snake

Slaughter (1975) gives thick grass and moist soil as requirements for this species, while remarking that it is not as aquatic as the ribbon snake. Fig. 1. Common Garter Snake. Photograph courtesy of Brookhaven National Laboratory. Sites. Mid Wisconsin: Rancho La Brea (LaDuke 1991). Late Wisconsin: Blackwater Draw Fauna (Slaughter 1975). Literature. LaDuke 1991; Slaughter 1975.

Last Update: 26 Mar 2014

Main Menu   Class Eusuchia Family Crocodylidae

Crocodylus acuta—American Crocodile A few teeth from Térapa, Sonora, are tentatively identified as crocodile. The material is insufficient to identify morphologically to genus, but is tentatively placed as Crocodylus acuta solely because that is the most logical identification on the basis of the present-day distribution of crocodiles (Mead et al. 2006). Térapa is north and inland of the current main distribution of the American Crocodile, though apparently occasional individuals are noted far up the Gulf of California (Mead et al. 2006) Sites. Mid Wisconsin: Térapa (Mead et al. 2006: cf. gen. et sp.). Literature. Mead et al. 2006.

Last Update: 1 Nov 2013

Main Menu

Aves Introduction Aves Index Birds offer special problems to paleontologists. In general, birds don't tend to fossilize as well as mammals. This is not because bird bones are hollow and mammal bones are not, as often is stated; the major limb bones of both are hollow. The walls of bird bones, however, tend to be thinner than those of comparable sized mammals and thus more prone to crushing and to the effects of weathering and scavenging. Nonetheless, birds preserve very nicely under some circumstances, and Pleistocene cave deposits often produce large numbers in reasonable condition. A second problem that tends to make the published fossil record of birds less complete than that of mammals consists of the perching (passeriform) birds. Making up more than half of the living species of birds, most are relatively small, and few workers are able to reliably identify many taxa to the species level. Other problems with birds include the fact that there are so many of them and that they are more mobile than most non-volant mammals. Any one area in the Southwest may have several times as many avian taxa as mammalian taxa. For example, there are a little over 380 species of birds on the El Paso area checklist; there are about 70 species of mammals. I have hesitated to address bird taxa with questionable identifications at the generic level (that is, "cf. gen. et sp." or "cf. gen."). I finally have opted to include these, despite the danger of them being taken too seriously, since they are reported in the literature and may lead experts specializing in specific taxa to investigate further. Passeriformes (other than those of the genus Corvus) that are identified only as UTEP specimens or listed solely from a Harris citation should be accepted only with a considerable degree of skepticism; neither the degree of ornithological competency nor the availability of a comprehensive comparative collection is such as to instill as much confidence in avian identifications as for mammals. Many species of birds migrate and those that do not are subject to being carried far from their normal habitats by storms. Birds also tend to end up where they shouldn't be by the stupidity of the young (a feature not limited to birds, by any means). Southwestern mammals, on the other hand, if they migrate at all, tend to do so by changing their elevation seasonally. With the exception of bats, mammals don't tend to be blown into distant lands by stormy weather, and when youths wander off, they seldom can go far. Nevertheless, many birds are specific enough in their habitat requirements or preferences to be of aid in reconstructing past environments. Whereas individual birds may end up far from their normal habitat, lost or windblown, the chances of such individuals being preserved and recovered are low, and the presumption is that a fossil lived reasonably near the site of recovery unless the remainder of the fauna is

obviously incompatible with that interpretation. Biologists, of course, find interest in the makeup of ecological communities, and that in itself is ample justification for the study of Pleistocene avian faunas.

Last Update: 7 Jun 2009

Main Menu Class Aves Order Anseriformes Family Anatidae

Aix sponsa (Linnaeus, 1758)—Wood Duck Wood Ducks are uncommon, but not rare in our region. The modern distribution is primarily along the major river valleys (Ligon 1961). Fig. 1. A male wood duck. Photograph courtesy of the U.S. National Park Service. Sites. Mid/Late Wisconsin: Dark Canyon Cave (Howard 1971. Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Stanton's Cave (Rea and Hargrave 1984). Literature. Howard 1971; Ligon 1961; Rea and Hargrave 1984.

Last Update: 4 Feb 2013

Main Menu Class Aves Order Anseriformes Family Anatidae

Anabernicula gracilenta —Graceful Pygmy Goose // Anabernicula oregonensis —Oregon Pygmy Goose †Anabernicula sp.—Pygmy Geese This extinct genus appears to be a member of the anseriform tribe Tadornini (Howard 1964b). This tribe consists of the sheldgeese and shelducks, no longer represented on the North American Continent (Howard 1964b). Johnsgard (1965) notes that members of the tribe form a smooth transition between geese and ducks. The genus was named from material recovered from the McKittrick (California) asphalt deposits (Ross 1935). It later was synonymized with Branta minuscula (Wetmore 1924) as Anabernicula minuscula (Howard 1936). Howard (1964a) later recognized differences between the Arizona Plio-Pleistocene specimens (A. minuscula) and those from the late Pleistocene of California and accordingly restored A. gracilenta as a separate taxon. Howard soon thereafter (1964b) described a third species, A. oregonensis, from Fossil Lake, Oregon. Sites. Mid Wisconsin: U-Bar Cave (Harris 1987: cf.). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Pendejo Cave (Harris 2003: ?). Literature. Harris 1987, 2003; Howard 1936, 1964a, 1964b; Johnsgard 1965; Ross 1935; Wetmore 1924.

†Anabernicula gracilenta Ross 1935—Graceful Pygmy Goose Both sites from which this extinct anatid are known are close to presumed suitable Pleistocene habitat: the Rio Grande Valley and Playas Lake. Howard (1964b) has discussed this and the following species in some detail. Sites.

Mid Wisconsin: McKittrick (Jefferson 1991a) Mid/Late Wisconsin: Rancho La Brea (Stock and Harris 1992); Shelter Cave (Howard 1964b). Late Wisconsin: Howell's Ridge Cave (Howard 1964b). Literature. Howard 1964b; Jefferson 1991a; Stock and Harris 1992.

†Anabernicula oregonensis Howard 1964—Oregon Pygmy Goose Howard (1971) recognized this species from Dark Canyon Cave on the basis of a coracoid lacking the proximal end. Several types of aquatic habitat should have been present in Wisconsin (and prehistoric Holocene) time in the nearby Pecos Valley. The type locality is Fossil Lake, Oregon. Sites. Mid Wisconsin: Térapa (Steadman and Mead 2010). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Dark Canyon Cave (Howard 1971: cf.). Literature. Howard 1971; Steadman and Mead 2010.

Last Update: 29 Dec 2013

Main Menu Class Aves Order Anseriformes Family Anatidae

Anas size acuta—Dabbling Duck (Northern Pintail Size) // Anas acuta—Northern Pintail // Anas americana—American Wigeon // Anas clypeata —Northern Shoveler // Anas crecca carolinensis — Green-winged Teal // Anas cyanoptera —Cinnamon Teal // Anas discors—Blue-winged Teal // Anas platyrhynchos —Mallard // Anas strepera —Gadwall Anas sp.—Dabbling Ducks Anas is a huge genus whose presence implies only that some standing water, temporary or permanent, was in the vicinity. The species noted below occur today throughout watered parts of the region as wintering and/or breeding populations or in migration. None is important as an environmental marker and individual accounts are not given. Sites. Irvingtonian: El Golfo (Croxen et al. 2007: cf.). Wisconsin: Costeau Pit (Jefferson 1991a). Mid Wisconsin: Blackwater Draw (Morgan and Lucas 2005). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Diamond Valley (Springer et al. 2009). Late Wisconsin: China Lake (Jefferson 1991a). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Balcony Room (Harris 1993c); Bat Cave (Scarbrough 1986). Literature. Croxen et al. 2007; Harris 1993c; Morgan and Lucas 2005; Scarbrough 1986; Springer et al. 2009.

Anas, size A. acuta—Dabbling Duck (Northern Pintail Size) Sites.

Wisconsin: White Lake (Harris 1993c; cf.). Late Wisconsin: Stalag 17 (Harris 1993c). Literature. Harris 1993c.

Anas acuta Linnaeus 1758—Northern Pintail Fig. 1. Northern Pintail in flight. Photograph courtesy of the USGS. Sites. Late Blancan/Irvingtonian: Vallecito Creek, Anza-Borrego Desert (Howard 1963: ?). ?Late Irvingtonian/Rancholabrean: Emery Borrow Pit (Jefferson 1991a). Mid Wisconsin: McKittrick (Jefferson 1991a); Térapa (Steadman and Mead 2010). Mid/Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Jimenez Cave (Messing 1986). Mid Wisconsin-Holocene: Shelter Cave (Howard and Miller 1933). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Dark Canyon Cave (Howard 1971). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Howell's Ridge Cave (Howard 1962: cf.); Stanton's Cave (Rea and Hargrave 1984). Literature. Howard and Miller 1933; Howard 1962, 1963, 1971; Jefferson 1991a; Messing 1986; Rea and Hargrave 1984; Steadman and Mead 2010.

Anas americana Gmelin 1789—American Wigeon Synonyms Mareca americana (Gmelin). Fig. 1. American Wigeon. Photograph by Lee Karney, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Sites. Rancholabrean: Tule Springs (Springer et al. 2005). Sangamon: San Pedro Lumber Co. (Jefferson 1991a). Wisconsin: Carpinteria (Guthrie 2009). Early/Early-Mid Wisconsin: Rm Vanishing Floor (Harris 1993c: ? ) Mid Wisconsin: McKittrick (Jefferson 1991a). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Sandblast Cave (Emslie 1988). Late Wisconsin: Skull Cave (Emslie 1988). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Stanton's Cave (Rea and Hargrave 1984); Schuiling Cave (Jefferson 1991a: cf.). Literature. Emslie 1988; Guthrie 2009; Harris 1993c; Jefferson 1991a; Rea and Hargrave 1984; Springer et al. 2005.

Anas clypeata Linnaeus 1758—Northern Shoveler Fig. 1. Male Northern Shovelers. Photograph courtesy of the US Fish & Wildlife Service. Shovelers are found throughout our region where suitable habitat is present. Sites. Late Blancan/Irvingtonian: Vallecito Creek, Anza-Borrego Desert (Howard 1963).

?Late Irvingtonian/Rancholabrean: Emery

Borrow Pit (Jefferson 1991a). Sangamon: San Pedro Lumber Co. (Jefferson 1991a). Mid Wisconsin: McKittrick (Jefferson 1991a); Térapa (Steadman and Mead 2010). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Rancho La Brea (Stock and Harris 1992). Late Wisconsin: Skylight Cave (Emslie 1988).

Literature. Emslie 1988; Howard 1963; Jefferson 1991a; Steadman and Mead 2010; Stock and Harris 1992.

Anas crecca carolinensis Gmelin 1789—American Green-winged Teal Synonyms. Anas carolinensis Gmelin. Fig. 1. Male greenwinged Teal.

Photograph by Donna Dewhurst, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service photograph. Sites. ?Late Irvingtonian/Rancholabrean: Emery Borrow Pit (Jefferson 1991a).

Irvingtonian/Rancholabrean: Manix Lake (Jefferson 1991a). Rancholabrean: San Pedro Lumber Yard (Jefferson 1991a). Sangamon: La Brisca (Van Devender et al. 1985: cf.); San Pedro Lumber Co. (Jefferson 1991a). Wisconsin: Carpinteria (Guthrie 2009). Mid Wisconsin: McKittrick (Jefferson 1991a); Térapa (Steadman and Mead 2010). Mid/Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Jimenez Cave (Messing 1986: cf.); Rancho La Brea (Stock and Harris 1991). Mid Wisconsin-Holocene: Shelter Cave (Howard and Miller 1933). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Dark Canyon Cave (Howard 1971: ?); Sandblast Cave (Emslie 1988). Late Wisconsin: Maricopa (Jefferson 1991a); Skull Cave (Emslie 1988). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Howell's Ridge Cave (Howard 1962: cf.); Schuiling Cave (Jeffeson 1991a: cf.); Stanton's Cave (Rea and Hargrave (1984). Literature. Emslie 1988; Guthrie 2009; Howard and Miller 1933; Howard 1962, 1971; Jefferson 1991a; Messing 1986; Rea and Hargrave 1984; Steadman and Mead 2010; Stock and Harris 1992; Van Devender et al. 1985.

Anas cyanoptera Vieillot 1816—Cinnamon Teal Fig. 1. A pair of Cinnamon Teal. Photograph by Dave Menke, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service photograph. Sites. Rancholabrean: San Pedro Lumber Yard (Jefferson 1991a). Mid Wisconsin: McKittrick (Jefferson 1991a). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Rancho La Brea (Stock and

Harris 1991: ?); U-Bar Cave (Harris 1993c: ?; possibly Late Wisconsin). Late Wisconsin: Animal Fair 1820 ka (Harris 1989: ?). Late Wisconsin/Holocene:

Stanton's Cave (Rea and Hargrave 1984). Literature. Harris 1989, 1993c; Jefferson 1991a; Rea and Hargrave 1984; Stock and Harris 1992.

Anas cyanoptera/discors Vieillot—Blue-winged/Cinnamon Teal Sites. Mid Wisconsin: Térapa (Steadman and Mead 2010). Sites. Steadman and Mead 2010.

Anas discors Linnaeus 1766—Blue-winged Teal Fig. 1. Blue-winged Teal. Photograph by Dave Menke, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service photograph. Sites. Late Wisconsin: Stalag 17 (Harris 1993c; ?). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Stanton's Cave (Rea and Hargrave 1984). Literature. Harris 1993c; Rea and Hargrave

1984.

Anas platyrhynchos/diazi—Mallard or Mexican Duck

Because of the difficulty in distinguishing these two species by osteological criteria, they are merged here. The current distribution of the Mexican Duck includes southwestern US and northern Mexico. Fig. 1. Male Mallard. Photograph by Lee Karney, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service photograph. Sites. ?Late Irvingtonian/Rancholabrean: Emery Borrow Pit (Jefferson 1991a). Irvingtonian/Rancholabrean: Manix Lake (Jefferson 1991a: cf.). Rancholabrean: Salt Springs (Jefferson 1991a); San Pedro Lumber Yard (Jefferson 1991a). Sangamon: San Pedro Lumber Co. (Jefferson 1991a). Wisconsin: Carpinteria (Guthrie 2009).

Mid Wisconsin: McKittrick (Jefferson 1991a); Térapa (Steadman and Mead 2010); UBar Cave (Harris 1987: cf.). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Dark Canyon Cave (Howard 1971); Rancho La Brea (Stock and Harris 1992). Late Wisconsin: Maricopa (Jefferson 1991a); Skull Cave (Emslie 1988); U-Bar Cave 14-15 ka (Harris 1989: cf.). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Pendejo Cave (Harris 2003: cf.); Schuiling Cave (Jefferson 1991a: cf.); Stanton's Cave (Rea and Hargrave 1984).

Fig. 2. Left

humerus of Anas cf. platyrhynchos from U-Bar Cave. Literature. Emslie 1988; Guthrie 2009; Howard 1971; Harris 1987, 1989, 2003; Jefferson 1991a; Rea and Hargrave 1984; Steadman and Mead 2010; Stock and Harris 1992.

Anas strepera Linnaeus 1758—Gadwall Fig. 1. Gadwall. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service photograph. The Gadwall occurs throughout most of our region.

Sites. ?Late Irvingtonian/Rancholabrean: Emery Borrow Pit (Jefferson 1991a). Wisconsin: Carpinteria (Guthrie 2009). Mid Wisconsin: Mid Wisconsin: McKittrick (Jefferson 1991a); Térapa (Steadman and Mead 2010). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Rancho La Brea (Stock and Harris 1992). Late Wisconsin: Maricopa (Jefferson 1991a). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Stanton's Cave (Rea and Hargrave 1984). Literature. Guthrie 2009; Jefferson 1991a; Rea and Hargrave 1984; Steadman and Mead 2010; Stock and Harris 1992.

Last Update: 8 May 2014

Main Menu Class Aves Order Anseriformes Family Anatidae

†Anser sp.—Extinct Goose Sites. Late Blancan/Irvingtonian: Vallecito Creek, Anza-Borrego Desert (Howard 1963). Literature. Howard 1963.

Anser sp.—Snow or White-fronted Goose Sites. Mid Wisconsin: Térapa (Steadman and Mead 2010). Literature. Steadman and Mead 2010.

Anser albifrons (Scopoli 1769)—Greater White-fronted Goose

Fig. 1. Anser albifrons. Photograph by

Dave Menke, courtesy of the US Fish & Wildlife Service. This large goose is widespread during migration. Sites. Rancholabrean: San Pedro Lumber Yard (Jefferson 1991a). Sangamon: San Pedro Lumber Co. (Jefferson 1991a). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Rancho La Brea (Stock and Harris 1992); San Miguel Island (Guthrie 1998). Mid Wisconsin/Holocene: Shelter Cave (Howard and Miller 1933: ?). Literature. Howard and Miller 1933; Guthrie 1998; Jefferson 1991a; Stock and Harris 1992.

Last Update: 8 Feb 2014

Main Menu Class Aves Order Anseriformes Family Anatidae

Aythya affinis —Lesser Scaup // Aythya affinis/collaris —Lesser Scaup or Ring-necked Duck // Aythya americana—Redhead // Aythya collaris —Ring-necked Duck // Aythya marila —Greater Scaup // Aythya valisineria—Canvasback Aythya sp.—Diving Ducks Sites. Irvingtonian/Rancholabrean: Manix Lake (Jefferson 1991a). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Sandblast Cave (Emslie 1988). Late Wisconsin: China Lake (Jefferson 1991a); Skull Cave (Emslie 1988). Literature. Emslie 1988; Jefferson 1991a.

Aythya affinis (Eyton 1838)—Lesser Scaup Sites. ?Late Irvingtonian/Rancholabrean: Emery Borrow Pit (Jefferson 1991a). Sangamon: Newport Bay Mesa (Jefferson 1991a: cf.). Wisconsin: Zuma Creek (Jefferson 1991a). Mid Wisconsin: McKittrick (Jefferson 1991a: ?). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Stanton's Cave (Rea and Hargrave 1984); Tule Springs (Mawby 1967). Literature. Jefferson 1991a; Mawby 1967; Rea and Hargrave 1984; .

Aythya affinis (Eyton 1838)/Aythya collaris (Donovan 1809)—Lesser Scaup or Ring-necked Duck

Fig. 1. Aythya affinis. Photograph by Lee Karney, courtesy of the US Fish & Wildlife Service. Both of these species are present in most areas of the region during winter or migration. Nearby Playas Lake should have provided habitat at the time. Sites. Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Howell's Ridge Cave (cf.) (Howard 1962). Literature. Howard 1962.

Aythya americana (Eyton 1838)—Redhead Fig. 1. Aythya americana. Photograph by Dick Pospahala, courtesy of the US Fish & Wildlife Service. Redheads are present throughout our region during migration and in winter. Sites. Wisconsin: Zuma Creek (Jefferson 1991a). Mid Wisconsin: McKittrick (Jefferson 1991a). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Howell's Ridge Cave (cf.) (Howard 1962); Schuiling Cave (Jefferson 1991a: cf.); Stanton's Cave (Rea and Hargrave 1984).

Literature. Howard 1962; Jefferson 1991a; Rea and Hargrave 1984.

Aythya collaris (Donovan 1809)—Ring-necked Duck Sites. Rancholabrean: Tule Springs (Springer et al. 2005). Mid Wisconsin: Térapa (Steadman and Mead 2010). Literature. Springer et al. 2005; Steadman and Mead 2010.

Aythya marila (Linnaeus 1761)—Greater Scaup Sites. Wisconsin: Zuma Creek (Jefferson 1991a). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Stanton's Cave (Rea and Hargrave 1984). Literature. Jefferson 1991a; Rea and Hargrave 1984.

Aythya valisineria (Wilson 1814)—Canvasback Fig. 1. Aythya valisineria. Photograph by Lee Karney, courtesy of the US Fish & Wildlife Service. Wintering populations of Canvasbacks occur in the Rio Grande Valley, the valley of the Pecos, and to the east. Sites. Rancholabrean: Salt Springs (Jefferson 1991a). Mid Wisconsin: McKittrick (Jefferson 1991a). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Dark Canyon Cave (Howard 1971); Rancho La Brea (Stock and Harris 1992). Mid/Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Stanton's Cave (Rea and Hargrave 1984). Literature. Howard 1971; Jefferson 1991a; Rea and Hargrave 1984; Stock and Harris 1992.

Last Update: 6 May 2014

Main Menu Class Aves Order Anseriformes Family Anatidae

Branta sp.—Branta Geese Sites. Rancholabrean: Wilmington Blvd. and San Pedro Road (Jefferson 1991a). Late Wisconsin: China Lake (Jefferson 1991a). Literature. Jefferson 1991a.

Branta bernicla (Linnaeus 1758)—Brant Sites. Sangamon: San Pedro Lumber Co. (Jefferson 1991a). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Rancho La Brea (Stock and Harris 1992: cf.). Literature. Jefferson 1991a; Stock and Harris 1992.

Branta canadensis (Linnaeus 1758)—Canada Goose This goose currently occurs throughout the region where sufficient open bodies of water occur. Permanent water was near all of the sites during the Pleistocene. Fig. 1. Canada Goose, photograph by Jim Rorabaugh, courtesy of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Sites. ?Late Irvingtonian/Rancholabrean: Emery Borrow Pit (Jefferson 1991a). Irvingtonian/Rancholabrean: Manix Lake (Jefferson 1991a). Rancholabrean: San Pedro Lumber Yard (Jefferson 1991a). Sangamon: Naval Housing Unit (Jefferson 1991a); San Pedro Lumber Co. (Jefferson 1991a). Wisconsin: White Lake (Harris 1993c: ?). Mid Wisconsin: McKittrick (Jefferson 1991a); Térapa (Steadman and Mead 2010). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Rancho La Brea (Stock and Harris 1992); San Miguel Island (Guthrie 1998). Late Wisconsin: Blackwater Loc. No. 1 (Morgan and Lucas 2005). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Conkling Cavern (Howard and Miller 1933); Stanton's Cave (Rea and Hargrave 1984). Literature. Guthrie 1998; Harris 1993c; Howard and Miller 1933; Jefferson 1991a; Morgan and Lucas 2005; Rea and Hargrave 1984; Stock and Harris 1992.

Last Update: 11 Mar 2014

Main Menu Class Aves Order Anseriformes Family Anatidae

†Brantadorna downsi Howard 1963—Down's Taradorn Sites. Late Blancan/Irvingtonian: Vallecito Creek, Anza-Borrego Desert (Howard 1963). Literature. Howard 1963.

Last Update: 27 Mar 2014

Main Menu Class Aves Order Anseriformes Family Anatidae

Bucephala albeola —Bufflehead // Bucephala clangula —Common Goldeneye // Chen caerulescens —Snow Goose // Chen rossii—Ross's Goose // Clangula hyemalis—Oldsquaw // Cygnus columbianus — Whistling Swan

Bucephala sp.—Bucephala Ducks Sites. ?Late Irvingtonian/Rancholabrean: Emery Borrow Pit (Jefferson 1991a). Literature. Jefferson 1991a.

Bucephala albeola (Linnaeus 1758)—Bufflehead Sites. Sangamon: Naval Housing Unit (Jefferson 1991a); San Pedro Lumber Co. (Jefferson 1991a). Wisconsin: Zuma Creek (Jefferson 1991a). Mid Wisconsin: McKittrick (Jefferson 1991a). Mid/Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Jimenez Cave (Messing 1986: ?). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Stanton's Cave (Rea and Hargrave 1984). Literature. Jefferson 1991a; Messing 1986; Rea and Hargrave 1984.

Bucephala clangula (Linnaeus 1758)—Common Goldeneye Sites. Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Stanton's Cave (Rea and Hargrave 1984). Literature. Rea and Hargrave 1984.

†Bucephala fossilis Howard 1963—Buffleheads Sites. Late Blancan/Irvingtonian: Vallecito Creek, Anza-Borrego Desert (Howard 1963). Literature. Howard 1963.

Chen sp.—Snow Geese Sites. ?Late Irvingtonian/Rancholabrean: Emery Borrow Pit (Jefferson 1991a). Literature. Jefferson 1991a.

Chen caerulescens (Linnaeus 1758)—Snow Goose This large goose is widespread during migration. Sites.

Sangamon: Naval Housing Unit (Jefferson 1991a). Wisconsin: Carpinteria (Guthrie 2009). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Rancho La Brea (Stock and Harris 1992); San Miguel Island (Guthrie 1998). Late Wisconsin: Skull Cave (Emslie 1988). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Stanton's Cave (Rea and Hargrave 1984). Literature. Emslie 1988; Guthrie 1998; Guthrie 2009; Jefferson 1991a; Rea and Hargrave 1984; Stock and Harris 1992.

Chen rossii (Cassin 1861)—Ross's Goose Sites. Mid/Late Wisconsin: Rancho La Brea (Stock and Harris 1992). Literature. Jefferson 1991a; Stock and Harris 1992.

Clangula hyemalis (Linnaeus 1758)—Oldsquaw Sites. Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Stanton's Cave (Rea and Hargrave 1984: cf. gen. et sp.). Literature. Rea and Hargrave 1984.

Cygnus columbianus (Ord 1815)—Tundra Swan Sites. Irvingtonian/Rancholabrean: Lake Manix (Jefferson 1991a: cf.) Mid Wisconsin: McKittrick (Jefferson 1991a). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Rancho La Brea (Stock and Harris 1992). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Stanton's Cave (Rea and Hargrave 1984). Literature.Jefferson 1991a; Rea and Hargrave 1984; Stock and Harris 1992.

Last Update: 19 May 2014

Main Menu Class Aves Order Anseriformes Family Anatidae

†Chendytes sp.—Flightless Sea Ducks Sites. Rancholabrean: Fourth and Mesa streets, San Pedro (Jefferson 1991b); West Coyote Oil Field (Jefferson 1991a). Sangamon: Fourth and Mesa, San Pedro (Jefferson 1991a); General MacArthur Blvd. (Jefferson 1991a); U. S. Veterans Hospital, Long Beach (Jefferson 1991b). Wisconsin: Zuma Creek (Jefferson 1991a). Literature. Jefferson 1991a.

†Chendytes lawi L. Miller 1925—Law's Flightless Sea Duck This is a large duck about the size of a Canadian Goose (Miller 1925). The type, from Long Wharf Canyon, is a tibiotarsus; a tarsometatarsus was associated (Miller 1925). It eventually became clear that Chendytes was flightless, with greatly reduced wing elements (Howard 1947). The duck survived into the late Holocene (between 2 and 3 kya); remains in a number of Indian middens indicate exploitation by humans, eventually resulting in extinction (Jones et al. 2008). Sites. ?Late Irvingtonian/Rancholabrean: Emery Borrow Pit (Jefferson 1991a). Rancholabrean: Anacapa Island (Jefferson 1991a); San Pedro Lumber Yard (Jefferson 1991a). Sangamon: Bixby Slough (Jefferson 1991a); Chandler Gravel Pit (Jefferson 1991a); Lincoln Ave (Howard 1936); Long Wharf Canyon (Jefferson 1991a); Pacific Ave. and

Second (Jefferson 1991a); San Pedro Lumber Co. (Jefferson 1991a); U. S. Veterans Hospital, Long Beach (Jefferson 1991a). Mid/late Wisconsin: San Miguel Island (Guthrie 1998). Literature. Guthrie 1998; Howard 1936, 1947; Jefferson 1991a; Jones et al. 2008; Miller 1925.

†Chendytes milleri Howard 1955—Miller's Flightless Sea Duck The type locality is described as "top of bluff on north side of San Nicolas Island, S 47° W of Coney Point; altitude approximately 400 feet. Lower Pleistocene" (Howard 1955). When compared to Chendytes lawi, "C. milleri appears to represent a developmental stage between a flying, scoter-like ancestor and the flightless C. lawi". Howard (1955) speculated that C. milleri may represent an evolutionary stage in the development of C. lawi. Sites. Rancholabrean: San Nicolas Island (Jefferson 1991a). Literature. Howard 1955; Jefferson 1991a.

Last Update: 12 Mar 2014

Main Menu Class Aves Order Anseriformes Family Anatidae

Lophodytes cucullatus—Hooded Merganser // Mergus merganser— Common Merganser // Mergus serrator —Red-breasted Merganser // Oxyura sp.—Ruddy Ducks // Oxyura bessomi —Bessom's Ruddy Duck // Oxyura jamaicensis —Ruddy duck Lophodytes cucullatus (Linnaeus 1758)—Hooded Merganser Mergansers are primarily fish-eating divers. Fig. 1. Hooded Merganser, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service photograph by Jim Rorabaugh. Sites. Late Wisconsin: Sandia Cave (Brasso and Emslie 2006). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Stanton's Cave (Rea and Hargrave 1984). Literature. Brasso and Emslie 2006; Ligon 1961; Rea and Hargrave 1984.

Mergus merganser Linnaeus 1758—Common Merganser Feeding primarily on fish, mergansers imply

bodies of water of some size and depth. The Pecos River or associated oxbows are almost certainly the source of the Dark Canyon Cave specimens. Howard (1971) recorded Mergus ? sp. from Dark Canyon Cave. Since then, a posterior skull has been recovered by UTEP from that site that compares closely with M. merganser. However, insufficient comparative material is available at UTEP for conclusive assignment to species. Sites. Rancholabrean: Tule Springs (Springer et al. 2005). Irvingtonian/Rancholabrean: Manix Lake (Jefferson 1991a: cf.). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Dark Canyon Cave (Howard 1971: ?); UTEP (cf.). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Stanton's Cave (Rea and Hargrave 1984). Literature. Howard 1971; Jefferson 1991a; Rea and Hargrave 1984; Springer et al. 2005.

Fig. 1. Skull of Mergus merganser (bottom) and posterior skull of UTEP 75-362 from Dark Canyon Cave, Eddy Co., NM. Scale in mm.

Mergus serrator Linnaeus 1758—Red-breasted Merganser Sites. Mid/Late Wisconsin: San Miguel Island (Guthrie 1998). Literature. Guthrie 1998.

Oxyura sp.—Ruddy Ducks

Sites. Late Wisconsin: China Lake (Jefferson 1991a). Literature. Jefferson 1991a.

†Oxyura bessomi Howard 1963—Bessom's Ruddy Duck Sites. Late Blancan/Irvingtonian: Vallecito Creek, Anza-Borrego Desert (Howard 1963). Literature. Howard 1963.

Oxyura jamaicensis (Gmelin 1789)—Ruddy Duck Sites. Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Stanton's Cave (Rea and Hargrave 1984). Literature. Rea and Hargrave 1984.

Last Update: 18 Mar 2013

Main Menu Class Aves Order Anseriformes Family Anatidae

Melanitta sp.—Scoters Sites. Wisconsin: Glen Abbey, Bonita (Majors 19930). Literature. Majors 1993.

Melanitta fusca (Linnaeus 1758)—Velvet Scoter Sites. Sangamon: San Pedro Lumber Co. (Jefferson 1991a) Mid/Late Wisconsin: San Miguel Island (Guthrie 1998). Literature. Guthrie 1998; Jefferson 1991a.

Melanitta perspicillata (Linnaeus 1758)—Surf Scoter Sites. Late Blancan/Irvingtonian: Vallecito Creek, Anza-Borrego Desert (Howard 1963: ?). Rancholabrean: San Pedro Lumber Yard (Jefferson 1991a). Sangamon: San Pedro Lumber Co. (Jefferson 1991a) Wisconsin: Zuma Creek (Jefferson 1991a).

Mid/Late Wisconsin: San Miguel Island (Guthrie 1998). Literature. Guthrie 1998; Howard 1963; Jefferson 1991a.

Last Update: 27 Mar 2014

Main Menu Class Aves Order Galliformes

Odontophoridae —Quail // Phasianidae —Grouse, Ptarmigans, and Turkeys

Galliformes—Grouse, Quail, Turkeys, and Relatives The Galliformes include such familiar forms as the domestic chicken, turkeys, and quail. Perhaps somewhat less familiar are the various grouse, prairie chickens, and ptarmigans. All have in common the focus on ground dwelling, though capable of at least short flight. As a result, they are expert at evading predators on foot, though readily taking to the air for short distances if pressed or startled. Our forms do not migrate except for short distances or elevationally with season. With rather specific ecological habitats and little movement of any distance, they often are useful for environmental reconstruction.

Last Update: 10 Sep 2008

Main Menu Class Aves Order Galliformes Family Odontophoridae

Callipepla sp.—Crested Quail // Callipepla californica —California Quail // Callipepla douglasii —Elegant Quail // Callipepla gambelii— Gambel's Quail // Callipepla squamata —Scaled Quail // Colinus virginianus—Northern Bobwhite // Cyrtonyx montezumae— Montezuma Quail // Oreortyx pictus —Mountain Quail Odontophoridae—Quail At one time considered to belong to the Phasianidae, quail currently are recognized as forming a family of their own. Seven species currently inhabit parts of the region and are recognized in the fossil record. Quail are ground birds, capable of short, fast flights, but generally with restricted home ranges. They normally occur in groups (coveys).

Quail Howard (1971:238) identified "Quail, 2 species? " from Dark Canyon Cave with no further comment. Sites. Mid/Late Wisconsin: Dark Canyon Cave (Howard 1971). Literature. Howard 1971.

Callipepla sp.—Crested Quail Synonyms—Lophortyx (part). Birds currently recognized as members of the genus Callipepla include those formerly placed in Lophortyx and Colinus. The two species of Callipepla in the eastern part of our region are of similar size and difficult to discriminate on

osteological grounds. Sites. Rancholabrean: Cool Water Coal Gasification Solid Waste Site (Jefferson 1991a). Sangamon: Newport Bay Mesa (Jefferson 1991a). Wisconsin: Costeau Pit (Jefferson 1991a). Early/Early-Mid Wisconsin: Sabertooth Camel Maze (Harris 1993; cf.). Mid/Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Sierra Diablo Cave (UTEP); Shelter Cave (Howard and Miller 1933). Late Wisconsin: Camel Room (Harris 1993c: cf.); La Mirada (Jefferson 1991a); Pendejo Cave (Harris 2003); Stalag 17 (Harris 1993c: cf.). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Conkling Cavern (Howard and Miller 1933); Pendejo Cave (Harris 2003). Literature. Harris 1993c, 2003; Howard and Miller 1933; Jefferson 1991a.

Callipepla californica (Shaw 1798)—California Quail Sites. ?Late Irvingtonian/Rancholabrean: Emery Borrow Pit (Jefferson 1991a). Rancholabrean: San Pedro Lumber Yard (Jefferson 1991a). Sangamon: San Pedro Lumber Co. (Jefferson 1991a) Wisconsin: Carpinteria (Guthrie 2009); Glen Abbey (Majors 1993); Zuma Creek (Jefferson 1991a). Mid Wisconsin: McKittrick (Jefferson 1991a). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Diamond Valley (Springer et al. 2009); Rancho La Brea (Stock

and Harris 1992). Literature. Guthrie 2009; Jefferson 1991a; Majors 1993; Springer et al. 2009; Stock and Harris 1992.

Callipepla douglasii (Vigors 1829)—Elegant Quail Sites. Mid Wisconsin: Térapa (Steadman and Mead 2010). Literature. Steadman and Mead 2010. The current range is from about central Sonora south south into northern Nayarit.

Callipepla gambelii (Gambel 1843)—Gambel's Quail Synonyms. Lophortyx gambelii. Gambel's Quail generally stick closer to valley habitats than does the Scaled Quail in our area; however, sympatric occurrences under present conditions are not rare. The present distribution centers from California to central New Mexico and south into Mexico, but isolated populations occur in the Great Basin and Colorado (Johnsgard 1973). Fig. 1. Gambel's Quail. Photograph by John J.

Mosesso, National Biological Information Infrastructure. Sites. Late Blancan/Irvingtonian: Vallecito Creek, AnzaBorrego Desert (Howard 1963). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Conkling Cavern (Harris 1993c: ?); Deadman Cave

(Mead et al. 1984). Literature. Harris 1993c; Howard 1963; Johnsgard

1973; Mead et al. 1984.

Callipepla squamata (Vigors 1830)—Scaled Quail Scaled Quail tend to be birds of the Upper and Lower Sonoran Life Zones, widespread from desert grassland into open piñon-juniper woodlands. Generally open woody vegetation is required (mesquite or juniper savannah, for example) (Johnsgard 1973). Rea (1973) reviewed modern distribution, archaeological records, and fossil occurrences of this species. Sites. Mid Wisconsin: Pendejo Cave (Harris 2003: cf.). Mid Wisconsin-Holocene: Shelter Cave (Rea 1973). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Dark Canyon Cave (Rea 1973); Late Wisconsin: Sandia Cave (Brasso and Emslie 2006: cf.). Literature. Brasso and Emslie 2006; Harris 2003; Johnsgard 1973; Rea 1973.

Colinus virginianus Linnaeus 1758—Northern Bobwhite Fig. 1.

Colinus

virginianus. US Fish & Wildlife Service photograph. This quail now occurs in eastern New Mexico, eastern Sonora, and, historically, in southeastern Arizona. Ligon (1961) considered it likely that it occurred in recent time in the Animas Valley of the bootheel of New Mexico. In eastern New Mexico, it is associated with low, shrubby growth (Johnsgard 1973). The U-Bar Cave quail fits the general characters of this species but is not identified with certainty; Mid-Wisconsin occurrence would be reasonable considering the current distribution in the nearby Animas Valley. Sites. Mid Wisconsin: U-Bar Cave (Harris 1993c: ? gen. et sp.). Late Wisconsin: Skull Cave (Emslie 1988: cf. gen. et sp.). Literature. Emslie 1988; Harris 1993c; Johnsgard 1973; Ligon 1961.

Cyrtonyx montezumae (Vigors 1830)—Montezuma Quail Montezuma Quail currently occurs in the highlands of central and southern Arizona and New Mexico south into the Big Bend and Mexico. Ligon (1961) noted the altitudinal range as from 5,000 to 12,000 feet and the preferred habitat as containing rank grasses. Sites. Early/Early-Mid Wisconsin: Rm Vanishing Floor (Harris 1993c: cf. gen. et sp.). Mid Wisconsin: Papago Springs Cave (Czaplewski and Mead et al. 1999 cf. gen. et sp.). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Deadman Cave (Mead et al. 1984).

Literature. Czaplewski and Mead et al. 1999; Harris 1993c; Mead et al. 1984.

Oreortyx pictus (Douglas 1829)—Mountain Quail This relatively large quail is, according to Johnsgard

(1973:345), "perhaps the most temperateadapted of any species,..." It breeds from sage and piñon-juniper habitat into higher elevation dense brush and in coniferous forest. Fig. 1. Map of current distribution of Oreortyx pictus, including modern introductions (Colorado, Vancouver Island, Washington). Map adapted from Johnsgard 1973. The current distribution of Mountain Quail is shown in Fig. 1. Its occurrence in southern New Mexico during the Wisconsin depicts a major change in geographic range (Messing [1986] also reported it tentatively from Jimenez Cave in southern Chihuahua). However, successful modern introduction into Colorado into an environment not too different from that hypothesized for the late Pleistocene in our area suggests that occurrence in our region is not as unlikely as it might seem on its face. Howard (1962) tentatively assigned three quail bones to this species, but noted that they are somewhat smaller than the comparative material at hand. Fig. 2. Mountain Quail. Photograph courtesy of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Sites. Mid/Late Wisconsin: Shelter Cave (Howard and Miller 1933). Mid/Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Jimenez Cave (Messing 1986: ?). Late Wisconsin: Burnet Cave (Wetmore 1932);

Howell's Ridge Cave (Howard 1962: cf. gen. et sp.). Literature. Howard 1962; Howard and Miller 1933; Johnsgard 1973; Messing 1986; Wetmore 1932.

Last Update: 11 Jun 2014

Main Menu Class Aves Order Galliformes Family Phasianidae

Meleagridinae —Turkeys // Tetraoninae—Grouses Phasianidae—Pheasants, Grouse, and Turkeys The pheasants are Old World inhabitants and present only as historic introductions. Grouse and relatives, such as ptarmigans and prairie chickens, are native and represented in the Pleistocene fossil record as are turkeys. As non-migrants (other than elevationally or for short distances), relatively weak fliers, and reasonably habitat specific, the phasianids are of value in environmental reconstruction.

Meleagris—Turkeys Although currently considered to be a subfamily within the Phasianidae, turkeys were long placed in a family of their own, the Meleagrididae. They are large birds with mainly featherless heads and necks. They are swift runners, usually taking to wing only when pressed. Sexual dimorphism in size is notable, with the females being the smaller sex. There are two living species, of which only one (M. gallopavo) occurs in the U.S. Turkeys are associated with open forest; thus the modern species historically has been limited largely to montane and riparian galley forest in our region. At present, all Wisconsin-age turkeys are placed within a single genus which thus includes both the living and extinct species. A thorough review of the fossil forms is available in Steadman (1980). Literature. Steadman 1980.

Meleagris sp.—Turkeys Four species (three extinct) are known from the Pleistocene of our region. Fragmentary material, however, may be identifiable only to genus and are listed here. Sites. ?Late Irvingtonian/Rancholabrean: Emery

Borrow Pit (Jefferson 1991a). Mid Wisconsin: Pendejo Cave (Harris 2003). Late Wisconsin: U-Bar Cave 15-18 ka (Harris 1989: cf.); U-Bar Cave 18-20 ka (Harris 1989: cf.). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Williams Cave (Ayer 1936). Literature. Ayer 1936; Harris 1989, 2003; Jefferson 1991a.

†Meleagris anza (Howard 1963)—Anza Turkey Synonyms. Agriocharis anza. Sites. Late Blancan/Irvingtonian: Vallecito Creek, Anza-Borrego Desert (Howard 1963). Literature. Howard 1963.

†Meleagris californica (L. Miller 1909)—California Turkey Synonyms. Parapavo californica. Sites. Rancholabrean: Alhambra and Workman streets (Workman Storm Drain) (Jefferson 1991a); York Valley, Ave. 45 and Lincoln Ave., Highland Park (Jefferson 1991a). Wisconsin: Carpinteria (Guthrie 2009); Imperial Highway (Jefferson 1991a); Zuma Creek (Jefferson 1991a). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Diamond Valley (Springer et al. 2009: ? gen.); Rancho La Brea (Stock and Harris 1992).

Late Wisconsin: La Mirada (Jefferson 1991a); Maricopa (Jefferson 1991a). Literature. Guthrie 2009; Jefferson 1991a; Springer et al. 2009; Stock and Harris 1992.

†Meleagris crassipes L. Miller 1940—Big-foot Turkey Loye Miller (1940) described M. crassipes from San Josecito Cave, Nuevo León, Mexico, on the basis of a male tarsometatarsus (a number of other elements were available, however). He described the species as being smaller than either of the living species of Meleagris. Rea (1980) examined late Quaternary turkey remains from 17 Southwestern sites, coming to the conclusion that all fossil specimens except those from northern Sonora and from Conkling Cavern in New Mexico represented this extinct species. Post-agricultural specimens represented the living species (M. gallopavo), leading him to hypothesize that modern turkeys in most of the Southwest are descendants of feral populations escaped from the Indian cultures of the Southwest. Since his publication, however, Brasso and Emslie (2006) have identified late Pleistocene Meleagris gallopavo from two caves in the Sandia Mountains. The early specimen from the San Antonio site (Fite Ranch site of Morgan and Lucas 2005) originally was identified as M. gallopavo (Needham 1936). Howard (1971) identified two elements from Dark Canyon Cave as M. gallopavo ?; these specimen later were lost (Rea 1980); they are assumed here to belong to M. crassipes. Howard (1962) tentatively identified four fragments of turkey from Howell's Ridge Cave as Meleagris gallopavo; later (Rea 1980) identified these as belonging to M. crassipes. The specimen from U-Bar Cave probably is Late Wisconsin, but having been retrieved from the fill of an animal burrow, it's original position cannot be ascertained. Sites. Early Irvingtonian: San Antonio Site (Rea 1980: cf.). Rancholabrean: Papago Springs Cave (Rea 1980). Early/Early-Mid Wisconsin: Sabertooth Camel Maze (Rea 1980). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Dark Canyon Cave (Rea 1980); Shelter Cave (Rea 1980); U-Bar Cave (Harris 1993c). Late Wisconsin: Burnet Cave (Rea 1980). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Howell's Ridge Cave (Rea 1980); Kokoweef Cave (Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991: cf.).

Literature. Brasso and Emslie 2006; Harris 1993c; Howard 1962, 1971; Jefferson 1991a; Miller 1940; Morgan and Lucas 2005; Needham 1936; Rea 1980; Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991.

Meleagris gallopavo Linnaeus 1758—Wild Turkey Fig. 1. Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo). Photograph by Gary M. Stolz, US Fish & Wildlife Service. Rea (1980) noted that Meleagris gallopavo had been identified from New Mexico from only one probable Pleistocene site, Conkling Cavern. Several elements were recovered from that cave; one, a humerus shaft, came from the 6 to 7 m level (Rea 1980). A record from Burnet Cave appears to be Holocene (Rea 1980). Since Rea's study, the taxon has been recorded from the late Pleistocene of Marmot and Sandia

caves (Brasso and Emslie 2006). Sites. Rancholabrean: Arizpe (Cracraft 1968). Sangamon: La Brisca (Van Devender et al. 1985). Late Wisconsin: Marmot Cave (Brasso and Emslie 2006); Sandia Cave (Brasso and Emslie 2006).

Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Burnet Cave (Rea 1980); Conkling Cavern (Rea 1980); William's Cave (Ayer 1936: cf.). Literature. Ayer 1936; Brasso and Emslie 2006; Cracraft 1968; Rea 1980; Van Devender et al. 1985.

Last Update: 11 Jun 2014

Main Menu Class Aves Order Galliformes Family Phasianidae Subfamily Tetraoninae

Grouse —Grouse // Centrocercus urophasianus/minimus— Greater/Gunnison Sage-Grouse // Dendragapus obscurus —Dusky Grouse // Lagopus—Ptarmigan // Tympanuchus sp.—Prairie-chickens // Tympanuchus pallidicinctus—Lesser Prairie-chickens Tetraoninae—Grouse Group Members of the subfamily are largely ground dwellers whose flight usually is limited to relatively short distances. They mostly are equipped with short, stout claws for scratching in the soil for food, although the Greater Sage-Grouse feeds largely on herbage (Ligon 1961). Literature. Ligon 1961.

Grouse Howard (1971:238) listed without comment "Grouse, 2 spp.?" for Dark Canyon Cave. Lacking further information, these are merely listed by this common name. Sites. Mid/Late Wisconsin: Dark Canyon Cave (Howard 1971). Literature. Howard 1971.

Centrocercus sp.—Sage-Grouse. Centrocercus records are as given in the published records. However, since C. minimus has only recently been described, the possibility is that some earlier records actually may pertain to that species. Sites.

Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Kokoweef Cave (Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991: ? gen.). Literature. Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991.

Centrocercus urophasianus (Bonaparte 1827)—Greater SageGrouse/Centrocercus minimus—Gunnison Sage-Grouse Young, Braun, OylerMcCance, Hupp, and Quinn 2000. Fig. 1. Centrocercus urophasianus. Photograph by Dave Menke, courtesy of the US Fish & Wildlife Service. Until 2000, only one species of sage-grouse was recognized. In that year, however, Young et al. described a second species, Centrocercus minimus, inhabiting southwestern Colorado and adjacent southeastern Utah. They also speculated that the now extirpated sage-grouse of New Mexico was this species. Centrocercus

minimus was described as having a body mass about 27-33% less than that of the Greater Sage-Grouse, with males in the upper portion of the range and females in the lower.

At present, the only skeletal comparative material in the UTEP bird collection is a female from Wyoming. Without data on skeletal size differences between the sexes, it is not clear which species is represented by the UTEP fossils. The Isleta Cave material

appears to be very slightly larger than the modern female; the U-bar material may represent male and female remains. To summarize, it is unclear which species is represented, but the limited data available suggest the Greater Sage-Grouse is represented in these two sites. In the absence of size information on the other occurrences of sage-grouse in Arizona and New Mexico, they are identified merely as one of these two species.. The following information on modern populations of the Greater Sage-Grouse is primarily from Johnsgard (1973). Various species of sagebrush (Artemisia) play a major role in modern Sage Grouse ecology, with the big sagebrushes (A. tridentata and similar species) being vital. The majority of nest sites occur in sagebrush stands, and sagebrush is the major food item. Sagebrush in wintering grounds (which may be 30 or more miles distant from summer habitat) provides nearly 100% of winter food and significant amounts at other times of year. Forbs and grasses provide most other food items in the adult, resulting in the preferred habitat being a sagebrushgrassland.

Fig. 2. Centrocercus urophasianus right humerus. Modern specimen (UTEP 2233) at top; specimen of Centrocercus cf. urophasianus from Isleta Cave No. 1 at bottom. UTEP 41-140. Metric scale. "At one time this species was found virtually wherever sagebrush (Artemisia, especially A. tridentata) occurred, throughout many of the western and intermontane states" (Johnsgard 1973:157). Northern New Mexican sage-grouse were exterminated historically. The New Mexico Ornithological Society checklist of New Mexican birds lists the former inhabitants of the state as C. minimus. The life history data strongly uphold the presence of significant stands of A. tridentata-type sagebrush in the western half of New Mexico during the late Wisconsin. Although other data suggest sagebrush also in the southeastern portions of the state, presence of the grouse has not been recognized. Brodkorb (1964) reported it from Rocky Arroyo (= Burnet Cave), but confused a statement by Howard and Miller (1933) that contrasted its presence at Conkling and Shelter caves with its absence at Rocky Arroyo.

Fig. 3. Centrocercus urophasianus synsacrum and partial ilia. Fossil specimen from Isleta Cave No. 2 at left (UTEP 46-150); modern specimen at right. Metric scale. Sites. Mid/Late Wisconsin: Shelter Cave (Howard and Miller 1933). Mid Wisconsin: U-Bar Cave (UTEP). Late Wisconsin: Sandia Cave (Brasso and Emslie 2006); Sheep Camp Shelter (Gillespie 1985); U-Bar Cave 1415 ka (Harris 1989); U-Bar Cave 15-18 ka (Harris 1989). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Conkling Cavern (Howard and Miller 1933); Isleta Cave No. 1 (Harris 1993c); Isleta Cave No. 2 (Harris 1993c); Howell's Ridge Cave (Howard 1962); Stanton's Cave (Rea and Hargrave 1984).

Literature. Brasso and Emslie 2006; Brodkorb 1964; Gillespie 1985; Harris 1989, Harris 1993c; Howard 1962, Howard and Miller 1933; Johnsgard 1973; Rea and Hargrave 1984; Young et al. 2000.

Dendragapus obscurus—Dusky Grouse The Dusky Grouse was the most common bird recovered from Sandia Cave, with 174 identified bones represented a minimum of 24 individuals (Brasso and Emslie 2006). It was represented by a single element in the much smaller avifauna from Marmot Cave. Johnsgard (1973) reports that the geographic range of the Dusky Grouse closely conforms to the distribution of true firs (Abies) and Douglas Fir (Pseudotsuga). Seasonal changes in

elevation are common, with reproduction tending to occur at lower elevations and wintering near or above timberline. Modern occurrences in our region are in the higher mountains of northern and western New Mexico; the total range extends north into the Yukon. Sites. Late Wisconsin: Marmot Cave (Brasso and Emslie 2006); Sandia Cave (Brasso and Emslie 2006). Literature. Brasso and Emslie 2006; Johnsgard 1973.

Lagopus sp.—Ptarmigan Fig. 1. Willow Ptarmigan (Lagopus lagopus). Photograph by Tim Bowman, courtesy of the US Fish & Wildlife Service. Ptarmigans are birds of arctic tundra or, in the western U.S., above-timberline habitats (Johnsgard 1973). Today, the North American species are limited to north of the U.S./Canada border except for the White-tailed Ptarmigan (Lagopus leucura). This taxon approaches our area in those high mountains of northern New

Mexico that extend above timberline; presumably it is this species represented in Sandia Cave. However, although Brasso and Emslie (2006) state that they cannot rule out a large, temporal form of this species, they note that in size and characters the fossil is similar to those of the other two North American representative of the genus, the Willow Ptarmigan and the Rock Ptarmigan. Sites.

Late Wisconsin: Sandia Cave (Brasso and Emslie 2006). Literature. Brasso and Emslie 2006; Johnsgard 1973.

Tympanuchus sp.—Prairie Chickens and Sharp-Tailed Grouse As the name implies, prairie chickens are

predominantly grassland animals. The historic species of the eastern portions of our region was T. pallidicinctus, which still holds on with a reduced geographic range in parts of eastern New Mexico and adjacent Texas. The original range extended through western Oklahoma and western Kansas; the Greater Prairie-Chicken (T. cupido) replaces T. pallidicinctus to the east and north. The geographic range of the SharpTailed Grouse (T. phasianellus) reaches south to extreme northeastern New Mexico (Johnsgard 1973). Harris (1993c) reported cf. Tympanuchus from Harris' Pocket. The specimen, the distal 4/5 of an ulna, is stockier than the UTEP limited comparative material of T. pallidicinctus and T. cupido, but appears less so than that of the one modern female specimen of Centrocercus urophasianus available. Our comparative material is insufficient to judge the degree of sexual size dimorphism in Tympanuchus. The status of this specimen is changed to "? Tympanuchus." Sites. Late Wisconsin: Harris' Pocket (UTEP: ?). Literature. Harris 1993c; Johnsgard 1973.

Tympanuchus pallidicinctus (Ridgway 1873)—Lesser Prairie-chicken Fig. 1. Lesser Prairiechicken. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

photograph. The preferred habitat of the Lesser PrairieChicken is sand-sage grasslands (Artemisia filifolia-Andropogon) and shin-oak grasslands (Quercus havardii-Andropogon), both of which are associated with notably sandy substrates (Johnsgard 1973). In New Mexico, this means the extreme eastern portions of the state, east of the Pecos.

In view of the unlikelihood of extensive patches of sandy substratum in the immediate vicinity of the southeastern New Mexican sites, one possibility is that a similar plantstructured, but non-sandy, habitat was utilized during the Pleistocene; conversely, the remains may have been brought to the sites by predators.

Fig. 2. Comparison of the tarsometarsi of T. cupido (left), fossils from TT II (54-1427) and NW Talus Slope (22-358), and two modern specimens of T. pallidicinctus (right). Sites. Mid Wisconsin: Pendejo Cave (Harris 1993c). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Dark Canyon Cave (Howard 1971: ?; UTEP); Hampton Court (Harris 1993c); NW Talus Slope (UTEP). Late Wisconsin: Algerita Blossom Cave (Harris 1993c); Animal Fair 18-20 ka (Harris 1989: cf.); Big Manhole Cave (Harris 1993c); Charlies Parlor (Harris 1989: cf.); Stalag 17 (Harris 1993c); TT II (Harris 1993c). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Burnet Cave (Wetmore 1932). Literature. Harris 1989, 1993c; Howard 1971; Johnsgard 1973; Wetmore 1932.

Last Update: 11 Jun 2014

Main Menu Class Aves Order Gaviiformes Family Gaviidae

Gavia sp.—Loons Loons are widespread diving birds. The fossil species either are regular winter habitants along the West Coast or otherwise known from the region. Sites. Rancholabrean: San Pedro Lumber Yard (Jefferson 1991a). Sangamon: Chandler Sand Pit, Rolling Hills Estates (Jefferson 1991a); Lincoln Ave. (Howard 1936); U. S. Veterans Hospital, Long Beach (Jefferson 1991b). Literature. Howard 1936; Jefferson 1991a.

Gavia immer (Brunnich 1764)—Great Northern Loon Sites. Rancholabrean: San Pedro Lumber Yard (Jefferson 1991a: ?). Sangamon: San Pedro Lumber Co. (Jefferson 1991a). Mid/Late Wisconsin: San Miguel Island (Guthrie 1998). Literature. Guthrie 1998; Jefferson 1991a.

Gavia pacifica (Lawrence 1858)—Pacific Loon Fig. 1. Pacific Loon (Gavia pacifica). Photograph by Tim Bowman, courtesy of the US Fish &

Wildlife Service. Sites. Irvingtonian/Rancholabrean: Manix Lake (Jefferson 1991a: cf.). Sangamon: San Pedro Lumber Co. (Jefferson 1991a). Mid/Late Wisconsin: San Miguel Island (Guthrie 1998). Literature. Guthrie 1998; Jefferson 1991a.

Gavia stellata (Pontoppidan 1763)—Red-throated Loon Sites. Wisconsin: Zuma Creek (Jefferson 1991a). Jefferson 1991a.

Last Update: 12 Jun 2014

Main Menu Class Aves Order Podicipediformes Family Podicipedidae

Aechmophorus occidentalis —Western Grebe // Podiceps/Podilymbus—Eared/Pied-billed Grebe // Podiceps sp.— Grebes // Podiceps auritus—Horned Grebe // Podiceps nigricollis— Eared Grebe // Podilymbus podiceps —Pied-billed Grebe // Tachybaptus dominicus —Least Grebe Podicipediformes, Podicipedidae—Grebes Grebes are highly aquatic birds seldom leaving the water except in migration. They are expert divers and resort to diving both as a defensive mechanism and for food procurement. Six species regularly occur in our region at present and a seventh (Tachybaptus dominicus) has rare appearances (Sibley 2000). Fig. 1. Horned Grebe (Podiceps auritus). Photograph by Donna Dewhurst courtesy of the USFWS. Literature. Sibley 2000.

Aechmophorus occidentalis (Lawrence)—Western Grebe Grebes are obligate aquatic birds whose presence in fossil deposits implies presence of moderate to large bodies of water within a

reasonable distance. Presence at Burnet Cave indicates a probable source in the Pecos Valley to the east, since it is unlikely that suitable habitat was present closer to the cave. Presumably the Colorado River supplied suitable habitat in the Grand Canyon region and Pleistocene lakes in inland California. Fig. 1. Western Grebe. National Park Service photograph by Will Elder. Sites. Irvingtonian/Rancholabrean: Manix Lake (Jefferson 1991a). Rancholabrean: San Pedro Lumber Yard (Jefferson 1991a). Sangamon: Chandler Sand Pit, Rolling Hills Estates (Jefferson 1991a); Lincoln Ave (Howard 1936); San Pedro Lumber Yard (Jefferson 1991a). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Sandblast Cave (Emslie 1988); San Miguel Island (Guthrie 1998) Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Burnet Cave (Schultz and Howard 1935); Kokoweef Cave (Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991); Stanton's Cave (Rea and Hargrave 1984). Literature. Emslie 1988; Guthrie 1998; Howard 1936; Jefferson 1991a; Rea and Hargrave 1984; Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991; Schultz and Howard 1935.

†Podiceps sp.—Extinct Grebe Sites. Howard (1963) noted the presence of an apparently extinct grebe from the Anza-Borrego Desert but declined to name a new species based on rather poor material; she also noted that it appeared similar to a grebe from the San Diego Pliocene. Late Blancan/Irvingtonian: Vallecito Creek, Anza-Borrego Desert (Howard 1963). Literature. Howard 1963.

Podiceps sp.—Typical Grebes Sites. ?Late Irvingtonian/Rancholabrean: Emery Borrow Pit (Jefferson 1991a). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Rancho La Brea (Stock and Harris 1992).

Literature. Jefferson 1991a; Stock and Harris 1992.

Podiceps/Podilymbus—Typical or Pied-billed Grebes Grebes are aquatic birds that are excellent swimmers and divers, requiring at least moderate-sized bodies of water. The diet consists of a wide variety of aquatic animals. The White Lake section of Pleistocene Lake San Agustín sedimentary deposits is the source of the fossil material; the lake itself should have been suitable habitat. With presently available comparative material, the specimen, a femur, is identified only as a small grebe (Fig. 1). Fig. 1. Right femur of a small grebe, Pleistocene San Agustín. Scale in mm. Sites. Wisconsin: White Lake (Harris 1993c).

Literature. Harris 1993c.

Podiceps auritus (Linnaeus 1758)—Horned Grebe Sites.

Sangamon: San Pedro Lumber Co. (Jefferson 1991a: ?) Mid/Late Wisconsin: San Miguel Island (Guthrie 1998) Literature. Guthrie 1998; Jefferson 1991a.

Podiceps nigricollis Brehm 1831—Eared Grebe Synonyms: Podiceps caspicus. Occurrence at Dark Canyon Cave is not surprising since it is only a short distance from the Pecos Valley flood plain. The Pecos River or ox-bows of the Pecos should have been prime habitat. Two bones represent this taxon from Dark Canyon Cave; Howard (1971) noted that they are slightly smaller than those of modern examples from New Mexico. She also noted that half of the Eared Grebe bones from Fossil Lake, Oregon, also were small. Sites. Late Blancan/Irvingtonian: Vallecito Creek, Anza-Borrego Desert (Howard 1963). Irvingtonian/Rancholabrean: Manix Lake (Jefferson 1991a: cf.). Rancholabrean: Century City, Los Angeles (Jefferson 1991a). Sangamon: San Pedro Lumber Co. (Jefferson 1991a) Wisconsin: Zuma Creek (Jefferson 1991a). Mid Wisconsin: Térapa (Steadman and Mead 2010). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Dark Canyon Cave (Howard 1971); San Miguel Island (Guthrie 1998). Mid/Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Jimenez Cave (Messing 1986). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Kokoweef Cave (Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991: cf.); Skylight Cave (Emslie 1988: cf. gen. et sp.); Stanton's Cave (Rea and Hargrave 1984).

Literature. Emslie 1988; Guthrie 1998; Howard 1963, Howard 1971; Jefferson 1991a; Messing 1986; Rea and Hargrave 1984; Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991; Steadman and Mead 2010.

Podilymbus sp.—Grebes Sites. ?Late Irvingtonian/Rancholabrean: Emery Borrow Pit (Jefferson 1991a). Literature. Jefferson 1991a.

Podilymbus podiceps (Linnaeus 1758)—Pied-billed Grebe Fig. 1. Pied-billed Grebe; US Fish & Wildlife Service photo. In common with many water birds, this grebe occurs throughout the region. Sites. Mid Wisconsin: McKittrick (Jefferson 1991a); Térapa (Steadman and Mead 2010). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Rancho La Brea (Stock and

Harris 1992); Sandblast Cave (Emslie 1988). Mid/Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Jimenez Cave (Messing 1986). Late Wisconsin: Skylight Cave (Emslie 1988). Literature. Emslie 1988; Jefferson 1991a; Messing 1986; Steadman and Mead 2010; Stock and Harris 1992.

Tachybaptus dominicus (Lawrence)—Least Grebe This, the smallest of the grebes, is considerably out of place compared to its current distribution. Its nearest approach now is on the western and eastern coasts of Mexico into extreme southern Texas. However, there are occasional occurrences in southernmost California and Arizona. Sites. Medial Irvingtonian: San Antonio Cave (Rogers et al. 2000: cf.). Literature. Rogers et al. 2000.

Last Update: 12 Jun 2014

Main Menu Class Aves Order Phoenicopteriformes Family Phoenicopteridae

†Phoenicopterus sp.—Extinct Flamingo Living flamingos (six species) are primarily tropical and subtropical. Several extinct species have been described from North America. Sites. Late Blancan/Irvingtonian: Anza-Borrego Desert (Jefferson 2006) Literature. Jefferson 2006.

Phoenicopterus sp.—Flamingos Fig. 1. Flamingos. Photograph by NancyHeise (Own work) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons. Sites. Late Blancan: Tecopa Lake Beds (Woodburne and Whistler 1991: ? gen.). Irvingtonian: El Golfo (Croxen et al. 2007). Literature. Croxen et al. 2007.

†Phoenicopterus copei (Shufeldt 1892)—Cope's Flamingo Sites. Irvingtonian/Rancholabrean: Manix Lake (Jefferson 1991a). Literature. Jefferson 1991a.

†Phoenicopterus minutus (Howard 1955)—Minute Flamingo Sites. Irvingtonian/Rancholabrean: Manix Lake (Jefferson 1991a). Literature. Jefferson 1991a.

Last Update: 12 Jun 2014

Main Menu Class Aves Order Procellariiformes Family Diomedeidae

Diomedea sp.—Wandering Albatrosses Sites. Rancholabrean: Fourth and Mesa streets, San Pedro (Jefferson 1991b). Literature. Jefferson 1991a.

Diomedea/Phoebastria—Wandering Albatross or Phoebastria Albatrosses The genus Diomedea has been subdivided into Diomedea and Phoebastria since Diomedea was recorded from the San Pedro Lumber Co. site, leaving the identification in limbo. Sites. Rancholabrean: San Pedro Lumber Yard (Jefferson 1991a). Sangamon: San Pedro Lumber Co. (Jefferson 1991a) Literature. Jefferson 1991a.

Phoebastria albatrus (Pallas 1769)—Short-tailed Albatross Sites. Sangamon: Lincoln Ave (Howard 1936); San Pedro Lumber Co. (Jefferson 1991a). Mid/Late Wisconsin: San Miguel Island (Guthrie 1998).

Literature. Guthrie 1998; Howard 1936; Jefferson 1991a.

Phoebastria nigripes (Audubon 1839)—Black-footed Albatross Fig. 1. Blackfooted Albatross (Phoebastria nigripes). Photograph by Dr. James P. McVey, courtesy of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Sites. Sangamon: San Pedro Lumber Co. (Jefferson 1991a). Literature. Jefferson 1991a.

Last Update: 12 Jun 2014

Main Menu Class Aves Order Procellariiformes Family Procellariidae

Procellariidae—Shearwaters and Fulmars

Fulmars and shearwaters are oceanic birds almost never seen inland.

Fulmarus glacialis (Linnaeus 1761)—Northern Fulmar Sites. Rancholabrean: San Pedro Lumber Yard (Jefferson 1991a). Sangamon: San Pedro Lumber Co. (Jefferson 1991a) Wisconsin: Zuma Creek (Jefferson 1991a). Mid/late Wisconsin: San Miguel Island (Guthrie 1998). Literature. Guthrie 1998; Jefferson 1991a.

Puffinus griseus Gmelin 1789—Sooty Shearwater Sites. Rancholabrean: San Pedro Lumber Yard (Jefferson 1991a). Sangamon: Lincoln Ave (Howard 1936); Pacific Ave. and Olive St., San Pedro (Jefferson 1991a); San Pedro Lumber Co. (Jefferson 1991a). Wisconsin: Zuma Creek (Jefferson 1991a). Mid/late Wisconsin: San Miguel Island (Guthrie 1998). Literature. Guthrie 1998; Howard 1936; Jefferson 1991a.

Puffinus opisthomelas Coues 1864—Black-vented Shearwater Sites. Rancholabrean: San Pedro Lumber Yard (Jefferson 1991a). Sangamon: Lincoln Ave (Howard 1936); San Pedro Lumber Co. (Jefferson 1991a). Wisconsin: Zuma Creek (Jefferson 1991a). Mid/late Wisconsin: San Miguel Island (Guthrie 1998). Literature. Guthrie 1998; Howard 1936; Jefferson 1991a.

Puffinus tenuirostris (Temminck 1835)—Short-tailed Shearwater Sites. Mid/late Wisconsin: San Miguel Island (Guthrie 1998). Literature. Guthrie 1998.

Last Update: 11 Mar 2014

Main Menu Class Aves Order Procellariiformes Family Hydrobatidae

Oceanodroma homochroa (Coues 1864)—Ashy Storm Petrel Sites. The Ashy Storm Petrel is a bird currently found in oceanic waters of the coast of California south to Baja California. Mid/late Wisconsin: San Miguel Island (Guthrie 1998). Literature. Guthrie 1998.

Last Update: 12 Jun 2014

Main Menu Class Aves Order Ciconiiformes Family Ciconiidae

†Ciconiidae sp.—Large Extinct Stork Based on limited material (the shaft of an ulna), Steadman and Mead (1920) were able to rule out the only stork currently recorded in northern Mexico (Mycteria americana), but unable to narrow the identification further to one of the larger storks, extant or extinct. Sites. Mid Wisconsin: Térapa (Steadman and Mead 2010). Literature. Steadman and Mead 2010.

†Ciconia maltha Miller 1910—La Brea Stork Sites. Irvingtonian/Rancholabrean: Manix Lake (Jefferson 1991a). Wisconsin: Carpinteria (Guthrie 2009). Mid Wisconsin: McKittrick (Jefferson 1991a). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Rancho La Brea (Stock and Harris 1992). Late Wisconsin: Maricopa (Jefferson 1991a). Literature. Guthrie 2009; Jefferson 1991a; Stock and Harris 1992.

†Mycteria wetmorei Howard 1935—Wetmore's Stork Sites. Mid/Late Wisconsin: Rancho La Brea (Stock and Harris 1992).

Literature. Jefferson 1991a; Stock and Harris 1992.

Last Update: 2 Mar 2014

Main Menu Class Aves Order Suliformes Family Sulidae

†Morus reyena Howard 1936—Playa Del Rey Gannet Lincoln Boulevard, in the Del Rey Hills, about 2 miles east northeast of Playa del Rey, Los Angeles County, California, is the type locality (Howard 19360. Sites. Sangamon: Lincoln Ave (Howard 1936). Literature. Howard 1936.

Last Update: 13 Jan 2014

Main Menu Class Aves Order Suliformes Family Phalacrocoracidae

Phalacrocorax sp.—Cormorants Sites. ?Late Irvingtonian/Rancholabrean: Emery Borrow Pit (Jefferson 1991a). Sangamon: Naval Fuel Reserve Quarry (Jefferson 1991a). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Rancho La Brea (Stock and Harris 1992). Late Wisconsin: China Lake (Jefferson 1991a). Literature. Jefferson 1991a; Stock and Harris 1992.

Phalacrocorax auritus—Double-crested Cormorant Fig. 1.Phalacrocorax auritus. Photograph by Lee Karney, US Fish & Wildlife Service. Cormorants are large fish-eaters that are reliant on extensive areas of water to support their prey. Dark Canyon Cave is close to the Pecos Valley, where aquatic habitats should have been plentiful. Howard (1971) indicated that the single cormorant bone, an ulna, was larger than that of local cormorants, being nearer in size to that of the Alaskan subspecies. A Pleistocene cormorant from Crypt Cave, in Nevada, also appeared similar in size and proportions to the Alaskan subspecies (Howard 1958). Situations where Pleistocene

taxa are more similar in size to more northern populations are not uncommon. The Big Brown Bat (Eptesicus fuscus) is a good example (Guilday 1967). Sites. Irvingtonian/Rancholabrean: Manix Lake (Jefferson 1991a). Rancholabrean: Salt Springs (Jefferson 1991a). Sangamon: Long Wharf Canyon (Jefferson 1991b); San Pedro Lumber Co. (Jefferson 1991a) Mid Wisconsin: Térapa (Steadman and Mead 2010). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Dark Canyon Cave (Howard 1971). Literature. Guilday 1967; Howard 1958, 1971; Jefferson 1991a; Steadman and Mead 2010.

Phalacrocorax macropus (Cope 1878)—Big-footed Cormorant Sites. Irvingtonian/Rancholabrean: Manix Lake (Jefferson 1991a). Literature. Jefferson 1991a.

Phalacrocorax pelagicus Pallas 1811—Pelagic Cormorant Sites. Mid/Late Wisconsin: San Miguel Island (Guthrie 1998). Literature. Guthrie 1998.

Phalacrocorax penicillatus (Brandt 1837)—Brandt's Cormorant Sites. Rancholabrean: San Pedro Lumber Yard (Jefferson 1991a: ?). Sangamon: San Pedro Lumber Co. (Jefferson 1991a). Wisconsin: Zuma Creek (Jefferson 1991a). Mid/Late Wisconsin: San Miguel Island (Guthrie 1998). Literature. Guthrie 1998; Jefferson 1991a.

Last Update: 11 Mar 2014

Main Menu Class Aves Order Pelecaniformes Family Pelecanidae

Pelecanus sp.—Pelicans Sites. Sangamon: Naval Fuel Reserve Quarry (Jefferson 1991a: ? gen.). Literature. Jefferson 1991a.

Pelecanus erythrorhynchus—White Pelican Fig. 1.

White Pelican with incoming lunch. Sites. ?Late Irvingtonian/Rancholabrean: Emery Borrow Pit (Jefferson 1991a). Irvingtonian/Rancholabrean: Manix Lake (Jefferson 1991a: aff.). Rancholabrean: Channel St. between Gaffey St. and Harbor Freeway, San Pedro (Jefferson 1991a). Mid Wisconsin: Térapa (Steadman and Mead 2010). Literature. Jefferson 1991a; Steadman and Mead 2010.

Pelecanus occidentalis Linnaeus 1766—Brown Pelican Sites. Wisconsin: Carpinteria (Guthrie 2009). Mid/Late Wisconsin: San Miguel Island (Guthrie 1998). Literature. Guthrie 1998; Guthrie 2009.

Last Update: 12 Jun 2014

Main Menu Class Aves Order Pelecaniformes Family Ardeidae

Ardea alba—Great Egret // Ardea herodias—Great Blue Heron // Botaurus lentiginosus —American Bittern // Butorides striata — Striated Heron // Egretta caerulea —Little Blue Heron // Egretta thula —Snowy Egret // Nycticorax nycticorax —Black-crowned Nightheron

Ardea alba Linnaeus 1758—Great Egret Fig. 1. Great Egret. Photograph by Troutrooper, public domain. Sites. Mid Wisconsin: McKittrick (Jefferson 1991a); Térapa (Steadman and Mead 2010). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Rancho La Brea (Stock and Harris 1992). Literature. Jefferson 1991a; Steadman and Mead 2010; Stock and Harris 1992.

Ardea herodias Linnaeus 1758—Great Blue Heron Great Blue Herons are large wading birds whose primary food consists of small fish, but it

also will eat a wide variety of invertebrates and small vertebrates. Currently, it is widespread throughout the region. Fig 1. Great Blue Heron. Photograph by Dave Pape. Sites. ?Late Irvingtonian/Rancholabrean: Emery

Borrow Pit (Jefferson 1991a). Mid Wisconsin: Térapa (Steadman and Mead 2010). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Rancho La Brea (Stock and Harris 1992); San Miguel Island (Guthrie 1998). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Stanton's Cave (Rea and Hargrave 1984). Literature. Guthrie 1998; Jefferson 1991a; Rea and Hargrave 1984; Steadman and Mead 2010; Stock and Harris 1992.

Botaurus lentiginosus (Rackett 1813)—American Bittern As with the Great Blue Heron, current distribution of this marsh dweller is from within Canada to well south of the U.S.

Fig. 1. American Bittern. Photograph by Jerry Segraves. Sites. Mid/Late Wisconsin: Rancho La Brea (Stock and Harris 1992).

Literature. Stock and Harris 1992.

Butorides striata (Rackett 1813)—Striated Heron Sites. Mid Wisconsin: McKittrick (Jefferson 1991a). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Rancho La Brea (Stock and Harris 1992). Literature. Jefferson 1991a; Stock and Harris 1992.

Egretta caerulea (Linnaeus 1758)—Little Blue Heron Although the current geographic range is the southeastern

third of the U.S. and coastal areas south of the U.S.Mexican border, numerous records are present from southern Canada and the remainder of the United States (Sibley 2000). Fig. 1. Little Blue Heron. Sites. Mid Wisconsin: McKittrick (Jefferson 1991a). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Rancho La Brea (Stock and Harris 1992). Literature. Jefferson 1991aSibley 2000; Stock and Harris 1992.

Egretta thula (Molina 1782)—Snowy Egret Sites. Mid/Late Wisconsin: Rancho La Brea (Stock and Harris 1992). Literature. Stock and Harris 1992.

Nycticorax nycticorax (Linnaeus 1758)—Black-crowned Night-Heron Sites. Mid Wisconsin: McKittrick (Jefferson 1991a). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Rancho La Brea (Stock and Harris 1992). Late Wisconsin: Maricopa (Jefferson 1991a).

Literature. Jefferson 1991a; Stock and Harris 1992.

Last Update: 8 Feb 2014

Main Menu Class Aves Order Pelecaniformes Family Threskiornithidae

Platalea ajaja Linnaeus 1758—Roseate Spoonbill Fig. 1. Roseate Spoonbills. Photograph by Lee Karney, courtesy of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Sites. Mid/Late Wisconsin: Rancho La Brea (Stock and Harris 1992). Literature. Stock and Harris 1992.

Plegadis chihi (Vieillot 1817)—White-faced Ibis Fig. 1. White-faced Ibis, watercolor by Louis Agassiz Fuertes. Sites. Mid Wisconsin: McKittrick (Jefferson 1991a); Térapa (Steadman and Mead 2010: cf.).

Mid/Late Wisconsin: Rancho La Brea (Stock and Harris 1992); San Miguel Island (Guthrie 1998). Literature. Guthrie 1998; Jefferson 1991a;

Last Update: 13 Jun 2014

Steadman and Mead 2010; Stock and Harris 1992.

Main Menu Class Aves Order Accipitriformes

Teratornithidae —Teratorns // Cathartidae—New World Vultures // Accipitridae—Hawks and Eagles Accipitriformes—Diurnal Birds of Prey This order formerly was part of the Falconiformes; with the realization that the falcons and relatives were not closely related to hawks and vultures, the hawks and vultures were split away, becoming the Accipitriformes. The AOU checklist for the Accipitriformes is followed here, with regional accipitriformes falling into the families Accipitridae and Cathartidae. See also the remarks under the Cathartidae account. Although birds as a group were relatively unscathed by the end-Pleistocene extinctions, this is not true of the Accipitridae and the Cathartidae.

Last Update: 20 Aug 2013

Main Menu Class Aves Order Accipitriformes Family Teratornithidae

Aiolornis incredibilis—Incredible Teratorn // Cathartornis gracilis — Slender Teratorn // Teratornis merriami —Merriam's Teratorn †Aiolornis incredibilis (Howard 1952)—Incredible Teratorn Synonyms. Teratornis incredibilis. Sites. Late Blancan/Irvingtonian: Vallecito Creek, Anza-Borrego Desert (Howard 1963). Literature. Howard 1963.

†Cathartornis gracilis Miller 1910—Slender Teratorn Sites. Mid/Late Wisconsin: Rancho La Brea (Stock and Harris 1992). Literature. Stock and Harris 1992.

†Teratornis merriami L. Miller 1909—Merriam's Teratorn The order to which these birds belong is unsettled, some placing them in the Accipitriformes and some in the Ciconiiformes. This large, extinct probable raptor was reported

from Dry Cave by Campbell and Tonni (1981) on the basis of a UTEP specimen (a palatine bone). Harris (1993c) listed the taxon as present in Animal Fair, Dry Cave. Dr. Campbell later found that his comparative material was a mixture of two species, and the palatine was re-identified as that of Aquila (in litt.). Thus, there is no evidence that this taxon occurred in New Mexico. Sites. Wisconsin: Carpinteria (Guthrie 2009). Mid Wisconsin: McKittrick (Jefferson 1991a). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Rancho La Brea (L. Miller 1909). Late Wisconsin: Maricopa (Jefferson 1991a); Stanton's Cave (Rea and Hargrave 1984); Tule Springs (Mawby 1967). Literature. Campbell and Tonni 1981; Guthrie 2009; Harris 1993c; Jefferson 1991a; Mawby 1967; L. Miller 1909; Rea and Hargrave 1984; Stock and Harris 1992.

Last Update: 6 May 2014

Main Menu Class Aves Order Accipitriformes Family Cathartidae

Breagyps clarki—Clark's Condor // Cathartes aura—Turkey Vulture // Coragyps—Black Vultures // Gymnogyps californianus —California Condor

Cathartidae—Condors and Vultures The placement of the New World vultures has long been controversial (or at least, unclear). At times, the Cathartidae has been considered to belong to the Falconiformes and at times to the Ciconiiformes (storks). A recent study (Hackett et al. 2008) strongly indicates that the family is not closely related to the Ciconiiformes but does seem to be closely related to the Accipitridae. The Accipitridae, however, is separated from the Falconidae in their results. Pending further clarification, I am placing the Cathartidae as a family within the Accipitriformes. The cathartids are (and presumably the extinct forms were) scavengers, feeding on the recently dead. The megafaunal extinctions of large mammals at the end of the Pleistocene apparently stressed members of the family, as indicated by extinction or contraction of geographic ranges of some. Literature. Hackett et al. 2008.

Last Update: 2 Apr 2013

Main Menu Class Aves Order Accipitriformes Family Cathartidae

†Breagyps clarki (L. Miller 1910)—Clark's Condor Synonyms. Sarcorhamphus clarki. This condor, close in size to the California Condor, apparently was widespread in the Southwest during the late Pleistocene. Fig. 1. Posterior and anterior views of the right tarsometatarsus of Breagyps clarki from the Lost Valley site of Dry Cave. UTEP 1-1002. Metric scale. Sites. Early/Early-Mid Wisconsin: Lost Valley (Harris 1993c); Sabertooth Camel Maze (Harris 1993c). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Rancho La Brea (Stock and Harris 1992); Shelter Cave (Howard 1971; Howard and Miller 1933); U-Bar Cave (Harris 1993c). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Howell's Ridge Cave (Harris 1993c: ? gen. et sp.). Literature. Harris 1993c; Howard 1971; Howard and Miller 1933; Stock and Harris 1992.

Last Update: 5 Dec 2013

Main Menu Class Aves Order Accipitriformes Family Cathartidae

Cathartes aura —Turkey Vulture Fig. 1. Cathartes aura. Photograph by Lee Karney, courtesy of the US Fish & Wildlife Service. Turkey Vultures occur throughout our region as warm-weather residents and during migration. These are scavengers and appear well adapted for foraging on smaller mammals, including road kill. Nesting often is in rocky alcoves. In southeastern New Mexico, the Turkey Vulture appears to be limited to the terminal Wisconsin and Holocene; the same may be true for central southern New Mexico, dependent primarily on the age of the Conkling Cavern material. The common vulture throughout the state during the Wisconsin was the extinct Western Vulture (Coragyps occidentalis). At U-Bar Cave, the latter was more common, but Turkey Vulture remains do occur (Fig. 2).

Fig. 2. Left femur of modern Cathartes aura (left) and fossil from U-Bar Cave (UTEP 5689-164-2). Age ca. 14,000 radiocarbon years BP. Sites. ?Late Irvingtonian/Rancholabrean: Emery Borrow Pit (Jefferson 1991a). Rancholabrean: San Pedro Lumber Yard (Jefferson 1991a). Sangamon: San Pedro Lumber Co. (Jefferson 1991a)

Wisconsin: Carpinteria (Guthrie 2009). Mid Wisconsin: McKittrick (Jefferson 1991a); Pendejo Cave (Harris 2003); U-Bar Cave (Harris 1987: cf. gen et sp.). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Sandblast Cave (Emslie 1988). Mid/Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Sierra Diablo Cave (UTEP); Shelter Cave (Howard and Miller 1933). Late Wisconsin: Blackwater Loc. No. 1 (Morgan and Lucas 2005); Pendejo Cave (Harris 2003); Sandia Cave (Brasso and Emslie 2006) U-Bar Cave 14-15 ka (Harris 1989). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Balcony Room (Harris 1993c); Burnet Cave (Wetmore 1932); Boyd's Cave (Harris 1993c); Conkling Cavern (Howard and Miller 1933); Pendejo Cave (Harris 2003); Stalag 17 (Harris 1993c); Stanton's Cave (Rea and Hargrave 1984). Literature. Emslie 1988; Brasso and Emslie 2006; Guthrie 2009; Harris 1987, 1989, 1993c, 2003; Howard and Miller 1933; Jefferson 1991a; Morgan and Lucas 2005; Rea and Hargrave 1984; Wetmore 1932.

Last Update: 28 Jan 2014

Main Menu Class Aves Order Accipitriformes Family Cathartidae

Coragyps atratus/occidentalis—Black or Western Black Vulture // Coragyps occidentalis —Western Black Vulture Coragyps sp.—Black Vultures Sites. Sangamon: San Pedro Lumber Co. (Jefferson 1991a) Literature. Jefferson 1991a.

Coragyps atratus (Bechstein 1793)—Black Vulture Brodkorb (1964) reported the Black Vulture from Burnet Cave and from Albuquerque. Howard (1968) considered the Burnet Cave and Albuquerque specimens as critical to an understanding of the relationship between C. atratus and C. occidentalis; occurrence of both in the Late Pleistocene would imply that they were separate species rather than the latter evolving into the former. However, the Burnet Cave (=Rocky Arroyo) specimen, according to Howard (1968), lies at the extremes of this species and Coragyps occidentalis—that is, close to the maximum for C. atratus and the minimum for C. occidentalis. There are no published measurements for the Albuquerque specimen (Brodkorb Collection), so it cannot be evaluated at present. It may be argued that the Burnet Cave specimen shows intermediacy because it represents the transition from the larger C. occidentalis to the smaller C. atratus. On the other hand, Burnet Cave includes Holocene material as well as Pleistocene. Santucci et al. (2001) stated that C. atratus is documented from Dust Cave, but gave no indication that the atratus/occidentalis situation was considered. Likewise, Reynolds, Reynolds, and Bell (1991) listed without comment C. atratus from Devil Peak.

Although likely a single phylogenetic line, I will treat them as separate species for the time being (a change from the earlier announced position). This is primarily a matter of convenience rather than a considered taxonomic decision and hopefully will be revisited later. Fig. 1. Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus). Photograph by John J. Mosesso, courtesy National Biological Information Infrastructure. Currently the Black Vulture is considered accidental in New Mexico, with only a few occurrences in the southern part of the state. It occurs in southern Arizona and is recorded also from Presidio County in the Big Bend of Texas. Sites. Pleistocene: Albuquerque. Rancholabrean: Devil Peak (Reynolds, Reynolds, and Bell 1991). Late Wisconsin: Dust Cave (Santucci et al. 2001). Literature. Brodkorb 1964; Howard 1968; Reynolds, Reynolds, and Bell 1991; Santucci et al. 2001.

Coragyps atratus/Coragyps occidentalis—Black Vulture or Western Black Vulture See comments above. The U-Bar Cave specimen is from miner's spoil. Sites. Mid Wisconsin-Holocene: U-Bar Cave (Harris 1993c cf.). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Burnet Cave (Wetmore 1932). Literature. Harris 1993c; Wetmore 1932.

†Coragyps occidentalis (L. Miller 1909)—Western Black Vulture

Synonyms. The Western Black Vulture was described by Miller (1909) as Catharista occidentalis. It has most often been treated as a species separate from the Black Vulture (e.g., Howard 1968). It differs from the Black Vulture in greater size and in proportions, but not in qualitative characters (Howard 1968). It probably would be best to treat the taxon as a chronologic subspecies (see comments above) since, in all likelihood, the Western Black Vulture decreased in size around the end of the Pleistocene to become the Black Vulture of today (Steadman et al. 1994). A record from an Indian midden at Five Mile Rapids on the Columbia River (L. Miller 1957) produced one bone of Coragyps occidentalis; a 14C date is slightly less than 8000 years. Thus, if a chronological species, it retained the characteristic large size at least in part of its range well into the early Holocene. This vulture apparently nested on ledges at the entrance to Dry Cave and within earlier fissure systems. Many elements are of immature, probably preflight birds. Similarly, occurrences in the older Dry Cave sites located beneath fissures that at one time intersected the surface also suggest local breeding. Preservation in many cases is excellent (Figs. 1 and 2).

Fig. 1. Palmar view, left humerus of Coragyps atratus occidentalis (UTEP 27-1), Rm Vanishing Floor, Dry Cave, Eddy Co., NM. Metric scale.

 

Fig. 2 (left). Anconal view, head of left humerus of modern Coragyps atratus. Fig. 3. Left humerus of Coragyps atratus occidentalis (UTEP 27-1), Rm Vanishing Floor, Dry Cave, Eddy Co., NM. Metric scale. Much of the deltoid crest is missing in this specimen. Sites. Irvingtonian: El Golfo (Croxen et al. 2007). Wisconsin: Carpinteria (Guthrie 2009); McKittrick (Jefferson 1991a). Early/Early-Mid Wisconsin: Balcony on Lost Valley (Harris 1993c); Lost Valley (Harris 1993c); Sabertooth Camel Maze (Harris 1993c); Rm Vanishing Floor (Harris 1993c). Mid Wisconsin: Pendejo Cave (Harris 2003); U-Bar Cave (Harris 1993c). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Dark Canyon Cave (Howard 1971); Hampton Court (Harris 1993c); NW Talus Slope (Harris 1993c); Pit N&W Animal Fair (Harris 1993c). Mid/Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Jimenez Cave (Messing 1986); Sierra Diablo Cave (UTEP). Late Wisconsin: Animal Fair 18-20 ka (Harris 1989); Charlies Parlor (Harris 1989); Human Corridor (Harris 1993c); Lower Sloth Cave (Logan 1983); Pendejo Cave (Harris 2003); Rancho La Brea (Stock and Harris 1992); Rick's Cenote (Harris 1993c); Sandia Cave (Brasso and Emslie 2006); Stalag 17 (Harris 1993c); TT II (Harris 1993c); U-Bar Cave 14-15 ka (Harris 1989). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Balcony Room (Harris 1993c); Conkling Cavern (Howard

and Miller 1933); Howell's Ridge Cave (Howard 1962); Isleta Cave No. 1 (Harris 1993c); Pendejo Cave (Harris 2003). Literature. Brasso and Emslie 2006; Croxen et al. 2007; Guthrie 2009; Harris 1989, 1993c, 2003; Howard 1962, 1968, 1971; Howard and Miller 1933; Jefferson 1991a; Logan 1983; L. Miller 1909, 1957; Messing 1986; Steadman et al. 1994; Stock and Harris 1992.

Last Update: 29 May 2014

Main Menu Class Aves Order Accipitriformes Family Cathartidae

Gymnogyps Lesson 1842—California/Rancho La Brea Condor Fig. 1.

Gymnogyps californianus. Photograph by Noel Synder, courtesy of the US Fish & Wildlife Service. The living California Condor and the Pleistocene condors, especially the condor represented in the Rancho La Brea deposits, have either been considered as separate species (G. californianus and G. amplus) or the Pleistocene form has been considered a temporal subspecies of G. californianus. The primary difference used to separate the two taxa was size, the Pleistocene form being larger. Howard (1962:241) did note "the presence of a pair of markedly swelled ridges, one on either side and extending along the median line of the ventral surface of the nasal process of the premaxilla" in one specimen from Howell's Ridge Cave and the probable occurrence on a second specimen. This was in contrast to specimens from Rancho La Brea and Rocky Arroyo Cave (= Burnet Cave). In the original account here, G. amplus was considered a synonym of G. californianus, though it was noted that in a 2007 presentation, Syverson and Prothero presented results of an extensive comparison of the Rancho La Brea and modern condor specimens and concluded that they represent separate species. They since (2010) have published their evidence. Their conclusion is accepted here, but the specific status of most specimens in the interior of North America is now unclear. Part of the problem is that Syverson and Prothero (2010) give only means and variances and for only a few elements (skull, humerus, and femur); equally important, most published records for the Southwest do not include measurements. With largely fragmentary material, few elements available from the New Mexico/Trans-Pecos region provide measurements comparable to those of Syverson and Prothero. The few available (Dark Canyon Cave) are generally relatively large, suggesting that G. amplus is the species represented in that cave. Although the distribution of

modern condors is limited to California and introductions into Arizona and Nevada, past distribution of condors apparently was far greater, with the birds withstanding Pleistocene climatic conditions as far east and north as the state of New York (Steadman and Miller 1987). Fig. 2. Left to right: left coracoid, proximal left tarsometatarsus, distal right ulna of condors from Howell's Ridge Cave. UTEP specimens. Scale in mm. Emslie (1987) recorded dates for a number of fossil condors from caves in Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas. Dates ranged from 22,180 ± 400 to 9580 ± 160 BP. Mead et al. (2003) indicated that condors inhabited the Grand Canyon from at least 42 ka (apparently based on dating of a condor feather from site CC:5:2) to about 10 ka. Material from the New Mexico/Texas region included dates from Howell's Ridge Cave (13,460 ± 220), U-Bar Cave (13,030 ± 180), Dark Canyon Cave (9585 ± 310), Rocky Arroyo Cave (12,180 ± 130), Mules Ear Peak Cave (12,580 ± 135), and Maravillas Canyon (10,215 ± 320). Thus, as Emslie hypothesized, inland populations apparently were gone by around 10,000 radiocarbon years BP. Howard and Miller (1933) recorded California Condor from Shelter Cave. However, Howard (1971) later compared the elements with those of Breagyps clarki and assigned the Shelter Cave material to that species. Sites. Irvingtonian: El Golfo (Croxen et al. 2007). Late Rancholabrean: Luka Cave (DeSaussure 1956); Tooth Cave (DeSaussure 1956). Wisconsin: Carpinteria (Guthrie 2009); McKittrick (Jefferson 1991a). Mid Wisconsin. CC:5:2 (Mead et al. 2003). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Dark Canyon Cave (Howard 1971); Rampart Cave (Wilson 1942); Rancho La Brea (Stock and Harris 1992); Sandblast Cave (Emslie 1988); San Miguel Island (Guthrie 1998).

Mid/Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Jimenez Cave (Messing 1986); Sierra Diablo Cave (UTEP). Late Wisconsin: Antelope Cave (Reynolds, Reynolds, Bell, and Pitzer 1991: cf.); Bridge Cave (Emslie 1987); Ceremonial Cave (Cosgrove 1947); Howell's Ridge Cave (Howard 1962); Maravillas Canyon (Emslie 1987); Maricopa (Jefferson 1991a); Marmot Cave (Brasso and Emslie 2006); Midden Cave (Mead et al. 2005); Mule Ears Peak (Wetmore 1933); Sandia Cave (Brasso and Emslie 2006); Skull Cave (Emslie 1988); Skylight Cave (Emslie 1988); Stanton's Cave (Rea and Hargrave (1984); Stevens Cave (Emslie 1988); U-Bar Cave 13-14 ka; Vulture Cave (Mead and Phillips 1981). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Burnet Cave (Wetmore 1931; Emslie 1987); Conkling Cavern (Howard and Miller 1933); Kokoweef Cave (Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991); Newberry Cave (Jefferson 1991a); Schuiling Cave (Jefferson 1991a). Literature. Brasso and Emslie 2006; Cosgrove 1947; Croxen et al. 2007; DeSaussure 1956; Emslie 1987, 1988; Guthrie 1998, 2009; Howard 1962, 1971; Howard and Miller 1933; Jefferson 1991a; Mead and Phillips 1981; Mead et al. 2003; Mead et al. 2005; Messing 1986; Rea and Hargrave 1984; Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991; Reynolds, Reynolds, Bell, and Pitzer 1991; Steadman and Miller 1987; Stock and Harris 1992; Syverson and Prothero 2010; Wetmore 1931, 1933; Wilson 1942.

Last Update: 28 May 2014

Main Menu Class Aves Order Accipitriformes Family Accipitridae

Accipiter cooperii —Cooper's Hawk // Accipiter gentilis—Northern Goshawk // Accipiter striatus—Sharp-shinned Hawk Accipiter sp.—Bird Hawks Although often considered woodland hawks, suitable habitat generally is expectable within raptor range of most sites. Their identification, then, offers little in the way of ecological data. Furthermore, accipiters are widespread geographically. All tend to rely heavily on birds as prey. Sites. Sangamon:: Newport Bay Mesa (Jefferson 1991a). Late Wisconsin:: Charlies Parlor (Harris 1993c). Literature. Harris 1993c; Jefferson 1991a.

Accipiter cooperii (Bonaparte 1828)—Cooper's Hawk Fig. 1. Accipiter cooperii. Photograph by Lee Karney, courtesy of the US Fish & Wildlife Service. Cooper's Hawk is widespread in our region today. Favored prey seems to be quail and doves (Ligon 1961), though other birds are widely utilized. Ligon mentions specifically flickers as being a favored food, perhaps accounting for the relatively high number of flickers recovered from cave sites. Sites. Wisconsin: Carpinteria (Guthrie 2009).

Mid Wisconsin: McKittrick (Jefferson 1991a).

1992); U-Bar Cave (Harris 1993c).

Mid/Late Wisconsin: Dark Canyon Cave (Howard 1971); Diamond Valley (Springer et al. 2009: cf.); Pit N&W Animal Fair (Harris 1993c); Rancho La Brea (Stock and Harris

Late Wisconsin: Animal Fair 18-20 ka (Harris 1989); Antelope Cave (Reynolds, Reynolds, Bell, and Pitzer 1991); Camel Room (Harris 1993c); Maricopa (Jefferson 1991a); Sandia Cave (Brasso and Emslie 2006); U-Bar Cave (UTEP). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Burnet Cave (Wetmore 1932). Literature. Brasso and Emslie 2006; Guthrie 2009; Harris 1989, 1993c; Howard 1971; Jefferson 1991a; Ligon 1961; Reynolds, Reynolds, Bell, and Pitzer 1991; Springer et al. 2009; Stock and Harris 1992; Wetmore 1932.

Accipiter gentilis (Linnaeus 1758)—Northern Goshawk Sites. Wisconsin: Carpinteria (Guthrie 2009). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Rancho La Brea (Jefferson 1991a). Literature. Guthrie 2009; Jefferson 1991a.

Accipiter striatus Vieillot 1808—Sharp-shinned Hawk

Fig. 1. Accipiter striatus. Photograph by Donna Dewhurst, courtesy of the US Fish & Wildlife Service. The Sharpshinned Hawk is a smaller version of Cooper's Hawk and, fittingly, feeds mostly on small birds. It is widespread within our region today. Sites. ?Late Irvingtonian/Rancholabrean: Emery Borrow Pit (Jefferson 1991a). Wisconsin: Carpinteria (Guthrie 2009). Early/Early-Mid Wisconsin: Rm Vanishing Floor (Harris 1993c: cf.). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Rancho La Brea (Stock and Harris 1992). Mid Wisconsin: Pendejo Cave (Harris 2003). Mid Wisconsin-Holocene: Shelter Cave (Howard and Miller 1933). Late Wisconsin: Sandia Cave (Brasso and Emslie 2006) Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Stanton's Cave (Rea and Hargrave 1984). Literature. Brasso and Emslie 2006; Guthrie 2009; Harris 1993c, 2003; Howard and Miller 1933; Jefferson 1991a; Rea and Hargrave 1984; Stock and Harris 1992.

Last Update: 16 Mar 2014

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†Amplibuteo woodwardi Miller 1911—Woodward's Eagle Synonyms. Morphnus woodwardi. Miller (1911) described the taxon on the basis of a tarsometatarsus from Rancho La Brea. The tarsometatarsus was said to resemble Aquila in general, but was some 30% larger, thus being one of the largest of the eagles. Campbell (1979) found that the characters of the taxon were not compatible to those of the genus Morphnus, but resembled those of his newly described genus Amplibuteo to which he assigned it. Sites. Wisconsin: Carpinteria (Guthrie 2009). Mid Wisconsin: McKittrick (Jefferson 1991a). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Rancho La Brea (Stock and Harris 1992). Literature. Campbell 1979; Guthrie 2009; Jefferson 1991a; Miller 1911; Stock and Harris 1992.

Last Update: 14 Jun 2014

Main Menu Class Aves Order Accipitriformes Family Accipitridae

Aquila sp.—Eagles White et al. (2010) list Aquila from El Golfo, Sonora, but the listing of taxa by Croxen et al. (2007) does not include this taxon. It is possible that this is a later addition, but unless I can find the record elsewhere, I choose to not map it. Sites. Mid/Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Jimenez Cave (Messing 1986). Literature. Croxen et al. 2007; Messing 1986; White et al. 2010.

†Aquila bivia Emslie and Czaplewski 1999—Two-wayed Eagle This is an eagle closely related to the Golden Eagle, but 10-20% larger than the females of that species (Emslie and Czaplewski 1999). Sites. Late Blancan: 111 Ranch (Emslie and Czaplewski 1999). Literature. Emslie and Czaplewski 1999.

Aquila chrysaetos (Linnaeus 1758)—Golden Eagle Fig. 1. Aquila chrysaetos. Photograph by Donna Dewhurst, courtesy of the US Fish & Wildlife

Service. It is assumed that only one species of Aquila occurs in our region during the Wisconsin. Golden Eagles are widespread in the West today and give little ecological information. Although the specimens listed here by Harris compare well with Aquila, comparative material for Haliaeetus leucocephalus is not available. Sites. Desert (Howard 1963: ?).

Late Blancan/Irvingtonian: Vallecito Creek, Anza-Borrego

Irvingtonian/Rancholabrean: Manix Lake (Jefferson 1991a). Wisconsin: Carpinteria (Guthrie 2009). Early/Early-Mid Wisconsin: Lost Valley (Harris 1993c: cf. gen.); Rm Vanishing Floor (Harris 1993c: ?). Mid Wisconsin: McKittrick (Jefferson 1991a); Térapa (Steadman and Mead 2010); UBar Cave (Harris 1987). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Dark Canyon Cave (Howard 1971); Diamond Valley (Springer et al. 2009); Hampton Court (Harris 1993c); Rancho La Brea (Stock and Harris 1992). Mid Wisconsin-Holocene: Shelter Cave (Howard and Miller 1933). Late Wisconsin: Animal Fair 18-20 ka (Harris 1989); China Lake (Jefferson 1991a: cf.); Maricopa (Jefferson 1991a); Sandia Cave (Brasso and Emslie 2006). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Balcony Room (Harris 1993c); Conkling Cavern (Howard and Miller 1933); Howell's Ridge Cave (Howard 1962); Pendejo Cave (Harris 2003: cf. gen. et sp.); Isleta Cave No. 1 (Harris 1993c); Isleta Cave No. 2 (UTEP); Schuiling Cave (Jefferson 1991a); Stanton's Cave (Rea and Hargrave 1984). Literature. Brasso and Emslie 2006; Guthrie 2009; Harris 1987, 1989, 1993c, 2003; Howard 1963, 1962, 1971; Howard and Miller 1933; Jefferson 1991a; Rea and Hargrave 1984; Springer et al. 2009; Steadman and Mead 2010; Stock and Harris 1992.

Aquila chrysaetos/Haliaeetus leucocephalus —Golden or Bald Eagle Although the specimens from the sites listed here compare well with Aquila, comparative material for Haliaeetus leucocephalus is not available, and the sites are not clearly distant from the habitat of the latter. Sites. Mid Wisconsin Pendejo Cave (UTEP). Mid/Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Sierra Diablo Cave (UTEP).

Last Update: 27 Mar 2014

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Buteo albonotatus —Zone-tailed Hawk // Buteo jamaicensis —Redtailed Hawk // Buteo lagopus —Rough-legged Hawk // Buteo lineatus—Red-shouldered Hawk // Buteo nitidus —Gray Hawk // Buteo regalis—Ferruginous Hawk // Buteo swainsoni —Swainson's Hawk

Buteo sp.—Buteo Hawks In general, buteo hawks are geographically widespread and also are migratory. Ecologically, there is little information content regarding habitat in the occurrence of any particular species. Sites. Irvingtonian: El Golfo (Croxen et al. 2007). Rancholabrean: Devil Peak (Reynolds, Reynolds, and Bell 1991). Early/Early-Mid Wisconsin: Rm Vanishing Floor (Harris 1993c: cf.). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Sandblast Cave (Emslie 1988). Late Wisconsin: Charlies Parlor (Harris 1989); TT II (Harris 1993c); U-Bar Cave 1314 ka (Harris 1989: ?) Literature. Croxen et al. 2007; Emslie 1988; Harris 1989, 1993c; Reynolds, Reynolds, and Bell 1991.

Buteo albonotatus Kaup 1847—Zone-tailed Hawk The current distribution is largely southern and eastern in our region, and it appears to normally leave the area during the winter. In summer, it tends to inhabit riparian or high mountain forest (Ligon 1961). Sites.

Mid Wisconsin-Holocene: Shelter Cave (Howard and Miller 1933: ?). Literature. Howard and Miller 1933; Ligon 1961.

Buteo jamaicensis (Gmelin 1788)—Red-tailed Hawk Fig. 1. Buteo jamaicensis. Photograph by Beth Jackson, courtesy of the US Fish & Wildlife Service. This common hawk today is found throughout the region in both summer and winter, with the winter populations the larger. Presence apparently requires trees, but they are otherwise unlimited ecologically (Ligon 1961). Sites. ?Late Irvingtonian/Rancholabrean: Emery Borrow Pit (Jefferson 1991a). Wisconsin: Carpinteria (Guthrie 2009). Mid Wisconsin: McKittrick (Jefferson 1991a). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Dark Canyon Cave (Howard 1971); NW Talus Slope (Harris 1993c; cf.); Rancho La Brea (Stock and Harris 1992); San Miguel Island (Guthrie 1998). Mid Wisconsin-Holocene: Shelter Cave (Howard and Miller 1933). Late Wisconsin: Animal Fair 18-20 ka (Harris 1989: cf.); Antelope Cave (Reynolds, Reynolds, Bell, and Pitzer 1991: cf.); Blackwater Draw Fauna (Morgan and Lucas 2005); Maricopa (Jefferson 1991a).

Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Conkling Cavern (Conkling 1932); Howell's Ridge Cave (Howard 1962: cf.); Kokoweef Cave (Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991: cf.); Newberry Cave (Jefferson 1991a); Schuiling Cave (Jefferson 1991a); Stanton's Cave (Rea and Hargrave 1984). Literature. Conkling 1932; Guthrie 1998, 2009; Harris 1989, 1993c, 2003; Howard 1962; Howard 1971; Howard and Miller 1933; Jefferson 1991a; Ligon 1961; Morgan and Lucas 2005; Rea and Hargrave 1984; Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991; Reynolds, Reynolds, Bell, and Pitzer 1991; Stock and Harris 1992.

Buteo lagopus (Pontoppidan 1763)—Rough-legged Hawk This is a bird that breeds far north of our region, but winters in the region. Sites. Wisconsin: Carpinteria (Guthrie 2009: cf.). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Dark Canyon Cave (Howard 1971); Rancho La Brea (Stock and Harris 1992). Literature. Guthrie 2009; Howard 1971; Stock and Harris 1992.

Buteo lineatus (Gmelin 1788)—Red-shouldered Hawk Fig. 1. Buteo lineatus.

Photograph by Lee Karney, courtesy of the US Fish & Wildlife Service. Brasso and Emslie (2006) considered the Sandia Cave record to be extralimital. They noted the current range as eastern and coastal western, with individuals apparently moving more inland from the west in recent years. Wooded and riparian habitats appear to be inhabited.

Sites. Wisconsin: Carpinteria (Guthrie 2009). Late Wisconsin: Sandia Cave (Brasso and Emslie 2006). Literature. Brasso and Emslie 2006; Guthrie 2009.

Buteo nitidus (Latham 1790)—Gray Hawk Currently, the Gray Hawk is limited to southeastern Arizona and the southwestern part of New Mexico in our region and appears to be rare. Ligon (1961) gave the preferred habitat as large cottonwood groves along stream bottoms. Sites. Mid/Late Wisconsin: Dark Canyon Cave (Howard 1971). Literature. Howard 1971; Ligon 1961.

Buteo regalis (Gray 1844)—Ferruginous Hawk This is a large hawk, characterized by Ligon (1961) as being next to the eagles in size. Apparently prairie dogs formed a major portion of its diet before control measures severely diminished the numbers of the rodents. Sites. Wisconsin: Carpinteria (Guthrie 2009). Mid Wisconsin: McKittrick (Jefferson 1991a). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Rancho La Brea (Stock and Harris 1992). Late Wisconsin: Blackwater Draw Fauna (Morgan and Lucas 2005). Literature. Guthrie 2009; Jefferson 1991a; Ligon 1961; Morgan and Lucas 2005.

Buteo swainsoni Bonaparte 1838—Swainson's Hawk Swainson's Hawk is a summer resident of the

region, primarily in open or partially wooded habitats. During migration, they have reached large numbers, especially where concentrations of grasshoppers occurred. Ligon (1961) mentions concentrations of 1000 or more under those circumstances. The wide geographic range of Swainson's Hawk at one season or another, from Canada in summer to Argentina in winter, indicates that they would be present under almost any climatic/ecologic condition except the presence of heavy forest. Sites. Mid Wisconsin: McKittrick (Jefferson 1991a); Pendejo Cave (Harris 2003: cf.). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Pit N&W Animal Fair (Harris 1993c); Rancho La Brea (Stock and Harris 1992). Mid Wisconsin-Holocene: Shelter Cave (Howard and Miller 1933). Late Wisconsin: Camel Room (Harris 1993c: cf.); Maricopa (Jefferson 1991a). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Burnet Cave (Wetmore 1932); Conkling Cavern (Howard and Miller 1933); Pendejo Cave (Harris 2003: cf.). Literature. Harris 1993c, 2003; Howard and Miller 1933; Jefferson 1991a; Ligon 1961; Stock and Harris 1992; Wetmore 1932.

Last Update: 7 Mar 2014

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Buteogallus sp.—Black-hawks Sites. Wisconsin: Costeau Pit (Jefferson 1991a). Jefferson 1991a.

Buteogallus anthracinus (Deppe 1830)—Common Black-hawk The current distribution within our region of this relatively rare hawk runs from the southwestern quarter of New Mexico through southeastern Arizona, thence to northwestern Arizona. It generally occurs in heavily wooded stream bottoms and canyons (Ligon 1961). If the questionable identification is correct, it would be east of the current range. Sites. Mid/Late Wisconsin: Animal Fair (Harris 1993c: ? gen. et sp.). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Stanton's Cave (Rea and Hargrave 1984). Literature. Harris 1993c; Rea and Hargrave 1984.

†Buteogallus daggetti (Miller 1915)—Daggett's Eagle Synonyms. Morphnus daggetti, Wetmoregyps daggetti. Olson (2007) found that Wetmoregyps daggetti is essentially a large version (larger by about

40%) of the extant Savanna Hawk (Buteogallus meridionalis). This being the case, he transferred the taxon to Buteogallus. In comparing B. daggetti with the Savanna Hawk, he thought it likely that they shared an open grassland niche. Sites. Wisconsin: Carpinteria (Guthrie 2009). Mid Wisconsin: Térapa (Steadman and Mead 2010). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Rancho La Brea (Stock and Harris 1992). Literature. Guthrie 2009; Olson 2007; Steadman and Mead 2010.

†Buteogallus fragilis (Miller 1911)—Fragile Eagle Synonyms—Geranoaëtus fragilis Miller. Urubitinga fragilis (Miller). The Fragile Eagle was described from Rancho La Brea and reported from Shelter Cave by Howard and Miller (1933). Most members of the genus are tropical to subtropical in habitat and tend to enter only the southern parts of North America if at all. Sites. Wisconsin: Carpinteria (Guthrie 2009). Mid Wisconsin: McKittrick (Jefferson 1991a). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Rancho La Brea (Stock and Harris 1992); Shelter Cave (Howard and Miller 1933). Late Wisconsin: Maricopa (Jefferson 1991a). Literature. Guthrie 2009; Howard and Miller 1933; Jefferson 1991a; Stock and Harris 1992.

Last Update: 28 Jan 2014

Main Menu Class Aves Order Accipitriformes Family Accipitridae

Circus cyaneus (Linnaeus 1766)—Northern Harrier Synonyms. Circus hudsonius. Northern Harriers currently are common in the region during migration. Sites. Wisconsin: Carpinteria (Guthrie 2009). Mid Wisconsin: McKittrick (Jefferson 1991a); Térapa (Steadman and Mead 2010). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Dark Canyon Cave (Harris 1993c: cf. gen. et sp.); Rancho La Brea (Stock and Harris 1992). Late Wisconsin: Charlies Parlor (Harris 1989). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Stanton's Cave (Rea and Hargrave 1984). Literature. Guthrie 2009; Harris 1989, 1993c; Rea and Hargrave 1984; Jefferson 1991a; Steadman and Mead 2010; Stock and Harris 1992.

Last Update: 31 Dec 2013

Main Menu Class Aves Order Accipitriformes Family Accipitridae

Elanus caeruleus Desfontaines, 1789—Black-winged Kite Sites. Mid/Late Wisconsin: Rancho La Brea (Stock and Harris 1992). Literature. Stock and Harris 1992.

Last Update: 6 Dec 2013

Main Menu Class Aves Order Accipitriformes Family Accipitridae

Haliaeetus sp.—Bald Eagles Sites. Rancholabrean: Devil Peak (Reynolds, Reynolds, and Bell 1991: ? gen.). Literature. Reynolds, Reynolds, and Bell 1991.

Haliaeetus leucocephalus (Linnaeus 1766)—Bald Eagle Fig. 1. Haliaeetus leucocephalus. Photograph by Laura L. Whitehouse, courtesy of the US Fish & Wildlife Service. Presumably only one species of Haliaeetus occurred in our region during the late Pleistocene; thus the Blackwater Locality record (recorded only to genus) is included here. Bald Eagles tend to be associated with large bodies of water, but are of little other import in ecologic or climatic reconstruction. Sites.

Irvingtonian/Rancholabrean: Manix Lake (Jefferson 1991a). Rancholabrean: San Pedro Lumber Yard (Jefferson 1991a). Sangamon: San Pedro Lumber Co. (Jefferson 1991a); Santa Barbara Island (Lipps et al. 1968: cf.). Wisconsin: Carpinteria (Guthrie 2009). Mid Wisconsin: McKittrick (Jefferson 1991a). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Rancho La Brea (Stock and Harris 1992); San Miguel Island (Guthrie 1998). Late Wisconsin: Blackwater Draw, Clovis age (Johnson 1986: Cf. gen.); China Lake (Jefferson 1991a); Maricopa (Jefferson 1991a). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Conkling Cavern (Howard and Miller 1933). Literature. Guthrie 1998, 2009; Howard and Miller 1933; Jefferson 1991a; Johnson 1986; Lipps et al. 1968; Stock and Harris 1992.

Last Update: 29 May 2014

Main Menu Class Aves Order Accipitriformes Family Accipitridae

Ictinia sp.—Mississippi/Plumeous-type Kite Sites. Mid Wisconsin: Térapa (Steadman and Mead 2010). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Rancho La Brea (Stock and Harris 1992). Literature. Steadman and Mead 2010; Stock and Harris 1992.

Last Update: 6 Dec 2013

Main Menu Class Aves Order Accipitriformes Family Accipitridae

†Neogyps errans Miller 1916—Errant Eagle Sites. Wisconsin: Carpinteria (Guthrie 2009). Mid Wisconsin: McKittrick (Jefferson 1991a). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Rancho La Brea (Stock and Harris 1992). Late Wisconsin: Maricopa (Jefferson 1991a). Sites. Guthrie 2009; Jefferson 1991a; Stock and Harris 1992.

Last Update: 10 Jan 2014

Main Menu Class Aves Order Accipitriformes Family Accipitridae

†Neophrontops americanus Miller 1916—American Neophrontops The American Neophrontops was a New World representative of what today are Old World vultures and, like the Old World vultures, is assigned to the Accipitridae rather than the Cathartidae. According to Howard (1932), it was similar to the Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus. Howard suggested that it likely was largely a feeder on carrion, though she recognized that it may also have preyed on mouse-sized animals and on large insects. Sites. Wisconsin: Carpinteria (Guthrie 2009). Mid Wisconsin: McKittrick (Jefferson 1991a). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Dark Canyon Cave (Howard 1971); Rancho La Brea (Stock and Harris 1992). Literature. Guthrie 2009; Howard 1932, 1971; Jefferson 1991a; Stock and Harris 1992.

†Neophrontops vallecitoensis Howard 1963—Vallecito Neophrontops Sites. Late Blancan/Irvingtonian: Vallecito Creek, Anza-Borrego Desert (Howard 1963). Literature. Howard 1963.

Last Update: 27 Mar 2014

Main Menu Class Aves Order Accipitriformes Family Accipitridae

†Spizaetus sp.—Hawk-eagle This genus is represented by extant species in Central and South America and in the Old World. Sites. Sangamon: La Brisca (Van Devender et al. 1985: cf.). Literature. Van Devender et al. 1985.

†Spizaetus grinnelli Miller 1911—Grinnell's Crested Eagle Sites. Wisconsin: Carpinteria (Guthrie 2009). Mid Wisconsin: McKittrick (Jefferson 1991a). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Rancho La Brea (Stock and Harris 1992). Late Wisconsin: Maricopa (Jefferson 1991a). Literature. Guthrie 2009; Jefferson 1991a; Stock and Harris 1992.

†Spizaetus willetti Howard 1935—Willett's Hawk-eagle Named from Smith Creek Cave, Nevada, Willett's Hawk-eagle had a number of similarities with the Golden Eagle, but was larger and heavier (Howard 1935, 1962). Sites. Late Wisconsin: Howell's Ridge Cave (Howard 1962).

Literature. Howard 1935, 1962.

Last Update: 10 Jan 2014

Main Menu Class Aves Order Gruiformes

Grus —Cranes // Grus americana—Whooping Crane // Grus canadensis —Sandhill Crane // Grus pagei —Page's Crane // Rallidae — Rails

Gruiformes—Rails, Cranes, and Relatives

The cranes are spectacularly large, long-legged and long-necked birds, with two species historically in our region. The Whooping Crane was reported in the 1800s in the Rio Grande Valley (Ligon 1961); current occurrence at Bosque del Apache is from introductions. In 1958, the total population of this bird was down to 32 in the wild and six in captivity (Ligon 1961). The population number has since climbed to several hundred. The Sandhill Crane remains common. Although related morphologically to the cranes, the rails differ in their smaller size, secretive manner, and dependence on aquatic vegetation for concealment and nesting.

Grus sp.—Cranes Sites. Irvingtonian: El Golfo (Croxen et al. 2007). ?Late Irvingtonian/Rancholabrean: Emery Borrow Pit (Jefferson 1991a). Late Wisconsin: China Lake (Jefferson 1991a). Literature. Croxen et al. 2007; Jefferson 1991a.

Grus americana—Whooping Crane The Whooping Crane (Grus americana), once present in the thousands during migration, has been identified at few sites in the fossil record of our region, though specimens from Rancho

La Brea are relatively common. Sites. Late Blancan: 111 Ranch (Cracroft 1968). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Rancho La Brea (Stock and Harris 1992). Literature. Cracroft 1968; Stock and Harris 1992.

Grus canadensis—Sandhill Crane

Synonyms. Grus minor. Sandhill Cranes winter in much of central and southern New Mexico and California where water is available. During migration, they may appear almost anywhere. Fig. 1. Sandhill Crane. Photograph courtesy of the U.S. National Park Service. Sites. Late Blancan/Irvingtonian: Anza-Borrego Desert (Jefferson 2006) Mid/Late Wisconsin: Rancho La Brea (Stock and Harris 1992). Late Wisconsin: Maricopa (Jefferson 1991a). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Burnet Cave (Schultz and Howard 1935). Literature. Jefferson 1991a, 2006; Ligon 1961; Schultz and Howard 1935; Stock and Harris 1992.

†Grus pagei—Page's Crane Sites. The type locality is Pit A of Rancho La Brea. The holotype cranium represents a species of Grus much smaller than G. americana and averaging somewhat smaller than G. canadensis in all of its elements (Campbell 1995). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Rancho La Brea (Campbell 1995). Literature. Campbell 1995.

Last Update: 12 Mar 2014

Main Menu Class Aves Order Gruiformes Family Rallidae

Fulica —Coots // Gallinula sp.—Moorhens // Gallinula chloropus — Common Moorhen // Porzana carolina —Sora // Porphyrio martinicus —Purple Gallinule // Rallus sp.—Rails // Rallus limicola— Virginia Rail

Rallidae—Rails The general requirement of emergent aquatic vegetation for cover limits the areas suitable for these birds to river valleys, ponds, lakes, and any other area of permanent water with suitable plants. Regional forms migrate, which may increase the places where they may be found.

Fulica sp.—American Coots Sites. Rancholabrean: Wilmington Blvd. and San Pedro Road (Jefferson 1991a). Rancholabrean/?Early Holocene: Mitchell Caverns (Jefferson 1991a). Late Wisconsin: China Lake (Jefferson 1991a); U-Bar Cave 18-20 ka (Harris 1989: ?). Literature. Jefferson 1991a.

Fulica americana Gmelin 1789—American Coot Synonyms. Fulica hesterna. Coots are virtually ubiquitous in our area where proper aquatic conditions are found. Fig. 1. American Coots, Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, New Mexico. Photograph by John J. Mosesso, courtesy of the National Biological Information Infrastructure.

Sites. Late Blancan/Irvingtonian: Vallecito Creek, AnzaBorrego Desert (Howard 1963). ?Late

Irvingtonian/Rancholabrean: Emery Borrow Pit (Jefferson 1991a). Irvingtonian/Rancholabrean: Manix Lake (Jefferson 1991a). Rancholabrean: Salt Springs (Jefferson 1991a: cf.). Sangamon: San Pedro Lumber Co. (Jefferson 1991a). Wisconsin: Costeau Pit (Jefferson 1991a); Zuma Creek (Jefferson 1991a). Early/Early-Mid Wisconsin: Rm Vanishing Floor (Harris 1993c). Mid Wisconsin: McKittrick (Jefferson 1991a); Térapa (Steadman and Mead 2010: cf.). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Rancho La Brea (Stock and Harris 1992); Sandblast Cave (Emslie 1988). Mid/Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Jimenez Cave (Messing 1986); Sierra Diablo Cave (UTEP). Mid Wisconsin-Holocene: Shelter Cave (Howard and Miller 1933). Late Wisconsin: Charlies Parlor (Harris 1989); Maricopa (Jefferson 1991a);.

Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Kokoweef Cave (Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991); Newberry Cave (Jefferson 1991a); Pendejo Cave (Harris 2003); Schuiling Cave (Jefferson 1991a); Tule Springs (Mawby 1967); Stanton's Cave (Rea and Hargrave 1984). Literature. Emslie 1988; Harris 1989, 1993c, 2003; Howard 1963; Howard and Miller 1933; Jefferson 1991a; Messing 1986; Rea and Hargrave 1984; Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991; Steadman and Mead 2010; Stock and Harris 1992; Mawby 1967.

Gallinula sp.—Common Moorhens Sites. ?Late Irvingtonian/Rancholabrean: Emery Borrow Pit (Jefferson 1991a). Literature. Jefferson 1991a.

Gallinula chloropus (Linnaeus 1758)—Common Moorhen Sites. Mid Wisconsin: Térapa (Steadman and Mead 2010). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Stanton's Cave (Rea and Hargrave 1984). Literature. Rea and Hargrave 1984; Steadman and Mead 2010.

Porzana carolina (Linnaeus 1758)—Sora The Sora is associated with marsh habitats at all elevations in the region, though most

common historically in the major river valleys (Ligon 1961) Fig. 1. Sora. Illustration after Coues (1903). Sites. Mid Wisconsin: Térapa (Steadman and Mead 2010). cf. gen. et sp.).

Mid/Late Wisconsin: Sandblast Cave (Emslie 1988:

Mid Wisconsin-Holocene: Shelter Cave (Howard and Miller 1933). Literature. Emslie 1988; Howard and Miller 1933; Ligon 1961; Steadman and Mead 2010.

Porphyrio martinicus Linnaeus 1766—American Purple Gallinule Sites. Mid Wisconsin: Térapa (Steadman and Mead 2010). Literature. Steadman and Mead 2010.

Rallus sp.—Rails Sites. Early Irvingtonian: Gypsum Ridge (Wagner and Prothero 2001).

?Late Irvingtonian/Rancholabrean: Emery Borrow Pit (Jefferson 1991a). Literature. Wagner and Prothero 2001; Jefferson 1991a.

Rallus limicola Vieillot 1819—Virginia Rail Sites. Wisconsin: Carpinteria (Guthrie 2009). Mid Wisconsin: McKittrick (Jefferson 1991a). Sites. Guthrie 2009; Jefferson 1991a.

Last Update: 27 May 2014

Main Menu Class Aves Order Charadriiformes—Shorebirds

Burhinidae—Thick-knees // Recurvirostridae —Stilts and Avocets // Haematopodidae—Oyster Catchers // Charadriidae —Plovers // Scolopacidae —Sandpipers and Relatives // Alcidae —Murres and Murrelets // Laridae —Gulls Charadriiformes—Shorebirds

The shorebirds are a large, successful group with a worldwide distribution. Many, as the common name implies, are associated with aquatic habitats though generally not themselves aquatic. Although most of the families are of birds feeding on invertebrates along shorelines or in shallow water, the gulls mostly are fish predators though they also will feed on invertebrates.

Burhinidae—Thick-knees The family is distributed world-wide, but primarily in the tropics. Often arid to semiarid habitats are inhabited, though in such cases usually near water.

Burhinus sp.—Thick-knees Howard's (1971) records of two species of thick-knees from New Mexico (Dark Canyon Cave) are the first recognized fossil occurrences in the United States. The Double-striped Thick-knee (Burhinus bistriatus) inhabits "arid semiopen country, savanna and openings in dry woodland (Tropical Zone) (AOU 1983:164). The nearest approach to our region is southern Mexico.

One specimen (a proximal humerus fragment) is close to B. bistriatus in size, but too fragmentary for sure identification (Howard 1971). Fig. 1. Burhinus bistriatus. Photograph by Philipp Weigell. Published under Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 3.0 Unported. Sites. Mid/Late Wisconsin: Dark Canyon Cave (Howard 1971). Literature. AOU 1983; Howard 1971.

†Burhinus sp. (small, extinct)—Extinct Thick-knee A second species of thick-knee present in Dark Canyon Cave is smaller than B. bistriatus and apparently represents an extinct species (Howard 1971). Measurements by Howard of the specimen (femur) indicated it was 9-14% shorter and 12-17% narrower than in the two specimens of B. bistriatus available. Howard believed it probably was conspecific with a specimen from San Josecito Cave, Nuevo León, México. It is similar in size to the extinct Pleistocene B. nanus Brodkorb from the Bahamas Islands (Howard 1971). Sites. Mid/Late Wisconsin: Dark Canyon Cave (Howard 1971). Literature. Howard 1971.

Main Menu Class Aves Order Charadriiformes Family Recurvirostridae

Recurvirostra americana (Gmelin 1789)—American Avocet Fig. 1.

Fish & Wildlife Service photograph.

American Avocet in breeding plumage. US

Sites. Mid Wisconsin: McKittrick (Jefferson 1991a). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Rancho La Brea (Stock and Harris 1992). Late Wisconsin: Skylight Cave (Emslie 1988). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Schuiling Cave (Jefferson 1991a); Stanton's Cave (Rea and Hargrave 1984). Literature. Emslie 1988; Jefferson 1991a; Rea and Hargrave 1984; Stock and Harris 1992.

Last Update: 20 May 2014

Main Menu Class Aves Order Charadriiformes—Shorebirds

Burhinidae—Thick-knees // Recurvirostridae —Stilts and Avocets // Haematopodidae—Oystercatchers // Charadriidae —Plovers // Scolopacidae —Sandpipers and Relatives // Alcidae —Murres and Murrelets // Laridae —Gulls Haematopus bachmani Audubon 1838—Black Oystercatcher Sites. Mid/Late Wisconsin: San Miguel Island (Guthrie 1998). Literature. Guthrie 1998.

Last Update: 9 Feb 2014

Main Menu Class Aves Order Charadriiformes Family Charadriidae

Charadriidae—Plovers and Relatives

Charadrius sp.—Plovers Sites. Mid/Late Wisconsin: San Miguel Island (Guthrie 1998). Literature. Guthrie 1998.

Charadrius montanus Townsend 1837—Mountain Plover Synonyms.Eupoda montana. According to Ligon (1961:114), the Mountain Plover "adheres strictly to open plain, mesa, or ridge, short-grass terrain, preferably with a gravelly surface." It apparently occurs throughout our region where such habitat is present. Sites. Mid Wisconsin: McKittrick (Jefferson 1991a). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Dark Canyon Cave (Howard 1971). Literature. Howard 1971; Jefferson 1991a; Ligon 1961.

Charadrius semipalmatus (Bonaparte 1825)—Semipalmated Plover Sites.

Mid/Late Wisconsin: Rancho La Brea (Stock and Harris 1992). Literature. Stock and Harris 1992.

Charadrius vociferus Linnaeus 1758—Killdeer

Killdeer occur throughout our area in the vicinity of water, permanent or temporary. Fig. 1. Killdeer. Photograph by Sally King, courtesy of the U.S. National Park Service. Sites. Late Blancan/Irvingtonian: Vallecito Creek, Anza-Borrego Desert (Howard 1963). ?Late Irvingtonian/Rancholabrean: Emery Borrow Pit (Jefferson 1991a). Mid Wisconsin: McKittrick (Jefferson 1991a); Térapa (Steadman and Mead 2010). Mid/Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Jimenez Cave (Messing 1986). Late Wisconsin: Harris' Pocket (Harris 1989)—change to cf. C. vociferus; Maricopa (Jefferson 1991a). Literature. Harris 1989; Howard 1963; Jefferson 1991a; Messing 1986; Steadman and Mead 2010.

Pluvialis squatarola (Linnaeus 1758)—Black-bellied Plover Sites. Mid/Late Wisconsin: Rancho La Brea (Stock and Harris 1992). Literature. Stock and Harris 1992.

Last Update: 17 Jun 2014

Main Menu Class Aves Order Charadriiformes Family Scolopacidae

Actitis sp.—Spotted Sandpipers // Arenaria melanocephala—Black Turnstone // Actitis macularia—Spotted Sandpiper // Calidris alba— Sanderling // Calidris alpina—Dunlin // Calidris canutus—Red Knot // Calidris melanotos—Pectoral Sandpiper // Gallinago delicata— Wilson's Snipe // Gallinago gallinago—Common Snipe // Limnodromus griseus—Short-billed Dowitcher // Limnodromus scolopaceus—Long-billed Dowitcher // Limosa fedoa—Marbled Godwit // Numenius americanus —Long-billed Curlew // Numenius phaeopus—Whimbrel // Phalaropus fulicarius—Red Phalarope // Phalaropus lobatus—Red-necked Phalarope // Tringa melanoleuca— Greater Yellowlegs // Tringa semipalmata—Willet Scolopacidae—Sandpipers, Curlews, and Relatives Most members of the family use their bills to probe mud, sand, or soil for small invertebrates. Differences in overall size and in length of bills generally allow a number of species to coexist. Since most are primarily limited to relatively moist habitats where probing is possible, occurrences in our region tend to be restricted geographically. However, most sites are reasonably close to river valleys, Pleistocene lakes, or terrain with potential for temporary ponding.

Actitis sp.—Spotted Sandpipers Spotted Sandpipers occur throughout the area during migration and winter along shores of rivers and ponds. Sites. Irvingtonian/Rancholabrean: Manix Lake (Jefferson 1991a: cf. gen.). Late Wisconsin: Stalag 17 (Harris 1993c: ? gen.). Literature. Harris 1993c; Jefferson 1991a.

Actitis macularia (Linnaeus 1766)—Spotted Sandpiper Sites. Late Wisconsin: Stanton's Cave (Rea and Hargrave 1984). Literature. Rea and Hargrave 1984.

Arenaria melanocephala (Vigors 1829)—Black Turnstone Sites. Mid/Late Wisconsin: San Miguel Island (Guthrie 1998). Literature. Guthrie 1998.

Calidris alba Pallas 1764—Sanderling Sites. Mid/Late Wisconsin: Rancho La Brea (Stock and Harris 1992); San Miguel Island (Guthrie 1998). Literature. Guthrie 1998; Stock and Harris 1992.

Calidris alpina (Linnaeus 1758)—Dunlin Sites.

Mid Wisconsin: McKittrick (Jefferson 1991a). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Rancho La Brea (Stock and Harris 1992). Late Wisconsin: Maricopa (Jefferson 1991a). Literature. Jefferson 1991a; Stock and Harris 1992.

Calidris canutus (Linnaeus 1758)—Red Knot Sites. Mid/Late Wisconsin: San Miguel Island (Guthrie 1998: cf.). Literature. Guthrie 1998.

Calidris melanotos Vieillot 1819—Pectoral Sandpiper Sites. Late Wisconsin: Stanton's Cave (Rea and Hargrave 1984). Literature. Rea and Hargrave 1984.

Gallinago delicata Ord 1825—Wilson's Snipe Sites. Mid/Late Wisconsin: Rancho La Brea (Stock and Harris 1992).

Literature. Stock and Harris 1992.

Gallinago gallinago (Linnaeus 1758)—Common Snipe Sites. Late Wisconsin: Stanton's Cave (Rea and Hargrave). Literature. Rea and Hargrave 1984.

Last Update: 2 Mar 2014

Main Menu Class Aves Order Charadriiformes Family Scolopacidae

Limnodromus griseus—Short-billed Dowitcher // Limnodromus scolopaceus—Long-billed Dowitcher // Limosa fedoa—Marbled Godwit // Numenius americanus —Long-billed Curlew // Numenius phaeopus—Whimbrel // Phalaropus fulicarius—Red Phalarope // Phalaropus lobatus—Red-necked Phalarope // Tringa melanoleuca— Greater Yellowlegs // Tringa semipalmata—Willet Limnodromus griseus (Gmelin 1789)—Short-billed Dowitcher Sites. Mid Wisconsin: McKittrick (Jefferson 1991a). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Rancho La Brea (Stock and Harris 1992). Literature. Jefferson 1991a; Stock and Harris 1992.

Limnodromus scolopaceus (Say 1823)—Long-billed Dowitcher

This is a winter resident generally distributed in the regional river valleys. Fig. 1. Long-billed Dowitcher.

Photograph courtesy of the U.S. Geological Survey. Sites. Late Wisconsin: Animal Fair 18-20 ka (Harris 1989: cf.). Literature. Harris 1989.

Limosa fedoa (Linnaeus 1758)—Marbled Godwit Sites. Sangamon: San Pedro Lumber Co. (Jefferson 1991a). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Rancho La Brea (Stock and Harris 1992); San Miguel Island (Guthrie 1998). Literature. Guthrie 1998; Jefferson 1991a; Stock and Harris 1992.

Numenius americanus Bechstein 1812—Long-billed Curlew Although this moderately large, long-billed bird occurs mostly north and south of our region, it may be expected anywhere below forested regions during migration. Fig. 1. Long-billed Curlew. Photograph courtesy of the U.S. Geological Survey.

Sites. Mid Wisconsin: McKittrick (Jefferson 1991a). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Rancho La Brea (Stock and Harris 1992). Late Wisconsin: Charlies Parlor (Harris 1989); Harris' Pocket (Harris 1989). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Howell's Ridge Cave (Howard 1962); Stanton's Cave (Rea and Hargrave 1984); Stock and Harris 1992. Literature. Harris 1989; Howard 1962; Jefferson 1991a; Rea and Hargrave 1984.

Numenius phaeopus (Linnaeus, 1758)—Whimbrel Sites. Mid Wisconsin: McKittrick (Jefferson 1991a). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Rancho La Brea (Stock and Harris 1992); San Miguel Island (Guthrie 1998). Literature. Guthrie 1998; Jefferson 1991a; Stock and Harris 1992.

Phalaropus fulicarius (Linnaeus 1758)—Red Phalarope Sites. Mid/Late Wisconsin: Rancho La Brea (Stock and

Harris 1992); San Miguel Island (Guthrie 1998). Late Wisconsin: Stanton's Cave (Rea and Hargrave). Literature. Guthrie 1998; Rea and Hargrave 1984; Stock and Harris 1992.

Phalaropus lobatus (Linnaeus 1758)—Red-necked Phalarope Sites. Late Wisconsin: Skull Cave (Emslie 1988); Stanton's Cave (Rea and Hargrave). Literature. Emslie 1988; Rea and Hargrave 1984.

Tringa sp.—Tringa Species Sites. Sangamon: San Pedro Lumber Co. (Jefferson 1991a). Literature. Jefferson 1991a.

Tringa melanoleuca (Gmelin 1789)—Greater Yellowlegs A bird associated with water and normally present in the area now only during migration. Fig. 1. Greater Yellowlegs at Bosque del Apache, Rio Grande Valley, New Mexico. Photograph by John J. Mosesso, courtesy of the

National Biological Information Infrastructure. Sites. Wisconsin: Carpinteria (Guthrie 2009). Mid Wisconsin: McKittrick

(Jefferson 1991a). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Rancho La Brea (Stock and Harris 1992). Late Wisconsin: Animal Fair 18-20 ka (Harris 1993c). Literature.

Guthrie 2009; Harris 1989; Jefferson 1991a; Stock and Harris 1992.

Tringa semipalmata (Gmelin 1789)—Willet Synonyms. Catoptrophorus semipalmatus. Willets occur in migration throughout the Southwest in association with water. Fig. 1. Willet. Photograph by John J. Mosesso, courtesy of the National Biological Information Infrastructure. Sites. Mid/Late Wisconsin: Animal Fair (Harris 1993c: ? gen. et sp.). Literature. Harris 1989.

Last Update: 9 Feb 2014

Main Menu Class Aves Order Charadriiformes Family Alcidae

Brachyramphus sp.—Murres // Cepphus columba—Pigeon Guillemot // Cerorhinca sp.—Undescribed Auklet // Fratercula cirrhata—Tufted Puffin // Fratercula dowi—Dow's Puffin // Ptychoramphus aleuticus —Cassin's Auklet // Synthliboramphus antiquus —Ancient Murrelet // Synthliboramphus hypoleucus —Guadalupe Murrelet // Uria sp.—Murres // Uria aalge—Common Murre Alcids are sea birds, generally nesting in colonies inaccessible to terrestrial predators.

Brachyramphus sp.—Murres Sites. Rancholabrean: Channel St. between Gaffey St. and Harbor Freeway, San Pedro (Jefferson 1991a). Literature. Jefferson 1991a.

Cepphus columba (Pallas 1811)—Pigeon guillemot Sites. Mid/Late Wisconsin: San Miguel Island (Guthrie 1998). Literature. Guthrie 1998.

Cerorhinca sp.—Undescribed Auklet

Sites. Mid/Late Wisconsin: San Miguel Island (Guthrie 1998). Literature. Guthrie 1998.

Fratercula sp.—Puffins Sites. Mid/Late Wisconsin: West End, San Nicolas Island (Jefferson 1991a). Literature. Jefferson 1991a.

Fratercula cirrhata (Pallas 1769)—Tufted Puffin Fig. 1. Tufted Puffin in breeding plumage. Photograph by Mike Boylan, courtesy of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Sites. Mid/Late Wisconsin: San Miguel Island (Guthrie 1998). Literature. Guthrie 1998.

†Fratercula dowi Guthrie, Thomas, & Kennedy 2000—Dow's Puffin Sites. Mid/Late Wisconsin: San Miguel Island (Guthrie et al. 2000). Literature. Guthrie et al. 2000.

Ptychoramphus aleuticus (Pallas 1811)—Cassin's Auklet Sites. Sangamon: San Pedro Lumber Co. (Jefferson 1991a). Wisconsin: Viscaino Point (Jefferson 1991a). Mid/Late Wisconsin: San Miguel Island (Guthrie 1998). Literature. Guthrie 1998; Jefferson 1991a.

Synthliboramphus antiquus (Gmelin 1789)—Ancient Murrelet Sites. Rancholabrean: San Pedro Lumber Yard (Jefferson 1991a). Sangamon: San Pedro Lumber Co. (Jefferson 1991a). Wisconsin: Zuma Creek (Jefferson 1991a). Mid/Late Wisconsin: San Miguel Island (Guthrie 1998). Literature. Guthrie 1998; Jefferson 1991a.

Synthliboramphus craveri (Salvadori 1865)—Craveri's Murrelet

Sites. Wisconsin: Viscaino Point (Jefferson 1991a). Literature. Jefferson 1991a.

(Salvadori, 1865)

Synthliboramphus hypoleucus (Xantus 1859)—Guadalupe Murrelet Sites. Mid/Late Wisconsin: San Miguel Island (Guthrie 1998). Literature. Guthrie 1998.

Uria sp.—Murres Sites. Early Irvingtonian: Gypsum Ridge (Wagner and Prothero 2001). Literature. Wagner and Prothero 2001.

Uria aalge (Pontoppidan 1763)—Common Murre Sites. Sangamon: Lincoln Ave (Howard 1936). Wisconsin: Zuma Creek (Jefferson 1991a).

Literature. Howard 1936.

Last Update: 17 Jun 2014

Main Menu Class Aves Order Charadriiformes Family Laridae

Chroicocephalus philadelphia —Bonaparte's Gull // Larus sp.—Gulls // Larus californicus—California Gull // Larus canus/delawarenesis—Mew Gull/Ring-billed Gull // Larus canus— Mew Gull // Larus glaucescens—Glaucous-winged Gull // Larus occidentalis —Western Gull // Larus oregonus—Oregon Gull // Leucophaeus pipixcan—Franklin's Gull // Rissa tridactyla—Blacklegged Kittiwake

Laridae—Gulls Although many people think of gulls as being limited to marine habitats, a number of species regularly occur inland, also. Inland, they generally are associated with the larger bodies of water and likely are more common since the construction of reservoirs. Fig. 1. Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis), one of the gulls that currently enters our region and, according to Ligon (1961), the most common of the various species that do so. Literature. Ligon 1961.

Laridae sp.—Gulls Sites. Mid/Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Jimenez Cave (Messing 1986).

Larus sp.

Mid Wisconsin-Holocene: Shelter Cave (Howard and Miller 1933). Larus sp.

Literature. Howard and Miller 1933; Messing 1986.

Chroicocephalus philadelphia (Ord 1815)—Bonaparte's Gull Sites. Mid/Late Wisconsin: San Miguel Island (Guthrie 1998). Literature. Guthrie 1998.

Larus sp. (large)—Large Gull Sites. Mid/Late Wisconsin: San Miguel Island (Guthrie 1998). Literature. Guthrie 1998.

Larus californicus (Lawrence 1854)—California Gull Sites.

Mid/Late Wisconsin: San Miguel Island (Guthrie 1998). Literature. Guthrie 1998.

Larus canus/delawarensis —Mew Gull (cf.) or Ring-billed Gull Sites. Mid/Late Wisconsin: San Miguel Island (Guthrie 1998). Literature. Guthrie 1998.

Larus canus Linnaeus 1758—Mew Gull Sites. Wisconsin: Zuma Creek (Jefferson 1991a). Late Wisconsin: Maricopa (Jefferson 1991a). Literature. Jefferson 1991a.

Larus glaucescens Naumann 1840—Glaucous-winged Gull Sites.

Rancholabrean: San Pedro Lumber Yard (Jefferson 1991a). Sangamon: San Pedro Lumber Co. (Jefferson 1991a). Literature. Jefferson 1991a.

Larus occidentalis (Audubon 1839)—Western Gull Sites. Wisconsin: Zuma Creek (Jefferson 1991a). Literature. Jefferson 1991a.

†Larus oregonus Shufeldt 1892—Oregon Gull Sites. Irvingtonian/Rancholabrean: Manix Lake (Jefferson 1991a: cf.). Literature. Jefferson 1991a.

Leucophaeus pipixcan (Wagler 1831)—Franklin's Gull Sites.

Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Stanton's Cave (Rea and Hargrave 1984). Literature. Rea and Hargrave 1984.

Rissa tridactyla (Linnaeus 1758)—Black-legged Kittiwake Sites. Mid/Late Wisconsin: San Miguel Island (Guthrie 1998). Literature. Guthrie 1998.

Last Update: 2 Mar 2014

Main Menu Class Aves Order Columbiformes Family Columbidae

Ectopistes migratorius—Passenger Pigeon // Patagioenas fasciata — Band-tailed Pigeon // Patagioenas micula—Curtis Dove // Zenaida

sp.—Zenaida Doves // Zenaida macroura—Mourning Dove Columbiformes—Pigeons and Doves The family is distributed worldwide, with half a dozen or so species in our region (including the introduced Rock Pigeon so common around towns and cities). Most habitats in our region support one or more species.

†Ectopistes migratorius (Linnaeus 1766)—Passenger Pigeon The

Passenger Pigeon became extinct early in the last century. It was primarily an eastern species dependent largely on mast for food, but has been reported as fossil as far west as the West Coast. There are Holocene records from Picuris and Una Vida archaeological sites in northern and northwestern New Mexico. Fig. 1. Passenger Pigeon (Coues 1903). Sites. Wisconsin: Glen Abbey, Bonita (Majors 1993). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Dark Canyon Cave (Howard 1971); Rancho La Brea (Stock and Harris 1992). Late Wisconsin: Sandia Cave (Brasso and Emslie 2006: Cf. gen. et sp.).

Literature. Brasso and Emslie 2006; Coues 1903; Howard 1971; Majors 1993; Stock and Harris 1992.

†Patagioenas fasciata (Say 1823)—Band-tailed Pigeon Sites. ?Late Irvingtonian/Rancholabrean: Emery Borrow Pit (Jefferson 1991a). Wisconsin: Carpinteria (Guthrie 2009). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Rancho La Brea (Stock and Harris 1992). Literature. Guthrie 2009; Jefferson 1991a; Stock and Harris 1992.

†Patagioenas micula Stirton 1931—Curtis Dove Synonyms. Chloroenas micula, Columba micula. A small member of the genus Patagioenas. Sites. Late Blancan: Curtis Ranch (Wetmore 1924). Literature. Wetmore 1934.

Zenaida sp.—Zenaida Doves Synonyms. Zenaidura Two species occur in our region: the Whitewinged Dove (Zenaida asiatica) and the Mourning Dove (Z. macroura). The former is primarily a species of lower elevations in southern and eastern New Mexico, in the TransPecos, and in southern and western Arizona. The latter is ubiquitous. Sites. Early/Early-Mid Wisconsin: Sabertooth Camel Maze (Harris 1993c: cf.).

Literature. Harris 1993c.

Zenaida macroura—Mourning Dove Synonyms. Zenaidura macroura This species is widespread in North America at present and inhabits our area year around. It is a common dove of the lowlands and may occur up to 13,000 ft. in summer. Fig. 1. Mourning Dove. Photograph by Trisha Shears. Sites. Rancholabrean: Helendale (Jefferson 1991a). Wisconsin: Carpinteria (Guthrie 2009). Early/Early-Mid Wisconsin: Rm Vanishing Floor (Harris 1993c). Mid Wisconsin: McKittrick (Jefferson 1991a); Pendejo Cave (Harris 2003); U-Bar Cave (Harris 1987). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Dark Canyon Cave (Howard 1971); Hampton Court (Harris 1993c); Rancho La Brea (Stock and Harris 1992); Sandblast Cave (Emslie 1988). Mid Wisconsin-Holocene: Shelter Cave (Howard and Miller 1933). Late Wisconsin: Sandia Cave (Brasso and Emslie 2006); Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Deadman Cave (Mead et al. 1984: cf.); Howell's Ridge Cave (Harris 1993c); Schuiling Cave (Jefferson 1991a); Stanton's Cave (Rea and Hargrave 1984). Literature. Brasso and Emslie 2006; Emslie 1988; Guthrie 2009; Harris 1987, 1993c, 2003; Howard 1971; Howard and Miller 1933; Jefferson 1991a; Mead et al. 1984; Rea and Hargrave 1984; Stock and Harris 1992.

Main Menu Class Aves Order Cuculiformes Family Cuculidae

Geococcyx californianus californianus —Greater Roadrunner // Geococcyx californianus conklingi—Conkling's Roadrunner Cuculiformes—Cuckoos The Cuculidae includes the cuckoos and the roadrunners; only the latter has been identified within our region, although represented by two chronologic subspecies.

Geococcyx californianus (Lesson)—Greater Roadrunner This species, widespread in the Southwest, occurs as fossils in Arizona, California, and New Mexico. The Late Pleistocene Californian specimens appear to be similar to modern G. californianus (Larson 1930), but Late Pleistocene specimens from Conkling Cave in southern New Mexico were described as a largersized species, G. conklingi (Howard 1931a). Harris and Crews (1983), however, found the early-Wisconsin or mid-Wisconsin roadrunner from Dry Cave to represent G. californianus of modern size. They hypothesized that cool summers allowed an increase in body mass to better withstand low winter temperatures, but that during times of hot summers, the benefit of lessened body mass for summer temperature control outweighed the effects of winter temperature. Thus inland populations were selected for larger size during the late Wisconsin conditions of cool summers and winters, but were selected for smaller size similar to the present populations during times with hot summers. Thus the two taxa were considered to represent chronologic subspecies. Fig. 1. Greater Roadrunner. Photograph by Jim Rorabaugh, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Literature. Harris 2003; Harris and Crews 1983; Howard 1931a; Larson 1930.

Geococcyx californianus californianus (Lesson)—California Roadrunner Roadrunners from California are assumed here to be of this subspecies. Conkling 1932) reported G. californianus from Conkling Cavern, but presumably this is based on material later described as G. conklingi by Howard (1931a). Shelter Cave includes both subspecies of roadrunner, but this subspecies apparently is represented only by Holocene material at that site (Howard 1931a). The sole specimen from Pendejo Cave identified as this subspecies is from Zone O (>55,000 BP). Other specimens from the Mid Wisconsin appear to represent B. c. conklingi. The specimen from Sierra Diablo Cave almost certainly is Holocene and is not mapped. Sites. Rancholabrean: Cool Water Coal Gasification Solid Waste Site (Jefferson 1991a). Rancholabrean/?Early Holocene: Mitchell Caverns (Jefferson 1991a). Wisconsin: Carpinteria (Guthrie 2009). Early/Early-Mid Wisconsin: Rm Vanishing Floor (Harris and Crews 1983). Mid Wisconsin: McKittrick (Jefferson 1991a); Pendejo Cave (Harris 2003). Mid/Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Jimenez Cave (Messing 1986); Rancho La Brea (Stock and Harris 1992); Sierra Diablo Cave (UTEP). Late Wisconsin: Maricopa (Jefferson 1991a). Holocene: Shelter Cave (Howard 1931a). Literature. Conkling 1932; Guthrie 2009; Harris 2003; Harris and Crews 1983; Howard 1931a; Jefferson 1991a; Messing 1986; Stock and Harris 1992.

†Geococcyx californianus conklingi Howard 1931—Conkling's Greater Roadrunner Synonyms. Geococcyx conklingi. Conkling Cavern, Doña Ana Co., NM, is the type locality (Howard 1931a). Howard stated that there were seven bones taken at different levels

and parts of the cave. She also mentioned Geococcyx bones from Shelter Cave excavated in 1930 that include bones even larger than those from Conkling Cavern as well as some elements comparable to modern roadrunner bones. She noted that some of the bones from

Roadrunner (UTEP 2416). Metric scale.

Shelter Cave are definitely modern and some others that might be younger than the large form. Fig. 1. Distal threequarters of fossil Conkling's Roadrunner humerus (bottom; UBar Cave, 5689-1-177) compared with modern Greater

Howard (1931a) named cotypes: Distal end of humerus Los Angeles Museum No. 118, 32-35 foot level; femur, no. 113, 29-32 foot level; ulna shaft, no. 119, 35-38 foot level. Referred material included shafts of two femurs, no. 114 and 115, 35-38 and 23-26 foot level; humeral shaft, no. 117, 35 foot level; distal tibiotarsus, no. 116, 23-26 foot level. Element

Measurements of Cotypes (Howard 1931a)

Humerus no. 118

Breadth and depth distal end 11.2 mm and 5.8 mm; breadth and depth shaft immediately proximal to ectepicondylar prominence, 7.1 mm and 3.7 mm.

Femur 113

Head to internal condyle length 57.5 mm; least breadth shaft 5.0 mm; depth at same point, 4.7 mm; breadth and depth of distal end, 11.4 mm and 10.7 mm.

Shaft of ulna

Breadth and depth measured between third and fourth papillae from distal end 4.1 mm and 2.6 mm.

Aside from the size differences, Howard (1931a) noted (and illustrated) that the

ectepicondylar prominence forms a more acute angle with the shaft of the humerus in G. conklingi compared to G. californianus. Fig. 2. Distal tibiotarsus of a fossil Conkling's Roadrunner (U-Bar Cave, 5689-1-133) compared to the distal end of a modern Greater Roadrunner tibiotarsus (UTEP 1463). Millimeter scale. Rea (1980) (with Rob McKenzie) reexamined and compared with the type series a proximal end of a tibiotarsus from Pratt Cave that Hargrave had identified as Geococcyx conklingi and concluded that it does appear to be that taxon. He also noted that it is slightly larger and the characters are somewhat different. Harris and Crews (1983) indicated that a specimen from the Khulo Site likely is a member of this subspecies. The specimen likely is early Holocene, suggesting that the larger form lasted through the cooler post-Pleistocene. Sites. Mid Wisconsin: Kartchner Cave (Carpenter and Mead 2003); Pendejo Cave (Harris 2003); U-Bar Cave (Harris 1987). Mid Wisconsin-Holocene: Shelter Cave (Howard 1931a); U-Bar Cave (UTEP). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Dark Canyon Cave (Howard 1971). Mid/Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Sierra Diablo Cave (UTEP). Late Wisconsin: U-Bar Cave 14-15 ka (Harris 1989); U-Bar Cave 15-18 ka (Harris 1989). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Conkling Cavern (Howard 1931a; Howard and Miller 1933); Pratt Cave (Rea 1980). Holocene: Khulo Site (Harris and Crews 1983: cf.). Literature. Carpenter and Mead 2003; Harris 1987, 1989, 2003; Harris and Crews 1983; Howard 1931a, 1971; Howard and Miller 1933; Rea 1980.

Main Menu Class Aves Order Strigiformes

Tytonidae —Barn Owl // Strigidae —Typical Owls Order Strigiformes—Owls Most owls are nocturnal predators. There is a vast variety of taxa, and most regions support a number of species differing in size or habits. From the point of view of the paleontologist, owls are best friends because owls normally regurgitate the hair or feathers and bones of their prey. The bones normally have little damage from being subjected to digestive juices, and often anterior skulls, dentition, and lower jaws survive nicely. The result, coupled with the common use of caves as roosts, is that owls are a major source of cave microfossils. (Open sites also may owe their small faunal elements to owls roosting in trees above drainageways.) Both prey preferences and the sizes of the various species of owls tend to bias the deposited assemblage, however. As with other predators, especially birds, several habitats may be represented in the deposited fauna as the hunters range up to several miles from the roost. Owls are successful as nocturnal predators in part because of eyes adapted to low levels of light, excellent hearing that is able to pinpoint vertical and horizontal distance of prey by the slight sounds of prey foraging, and feathers adapted to silent flight.

Tyto alba—Common Barn-owl The Common Barn-owl occurs pretty much throughout our region, though apparently in relatively low density. Its diet consists largely of mouse and rat-sized rodents along with arthropods (Ligon 1961). Fig. 1. Common Barn-owl. Photograph by C. F. Zeillemaker, courtesy of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Fig. 2. Fossil right tarsometatarsus of Tyto alba from the Human Corridor site, Dry Cave (UTEP 31-14). Posterior (top) and anterior views. Metric scale.

Fig. 3. Proximal and distal end views of Common Barnowl tarsometatarsus, UTEP 31-14. Sites. ?Late Irvingtonian/Rancholabrean: Emery Borrow Pit

(Jefferson 1991a). Wisconsin: Carpinteria (Guthrie 2009). Mid Wisconsin: McKittrick (Jefferson 1991a); Pendejo Cave (UTEP). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Dark Canyon Cave (Howard 1971); Rancho La Brea (Stock and Harris 1992); San Miguel Island (Guthrie 1998). Mid Wisconsin-Holocene: Shelter Cave (Howard and Miller 1933). Late Wisconsin: Human Corridor (Harris 1993c); Maricopa (Jefferson 1991a). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Conkling Cavern (Conkling 1932); Howell's Ridge Cave (Howard 1962). Literature. Conkling 1932; Guthrie 1998, 2009; Harris 1993c; Howard 1962, 1971; Howard and Miller 1933; Jefferson 1991a; Ligon 1961; Stock and Harris 1992.

Last Update: 10 Feb 2014

Main Menu Class Aves Order Strigiformes Family Strigidae

Aegolius—Saw-whet and Boreal Owls // Asio —Eared Owls // Asphaltoglaux cecileae —Asphalt Miniature Owl // Athene cunicularia —Burrowing Owl // Bubo virginianus—Great Horned Owl // Glaucidium—Pygmy Owls // Micrathene whitneyi —Elf Owl // Megascopes —Scops Owls // Oraristrix brea—Tar-pit Owl // Psiloscops flammeolus—Flammulated Screech Owl // Strix —Spotted Owls

Strigidae—Typical Owls Most owls are assigned to this family despite the size differences, varying from the tiny Elf Owl to the Great Horned Owl. In a general way, prey size varies with size of the owl, but prey also may vary with hunting habits; an owl that hunts primarily over grassland has a different selection of prey items than one cruising forest or brushland.

Last Update: 8 Dec 2013

Main Menu Class Aves Order Strigiformes Family Strigidae

Aegolius acadicus (Gmelin 1798)—Northern Saw-whet Owl This small owl is widely distributed in our region in the higher mountains and in the major river valleys. A record at Las Cruces (Ligon 1961) places it close to the fossil occurrence at Shelter Cave. Campbell and Bochenski (2013) recorded presence at Carpinteria, but it is unclear whether they attributed the record to Brodkorb (1971), which does not record it from Carpinteria, or as a matter of their knowledge. Sites. Mid/Late Wisconsin: Rancho La Brea (Stock and Harris 1992). Mid Wisconsin-Holocene: Shelter Cave (Howard and Miller 1933). Late Wisconsin: Carpinteria Campbell and Bochenski 2013; (Sandia Cave (Brasso and Emslie 2006: cf.). Literature. Brasso and Emslie 2006; Campbell and Bocheński 2013; Howard and Miller 1933; Ligon 1961; Stock and Harris 1992.

Aegolius funereus (Linnaeus 1758)—Boreal Owl Synonyms. Cryptoglaux funerea.

Fig. 1. Boreal Owl, Denali National Park. Photograph by Daniel A. Leifheit,

courtesy of the US National Park Service.

2000).

The current distribution of this owl is northern North America, with a disjunct population reaching as far south as southern Colorado in the Southern Rockies. To the west, populations occur in Oregon, Idaho, and northwestern Wyoming, thence northward (Sibley

Howard (1931b) reported a rostrum and tarsometatarsus from Shelter Cave under the name Cryptoglaux funerea. She noted that the elements resemble C. f. richardsoni in all respects, but refrained from assigning it to a subspecies. The elements were recovered from light colored, fine textured, unconsolidated sediments and were associated with Geococcyx conklingi (= G. californianus conklingi). Sites. Mid Wisconsin-Holocene: Shelter Cave (Howard 1931b). Literature. Howard 1931b; Sibley 2000.

Last Update: 19 Jun 2014

Main Menu Class Aves Order Strigiformes Family Strigidae

Asio flammeus —Short-eared Owl // Asio otus —Long-eared Owl // Asio priscus —Ancient Owl

†Asio sp.—Eared Owls Extinct species. Sites. Late Blancan/Irvingtonian: Vallecito Creek, Anza-Borrego Desert (Howard 1963). Literature. Howard 1963.

Asio sp.—Eared Owls The U-Bar Cave questioned identification is based on a partial proximal portion of a femur. Sites. Late Wisconsin: U-Bar Cave (Harris 1993c: ? Gen. et sp.) Literature. Harris 1993c.

Asio flammeus (Pontoppidan 1763)—Short-eared Owl The

Short-eared Owl occurs throughout the area in winter and primarily is a grassland bird active during the day (Ligon 1961). Fig. 1. Asio flammeus. Photograph courtesy of the U.S. National Park Service. Sites. Medial Irvingtonian: SAM Cave (Rogers et al. 2000: cf.). Pendejo Cave (Harris 2003).

Mid Wisconsin: McKittrick (Jefferson 1991a);

Mid/Late Wisconsin: Dark Canyon Cave (Harris 1993c: ?); Diamond Valley (Springer et al. 2009: ? gen.); Rancho La Brea (Stock and Harris 1992). Late Wisconsin: Animal Fair 18-24 ka (Harris 1989); Camel Room (Harris 1993c: cf.); Charlies Parlor (Harris 1989: cf.); TT II (Harris 1993c). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Burnet Cave (Wetmore 1932); Balcony Room (Harris 1993c); Isleta Cave No. 1 (Harris 1993c: ? gen. et sp.); Sandia Cave (Brasso and Emslie 2006). Literature. Brasso and Emslie 20006; Harris 1989, 1993c, 2003; Jefferson 1991a; Ligon 1961; Rogers et al. 2000; Springer et al. 2009; Stock and Harris 1992; Wetmore 1932.

Asio otus (Linnaeus 1758)—Long-eared Owl

The Long-eared Owl is present in the region in number during the winter, sparsely nesting in the region. This owl frequents brush and forest (Ligon 1961). Fig. 1. Long-eared Owl. Image after Coues (1903). Sites. Wisconsin: Carpinteria (Guthrie 2009). Late Wisconsin: Maricopa (Jefferson 1991a); Sandia Cave (Brasso and Emslie 2006: cf.). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Conkling Cavern (Howard and Miller 1933: ?); Deadman Cave (Mead et al. 1984); Howell's Ridge Cave (Howard 1962). Literature: Brasso and Emslie 2006; Guthrie 2009; Howard 1962; Howard and Miller 1933; Jefferson 1991a; Mead et al. 1984.

Asio priscus Howard 1964—Ancient Owl Sites. Mid/late Wisconsin: San Miguel Island (Campbell 2013); Arlington Canyon, Santa Rosa Island (Howard 1964). Literature: Campbell 2013; Howard 1964.

Main Menu Class Aves Order Strigiformes Family Strigidae

†Asphaltoglaux cecileae—Asphalt Miniature Owl The holotype is a tarsometatarsus, and the type locality is Pit 36, Rancho La Brea. Sites. Mid/Late Wisconsin: Rancho La Brea (Campbell and Bocheński 2013). Literature. Campbell and Bocheński 2013.

Last Update: 19 Jun 2014

Main Menu Class Aves Order Strigiformes Family Strigidae

Athene sp.—Burrowing Owls Wisconsin: Costeau Pit (Jefferson 1991a). Literature. Jefferson 1991a.

Athene cunicularia—Burrowing Owl Synonyms. Speotyto cunicularia. These owls are active day and night. Their distribution is throughout the area where open habitat is found. Apparently numbers have dropped since prairie dog populations have been decimated by poisoning; abandoned prairie dog burrows seem to have been widely utilized for shelter and reproduction (Ligon 1961). Fig. 1. Burrowing Owl. Photograph courtesy of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Fig. 2. Left and third from left: anterior and posterior views of the tarsometatarsus of a modern Burrowing Owl (UTEP 1286 from El Paso). Second from left and right, same views of UTEP 23-61 from Stalag 17, Dry Cave. The tendinal bridge (anterior near dorsal end) has been broken from the modern bone and both ends of the fossil specimen are slightly damaged. Metric scale. Sites. Mid Wisconsin: McKittrick (Jefferson 1991a). Mid Wisconsin-Holocene: Shelter Cave (Howard and Miller 1933). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Dark Canyon Cave (Howard 1971); Rancho La Brea (Stock and Harris 1992). Mid/Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Jimenez Cave (Messing 1986); San Miguel Island (Guthrie 1998). Late Wisconsin: Maricopa (Jefferson 1991a); Stalag 17 (Harris 1993c); U-Bar Cave (Harris 1993c). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Conkling Cavern (Howard and Miller 1933). Literature. Guthrie 1998; Harris 1993c; Howard 1971; Howard and Miller 1933; Jefferson 1991a; Messing 1986; Stock and Harris 1992.

Main Menu Class Aves Order Strigiformes Family Strigidae

Bubo sp.—Horned Owls Sites. Rancholabrean: Tule Springs (Springer et al. 2005). Irvingtonian: El Golfo (Croxen et al. 2007). Literature. Croxen et al. 2007; Springer et al. 2005.

Bubo virginianus—Great Horned Owl

This is a large owl widespread at present throughout the region from low desert to highest mountains. It is quite capable of taking rabbit sized prey as well as large rodents. Fig. 1. Great Horned Owl within U-Bar Cave, 1985. The normally black pupils are reflecting the camera's flash. Photo by Arthur H. Harris. The tentative identification of Strix brea (Harris 1993c, Hurley 1972) from the Dry Cave site, Room of the Vanishing Floor, has been re-

identified as this species with the finding of the missing portion of the specimen. Sites. Irvingtonian/Rancholabrean: Manix Lake (Jefferson 1991a). Rancholabrean: Lake San Agustín (Morgan and Lucas 2005). Rancholabrean/?Early Holocene: Mitchell Caverns (Jefferson 1991a). Wisconsin: Carpinteria (Guthrie 2009). Early/Early-Mid Wisconsin: Lost Valley (Harris 1993c); Rm Vanishing Floor (Harris 1993c). Mid Wisconsin: McKittrick (Jefferson 1991a); Pendejo Cave (Harris 2003). Mid/Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Jimenez Cave (Messing 1986); Sierra Diablo Cave (UTEP) (cf.). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Dark Canyon Cave (Howard 1971); NW Talus Slope (Harris 1993c); Rancho La Brea (Stock and Harris 1992). Mid Wisconsin-Holocene: Shelter Cave (Howard and Miller 1933). Late Wisconsin: Charlies Parlor (Harris 1989); Circus Route (Harris 1993c); Harris' Pocket (Harris 1989: cf.); Maricopa (Jefferson 1991a); Sandia Cave (Brasso and Emslie 2006); Stanton's Cave (Rea and Hargrave 1984). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Burnet Cave (Wetmore 1932); Howell's Ridge Cave (Harris 1993c); Newberry Cave (Jefferson 1991a); Pendejo Cave (Harris 2003); Schuiling Cave (Jefferson 1991a).

Literature. Brasso and Emslie 2006; Coues 1903; Guthrie 2009; Harris 1989, 1993c, 2003; Howard 1971; Howard and Miller 1933; Hurley 1972; Jefferson 1991a; Messing 1986; Morgan and Lucas 2005; Rea and Hargrave 1984; Stock and Harris 1992; Wetmore 1932.

Last Update: 18 Jun 2014

Main Menu Class Aves Order Strigiformes Family Strigidae

Glaucidium gnoma—Northern Pygmy Owl // Glaucidium kurochkini— Kurochkin's Pygmy Owl

Glaucidium gnoma (Wagler 1832)—Northern Pygmy Owl This extremely small owl occurs throughout the region, though generally in Ponderosa Pine forest or, lower down, in cottonwood or oak (Ligon 1961). Sites. Wisconsin: Carpinteria (Guthrie 2009). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Rancho La Brea (Stock and Harris 1992). Late Wisconsin: Sandia Cave (Brasso and Emslie 2006: cf.).

Literature. Brasso and Emslie 2006; Guthrie 2009; Ligon 1961; Stock and Harris 1992.

†Glaucidium kurochkini (Campbell and Bocheński 2013)—Kurochkin's Pygmy Owl Sites. Wisconsin: Carpinteria (Campbell and Bocheński 2013). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Rancho La Brea (Stock and Harris 1992). Literature. Campbell and Bocheński 2013.

Last Update: 19 Jun 2014

Main Menu Class Aves Order Strigiformes Family Strigidae

Micrathene whitneyi (Cooper 1861)—Elf Owl Currently, this minute owl enters our region in the Trans-Pecos and in southwestern New Mexico and west into Arizona. Sandia Cave apparently is far out of both its current range and its most common habitat (Ligon 1961). Images can be seen on The Owl Pages (accessed 8 Dec 2012). Sites. Late Wisconsin: Picacho Peak (Van Devender et al. 1991); Sandia Cave (Brasso and Emslie 2006). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Deadman Cave (Mead et al. 1984). Literature. Brasso and Emslie 2006; Ligon 1961; Mead et al. 1984; Van Devender et al. 1991.

Last Update: 7 Feb 2013

Main Menu Class Aves Order Strigiformes Family Strigidae

Megascops kennicottii—Western Screech-Owl Synonyms. Otus asio, Otus kennicotti. Fig. 1. Western Screech Owl. US Fish & Wildlife photograph by Gary M. Stolz. Several records of screech owls were given before the splitting of eastern and western forms, but are within the geographic range currently occupied by the western species. The assumption made here is that they all are Megascops kennicotti, however the reader should be aware that those along the eastern

portion of that species range (especially in New Mexico) could be of the eastern species. Sites. Wisconsin: Carpinteria (Guthrie 2009). Early/Early-Mid Wisconsin: Rm Vanishing Floor (Harris 1993c: cf. gen. et sp.). Mid Wisconsin: McKittrick (Jefferson 1991a).

Brea (Stock and Harris 1992).

Mid/Late Wisconsin: Rancho La

Mid Wisconsin-Holocene: Shelter Cave (Howard and Miller 1933). Late Wisconsin: Animal Fair (Harris 1993c: ? gen.); Maricopa (Jefferson 1991a); UBar Cave 13-14 ka (Harris 1989: cf.); U-Bar Cave 14-15 ka (Harris 1989: cf.); U-Bar Cave 15-18 ka (Harris 1989: cf.). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Deadman Cave (Mead et al. 1984); Kokoweef Cave (Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991: cf.); Schuiling Cave (Jefferson 1991a); Stanton's Cave (Rea and Hargrave 1984).

Literature. Guthrie 2009; Harris 1989, 1993c; Howard and Miller 1933; Jefferson 1991a; Mead et al. 1984; Rea and Hargrave 1984; Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991; Stock and Harris 1992.

Last Update: 19 Jun 2014

Main Menu Class Aves Order Strigiformes Family Strigidae

†Oraristrix brea (Howard 1933)—Brea Owl Synonyms. Strix brea (Howard 1933). This species was described from Rancho La Brea (Howard 1933). Presence in Dry Cave, NM, was reported tentatively by Hurley (1972). However, the proximal portion of the specimen has since been recognized, and the specimen represents Bubo virginianus. The species was placed in a new genus by Campbell and Bocheński (2010) and interpreted as being more terrestrial than forest owls. They also investigated the record from La Brisca and determined that it did not represent this taxon. Sites. Rancholabrean: Sierra El Rosario (White et al. 2010). Sangamon: La Brisca (Van Devender et al. 1985). Withdrawn. Wisconsin: Carpinteria (Campbell and Bocheński 2010). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Rancho La Brea (Campbell and Bocheński 2010). Mid Wisconsin: Térapa (Steadman and Mead 2010). Literature. Campbell and Bocheński 2010; Guthrie 2009; Howard 1933; Hurley 1972; Steadman and Mead 2010; Van Devender et al. 1985.

Last Update: 27 Dec 2013

Main Menu Class Aves Order Strigiformes Family Strigidae

Psiloscops flammeolus (Kaup 1853)—Flammulated Screech Owl Synonyms. Otus flammeolus. Otus recently was split into Old and New World scops-owls, with most of the taxa earlier recognized as Otus reverting to the earliernamed Megascops. Otus flammeolus, however, was tentatively retained in Otus until further research could clarify its relationships. With new research, this species was recognized as the sister genus of Megascops, and the current name is Psiloscops flammeolus (Chesser et al. 2013). This small owl is distributed throughout the region in forested areas (Ligon 1961). Sites. Mid Wisconsin: Pendejo Cave (Harris 2003: ? gen. et sp.)

Literature. Chesser et al. 2013; Harris 2003; Ligon 1961.

Last Update: 19 Jun 2014

Main Menu Class Aves Order Strigiformes Family Strigidae

Strix occidentalis Xantus de Vesey 1860—Spotted Owl This is a large owl of high, forested

mountains. In such habitat, it occurs throughout our region. It has been observed in the Animas Mountains (Ligon 1961), not far from the one tentative fossil record. Fig. 1. Mexican Spotted Owl. Photograph courtesy of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Sites. Mid Wisconsin: U-Bar Cave (Harris 1987: cf.). Literature. Harris 1987.

Last Update: 3 Dec 2013

Main Menu Class Aves Order Caprimulgiformes Family Caprimulgidae

Caprimulgidae—Nightjars Also known as goatsuckers, the caprimulgids include the various nighthawks, poorwills, and Whip-poor-will. These are all insectivorous, feeding on the wing.

Chordeiles minor J. R. Forster 1771—Common Nighthawk Sites. Mid/Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Jimenez Cave (Messing 1986). Literature. Messing 1986.

Phalaenoptilus nuttallii Audubon 1844—Common Poorwill The Poorwill is primarily an animal of the valleys and foothills, and it occurs throughout the region, although mostly avoiding flat, open country (Ligon 1961). Sites. Wisconsin: Carpinteria (Guthrie 2009). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Dark Canyon Cave (Howard 1971); Rancho La Brea (Stock and Harris 1992).

Literature. Guthrie 2009; Howard 1971; Ligon 1961; Stock and Harris 1992.

Main Menu Class Aves Order Apodiformes Family Apodidae

Aeronautes saxatilis—White-throated Swift These fast-flying insectivorous birds are common in our region from about 5,000 ft to timberline (Ligon 1961). Sites. Mid/Late Wisconsin: Sandblast Cave (Emslie 1988). Mid Wisconsin-Holocene: Shelter Cave (Howard and Miller 1933). Late Wisconsin: Picacho Peak (Van Devender et al. 1991).

Literature. Emslie 1988; Howard and Miller 1933; Ligon 1961; Van Devender et al. 1991.

Last Update: 14 Feb 2013

Main Menu Class Aves Order Piciformes Family Picidae

Colaptes auratus—Northern Flicker // Dryocopus pileatus—Pileated Woodpecker // Melanerpes formicivorus —Acorn Woodpecker // Melanerpes lewis—Lewis's Woodpecker // Picoides sp.—Picoides Woodpeckers // Picoides villosus—Hairy Woodpecker // Sphyrapicus sp.—Sapsuckers

Picidae—Woodpeckers Although woodpeckers are traditionally thought of as birds that drill into wood in search of wood-boring larvae, the flickers spend much time on the ground feeding on ants, the Acorn Woodpecker gathers and stores large numbers of acorns, and Lewis' Woodpecker will take insects in flight. The sapsuckers get some of their sustenance from sap, though much of the diet is from insects, many of which are attracted to the sap flowing from the drilling activity of the bird.

Colaptes sp.—Flickers Sites. Rancholabrean: Cool Water Coal Gasification Solid Waste Site (Jefferson 1991a). Mid/Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Jimenez Cave (Messing 1986). Literature. Jefferson 1991a; Messing 1986.

Colaptes auratus (Linnaeus 1758)—Northern Flicker Synonyms. Colaptes cafer. Formerly, western and eastern forms were considered separate species and were mostly geographically isolated from one another. However, with suitable habitat added with European colonization of the Great Plains, the

eastern form spread westward. On meeting the western populations, interbreeding became so extensive as to persuade taxonomists that the two form a single species. Fig. 1. Northern Flicker. National Park Service photograph by Will Elder. Flickers are rather large woodpeckers that frequently land on the ground to harvest ants. Although widespread throughout the continent, the relatively large number of records from the Pleistocene is somewhat surprising. Possibly the ground-feeding habit makes them more vulnerable to predation than is the case for other woodpeckers Sites. Wisconsin: Carpinteria (Guthrie 2009). Early/Early-Mid Wisconsin: Rm Vanishing Floor (Harris 1993c: cf.). Mid Wisconsin: McKittrick (Jefferson 1991a); Pendejo Cave (Harris 2003); U-Bar Cave (Harris 1987). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Diamond Valley (Springer et al. 2009); Hampton Court (Harris 1993c; Rancho La Brea (Stock and Harris 1992). Mid Wisconsin-Holocene: Shelter Cave (Howard and Miller 1933). Late Wisconsin: Balcony Room (UTEP); Marmot Cave (Brasso and Emslie 2006); Skull Cave (Emslie 1988); Pendejo Cave (Harris 2003); Sandia Cave (Brasso and Emslie 2006); TT II (Harris 1993c). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Burnet Cave (Wetmore 1932: Colaptes sp.); Conkling Cavern (Howard and Miller 1933); Deadman Cave (Mead et al. 1984); Schuiling Cave (Jefferson 1991a; Stalag 17 (Harris 1993c). Literature. Brasso and Emslie 2006; Emslie 1988; Guthrie 2009; Harris 1987, 1993c, 2003; Howard and Miller 1933; Jefferson 1991a; Mead et al. 1984; Stock and

Harris 1992; Wetmore 1932.

Dryocopus pileatus (Linnaeus, 1758)—Pileated Woodpecker Sites. Mid/Late Wisconsin: Rancho La Brea (Stock and Harris 1992). Literature. Stock and Harris 1992.

Melanerpes formicivorus (Swainson 1827)—Acorn Woodpecker Acorn Woodpeckers generally store oak mast in holes prepared for the acorns. Distribution is concentrated in forested mountains where a variety of species of oak and pine overlap. Much of eastern Arizona and western New Mexico is inhabited as is much of the US west coast and inland. Fig. 1. Acorn Woodpecker. Photograph by Gary Kramer, US Fish & Wildlife Service. Sites. Wisconsin: Carpinteria (Guthrie 2009). Miller 1933).

Mid Wisconsin-Holocene: Shelter Cave (Howard and

Literature. Guthrie 2009; Howard and Miller 1933; Ligon 1961.

Melanerpes lewis (Gray 1849)—Lewis's Woodpecker

Lewis's Woodpecker has been recorded throughout our region, generally in the high mountain forests in summer and moving southward and to lower elevations in winter. The diet is varied, with wood-boring larvae, insects caught on the wing, and high-energy plant material such as acorns and berries. Fig. 1. Lewis Woodpecker. US Fish & Wildlife Service photograph by Dave Menke. Sites. Wisconsin: Carpinteria (Guthrie 2009). Mid Wisconsin: Pendejo Cave (UTEP: May be Late Wisconsin). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Rancho La Brea (Stock and Harris 1992). Literature. Guthrie 2009; Harris 2003; Stock and Harris 1992.

Picoides sp.—Picoides Woodpeckers A rather large number of woodpeckers belong to this genus. Sites. Mid/Late Wisconsin: Rancho La Brea (Stock and Harris 1992). Literature. Stock and Harris 1992.

Picoides villosus—Hairy Woodpecker Sites.

Wisconsin: Carpinteria (Guthrie 2009). Literature. Guthrie 2009.

Sphyrapicus sp.—Sapsuckers Sites. Wisconsin: Carpinteria (Guthrie 2009). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Rancho La Brea (Stock and Harris 1992). Literature. Guthrie 2009; Stock and Harris 1992.

Last Update: 20 May 2014

Main Menu Class Aves Order Falconiformes Family Falconidae

Caracara cheriway—Crested Caracara // Falco—Falcons Falconidae—Falcons and Caracaras This family has a long history of association with the Accipitridae and Cathartidae as a member of the Falconiformes. Recent advances in taxonomy, however indicate that the Falconidae does not share a close relationship with those families, being more closely related to the Psittaciformes. Thus the Accipitridae and Cathartidae are now placed in an order of their own (Accipitriformes) and the falcons are retained in the Falconiformes. Falcons are, for the most part, fast-flying predators. The exception is the Crested Caracara, which does a considerable amount of scavenging along with hunting and is more sedentary.

Caracara cheriway (Jacquin 1784)—Crested Caracara Synonyms. Caracara prelutosa, Polyborus prelutosus, Polyborus plancus prelutosus, Polyborus plancus. Caracara taxonomy has changed considerably in recent years through splitting. Most of the literature records of fossils from our region were under one of the synonyms noted above. Caracaras belong to a different subfamily within the Falconidae from those we think of as falcons. Rather than using swift flight to bring

down prey, they tend to feed on small ground prey and will readily feed on carrion. Fig. 1. Limb bones of Caracara cheriway. From left: left humerus, left femur, right tibiotarsus, left tarsometatarsus. UTEP specimens: Animal Fair: 22428, 22-711, 22-2035, and Human Corridor: 31-20. Scale

in mm. Fig. 2. Image of a Caracara from a poster by Bob Hines, courtesy of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

during the late Wisconsin (over 240 bones are catalogued from Dry Cave). It apparently nested within the entrance area of Dry Cave, with both young and adults represented in the deposits. Sites. ?Late Irvingtonian/Rancholabrean: Emery Borrow Pit (Jefferson 1991a). Wisconsin: Carpinteria (Guthrie 2009). Mid Wisconsin: McKittrick (Jefferson 1991a); Térapa (Steadman and Mead 2010). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Dark Canyon Cave (Howard 1971); Hampton

In modern times, southern Arizona is inhabited and Crested Caracaras appear sporadically from Trans-Pecos Texas west to central California. In New Mexico, they have nested near Belen in the Rio Grande Valley near the center of the state (Ligon 1961). They were common in southeastern New Mexico

Court (Harris 1993c); Pit N&W Animal Fair (Harris 1993c); San Miguel Island (Guthrie 1998); Shelter Cave (Howard and Miller 1933). Late Wisconsin: Animal Fair 18-20 ka (Harris 1989); Bison Chamber (Harris 1989); Camel Room (Harris 1993c); Charlies Parlor (Harris 1989); Harris' Pocket (Harris 1989); Human Corridor (Harris 1993c); Maricopa (Jefferson 1991a); Stalag 17 (Harris 1993c); U-Bar Cave 13-14 ka (Harris 1989); U-Bar Cave 14-15 ka (Harris 1989). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Balcony Room(Harris 1993c); Conkling Cavern (Howard and Miller 1933). Literature. Literature. Guthrie 1998, 2009; Harris 1989, 1993c; Howard 1971; Howard and Miller 1933; Jefferson 1991a; Steadman and Mead 2010.

Last Update: 22 Jun 2014

Main Menu Class Aves Order Falconiformes Family Falconidae

Falco columbarius —Merlin // Falco mexicanus —Prairie Falcon // Falco peregrinus —Peregrine Falcon // Falco rusticolus —Gyrfalcon // Falco sparverius —American Kestrel Falco sp.—Falcons Most falcons are widespread today, or at least historically, and are of little value for ecological or climatic reconstructions. However, see the Gyrfalcon account. As with most hawks, there is sexual dimorphism in size, with the female being the larger. Sites. ?Late Irvingtonian/Rancholabrean: Emery Borrow Pit (Jefferson 1991a). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Diamond Valley (Springer et al. 2009). Late Wisconsin: Camel Room (Harris 1993c). Literature. Harris 1993c; Jefferson 1991a; Springer et al. 2009.

Falco columbarius Linnaeus 1758—Merlin Merlins are relatively small falcons (about the size of a pigeon) and apparently in our region only during migration. During migration, however, it can appear anywhere in the area (Ligon 1961). Sites. Wisconsin: Carpinteria (Guthrie 2009: cf.). Mid Wisconsin: McKittrick (Jefferson 1991a). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Rancho La Brea (Stock and Harris 1992).

Late Wisconsin: Blackwater Draw (Morgan and Lucas 2005). Literature. Guthrie 2009; Jefferson 1991a; Ligon 1961; Morgan and Lucas 2005; Stock and Harris 1992.

Falco mexicanus Schlege 1850—Prairie Falcon Today, Prairie Falcons occur throughout our region. Sites. Mid Wisconsin: McKittrick (Jefferson 1991a); Pendejo Cave (Harris 2003). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Dark Canyon Cave (Howard 1971); Rancho La Brea (Stock and Harris 1992); Sandblast Cave (Emslie 1988). Late Wisconsin: Charlies Parlor (Harris 1989); Sandia Cave (Brasso and Emslie 2006: cf.). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Burnet Cave (Wetmore 1932); Howell's Ridge Cave (Howard 1962); Kokoweef Cave (Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991); Stanton's Cave (Rea and Hargrave 1984). Literature. Brasso and Emslie 2006; Emslie 1988; Harris 1989, 2003; Howard 1962, 1971; Jefferson 1991a; Rea and Hargrave 1984; Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991; Stock and Harris 1992; Wetmore 1932.

Falco peregrinus Tunstall 1771—Peregrine Falcon At least during migration, the Peregrine Falcon is expectable anywhere within the region. Ligon (1961) noted streams and large bodies of water as preferred habitat since much of their prey consists of waterfowl and shore birds. Sites. Early/Early-Mid Wisconsin: Rm Vanishing Floor (Harris 1993c: ?). Mid Wisconsin: McKittrick (Jefferson 1991a). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Rancho La Brea (Stock and Harris (1992); Sandblast Cave (Emslie 1988); San Miguel Island (Guthrie 1998). Mid Wisconsin-Holocene: Shelter Cave (Howard and Miller 1933).

Late Wisconsin: Sandia Cave (Brasso and Emslie 2006: cf.). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Howell's Ridge Cave (Harris 1993c). Literature. Brasso and Emslie 2006; Emslie 1988; Guthrie 1998; Harris 1993c; Howard and Miller 1933; Jefferson 1991a; Ligon 1961; Stock and Harris 1992.

Falco rusticolus Linnaeus 1758—Gyrfalcon Synonyms. Falco swarthi L. Miller 1927. Falco swarthi was described from McKittrick, California, in 1927 and reported from Dark Canyon Cave in 1971 by Howard. Howard (1971) gave measurements of a partial femur: length, 82.7 mm; breadth proximal end, estimated at 16.0 mm; breadth distal end from uppermost flare of fibular condyle to raised area above internal condyle, 16.3 mm. The proximal tarsometatarsus breadth measured 12.0 mm at the level of the foramina. Emslie (1985b) compared the holotype with specimens of Gyrfalcon and concluded that F. swarthi differed in no significant way from F. rusticolus. Unlike the other falcons, the Gyrfalcon occurred far outside of its present range during the Pleistocene. Primarily an arctic form, it normally occurs only casually in winter to as far south as northern California, Wyoming, and Oklahoma (AOU 1983). Thus occurrence at Dark Canyon Cave appears to indicate suitable conditions far south of those today. Sites. Mid Wisconsin: McKittrick (Jefferson 1991a). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Dark Canyon Cave (Howard 1971). Literature. Emslie 1985b; Howard 1971; Jefferson 1991a.

Falco sparverius Linnaeus 1758—American Kestrel This is a very small falcon feeding especially on arthropods. It is common throughout our region today. It is relatively common in the Pleistocene deposits, often being represented by multiple specimens. Fig. 1. American

Kestrel (Falco sparverius). Photo by Greg Hume. Sites. Sangamon: San Pedro Lumber Co. (Jefferson 1991a). Wisconsin: Carpinteria (Guthrie 2009). Mid Wisconsin: McKittrick (Jefferson 1991a); Pendejo Cave (Harris 2003); U-Bar Cave (Harris 1987: cf. gen. et sp.). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Dark Canyon Cave (Howard 1971); Hampton Court (Harris 1993c); Rancho La Brea (Stock and Harris 1992); Sandblast Cave (Emslie 1988); San Miguel Island (Guthrie 1998). Mid Wisconsin-Holocene: Shelter Cave (Howard and Miller 1933). Mid/Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Jimenez Cave (Messing 1986); Sierra Diablo Cave (UTEP). Late Wisconsin: Maricopa (Jefferson 1991a); Pendejo Cave (UTEP); Sandia Cave (Brasso and Emslie 2006); Stanton's Cave (Rea and Hargrave 1984); U-Bar Cave 1415 ka (Harris 1989). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Burnet Cave (Schultz and Howard 1935); Conkling Cavern (Howard and Miller 1933); Kokoweef Cave (Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991); Pendejo Cave (Harris 2003); Skylight Cave (Emslie 1988).

Literature. Brasso and Emslie 2006; Emslie 1988; Guthrie 1998, 2009; Harris 1987, 1989, 1993c, 2003; Howard 1971; Howard and Miller 1933; Jefferson 1991a; Messing 1986; Rea and Hargrave 1984; Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991; Schultz and Howard 1935; Stock and Harris 1992.

Last Update: 22 Jun 2014

Main Menu Class Aves Order Psittaciformes Family Psittacidae

Psittacidae—Parrot The report of "Parrot (Psittacidae, sp.)" in Dark Canyon Cave by Howard (1971) likely was of archaeological material in the cave. The bone was returned to Lynn Hargrave and apparently is now lost. Historic occurrences of parrots in our area are limited to extreme southwestern New Mexico, but members of the order were widely traded into the region from the south prehistorically. Sites. Holocene (?): Dark Canyon Cave (Howard 1971). Literature. Howard 1971.

Last Update: 18 Sep 2008

Main Menu Class Aves Order Passeriformes

Tyrannidae —Tyrant Flycatchers // Laniidae —Shrikes // Vireonidae— Vireos // Corvidae—Ravens and Jays // Alaudidae —True Larks // Hirundinidae —Swallows // Paridae—Chickadees and Relatives // Sitta —Nuthatches // Troglodytidae—Wrens // Chamaea fasciata — Wrentit // Cinclidae —American Dipper // Regulidae —Kinglets // Turdidae —Thrushes // Mimidae—Mockingbirds and Thrashers // Bombycilla—Waxwings // Parulidae—Warblers // Emberizidae — Sparrow, Buntings, and Towhees // Cardinalidae —Cardinals and Dickcissels // Icteridae —Blackbirds // Fringillidae —Finches Order Passeriformes Although the majority of bird species in the Southwest are passeriformes and large numbers have been recovered from cave deposits in the region, relatively few solid identifications are available. The very number of possible species and the limited morphological variation in their osteology render passeriformes extremely difficult as a group.

Last Update: 20 Aug 2014

Main Menu Class Aves Order Passeriformes Family Tyrannidae

Contopus sordidulus—Western Wood Pewee // Empidonax— Empidonax Flycatchers // Sayornis sp.—Phoebes // Sayornis nigricans—Black Phoebe // Sayornis saw —Say's Phoebe // Tyrannus verticalis—Western Flycatcher // Tyrannus vociferus—Cassin's Flycatcher

Tyrannidae—Tyrant Flycatchers The Tyrannidae tends to be set off somewhat from the rest of the Passeriformes. Typically, the flycatchers perch until a flying insect appears, at which time they launch into flight and pick their prey from mid-air.

Contopus sordidulus (Sclater 1859)—Western Wood Pewee Sites. Late Wisconsin: Stanton's Cave (Rea and Hargrave 1984). Literature. Rea and Hargrave 1984.

Empidonax sp.—Empidonax Flycatchers Sites. Wisconsin: Carpinteria (Guthrie 2009). Late Wisconsin: Stanton's Cave (Rea and Hargrave 1984). Literature. Guthrie 2009; Rea and Hargrave 1984.

Sayornis sp.—Phoebes Sites. Wisconsin: Carpinteria (Guthrie 2009). Literature. Guthrie 2009.

Sayornis nigricans Swainson 1827—Black Phoebe Sites. Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Stanton's Cave (Rea and Hargrave 1984). Literature. Rea and Hargrave 1984.

Sayornis saya (Bonaparte 1825)—Say's Phoebe Say's Phoebe currently is common in the region, though it tends to avoid heavily forested areas (Ligon 1961).

Sites. Mid Wisconsin-Holocene: Shelter Cave (Howard and Miller 1933). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Stanton's Cave (Rea and Hargrave 1984). Literature. Howard and Miller 1933; Rea and Hargrave 1984.

Tyrannus verticalis Say 1823—Western Kingbird Sites. Wisconsin: Carpinteria (Guthrie 2009). Literature. Guthrie 2009.

Tyrannus vociferans (Swainson, 1826)—Cassin's Kingbird Sites. Mid/Late Wisconsin: Rancho La Brea (Stock and Harris 1992). Literature. Stock and Harris 1992.

Last Update: 27 Dec 2013

Main Menu Class Aves Order Passeriformes Family Laniidae

Laniidae—Shrikes Two species of shrikes occur now in the region, but only the Loggerhead Shrike is common.

Lanius excubitor Linnaeus 1758—Great Gray Shrike Sites. Mid Wisconsin-Holocene: Stanton's Cave (Rea and Hargrave 1984). Literature. Rea and Hargrave 1984.

Lanius ludovicianus Linnaeus 1766—Loggerhead Shrike Loggerhead Shrikes are unique among our passeriformes in impaling their prey on thorns or other sharp projections. The prey may include vertebrate as well as invertebrate animals. Fig. 1. Loggerhead Shrike. Painting by Louis Agassiz Fuertes. After Henshaw (1921).

Fig. 2. A

horned lizard impaled on the sharp end of a yucca leaf by a Loggerhead Shrike. Sites. Wisconsin: Carpinteria (Guthrie 2009).

Harris 1992).

Mid/Late Wisconsin: Rancho La Brea (Stock and

Mid Wisconsin-Holocene: Shelter Cave (Howard and Miller 1933). Late Wisconsin: Harris' Pocket (Harris 1989). Literature. Guthrie 2009; Harris 1989; Howard and Miller 1933; Stock and Harris 1992.

Last Update: 27 Dec 2013

Main Menu Class Aves Order Passeriformes Family Vireonidae

Vireo sp.—Vireos. A number of species of Vireo occur in our region in a variety of habitats. Sites. Medial Irvingtonian: SAM Cave (Rogers et al. 2000). Literature. Rogers et al. 2000.

Last Update: 7 Feb 2013

Main Menu Class Aves Order Passeriformes Family Corvidae

Aphelocoma—Scrub Jays // Corvus—Ravens // Cyanocitta —Blue Jays // Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus —Pinyon Jay // Nucifraga columbiana—Clark's Nutcracker // Pica hudsonia —Black-billed Magpie // Pica nuttalli—Yellow-billed Magpie Corvidae—Crows, Ravens, Magpies, and Jays Corvids have the reputation, with reason, of being highly intelligent. Most areas have one or more species, although generally the various kinds divide up the ecological and geographic landscape.

Last Update: 9 Dec 2013

Main Menu Class Aves Order Passeriformes Family Corvidae

Aphelocoma sp.—Scrub Jays Presumably either A. californica or A. wollweberi is represented as fossils in our region. Since the current geographic range of the latter is limited to eastern Arizona and western New Mexico, whereas A. californica occurs throughout the region, A. californica is deemed most likely to be represented at Pendejo Cave. Sites. Early/Early-Mid Wisconsin: Lost Valley (UTEP: ? ). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Pendejo Cave (Harris 2003). Literature. Harris 2003.

Aphelocoma californica (Vigors 1839)—Western Scrub Jay Synonyms. Aphelocoma coerulescens. Aphelocoma coerulescens currently is recognized as being restricted to Florida; populations in our region earlier assigned to that species now are recognized as A. californica. The relationships within the latter species are not clear, and the eastern populations of our region may be a separate species from those to the west.

Fig. 1. Western Scrub Jay. This is a photograph of a West Coast individual by Will Elder, National Park Service. Western Scrub Jays currently occur throughout the region in woodland in summer and also into lower

elevations during the winter (Ligon 1961). Sites. Wisconsin: Carpinteria (Guthrie 2009). Vanishing Floor (Harris 1993c).

Early/Early-Mid Wisconsin: Room

Mid Wisconsin: Pendejo Cave (Harris 2003). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Rancho La Brea (Stock and Harris 1992). Late Wisconsin: Maricopa (Jefferson 1991a). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Stanton's Cave (Rea and Hargrave 1984: cf. gen. et sp.). Literature. Guthrie 2009; Harris 1993c, 2003; Jefferson 1991a; Ligon 1961; Rea and Hargrave 1984; Stock and Harris 1992.

Aphelocoma wollweberi (Kaup 1854)—Mexican Jay Synonyms. Aphelocoma ultramarina In 2011, the species Aphelocoma ultramarina was recognized as actually being two species. The northern species became Aphelocoma wollweberi and occurs in eastern Arizona and western New Mexico. Papago Springs Cave is the only site in our region for this bird; it is common in the area today in the oak woodlands of southeastern Arizona (Czaplewski and Mead et al. 1999). Sites. Mid Wisconsin: Papago Springs Cave (Czaplewski and Mead et al. 1999)

Literature. Czaplewski and Mead et al. 1999

Last Update: 10 Jan 2014

Main Menu Class Aves Order Passeriformes Family Corvidae

Corvus sp.—Ravens and Relatives // Corvus brachyrhynchos — American Crow // Corvus caurinus—Northwestern Crow // Corvus corax—Common Raven // Corvus cryptoleucus —Chihuahuan Raven // Corvus neomexicanus —New Mexican Raven Corvus—Ravens and Crows Ravens and crows are relatively large passeriform birds noted for their intelligence. The Common Raven, the Chihuahuan Raven, and the American Crow all occur now in our region, though habitat and geographic preferences differ to a degree. A fourth species, the New Mexican Raven, now extinct, is recorded from the older deposits of Dry Cave and is intermediate in size to the Common Raven and the Chihuahuan Raven (Fig. 1; see also Fig. 1 of the C. corax account and Fig. 1 of the C. neomexicanus account).

Fig. 1. Comparison of anterior width of tibiotarsus of five populations of Corvus. Vertical line indicates mean; horizontal line, observed range; large rectangle, 95% confidence interval for the mean; small rectangle, plus and minus one standard deviation. “x” marks the position of UTEP specimen 1-1033 (see C. corax account). After Magish and Harris 1976.

Corvus sp.—Ravens and Relatives

Sites. Late Blancan/Irvingtonian: Anza-Borrego Desert (Jefferson 2006) Sangamon: Newport Bay Mesa (Jefferson 1991a). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Sandblast Cave (Emslie 1988). Literature. Emslie 1988; Jefferson 1991a, 2006.

Corvus brachyrhynchos Brehm 1822—American Crow Present distribution is spotty in the border region, probably representing wandering individuals. However, resident populations occur in the northern parts of our region. Sites. Wisconsin: Carpinteria (Guthrie 2009). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Rancho La Brea (Stock and Harris 1992). Literature. Guthrie 2009; Stock and Harris 1992.

Corvus caurinus Baird 1858—Northwestern Crow The Northwestern Crow currently occurs in coastal areas from near the Oregon border north to Alaska. Sites. Mid/Late Wisconsin: Rancho La Brea (Stock and Harris 1992). Literature. Stock and Harris 1992.

Corvus corax Linnaeus 1758—Common Raven

Common Ravens are plentiful in Late Wisconsin sites. Re-examination of the few specimens from the Early or Early Mid Wisconsin sites earlier (Magish and Harris 1976) assigned to C. corax indicate there is only one specimen, 1-1033 (see Fig. 1 in Corvus account) from Above Room of the Vanishing floor that can be quite surely assigned to the species. Two of the other specimens are immature and appear likely to be C. neomexicanus; the third specimen (UTEP 26-1651) is reassigned to C. neomexicanus. Fig. 1. Common Raven. US Fish & Wildlife Service, photograph by Lee Karney. Magish and Harris (1976) found that the Dry Cave Late Wisconsin populations were intermediate in size between two modern subspecies, the larger, more northern C. corax principalis and the more southerly distributed C. c. sinuatus (see Fig. 1 of the Corvus account); the tarsometatarsus was relatively long, however, as in the southern subspecies. Many sites include immature birds, indicating nesting in the immediate vicinity.

Fig. 2. Humeri of modern Corvus cryptoleucus (top, imaged reversed for comparison; UTEP 1030), fossil C. neomexicanus (middle, 27-227), and fossil C. corax (bottom, UTEP 23-67). Scale in mm. Common Ravens are now widespread from piñon-juniper woodlands to high montane forest, but do not overlap extensively with the smaller Chihuahuan Raven (Corvus cryptoleucus), which generally is at lower elevations and limited to eastern and southern New Mexico and to the south. The specimens from Mystery Light Cave include elements of two sizes. The larger specimens fit well with this species, but a carpometacarpus is very small for C. corax and falls within the size range of C. neomexicanus. I cannot assign it to that species without corroborative evidence and for present consider it as Corvus cf. corax. Sites. Rancholabrean/?Early Holocene: Mitchell Caverns (Jefferson 1991a). Sangamon: Lincoln Ave. (Howard 1936). Wisconsin: Carpinteria (Guthrie 2009); Zuma Creek (Jefferson 1991a).

Mid Wisconsin: McKittrick (Jefferson 1991a). Mid Wisconsin-Holocene: Shelter Cave (Howard and Miller 1933). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Dark Canyon Cave(Howard 1971); Diamond Valley (Springer et al. 2009); Hampton Court (Harris 1993c); NW Talus Slope (Harris 1993c); Pit N&W Animal Fair (Harris 1993c); Rancho La Brea (Stock and Harris 1992); San Miguel Island (Guthrie 1998). Mid/Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Jimenez Cave (Messing 1986); Sierra Diablo Cave (UTEP). Late Wisconsin: Animal Fair 18-20 ka (Harris 1989); Camel Room (Harris 1993c); Charlies Parlor (Harris 1989); Harris' Pocket (Harris 1989: cf.); Circus Route (Harris 1993c); Human Corridor (Harris 1993c); Maricopa (Jefferson 1991a); Mystery Light Cave (this volume); Pendejo Cave (Harris 2003); Sandia Cave (Brasso and Emslie 2006); Stalag 17 (Harris 1993c); TT II (Harris 1993c); U-Bar Cave 14-15 ka (Harris 1989). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Balcony Room (Harris 1993c); Conkling Cavern (Howard and Miller 1933); Howell's Ridge Cave (Howard 1962); Isleta Cave No. 1 (Harris 1993c); Isleta Cave No. 2 (Harris 1993c); Pendejo Cave (Harris 2003); Schuiling Cave (Jefferson 1991a); Stanton's Cave (Rea and Hargrave 1984). Withdrawn Identification: Early/Early-Mid Wisconsin: Rm Vanishing Floor (Harris 1993c). Literature. Brasso and Emslie 2006; Guthrie 1998, 2009; Harris 1989, 1993c, 2003; Howard 1936; Howard 1962, 1971; Howard and Miller 1933; Jefferson 1991a; Magish and Harris 1976; Messing 1986; Rea and Hargrave 1984; Springer et al. 2009; Stock and Harris 1992.

Corvus cryptoleucus Couch 1854—Chihuahuan Raven Chihuahuan Ravens are lowland birds, mostly limited to the Lower Sonoran Life Zone. The present distribution runs from southeastern Colorado and adjacent Oklahoma south to central Texas; eastern and the southern half of New Mexico is within the range as is southeastern Arizona; northern Mexico also is occupied. Thus the record from Rancho La Brea is a

BP, radiocarbon years; Fig. 2).

considerable distance northwest of the current range. The only Pleistocene records from the eastern part of the region are from the Pendejo Cave late Wisconsin (11300-11900 BP, radiocarbon years; Fig. 1) and Pendejo Cave mid Wisconsin (minimum age 30,210

Fig. 1. Left femur of Corvus cryptoleucus (9366-G1347-337-1) from the late Wisconsin of Pendejo Cave compared to that of a modern specimen to its right. Metric scale. The two specimens suggest that these ravens were excluded from the region during the colder portions of the Wisconsin, but that somewhat more benign conditions occurred locally in the mid Wisconsin and that after 12,000 BP, late Wisconsin conditions were approaching those of the Holocene.

Fig. 2. Partial shaft of Corvus cryptoleucus ulna (9366-G1072-337-9) from the mid Wisconsin of Pendejo Cave compared to the same element of a modern specimen. Metric scale. Sites.

Mid Wisconsin: Pendejo Cave (Harris 2003). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Rancho La Brea (Stock and Harris 1992). Late Wisconsin: Pendejo Cave (Harris 2003: as Late Wisconsin/Holocene). Literature. Harris 2003; Stock and Harris 1992.

†Corvus neomexicanus Magish and Harris 1976—New Mexican Raven This

extinct raven is "intermediate in size, but otherwise similar, to C. corax and C. cryptoleucus . . . ." (Magish and Harris 1976:403). It is known only from the presumed Early or Early Mid Wisconsin of Dry Cave, where it is abundant. Contrary to earlier reports (Harris 1993c), it now appears that the Common Raven is represented by only a single element in these deposits. Presence of numerous immature birds indicates nesting in or near the cave entrance. Fig. 1. Tarsometatarsus of modern Corvus cryptoleucus (left, reversed; UTEP 1030), fossil C. neomexicanus (middle, UTEP 27-8), and fossil C. corax (right, reversed; 2335). Brodkorb (1978) tentatively considered the taxon as Corvus corax antecorax MourerChauvire 1975, but without explanation or apparent justification. This is a European extinct raven, sometimes considered a species separate from C. corax. Sites. Early/Early-Mid Wisconsin: Lost Valley (Harris 1993c); Rm Vanishing Floor (Harris 1993c); Sabertooth Camel Maze (Harris 1993c). Literature. Brodkorb 1978; Harris 1993c; Magish and Harris (1976).

Main Menu Class Aves Order Passeriformes Family Corvidae

Cyanocitta sp—Cyanocitta Jays Two jays belonging to the genus Cyanocitta are known from our region. The Blue Jay (C. cristata), however, is a predominantly eastern form only sporadically recorded in the region in recent times. Stellar's Jay is widespread in montane forests. Sites. Early/Early-Mid Wisconsin: Lost Valley (Harris 1993c: ?); Rm Vanishing Floor (Harris 1993c). Mid/Late Wisconsin: U-Bar Cave (Harris 1993c: ?). Late Wisconsin: Pendejo Cave (Harris 2003). Literature. Harris 1993c, 2003.

Cyanocitta stelleri—Steller's Jay Although primarily limited to the forested highlands in our area, occasional occurrences in the lowlands are not uncommon. Playing the odds, however, suggests that presence at a site indicates some forested area nearby. Fig. 1. Steller's Jay. Photograph by Gary Kramer, courtesy of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Sites. Wisconsin: Carpinteria (Guthrie 2009). Mid Wisconsin: Pendejo Cave (Harris 2003). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Diamond Valley (Springer et al. 2009);

Rancho La Brea (Stock and Harris 1992). Late Wisconsin: Sandia Cave (Brasso and Emslie 2006: cf.). Literature. Brasso and Emslie 2006; Guthrie 2009; Harris 2003; Springer et al. 2009; Stock and Harris 1992.

Last Update: 26 Jun 2014

Main Menu Class Aves Order Passeriformes Family Corvidae

Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus Wied 1841—Pinyon Jay Pinyon Jays are widespread throughout our region, especially in the pinyon-juniper woodland zone. However, they frequently occur elsewhere, ranging widely in times of scanty pinyon or oak mast (Ligon 1961). Sites. Mid Wisconsin-Holocene: Shelter Cave (Howard and Miller 1933). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Conkling Cavern (Howard and Miller 1933); Kokoweef Cave (Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991). Literature. Harris 2003; Howard and Miller 1933; Ligon 1961; Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991.

Last Update: 27 May 2014

Main Menu Class Aves Order Passeriformes Family Corvidae

Nucifraga columbiana (Wilson 1811)—Clark's Nutcracker Occurrence at present is largely limited to Canadian and Hudsonian life-zone forest (Ligon 1961). Sites. Mid Wisconsin: Pendejo Cave (UTEP: cf.). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Rancho La Brea (Stock and Harris 1992). Late Wisconsin: Sandia Cave (Brasso and Emslie 2006). Literature. Brasso and Emslie 2006; Ligon 1961; Stock and Harris 1992.

Last Update: 9 Dec 2013

Main Menu Class Aves Order Passeriformes Family Corvidae

Pica hudsonia (Linnaeus 1758)—Black-billed Magpie Synonyms. Pica pica. Black-billed Magpies currently are distributed from Alaska south to the northern parts of New Mexico and Arizona and west to eastern California. In New Mexico, some move south in winter to about Socorro in the Rio Grande Valley and occasionally into the Sacramento Mountains (Ligon 1961). Fig. 1. Black-billed Magpie. Photograph by Jim Rorabaugh, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Sites. Fig. 2. Tarsometatarsus, Black-billed Magpie. First, fourth from left, and right bottom: Modern Blackbilled Magpie (UTEP 2308); remainder, fossil specimen from U-Bar Cave (MNM 5689-99-23). Views: lateral, anterior, and proximal.

Mid Wisconsin: Pendejo Cave (Harris 2003). Mid/Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Sierra Diablo Cave (UTEP). Mid Wisconsin-Holocene: Shelter Cave (Howard and Miller 1933). Late Wisconsin: Animal Fair 18-20 ka (Harris 1989); Marmot Cave (Brasso and Emslie 2006); Sandia Cave (Brasso and Emslie 2006); U-Bar Cave (Harris 1993c). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Stanton's Cave (Rea and Hargrave 1984). Literature. Brasso and Emslie 2006; Harris 1989, 1993c, 2003; Howard and Miller 1933; Rea and Hargrave 1984.

Pica nuttalli (Audubon 1837)—Yellow-billed Magpie Present occurrence is central and northern California. Sites. Wisconsin: Carpinteria (Guthrie 2009). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Rancho La Brea (Stock and Harris 1992). Literature. Guthrie 2009; Stock and Harris 1992.

Main Menu Class Aves Order Passeriformes Family Alaudidae

Alaudidae—True Larks Horned Larks are the sole members in North America of a large Old World Family, the true larks.

Eremophila alpestris (Linnaeus 1758)—Horned Lark

plains.

The Horned Lark's adaptation to open, cold habitat presumably allowed it to move through northern Asia into North America. Currently it occupies "short-grass, arid and desert plains, mesas and valleys, through drought, heat, cold, rain, or shine" (Ligon 1961:188). Ligon also noted breeding occurring as high as 13,160 ft, well above timberline, in northern New Mexico. Presence during the Pleistocene in our region presumably indicates open habitat, perhaps in treeless portions of the higher mountains or open

Fig. 1. Horned Lark painting by Louis Agassiz Fuertes. After Henshaw (1921). Sites. Rancholabrean: Cool Water Coal Gasification Solid Waste Site (Jefferson 1991a). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Rancho La Brea (Stock and Harris 1992); San Miguel Island (Guthrie 1998). Mid Wisconsin-Holocene: Shelter Cave (Howard and Miller 1933). Late Wisconsin: Bison Chamber (Harris 1989); Harris' Pocket (Harris 1989). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Balcony Room (Harris 1993c); Conkling Cavern (Howard and Miller 1933); Isleta Cave No. 1 (cf. gen. et sp.)(Harris 1993c: may be Holocene); Stanton's Cave (Rea and Hargrave 1984).

Literature. Guthrie 1998; Harris 1989, 1993c; Henshaw 1921; Howard and Miller 1933; Jefferson 1991a; Ligon 1961; Rea and Hargrave 1984; Stock and Harris 1992.

Last Update: 25 Feb 2014

Main Menu Class Aves Order Passeriformes Family Hirundinidae

Hirundo rustica —Barn Swallow // Petrochelidon fulva/pyrrhonota — Cave or Cliff Swallow // Petrochelidon pyrrhonota—Cliff Swallow // Tachycineta bicolor —Tree Swallow

Hirundo sp.—Swallows Sites. Mid/Late Wisconsin: Diamond Valley (Springer et al. 2009). Literature. Springer et al. 2009.

Hirundo rustica Linnaeus 1758—Barn Swallow Sites. Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Stanton's Cave (Rea and Hargrave 1984). Literature. Rea and Hargrave 1984.

Petrochelidon fulva/pyrrhonota—Cave Swallow or Cliff Swallow Synonyms. Hirundo fulva, Hirundo pyrrhonota Cliff and Cave Swallows are closely related. The Cliff Swallow currently is widely distributed over

the region, whereas the Cave Swallow reaches west and north to the Guadalupe Mountains region. Preferred nesting sites make both of these species liable to ending up in cave fill. In the mid-sixties, Dry Cave had a few remnants of nests in the Entrance Chamber, but not enough remained to determine the species involved. The Cave Swallow currently nests in Sierra Diablo Cave; preservational data suggest pre-Holocene occurrences, also. Fig. 1. Carpometacarpus of Petrochelidon fulva/pyrrhonota (probably Holocene). Sites. Mid/Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Sierra Diablo Cave (UTEP). Late Wisconsin: Charlies Parlor (Harris 1989: cf.); TT II (Harris 1993c). Literature. Harris 1989, 1993c.

Petrochelidon pyrrhonota—Cliff Swallow Sites. Wisconsin: Carpinteria (Guthrie 2009). Mid Wisconsin: McKittrick (Jefferson 1991a). Literature. Guthrie 2009; Jefferson 1991a.

Tachycineta bicolor—Tree Swallow Sites. Wisconsin: Carpinteria (Guthrie 2009: cf.). Literature. Guthrie 2009.

Last Update: 16 Mar 2014

Main Menu Class Aves Order Passeriformes Family Paridae

Parus sp.—Chickadees and Relatives. The genus Parus has been split into several genera in recent years, leaving taxa originally identified only as Parus sp. in limbo. The current most likely genera to be represented are Poecile and Baeolophus. Sites. Medial Irvingtonian: SAM Cave (Rogers et al. 2000). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: SAM Cave (Rogers et al. 2000). Literature. Rogers et al. 2000.

Poecile sp.—Chickadees. Sites. Wisconsin: Carpinteria (Guthrie 2009). Literature. Guthrie 2009.

Poecile gambeli Ridgway 1886—Mountain Chickadee. Sites. Mid/Late Wisconsin: Rancho La Brea (Stock and Harris 1992). Literature. Stock and Harris 1992.

Last Update: 27 Dec 2013

Main Menu Class Aves Family Sittidae

Sitta canadensis Linnaeus 1766—Red-breasted Nuthatch Sites. Wisconsin: Carpinteria (Guthrie 2009). Literature. Guthrie 2009.

Sitta pygmaea Vigors 1839—Pygmy Nuthatch Ligon (1961) places this small nuthatch throughout the forested mountains of New Mexico, especially in the Transition Life Zone. Sites. Wisconsin: Carpinteria (Guthrie 2009). Mid Wisconsin: Pendejo Cave (Harris 2003: cf. gen. et sp.). Literature. Guthrie 2009; Harris 2003; Ligon 1961.

Last Update: 27 Dec 2013

Main Menu Class Aves Order Passeriformes Family Troglodytidae

Catherpes mexicanus —Canyon Wren // Salpinctes obsoletus—Rock Wren // Troglodytes troglodytes—Winter Wren Troglodytidae—Wrens Eight or more species of wrens occur now in our region.

Catherpes mexicanus (Swainson 1929)—Canyon Wren Sites. Currently, these small birds are widespread throughout the region in areas of rough topography. Ligon (1962) specifically mentions their affinity for caves. Mid Wisconsin-Holocene: Shelter Cave (Howard and Miller 1933). Late Wisconsin-Holocene: Stanton's Cave (Rea and Hargrave 1984). Literature. Howard and Miller 1933; Ligon 1961; Rea and Hargrave 1984.

Salpinctes obsoletus—Rock Wren Current distribution is throughout our region. Habits are similar to those of the Canyon Wren, both being associated with rocky, rugged terrain. Of all the wrens, this species and the Canyon Wren would seem to be those most likely to wind up as cave fossils. Sites. Mid Wisconsin: Papago Springs Cave (Czaplewski and Mead et al. 1999); Pendejo Cave (Harris 2003: cf.); U-Bar Cave (Harris 1987: cf. gen. et sp.).

Mid Wisconsin-Holocene: Shelter Cave (Howard and Miller 1933). Late Wisconsin-Holocene: Stanton's Cave (Rea and Hargrave 1984). Literature. Czaplewski and Mead et al. 1999; Harris 1987, 1987; Howard and Miller 1933; Rea and Hargrave 1984

Troglodytes troglodytes —Winter Wren. Winter Wrens appear sporadically throughout our region. Sites. Late Wisconsin/Holocene: SAM Cave (Rogers et al. 2000: cf.). Literature. Rogers et al. 2000.

Last Update: 20 Mar 2013

Main Menu Class Aves Passeriformes Family Timaliidae

Chamaea fasciata (Gambel 1845)—Wrentit Sites. Wisconsin: Carpinteria (Guthrie 2009). Literature. Guthrie 2009.

Last Update: 27 Dec 2013

Main Menu Class Aves Family Cinclidae

Cinclus mexicanus Swainson 1827—American Dipper Sites. Late Wisconsin: Stanton's Cave (Rea and Hargrave 1984). Literature. Rea and Hargrave 1984.

Last Update: 8 Feb 2013

Main Menu Class Aves Passeriformes Family Regulidae

Regulus sp.—Kinglets Sites. Wisconsin: Carpinteria (Guthrie 2009). Literature. Guthrie 2009.

Last Update: 27 Dec 2013

Main Menu Class Aves Order Passeriformes Family Turdidae

Catharus—Thrushes // Catharus guttatus—Hermit Thrush // Ixoreus naevius —Varied Thrush // Myadestes townsendi —Townsend's Solitaire // Sialia sp.—Bluebirds // Sialia currucoides —Mountain Bluebird // Turdus migratorius—American Robin Turdidae—Thrushes For a time, these taxa were placed in the Muscicapidae. Seven or more species occur now in our region.

Catharus sp.—Thrushes Swainson's Thrush apparently is not common in the region, though present (Ligon 1961). In light of limitations of comparative material, the identification from Dry Cave as C. swainsoni is iffy, and I have changed the 1989 unqualified identification to "?". Sites. Late Wisconsin: Harris' Pocket (Harris 1989 as C. swainsoni, but now considered ? Catharus). Literature. Harris 1989; Ligon 1961.

Catharus guttatus—Hermit Thrush This thrush is widespread in our region either as resident or migrant (Mead et al. 1984). Sites. Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Deadman Cave (Mead et al. 1984). Literature. Mead et al. 1984.

Ixoreus naevius Gmelin 1789—Varied Thrush Sites. Wisconsin: Carpinteria (Guthrie 2009). Literature. Guthrie 2009.

Myadestes townsendi (Audubon 1838)—Townsend's Solitaire Sites. Late Wisconsin: Stanton's Cave (Rea and Hargrave). Literature. Rea and Hargrave 1984.

Sialia sp.—Bluebirds Both the Western Bluebird (Sialia mexicana) and the Mountain Bluebird (S. currucoides) summer in the wooded mountains, but may winter almost anywhere in the region. Sites.

Mid Wisconsin-Holocene: Shelter Cave (Howard and Miller 1933). Late Wisconsin: Bison Chamber (Harris 1989); Harris' Pocket (Harris 1989). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Balcony Room (Harris 1993c); Conkling Cavern (Howard and Miller 1933). Literature. Harris 1989, 1993c; Howard and Miller 1933.

Sialia currucoides (Bechstein 1798)—Mountain Bluebird Sites. Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Stanton's Cave (Rea and Hargrave 1984). Literature. Rea and Hargrave 1984.

Sialia mexicana Swainson 1832—Western Bluebird Sites. Wisconsin: Carpinteria (Guthrie 2009). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Rancho La Brea (Stock and Harris 1992: cf.). Literature. Guthrie 2009; Stock and Harris 1992.

Turdus sp.—American Robins Sites. Rancholabrean: Cool Water Coal Gasification Solid Waste Site (Jefferson 1991a: ? gen.). Literature. Jefferson 1991a.

Turdus migratorius—American Robin American Robins most commonly are found in montane forests in the summer, but spread throughout our region in winter. Sites. Wisconsin: Carpinteria (Guthrie 2009). Early/Early-Mid Wisconsin: Rm Vanishing Floor (Harris 1993c: cf. gen. et sp.). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Diamond Valley (Springer et al. 2009: cf. gen.); Rancho La Brea (Stock and Harris 1992). Mid Wisconsin-Holocene: Shelter Cave (Howard and Miller 1933). Late Wisconsin: Antelope Cave (Reynolds, Reynolds, Bell, and Pitzer 1991); Maricopa (Jefferson 1991a). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Conkling Cavern (Howard and Miller 1933); Deadman Cave (Mead et al. 1984). Literature. Guthrie 2009; Harris 1993c; Howard and Miller 1933; Jefferson 1991a; Mead et al. 1984; Reynolds, Reynolds, Bell, and Pitzer 1991; Springer et al. 2009; Stock and Harris 1992.

Last Update: 28 May 2014

Main Menu Class Aves Order Passeriformes Family Mimidae

Mimus polyglottos —Mockingbird // Oreoscoptes montanus—Sage Thrasher // Toxostoma sp.—American Thrashers Mimidae—Mockingbirds and Thrashers About a half dozen species of the family occur in our region, though some (such as the Catbird and Brown Thrasher) are relatively limited in their regional distribution.

Mimus sp.—Mockingbirds Sites. Rancholabrean: Cool Water Coal Gasification Solid Waste Site (Jefferson 1991a: ? gen.). Literature. Jefferson 1991a.

Mimus polyglottos—Northern Mockingbird Current distribution is pretty much region-wide, though high, densely forested montane habitats are avoided (Ligon 1961). Discrimination of fossil material from similar-sized passeriformes is difficult, and little confidence should be placed in the identifications recorded here. Sites. Early/Early-Mid Wisconsin: Rm Vanishing Floor (Harris 1993c: cf. gen. et sp.). Mid Wisconsin: Pendejo Cave (Harris 2003: cf.) Literature. Harris 1993c, 2003; Ligon 1961.

Oreoscoptes montanus (Townsend 1837)—Sage Thrasher Nesting and the summer range currently is limited rather strongly to Big Sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) (Ligon 1961). However, between the summer range, migration, and winter range, our entire region is covered. Sites. Mid/Late Wisconsin: Rancho La Brea (Stock and Harris 1992). Mid Wisconsin-Holocene: Shelter Cave (Howard and Miller 1933). Literature. Howard and Miller 1933; Ligon 1961; Stock and Harris 1992.

Toxostoma sp.—American Thrashers Since a number of species of Toxostoma occur in our region, the generic identification is of little value for environmental interpretation. Sites. Mid Wisconsin-Holocene: Shelter Cave (Howard and Miller 1933). Literature. Howard and Miller 1933.

Toxostoma redivivum (Gambel 1845)—California Thrasher Sites. Mid/Late Wisconsin: Rancho La Brea (Stock and Harris 1992). Late Wisconsin: Maricopa (Jefferson 1991a). Literature. Jefferson 1991a; Stock and Harris 1992.

Main Menu Class Aves Order Passeriformes Family Bombycillidae

Bombycilla cedrorum Vieillot 1808—Cedar Waxwing Sites. Wisconsin: Carpinteria (Guthrie 2009). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Rancho La Brea (Stock and Harris 1992). Late Wisconsin: Maricopa (Jefferson 1991a). Literature. Guthrie 2009; Jefferson 1991a; Stock and Harris 1992.

Last Update: 10 Jan 2014

Main Menu Class Aves Order Passeriformes Family Parulidae

Oporornis sp.—Warblers Sites. Sites. Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Kokoweef Cave (Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991: cf. gen.). Literature. Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991.

Setophaga sp.—Warblers Sites. Rancholabrean: Cool Water Coal Gasification Solid Waste Site (Jefferson 1991a). Wisconsin: Carpinteria (Guthrie 2009). Literature. Guthrie 2009; Jefferson 1991a.

Setophaga coronata (Linnaeus 1766)—Yellow-rumped Warbler Sites. Late Wisconsin: Stanton's Cave (Rea and Hargrave). Literature. Rea and Hargrave 1984.

Main Menu Class Aves Order Passeriformes Family Emberizidae

Aimophila —Aimophila Sparrows // Ammodramus—Ammodramus Sparrows // Amphispiza—Amphispiza Sparrows // Artemisiospiza— Artemisiospiza Sparrows // Calamospiza melanocorys—Lark Bunting // Chondestes grammacus—Lark Sparrow // Junco—Juncos // Melozone —Brown Towhees // Melospiza melodia —Song Sparrow // Passerculus sandwichensis—Savannah Sparrow // Passerella iliaca — Fox Sparrow // Pipilo—Towhees // Pooecetes gramineus — Vesper Sparrow // Spizella passerina—Chipping Sparrow // Zonotrichia leucophrys—White-crowned Sparrow Emberizidae—Sparrows, Buntings, and Towhees The Emberizidae is a huge family of advanced passeriformes with well over 100 North American species. Many are of similar sizes and few workers are able to identify them with any high degree of certainty.

Last Update: 20 Dec 2013

Main Menu Class Aves Order Passeriformes Family Emberizidae

Aimophila sp.—Aimophila Sparrows The Rufous-crowned Sparrow and Cassin's Sparrow regularly occur in the region today. Sites. Early/Early-Mid Wisconsin: Rm Vanishing Floor (Harris 1993c: cf.). Literature. Harris 1993c.

Last Update: 28 Sep 2008

Main Menu Class Aves Order Passeriformes Family Emberizidae

Ammodramus sp.—Ammodramus Sparrows. There are a number of species of Ammodramus, leaving us with the impression solely of small sparrow. Sites. Medial Irvingtonian: SAM Cave (Rogers et al. 2000). Literature. Rogers et al. 2000.

Last Update: 26 Oct 2008

Main Menu Class Aves Order Passeriformes Family Emberizidae

Amphispiza bilineata (Cassin 1850)—Black-throated Sparrow The Black-throated Sparrow is predominantly a desert bird of bare, open spaces. The record from Shelter Cave appears to be of very recent origin (Howard and Miller 1933). Sites. Mid/Late Wisconsin: Rancho La Brea (Stock and Harris 1992). Mid Wisconsin-Holocene: Shelter Cave (Howard and Miller 1933). Literature. Howard and Miller 1933; Stock and Harris 1992.

Last Update: 10 Dec 2013

Main Menu Class Aves Order Passeriformes Family Emberizidae

Artemisiospiza belli/nevadensis—Bell's or Sagebrush Sparrow Synonyms: Amphispiza belli. Changes in systematics leave it uncertain as to what taxon the Amphispiza belli of Stock and Harris (1992) applies, though it should be one of these two species. Sites. Mid/Late Wisconsin: Rancho La Brea (Stock and Harris 1992). Literature. Stock and Harris 1992.

Last Update: 10 Dec 2013

Main Menu Class Aves Order Passeriformes Family Emberizidae

Calamospiza melanocorys Stejenger 1885—Lark Bunting Lark Buntings are prairie birds distributed from the grasslands of central Canada and south through the open grasslands of our area. Sites. Mid Wisconsin-Holocene: Shelter Cave (Howard and Miller 1933). Late Wisconsin: Bison Chamber (Harris 1989); Harris' Pocket (Harris 1989). Literature. Harris 1989; Howard and Miller 1933.

Last Update: 20 Mar 2013

Main Menu Class Aves Order Passeriformes Family Emberizidae

Chondestes grammacus (Say 1823)—Lark Sparrow Sites. Mid/Late Wisconsin: Rancho La Brea (Stock and Harris 1992). Literature. Stock and Harris 1992.

Last Update: 11 Dec 2013

Main Menu Class Aves Order Passeriformes Family Emberizidae

Junco sp.—Juncos. There are several species of Junco, and this is a common bird in our region, especially during migration and wintering. Sites. Medial Irvingtonian: SAM Cave (Rogers et al. 2000). Rancholabrean: Cool Water Coal Gasification Solid Waste Site (Jefferson 1991a: aff.). Late Wisconsin: Skull Cave (Emslie 1988: cf.). Literature. Emslie 1988; Rogers et al. 2000.

Junco hyemalis (Linnaeus 1758)—Dark-eyed Junco. Sites. Late Wisconsin: Stanton's Cave (Rea and Hargrave 1984). Literature. Rea and Hargrave 1984.

Last Update: 25 Feb 2013

Main Menu Class Aves Order Passeriformes Family Emberizidae

Melozone crissalis (Vigors 1839)—California Towhee Sites. Wisconsin: Carpinteria (Guthrie 2009). Literature. Guthrie 2009.

Melozone fuscus (Swainson 1827)—Brown Towhee Synonyms. Pipilo fuscus Habitat of the Brown Towhee is primarily bushy canyons of the foothills (Ligon 1961). Sites. Mid/Late Wisconsin: Rancho La Brea (Stock and Harris 1992). Mid Wisconsin-Holocene: Shelter Cave (Howard and Miller 1933). Literature. Howard and Miller 1933; Ligon 1961; Stock and Harris 1992.

Last Update: 28 Dec 2013

Main Menu Class Aves Order Passeriformes Family Emberizidae

Melospiza melodia (Wilson 1810)—Song Sparrow Sites. Mid/Late Wisconsin: Rancho La Brea (Stock and Harris 1992); San Miguel Island (Guthrie 1998). Literature. Guthrie 1998; Stock and Harris 1992.

Last Update: 10 Feb 2014

Main Menu Class Aves Order Passeriformes Family Emberizidae

Passerculus sandwichensis (Gmelin 1789)—Savannah Sparrow. At one time or another during the year, this small bird may appear in almost all of our region. Sites. Medial Irvingtonian: SAM Cave (Rogers et al. 2000: cf.). Literature. Ligon 1961; Rogers et al. 2000.

Last Update: 20 Mar 2013

Main Menu Class Aves Order Passeriformes Family Emberizidae

Passerella iliaca (Merrem 1786)—Fox Sparrow Sites. Wisconsin: Carpinteria (Guthrie 2009). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Rancho La Brea (Stock and Harris 1992). Late Wisconsin: Stanton's Cave (Rea and Hargrave). Literature. Guthrie 2009; Rea and Hargrave 1984 Stock and Harris 1992.

Last Update: 28 Dec 2013

Main Menu Class Aves Order Passeriformes Family Emberizidae

Pipilo maculata Swainson 1827—Spotted Towhee Synonyms. Pipilo erythrophthalmus. The Spotted Towhee generally is a forestedmountain bird and present throughout our region in suitable habitat. Sites. Wisconsin: Carpinteria (Guthrie 2009). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Rancho La Brea (Stock and Harris 1992). Mid Wisconsin-Holocene: Shelter Cave (Howard and Miller 1933). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Dark Canyon Cave (Harris 1993c: ? gen. et sp.). Late Wisconsin: Stalag 17 (Harris 1993c: cf.). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Conkling Cavern (Howard and Miller 1933). Literature. Guthrie 2009; Harris 1993c; Howard and Miller 1933; Stock and Harris 1992.

†Pipilo angelensis Dawson 1948—Los Angeles Towhee Sites. Wisconsin: Carpinteria (Guthrie 2009: cf.). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Rancho La Brea (Stock and Harris 1992). Literature. Guthrie 2009; Stock and Harris 1992.

Last Update: 28 Dec 2013

Main Menu Class Aves Order Passeriformes Family Emberizidae

Pooecetes gramineus (Gmelin, 1789)—Vesper Sparrow Sites. Mid/Late Wisconsin: Rancho La Brea (Stock and Harris 1992). Literature. Stock and Harris 1992.

Last Update: 20 Dec 2013

Main Menu Class Aves Order Passeriformes Family Emberizidae

Spizella sp.—Spizella Sparrows Sites. Mid/Late Wisconsin: Rancho La Brea (Stock and Harris 1992). Literature. Stock and Harris 1992.

Spizella passerina (Bechstein 1798)—Chipping Sparrow Sites. Mid/Late Wisconsin: Rancho La Brea (Stock and Harris 1992). Literature. Stock and Harris 1992.

Last Update: 20 Dec 2013

Main Menu Class Aves Order Passeriformes Family Emberizidae

Zonotrichia leucophrys (Forster 1772)—White-crowned Sparrow Sites. Rancholabrean: Cool Water Coal Gasification Solid Waste Site (Jefferson 1991a: aff.). Wisconsin: Carpinteria (Guthrie 2009). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Rancho La Brea (Stock and Harris 1992); San Miguel Island (Guthrie 1998). Late Wisconsin: Maricopa (Jefferson 1991a); Stanton's Cave (Rea and Hargrave: cf.). Literature. Guthrie 1998; 2009; Jefferson 1991a; Rea and Hargrave 1984; Stock and Harris 1992.

Last Update: 25 Feb 2014

Main Menu Class Aves Order Passeriformes Family Cardinalidae

Cardinalis—Cardinals // Passerina—Varied Buntings // Pheucticus melanocephalus—Black-headed Grosbeak // Piranga ludoviciana — Western Tanager // Spiza —Dickcissels Cardinalidae—Cardinals and Dickcissels This group includes the Northern Cardinal and the congeneric Pyrrhuloxia, grosbeaks, and the Dickcissel.

Cardinalis sp.—Northern Cardinal or Pyrrhuloxia The Northern Cardinal currently occurs in the southern half of Arizona, southwestern New Mexico, and occasionally in southeastern New Mexico, thence south into the Big Bend. The Pyrrhuloxia occurs throughout the Lower Sonoran Life Zone in our region. Sites. Late Wisconsin: Harris' Pocket (Harris 1993c). Literature. Harris 1993c.

Cardinalis cardinalis (Linnaeus 1758)—Northern Cardinal Sites. Late Wisconsin: Maricopa (Jefferson 1991a). Literature. Jefferson 1991a.

Passerina sp.—Varied Buntings The Lazuli and Painted Buntings currently occur in our region. The former is widespread, the latter primarily in the southern portions of our region. Sites. Mid/Late Wisconsin: Dark Canyon Cave (Harris 1993c: ?). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Stanton's Cave (Rea and Hargrave 1984). Literature. Harris 1993c; Rea and Hargrave 1984.

Piranga ludoviciana (Wilson 1811)—Western Tanager Sites. Wisconsin: Carpinteria (Guthrie 2009). Literature. Guthrie 2009.

Spiza sp.—Dickcissels A single species of Dickcissel (Spiza americana) is recognized. Dickcissels are primarily Midwestern in the breeding season, but occur along the eastern portions of New Mexico. Ligon (1961) found them especially common in the Pecos Valley during migration. Sites. Mid/Late Wisconsin: Dark Canyon Cave (Harris 1993c: ?). Literature. Harris 1993c; Ligon 1961.

Pheucticus sp.—Grosbeaks Sites. Rancholabrean: Cool Water Coal Gasification Solid Waste Site (Jefferson 1991a: aff.). Literature. Jefferson 1991a.

Pheucticus melanocephalus (Swainson 1827)—Black-headed Grosbeak Sites. Mid/Late Wisconsin: Rancho La Brea (Stock and Harris 1992). Late Wisconsin: Maricopa (Jefferson 1991a). Literature. Jefferson 1991a; Stock and Harris 1992.

Last Update: 15 Feb 2014

Main Menu Class Aves Order Passeriformes Family Icteridae

Agelaius phoeniceus—Red-winged Blackbird // Euphagus magnirostris—Big-billed Blackbird // Icterus —American Orioles // Molothrus ater —Brown-headed Cowbird // Pandanaris convexa — Convex-billed Cowbird // Pyelorhamphus molothroides—Thick-billed Cowbird // Quiscalus —Grackles // Sturnella—Meadowlarks // Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus—Yellow-headed Blackbird Icteridae—Blackbirds Although generally going under the common name of "blackbirds", this family includes the meadowlarks and orioles (among others), neither of which conjures up the image of a black bird. Over a dozen species occur in the region at present.

Last Update: 21 Dec 2013

Main Menu Class Aves Order Passeriformes Family Icteridae

Agelaius sp.—Blackbirds Sites. Sangamon: Newport Bay Mesa (Jefferson 1991a). Late Wisconsin: Maricopa (Jefferson 1991a). Literature. Jefferson 1991a.

Agelaius phoeniceus (Linnaeus 1766)—Red-winged Blackbird Red-winged Blackbird. Photograph by Geoff Gallice under Creative Commons Attribution License. Red-winged Blackbirds are closely tied to aquatic situations with rushes or other emergent vegetation. They are widespread in the region today. Sites. Sangamon: La Brisca (Van Devender et al.

1985). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Dark Canyon Cave (Harris 1993c: ? gen. et sp.); Rancho La Brea (Stock and Harris 1992). Late Wisconsin: Harris' Pocket (Harris 1989); Skull Cave (Emslie 1988). Late

Wisconsin/Holocene: Conkling Cavern (Howard and Miller 1933: ?). Literature. Emslie 1988; Harris 1989, 1993c; Howard and Miller 1933; Stock and Harris 1992; Van Devender et al. 1985.

Last Update: 28 Jan 2014

Main Menu Class Aves Order Passeriformes Family Icteridae

†Euphagus magnirostris Miller 1929—Big-billed Blackbird Euphagus magnirostris was named on the basis of a lower mandible from Rancho La Brea (Miller 1929). Pertinent data were given by Miller (1929): Diagnosis.-Ramus long and gonys (symphysis) relatively short; mental angle wide; mandible slightly attenuated distally; basal part of gonys somewhat inflated; gonys and tomium faintly curved; remainder of the skeleton, in so far as known, similar to cyanocephalus. Comparison.-The lower mandible of magnirostris most nearly approaches E. cyanocephalus, but is larger and stockier, with a greater interramal space. The upper and lower margins of the mandible are slightly curved distally instead of being approximately straight (compare pl. 1, e, g). Measurements.-Of type: length of ramus, 23.5 mm.; interramal width at base of tomium, 9.4. Average of six males of cyanocephalus (maximum and minimum in parenthesis): length of ramus, 22.4 (23.0-21.8); interramal width, 8.7 (8.9-8.4). Sites. Mid/Late Wisconsin: Rancho La Brea (Stock and Harris 1992). Literature. Miller 1929; Stock and Harris 1992.

Last Update: 1 Jul 2014

Main Menu Class Aves Order Passeriformes Family Icteridae

Icterus sp.—American Orioles Several species of orioles are now summer residents of the region. Sites. Mid/Late Wisconsin: Dark Canyon Cave (Harris 1993c: ?); Rancho La Brea (Stock and Harris 1992). Late Wisconsin: Antelope Cave (Reynolds, Reynolds, Bell, and Pitzer 1991); Harris' Pocket (Harris 1993c). Literature. Harris 1993c; Reynolds, Reynolds, Bell, and Pitzer 1991.

Icterus bullockii (Swainson 1927)—Bullock's Oriole Sites. Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Stanton's Cave (Rea and Hargrave 1984). Literature. Rea and Hargrave 1984; Stock and Harris 1992.

Icterus cucullatus (Swainson, 1827)—Hooded Oriole Sites. Rancholabrean: Cool Water Coal Gasification Solid Waste Site (Jefferson 1991a: aff.). Literature. Jefferson 1991a.

Last Update: 28 May 2014

Main Menu Class Aves Order Passeriformes Family Icteridae

Molothrus ater (Boddaert 1783)—Brown-headed Cowbird This nest parasite occurs throughout the region below about 8,000 ft. in the interior Southwest. Sites. Mid/Late Wisconsin: Rancho La Brea (Stock and Harris 1992). Mid Wisconsin-Holocene: Shelter Cave (Howard and Miller 1933). Literature. Howard and Miller 1933; Stock and Harris 1992.

Last Update: 20 Dec 2013

Main Menu Class Aves Order Passeriformes Family Icteridae

†Pandanaris convexa Miller 1947—Convex-billed Cowbird Rancho La Brea is the type locality of Pandanaris convexa. Miller (1947: 22) described the genus as follow: Generic characters.-Upper mandible similar to that of Tangavius and Molothrus in shortness and great basal depth, and in shape and depth of central groove of palatal surface, but narial opening much larger (about 30 per cent, relatively) and anterobasal angle of opening more acute; culmen uniformly curved from base; without basal hummock present to varying degree in most icterids; internarial bridge broad, hence wholly different from that of cowbirds and blackbirds (including Pyelorhamphus), the breadth equivalent to that in some caciques (Amblycercus and Cacicus), but without any of the associated restriction of narial opening found in that group of icterids. Type.-Pandanaris convexa. The species description (p. 22) was given as: "tomium curved in lateral view, especially basally beneath anterior end of nasal fossa, as in Molothrus; basal half of culmen flat, not ridged, and posterior end of internarial bridge but slightly narrower than anterior end; posteroventral margin of nostril distinctly angled, not rounded." Sites. Mid/Late Wisconsin: Rancho La Brea (Miller 1947). Literature. Miller 1947.

Last Update: 27 Jun 2014

Main Menu Class Aves Order Passeriformes Family Icteridae

†Pyelorhamphus molothroides A. H. Miller 1932—Thick-billed Cowbird Miller (1932) described a new genus and species of cowbird from Shelter Cave. His description is as follows (1932:339-40): Pyelorhamphus new genus.     Generic characters.—Lower mandible most nearly like Molothrus and Tangavius in the deep, short, sharply pointed bill, but groove for tongue relatively much deeper and narrower; tomial contour, viewed dorsally, strongly concave; tomium, viewed laterally, straight in distal portion (extreme tip lacking) but strongly, although not abruptly, convex basally with ramus relatively deep in this region; ramus posterior to termination of horn sheath strongly deflected downward; angle of rami at symphysis relatively obtuse indicating broad or massive head relative to length of bill.    Type.—Pyelorhamphus molothroides. Pyelorhamphus molothroides new species.    Type.—Lower mandible, lacking the extreme tip and most of the rami posterior to the region of the horn sheath, no. 320, locality 1010, Los Angeles Museum, from Quaternary of Shelter Cave, west slope of Organ Mountains, Doña Ana County, New Mexico. Collected by H. A. Wylde and W. M. Strong, August 25, 1930. (See Plate IV, figs. 1, 2 and 3.) Miller (p. 40) characterized the upper mandible as: "Culmen nearly straight anterior to nostrils; culmen moderately curved above posterior part of nostrils; internarial bridge much broader anteriorly than posteriorly; base of culmen (nasal process of maxilla) elevated posteriorly into distinct ridge rising above posterior part of nasal fossae; angle formed by junction of anterior and ventral margins of nostrils only slightly greater than 90°; maxillo-palatine groove deep and divided medially into two parts; grooves for tomium of lower mandible strongly divergent posteriorly, corresponding in shape with tomium of lower mandible no. 320." Measurements of the holotype and referred upper mandible are (p. 20):    Lower mandible: greatest depth of ramus, near base of tomium,

4.6 mm.; greatest width across rami immediately proximad of base of horn sheath, 11.2 mm.; distance from symphysis to proximal end of tomium (base of horn sheath), 7.0 mm.; depth of groove at symphysis, 3.3 mm Upper mandible: greatest anteroposterior diameter of nostril, 5.2 mm.; greatest depth perpendicular to tomium at point of attachment to jugals, 4.6 mm. Sites. Mid Wisconsin-Holocene: Shelter Cave (A. H. Miller 1932). Literature. A. H. Miller 1932.

Last Update: 29 Sep 2008

Main Menu Class Aves Order Passeriformes Family Icteridae

Quiscalus sp.—Grackles The Great-tailed Grackle (Quiscalus mexicanus) occurs pretty much throughout the region, usually close to water. The Common Grackle occurs from eastern New Mexico and eastward, though occasional records appear elsewhere in the Southwest. Sites. Late Wisconsin: Harris' Pocket (Harris 1993c). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Balcony Room (Harris 1993c). Literature. Harris 1993c.

Last Update: 27 Jun 2014

Main Menu Class Aves Order Passeriformes Family Icteridae

Sturnella sp.—Meadowlarks The Western Meadowlark is widespread in the region today, and the range of the Eastern Meadowlark includes much of eastern Arizona, the southern portions of New Mexico, and most of Trans-Pecos Texas. Both prefer open areas of grassland. Sites. Rancholabrean: Cool Water Coal Gasification Solid Waste Site (Jefferson 1991a: aff.). Mid Wisconsin: Pendejo Cave (Harris 2003). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Dark Canyon Cave (Harris 1993c: ?, as Euphagus/Sturnella). Late Wisconsin: Harris' Pocket (Harris 1989). Literature. Harris 1989, 1993c, 2003; Jefferson 1991a.

Sturnella neglecta Audubon 1844—Western Meadowlark Sites. Rancholabrean: San Pedro Lumber Yard (Jefferson 1991a). Sangamon: San Pedro Lumber Co. (Jefferson 1991a). Wisconsin: Carpinteria (Guthrie 2009). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Diamond Valley (Springer et al. 2009: cf. gen.); Rancho La Brea (Stock and Harris. Late Wisconsin: Maricopa (Jefferson 1991a). Literature. Guthrie 2009; Jefferson 1991a; Stock and Harris 1992.

Main Menu Class Aves Order Passeriformes Family Icteridae

Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus (Bonaparte 1826)—Yellow-headed Blackbird Yellow-headed Blackbirds generally are associated with aquatic areas with thick emergent vegetation. They currently summer largely in the northern part of our region, but occur region-wide in migration and some winter in the southern portions of the area. A male and female Yellow-headed Blackbird. Painting by Louis Agasszi Fuertes (after Henshaw, 1921). Sites. Rancholabrean: Cool Water Coal Gasification Solid Waste Site (Jefferson 1991a: cf.). Wisconsin: Carpinteria (Guthrie 2009). Mid Wisconsin: U-Bar Cave (Harris 1987: ? gen. et sp.). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Dark Canyon Cave (Harris 1993c: ? gen. et sp.); Rancho La Brea (Stock and Harris 1992). Late Wisconsin: Camel Room (Harris 1993c: ? gen. et sp.). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Burnet Cave (Wetmore 1932). Literature. Guthrie 2009; Harris 1987, 1993c; Henshaw 1921; Jefferson 1991a; Stock and Harris 1992; Wetmore 1932.

Last Update: 25 Feb 2014

Main Menu Class Aves Order Passeriformes Family Fringillidae

Carpodacus—Purple Finches // Coccothraustes vespertinus —Evening Grosbeak // Loxia curvirostra —Red Crossbill // Spinus—Siskins and New World Goldfinches

Fringillidae—Finches The Fringillidae is a large family that includes a number of species commonly known as finches (the common name also appears in other families, however), but also crossbills, redpolls, siskins, and the Evening Grosbeak. Many, unfortunately, not only are difficult to distinguish from others in the family but also from members of other families.

Last Update: 22 Dec 2013

Main Menu Class Aves Order Passeriformes Family Fringillidae

Carpodacus sp.—Purple Finches Cassin's Finch tends to occur in dense montane forest, although it may occur at lower altitudes in winter. The common member of the genus is the House Finch (see below). Sites. Late Wisconsin: Bison Chamber (Harris 1993c); Camel Room (Harris 1993c: ?); Harris' Pocket (Harris 1989). Literature. Harris 1989, 1993c.

Carpodacus mexicanus (Müller 1776)—House Finch House Finches are widely distributed in the Upper and Lower Sonoran life-zones, but may also range up into at least the lower montane forests. Sites. Mid Wisconsin-Holocene: Shelter Cave (Howard and Miller 1933). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Conkling Cavern (Howard and Miller 1933). Literature. Howard and Miller 1933.

Last Update: 20 Mar 2013

Main Menu Class Aves Order Passeriformes Family Fringillidae

Coccothraustes vespertinus (W. Cooper 1825)—Evening Grosbeak Sites. Mid/Late Wisconsin: Ranch La Brea (Stock and Harris 1992). Literature. Stock and Harris 1992.

Last Update: 22 Dec 2013

Main Menu Class Aves Order Passeriformes Family Fringillidae

Loxia curvirostra Linnaeus 1758—Red Crossbill Red Crossbills are creatures of the forested high country. In summer, they currently occur in the high northern mountains of our region; in winter, they may descend to forested highlands throughout the region (Ligon 1961). The crossed tips of its upper and lower bill are well adapted to extracting conifer seeds from their cones. The fossil occurrence at Burnet Cave fits well with the evidences for greater forested conditions in the Guadalupe Mountains during the Pleistocene (Van Devender et al. 1979). Sites. Wisconsin: Carpinteria (Guthrie 2009). Late Wisconsin: Burnet Cave (Schultz and Howard 1935). Literature. Guthrie 2009Ligon 1961; Schultz and Howard 1935; Van Devender et al. 1979.

Last Update: 28 Dec 2008

Main Menu Class Aves Order Passeriformes Family Fringillidae

Spinus pinus (Wilson 1810)—Pine Siskin Sites. Wisconsin: Carpinteria (Guthrie 2009). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Ranch La Brea (Stock and Harris 1992). Literature. Guthrie 2009; Stock and Harris 1992.

Spinus tristis (Linnaeus 1758)—American Goldfinch Sites. Mid/Late Wisconsin: Ranch La Brea (Stock and Harris 1992). Literature. Stock and Harris 1992.

Last Update: 28 Dec 2013

Main Menu Class Mammalia Order Didelphimorphia Family Didelphidae

Didelphis virginiana Kerr 1792—Virginia Opossum This marsupial is native from southeastern Canada south through central and eastern United States to northern Costa Rica in Central America. The western United States apparently is not in the native range, but human introductions have allowed isolated populations to survive west to California. Several presumably introduced populations have been noted in New Mexico and Trans-Pecos Texas. The sole fossil specimen from New Mexico was identified by Slaughter (1975) from the

gallery forests.

Blackwater Draw Fauna (Brown Sand Wedge) in the extreme eastern portion of the state on the basis of a single M1. There is little chance of misidentification since opossum teeth are distinctive. As appears to be the case for several other taxa from the Brown Sand Wedge local fauna (e.g., Dasypus bellus, Procyon lotor), this likely records the opossum moving westward up drainages from the east. Presumably these drainages supported riparian

Fig. 1 gives an idea as to how different Didelphis is compared to other regional

mammals. The left dentary shown displays four lower incisors, a canine, three premolars, and four molars. The maximum number and arrangement of teeth in our placental mammals for the same element is three incisors, one canine, four premolars, and three molars. Fig. 1. Skull and lower jaw of Didelphis virginiana. UTEP Mammal Collection. Sites. Late Wisconsin: Blackwater Loc. No. 1 (Slaughter 1975). Literature. Slaughter 1975.

Last Update: 21 June 2008

Main Menu Class Mammalia Order Proboscidea

Elephantidae—Mammoths // Gomphotheriidae—Gomphotheres // Mammutidae—American Mastodon Proboscidea—Elephant Relatives Pleistocene proboscideans in general have many of the traits we associate with elephants, such as a trunk (an elongated hose-like extension containing the nasal passages), tusks (the enlarged second upper incisors; in some extinct forms, the second lower incisors also formed tusks), and a relatively large size. The head is large relative to the body in most; this is accomplished by having a large number of sinuses allowing large size without concomitant weight. Presumably the increased size forms surfaces for muscle attachments necessary to support the heavy tusks. The skeleton is adapted to support the great weight. The limbs are columnar, with the upper limb bones (humerus and femur) elongated and the lower (radius and ulna in the forelimb, tibia and fibular in the hind limb) shortened. The ankle and wrist, along with the feet, are massive, with five widespread toes and a mass of connective tissue cushioning the heel. In many ways, the skeletal proportions are the opposite to those seen in mammals adapted for fast locomotion (cursorial). Although, judging from modern elephants, respectable speed may be attained, sloping ground presents a danger and jumping is out of the question. The Mammoth Site in the Black Hills of South Dakota is instructive; the site apparently was a sink with water at the bottom; a number of mammoths made their way down the sloping sides, presumably for water, and then found themselves trapped, unable to navigate up the slopes. Fig. 1. Mounted skeleton of Mammuthus columbi, Nebraska State Museum. Note the columnar nature of the limbs and the enlarged cranial vault. Photograph © N. Lindsley-Griffin. There may be some question on the part of readers as to how we know extinct proboscideans had trunks. Luckily, the similarity between extinct and living species and subsidiary evidence from other taxa are compelling. The configuration of the nasal opening is very different among animals with trunks (the proboscis, or "nose" that gives the order its name) compared to those without. The opening is high on the skull, between the orbits for the eyes. The tendency can be seen to lesser extent even in the tapirs, whose "trunk" is short.

In a few cases, soft anatomy has been preserved by freezing in Arctic permafrost, enabling us to know that the ears of the Woolly Mammoth, for example, were relatively small. We also could have guessed this was the case from biological knowledge, since mammals in cold climates tend to have smaller ears than close relatives in warmer areas; large exposed surfaces are wide open for frost bite. The Proboscidea apparently originated in Africa, later spreading to other continents with the exception of Australia and Antarctica (Kurtén and Anderson 1980). Three families of proboscideans are known from the Pleistocene of the region: Mammutidae (mastodon), Gomphotheriidae (gomphotheres), and Elephantidae (mammoths). The mammoths are relatively late comers to the New World, showing up around 1.6 mya (Morgan and Lucas 2005). They and the mastodons survived until the end of the Pleistocene (with one island population surviving well into the Holocene), but gomphotheres appear to have disappeared from our region by the end of the Early Irvingtonian (Morgan and Lucas 2005). Literature. Kurtén and Anderson 1980; Morgan and Lucas 2005.

Last Update: 19 Nov 2008

Main Menu Class Mammalia Order Proboscidea Family Elephantidae

Elephantidae—Elephant Family // Mammuthus sp.—Mammoth // Mammuthus columbi—Columbian Mammoth // Mammuthus exilis — Pygmy Mammoth // Mammuthus imperator —Imperial Mammoth // Mammuthus meridionalis —Southern Mammoth Elephantidae—Mammoths The family Elephantidae includes the extinct mammoths and the living species of elephants. The family traces back to Africa, where it split off from the gomphothere line. The Indian Elephant (Elephas maximus) is the most closely related living species to the mammoths, both on the basis of morphology and of what little DNA evidence is available. Aside from the general proboscidean characters briefly mentioned in the section on the Proboscidea, the most obvious adaptation among the mammoths is in the nature of their cheek teeth. Rather than following the usual mammalian tooth pattern, a tooth consists of a number of plates of enamel-covered dentine held together by cementum. The plates are at right angles to the axis of the tooth. Differential wear between the highly resistant enamel, the somewhat less resistant dentine, and the relatively soft cementum results in teeth adapted to clipping herbage into short segments while also crushing the plant material to break down the cell walls. The great size and depth of the teeth resist wear from the normally abrasive foods utilized.

†Mammuthus—Mammoths Mammoths originated in the Old World, migrating into the New at the start of the Irvingtonian Land Mammal Age. Thus their occurrence in a fauna is taken as indicating that the age is either Irvingtonian or Rancholabrean. A number of taxonomic schemes for Mammuthus have been advanced. One, rather commonly followed, suggests two clades represented in the New World. One is represented by the Woolly Mammoth, Mammuthus primigenius, restricted in northern North America to Canada and a few northern U.S states. The other clade is represented by a series of species in an apparent anagenetic sequence. Under this nomenclature, the latter series (from oldest to most recent) is M. meridionalis, M. imperator, and M. columbi. M. hayi may be equivalent to M. meridionalis. M. jeffersoni has been used for the most recent mammoths in this line (e.g., Kurtén and

Anderson 1980); however Agenbroad (2003) instead suggested that M. jeffersonii is conspecific with M. primigenius. The line ended in North America in extinction at the end of the Pleistocene. An alternative taxonomy has M. imperator as conspecific with M. columbi, with the latter name having precedence. There also has been the suggestion that M. columbi, rather than being descended from M. meridionalis, was derived from the Old World M. trogontherii (e.g., McDaniel 2006). For purposes here, a distinction is made in the accounts between M. imperator and M. columbi without taking a stand on which taxonomic view is correct. Fig. 1. A partial maxilla and premaxilla of Mammuthus with the posteriormost fragment of M2 and the nearly complete M3 (several plates are missing posteriorly). Note the wear surface of M3; as the anterior portion of the tooth wears away, the tooth rotates anteriorly, shifting the wear surface posteriorly. Both by the structure of the teeth and by analogy with its nearest living relative, the Indian Elephant (Elephas maximus), it's generally accepted that mammoths were grazers. The massive teeth are admirably adapted to withstand the highly abrasive diet of grasses. The cheek teeth are so large that normally no more than portions of two teeth are in place at any one time. The teeth move forward in the jaws as they wear, pushing the earlier tooth forward. The teeth are angled such that the anterior end wears first, the tooth rotating into wear as the front end is ground away. Thus, at any one time, between full eruption of the first tooth of the series of six and the last, the hinder end of the anterior tooth and the anterior end of the posterior tooth are in wear. In addition to this "conveyor system" of tooth replacement, the teeth are highly hypsodont, providing a long period of vertical wear before the tooth become useless. The tendency through time has been to increase the number of plates of enamel that make up each cheek tooth concomitant with reduction in the thickness of the enamel. Features other than size also facilitate a long period of usefulness. Cheek teeth consist of anteriorly-posteriorly flattened plates joined together by cementum. Each plate consists of a flattened oval of enamel around a core of dentine. This arrangement has several advantages. For one, the enamel resists wear. This not only extends the life of the tooth, but also results in a series of ridges extending beyond the less resistant dentine and the even softer cementum. As uppers and lowers move against one another, plant material is caught between the enamel ridges and neatly clipped.

Morgan and Lucas (2005) suggest that most of the sites listed here, as well as findings noted only as proboscidean, likely represent M. columbi. Mead et al. (2006:165) state: Given these identification problems, we refer essentially all Arizona mammoth remains to Maglio's designation of M. columbi (in part equates to M. jeffersoni of Kurtén and Anderson, 1980)." Records from Mead et al. (2005) are tentatively placed in this species, and they point out that a specimen from Taylor, Arizona, identified as M. imperator lacks published data necessary for sure placement with a species and time interval (Mead et al. 2005). In somewhat of an inconsistency, records by other authors that are not included in Mead et al. or Agenbroad et al. (2013) are given here as Mammuthus sp. Literature. Agenbroad 2003; Agenbroad et al. 2013; Kurtén and Anderson 1980; McDaniel 2006; Morgan and Lucas 2005; Mead et al. 2005; Mead et al. 2006

†Mammuthus sp.—Mammoths Fragmentary teeth and post-cranial elements often are identifiable as mammoths, but not identifiable to species; also, some specimens likely identifiable have only been reported as Mammuthus (or as mammoth). Sites. Irvingtonian/Rancholabrean: Albert (Morgan and Lucas 2005); Datil (Morgan and Lucas 2005); Encino Blowouts (Agogino 1972); Green's Gap (Morgan and Lucas 2005); Lazy E Ranch (Morgan and Lucas 2005); Near Marathon (Mallouf 2001); Perico Creek (Morgan and Lucas 2005); Quarai (Hibben 1941); Riverside (Jefferson 1991b). Late Blancan: Tecopa Lake Beds (Woodburne and Whistler 1991: ? gen.). Irvingtonian: El Paso (UTEP); Elsinore: Microtus/Mammuthus (Pajak et al. 1996). Late Irvingtonian/Early Rancholabrean: Eureka Street, Victorville (Jefferson 1991b); Rancho California (Jefferson 1991b: ?); Thorn, Victorville (Jefferson 1991b); Village Drive (Jefferson 1991b). Irvingtonian/Rancholabrean: Manix Lake (Jefferson 1991a). Rancholabrean: Aconchi (White et al. 2010); Altar (White et al. 2010); Arbogast Ranch (Jefferson 1991b); Athens on the Hill (Jefferson 1991b); Awl Site (Jefferson 1991b); Bachoco (White et al. 2010); Badlands Ranch (Morgan and Lucas 2005); Ballast Point, San Diego (Jefferson 1991b); Ballona Creek Wash (Jefferson 1991b); Bedford Properties (Jefferson 1991b); Big Bear Cutoff (Jefferson 1991b); Bitter Springs Playa (Jefferson 1991b); Bixby Rd. between Atlantic and Orange avenues (Jefferson 1991b: ? gen.); Black Butte (Jefferson 1991b); Bolsa Chica (Jefferson 1991b); Brickyard, 13633 South Central Ave. (Jefferson 1991b); Camarillo, Las Posas Estates (Jefferson 1991b); Campbell Hill (Jefferson 1991b); Carbó (White et al.

2010); Carizzo Plains (Jefferson 1991b); Cedros (White et al. 2010); Century Blvd. and Van Ness Ave. (Jefferson 1991b); Charley Day Spring (Lindsay and Tessman 1974); Cherry Ave. and Spring St., Long Beach (Jefferson 1991b); Ciénega de Cabo (White et al. 2010); Coachella Canal 1 (Jefferson 1991b); Cócorit (White et al. 2010); Compton (Jefferson 1991b); Conejo (Jefferson 1991b); Cool Water Coal Gasification Site (Jefferson 1991b); Costa Mesa (Jefferson 1991b); Cumpas (White et al. 2010); Dacolite Quarry, Walteria (Jefferson 1991b); Dana Point (Jefferson 1991b); Dominguez Hills (Jefferson 1991b); Earp (Jefferson 1991b); El Mármol (Garay B.); Figueroa and Sepulveda boulevards (Jefferson 1991b); Gaffey Street and Agajanian Drive (Jefferson 1991b); General MacArthur Blvd. (Jefferson 1991b); Granite Creek (Pasenko and Agenbroad 2012); Harbor Freeway, Athens (Jefferson 1991b); Harbor Freeway and 99th St. (Jefferson 1991b); Hermosillo (White et al. 2010); Hope Ranch (Jefferson 1991b); Huntington Beach (Jefferson 1991b); Jalama State Park (Jefferson 1991b); Keams Canyon (Agenbroad and Mead 1989); Kingston Wash (Jefferson 1991b); La Angostura (White et al. 2010); La Botana (White et al. 2010); La Brea and Venice boulevards (Jefferson 1991b); Laguna Niguel (Jefferson 1991b); Lake San Agustín (Morgan and Lucas 2005); La Puercera (White et al. 2010); Llano Prieto (White et al. 2010); Lomita (Jefferson 1991b); Los Algodones (Garay B.); Madison and Middlebury, Los Angeles (Jefferson 1991b); Magdalena (White et al. 2010); Mankin (Jefferson 1991b); Mesa and Third streets (Jefferson 1991b); Main and 114th Streets, Los Angeles (Jefferson 1991b); Manchester and Airport boulevards (Jefferson 1991b); Manchester and Vermont boulevards (Jefferson 1991b); Naco (Sonora) (White et al. 2010); Olympic Boulevard and Alvira Street (Jefferson 1991b); Pendleton (Jefferson 1991b); Pixie Ave. and Cover St. (Jefferson 1991b); Quiriego (White et al. 2010); Rancho de Enmedio (White et al. 2010); Rancho La Brisca (White et al. 2010); Rubidoux (Jefferson 1991b); San Clemente (Jefferson 1991b); San Miguel (Jefferson 1991b); San Nicolas Island (Jefferson 1991b); San Pedro Lumber Yard (Jefferson 1991b); San Vicente (Garay B.); Salinas River Sand Site (Jefferson 1991b); Salt Springs (Jefferson 1991b); San Buenaventura (Jefferson 1991b); Sands (Jefferson 1991b); Santa Cruz (Morgan and Lucas 2005); Santa Monica Freeway near Gramercy St. (Jefferson 1991b); Santa Rosa (White et al. 2010); Solano Beach (Jefferson 1991b); Solomon (Tegowski and White 2000); Sparklets Mammoth, Lincoln Blvd. and 45th St., Pasadena (Jefferson 1991b); Springerville (McDonald et al. 2004); Sylmar (Jefferson 1991b); Térapa (White et al. 2010); Tijuana (Garay B.); Tijuana River Valley (Jefferson 1991b); Vallecito Creek (Jefferson 1991b); Van Norman Reservoir (lower) (Jefferson 1991b); Villa Ahumada (Comadurán et al. 1992; Whitlock Valley (Tegowski and White 2000); Wilmington Ave (Jefferson 1991b); Yeso Creek (Agogino 1972). Late Rancholabrean: Abiquiu (Morgan and Lucas 2005); Big Bear (Morgan and Lucas 2005); East Cave (O'Laughlin 1977). Sangamon: La Brisca (Van Devender et al. 1985); General MacArthur Blvd. (Jefferson 1991b); San Pedro Lumber Co. (Jefferson 1991b). Wisconsin: La Brea and Venice boulevards (Jefferson 1991b: ? Wisconsin); Los Angeles River, Higuera St. and Moynier Lane (Jefferson 1991b); Palos Verdes Hills (Jefferson 1991b: ? Wisconsin). Early Wisconsin: Stevens Lake (Jefferson 1991b). Mid Wisconsin: Tank Trap Wash (Van Devender et al. 1987).

Late Wisconsin: Bonfire Shelter (Dibble and Lorain 1968); Howell's Ridge Cave (Harris 1993c); Isleta Cave No. 1 (Harris 1993c); Lucy Site (Agogino 1972); Marfa Plain (Mallouf 2001); Sandia Cave, Folsom Level (Hibben 1941); Sandia Cave, Sandia Level (Hibben 1941); Solar One (Jefferson 1991b). Literature. Agenbroad and Mead 1989; Agogino 1972; Comadurán et al. 1992; Dibble and Lorrain 1968; Garay B., A. (http://paleontologianoticiosa.blogspot.com/2009/09/exponen-restos-de-mamut-debaja.html, accessed 11 August 2014)); Harris 1993c; Hibben 1941; Jefferson 1991b; Lindsay and Tessman 1974; Mallouf 2001; McDonald et al. 2004; Mead et al. 2005; Morgan and Lucas 2005; O'Laughlin 1977; Tegowski and White 2000; Pajak et al. 1996; Pasenko and Agenbroad 2012; Van Devender et al. 1985; Van Devender et al. 1987; White et al. 2010.

†Mammuthus columbi (Falconer 1857)—Columbian Mammoth Kurtén and Anderson (1980) applied this name to the taxon treated herein as M. imperator and used the name M. jeffersoni for the taxon recognized here as M. columbi. Mammuthus columbi is by far the most commonly recovered species of mammoth and nearly the most common mammal recovered from open sites. The reasons for this are apparent: the recency of occurrence and the fact that it's very difficult to overlook such a large creature. The map gives a good impression of the distribution of sites, but in several clusters, especially in southeastern Arizona, sites are so numerous that only a portion of them can be shown. Fiedel (2009) lists what he considers the nine youngest, credible dates for Mammuthus columbi. These cluster between 11,110 ± 40 and 10,710 ± 130 BP, dating the Columbian Mammoth as a participant in the Pleistocene megafaunal extinction. Following Mead et al. (2005), it has been assumed that Mammuthus records refer to M. columbi unless specifically assigned to a different species. This is not without danger since such an assumption may be incorrect—however, forewarned is forearmed. Sites. Irvingtonian: NE Bowie (Pasenko 2012). Late Irvingtonian: Elsinore: Pauba Formation (Pajak et al. 1996: cf.). Early Rancholabrean: Albuquerque Gravel Pits (Morgan and Lucas 2005).

Rancholabrean: Acton Railroad Station, Soledad Canyon (Jefferson 1991b); Adamana (Agenbroad et al. 2013); Alkali Flat (Morgan and Lucas 2005); Alkali Spring (Morgan and Lucas 2005); Arizpe (Lindsay 1984b); Ash Canyon (Mead et al. 2005); Bain (Mead et al. 2005); Beverly Blvd. and Kilkea Drive (Jefferson 1991b); Big Tooth (Mead et al. 2005); Bill Williams River Fork (Mead et al. 2005); Bixby Park, Long Beach (Jefferson 1991b: cf.); Black Mountain (Mead et al. 2005); Black Point (Mead et al. 2005); Black Rock (Morgan and Lucas 2005); Bloomfield (Morgan and Lucas 2005); Blue Diamond Company, Alameda and 16th streets (Jefferson 1991b: cf.); Boquillas Station (Mead et al. 2005); Calera Ranch (Mead et al. 2005); Cameron (Mead et al. 2005); Canez Wash (Mead et al. 2005); Capitan (Morgan and Lucas 2005); Carrizozo (Harris 1993c: cf.); Cartridge (Mead et al. 2005); Casados Ranch (Morgan and Lucas 2005); Cerro Colorado (Mead et al. 2005); Chambers-McCarrel (Mead et al. 2005); Chandler (Agenbroad et al. 2013); Charley Day Spring (Mead et al. 2005); Choate Ranch (Mead et al. 2005); Colorado River (Agenbroad et al. 2013); Comobabi Mammoth (Mead et al. 2005); Corona (Morgan and Lucas 2005); Cow Springs (Agenbroad et al. 2013); Cypress and Slauson avenues, Hyde Park (Jefferson 1991b); Davies Tank (Morgan and Lucas 2005); Deming (Morgan and Lucas 2005); Dogie Jones Ranch (Morgan and Lucas 2005); Donnet (Mead et al. 2005); Ehrenberg (Mead et al. 2005); Elgin School (Mead et al. 2005); Estancia Sand Pit (Morgan and Lucas 2005); Fenn Site (Mead et al. 2005); Fort McDowell (Mead et al. 2005); Fort Stanton (Morgan and Lucas 2005); Fort Sumner (Morgan and Lucas 2005); Frito-Lay Plant, Westchester (Jefferson 1991b); Gardner Gravel (Mead et al. 2005); Gila Bend (Agenbroad et al. 2013); Golden Shores (Agenbroad et al. 2013); Goodwater Wash (Mead et al. 2005); Gray (Mead et al. 2005); Guenther Mammoth (Mead et al. 2005); Guadalupita (Gillette et al. 1985); Hawthorne (Jefferson 1991b: cf.); Hereford Dairy (Mead et al. 2005); Hurley (Mead et al. 2005); Inscription House (Agenbroad et al. 2013); Jal (Morgan and Lucas 2005); Jarrett (Mead et al. 2005); Keen Spring (Morgan and Lucas 2005); Kelton (Mead et al. 2005); Las Vegas (Morgan and Lucas 2005); Leikum (Mead et al. 2005); Leupp (Agenbroad et al. 2013); Lindsay Ranch (Mead et al. 2005); Lopez (Mead et al. 2005); Lordsburg Draw (Morgan and Lucas 2005); Los Angeles Brick Yard No. 3 (Jefferson 1991b: cf.); Los Angeles River, San Pedro (Jefferson 1991b); Mammoth (Mead et al. 2005); Melrose Ave. and La Cienega Blvd. (Jefferson 1991a); Mesa Redonda (Morgan and Lucas 2005); Milagro (Morgan and Lucas 2005); Morris Gravel (Mead et al. 2005); Morrow (Mead et al. 2005); Mosan Wash (Mead et al. 2005); Navajo (Agenbroad et al. 2013); Nichols (Lundin and Royse 1973); North of Golden Shores (Agenbroad et al. 2013); Pajarito Creek (Morgan and Lucas 2005); Peña Blanca (Morgan and Lucas 2005); Pettit (Mead et al. 2005); Phoenix (Agenbroad et al. 2013); Pirtleville (Mead et al. 2005); Picuris (Morgan and Lucas 2005); Pomerene West (Mead et al. 2005); Porter Springs (Mead et al. 2005); Quay (Morgan and Lucas 2003); Sacramento Mountains (Morgan and Lucas 2005); Safford (Tegowski and White 2000); Salt Creek, California (Jefferson 1991b); San Jose Spring (UTEP); San Pedro (Jefferson 1991b); San Simon (Mead et al. 2005); Sandblast Cave (Emslie 1988); Santa Fe (Morgan and Lucas 2005); Savallini-Williams (Agenbroad et al. 2013); Schaldack (Mead et al. 2005); Scottsdale (Agenbroad et al. 2013); Seal Beach (Jefferson 1991b); Seff (Mead et al. 2005); Sells (Mead et al. 2005); Shoulder (Mead et al. 2005); Shill Ranch (Mead et al. 2005); Sonoita (Mead et al. 2005); Sonoita Creek (Mead et al. 2005); Starvation Draw (Morgan and Lucas 2005); Tombstone Gulch (Mead et al. 2005); Tramperos Creek (Morgan and Lucas 2005); Tsegi Canyon (Mead et al. 2005); Tsegihatsosi Canyon (Mead et al. 2005); Tucson Brickyard (Mead et al. 2005); Tule Springs (Mawby 1967);

Vadito (Morgan and Lucas 2005); Wakefield (Mead et al. 2005); Walnut Grove (Mead et al. 2005); Whitewater Draw (Mead et al. 2005); Willcox (Mead et al. 2005); Wiregrass (Agenbroad et al. 2013); Woodruff (Mead et al. 2005); Wupatki Monument (Mead et al. 2005); Youngsville (Morgan and Lucas 2005); Yuma (Mead et al. 2005). Sangamon: Chandler Sand Pit, Rolling Hills Estates (Jefferson 1991b). Wisconsin: Costeau Pit (Jefferson 1991a); Imperial Highway (Jefferson 1991b). Mid Wisconsin: McKittrick (Schultz 1937); Shonto (Mead et al. 2005). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Arlington Canyon, Santa Rosa Island (Jefferson 1991b); Diamond Valley (Springer et al. 2009); Rancho La Brea (Stock and Harris 1992); Sandblast Cave (Emslie 1988); Tule Springs (Mawby 1967). Late Wisconsin: Anderson Basin et al. (Morgan and Lucas 2005); Big Bear (Morgan and Lucas 2005); Blackwater Draw Fauna (Slaughter 1975); Cerros Negros (Mead et al. 2005); China Lake (Jefferson 1991b: cf.); Double Adobe (Mead et al. 2005); Dry Gulch (Morgan and Lucas 2005); Escapule (Mead et al. 2005); Fain Ranch (Pasenko and Agenbroad 2012: cf.); Hermit's Cave (Harris 1993c); Hurley (Mead et al. 2005); Lehner Site (Hemmings 2007a); M & M Mastodon Site (Agenbroad et al. 2013); McCullum Ranch (Morgan and Lucas 2005); Murray Springs (Hemmings 2007b); Naco (Mead et al. 2005); Placitas (Morgan and Lucas 2005); Saint Johns (Mead et al. 2005); Salt Creek (UTEP: cf.); San Jon (Morgan and Lucas 2005); San Quintín (GuíaRamírez et al. 2013); Stolle Mammoth Site (Agogino 1985); Toyah (Metcalf 1977); Tule Springs (Mawby 1967); Valley Wells (Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991); VLA (Morgan et al. 2009); Winslow (Mead et al. 2005). Literature. Agenbroad et al. 2013; Agogino 1985; Fiedel 2009; Emslie 1988; Gillette et al. 1985; Guía-Ramírez et al. 2013; Harris 1993c; Hemmings2007a; Hemmings2007b; Jefferson 1991b; Lindsay 1978; Lindsay 1984b; Lundin and Royse 1973; Mawby 1967; Metcalf 1977; Morgan and Lucas 2003, 2005; Mead et al. 2005; Morgan et al. 2009; Pajak et al. 1996; Pasenko 2012; Pasenko and Agenbroad 2012; Reynolds et al. 1991; Schultz 1937, 1943; Slaughter 1975; Springer et al. 2009; Stock and Harris 1992; Tegowski and White 2000.

†Mammuthus exilis (Stock & Furlong 1928)—Pygmy Mammoth As the common name suggests, this is a pygmy form of Mammuthus. Miniaturization of large mammals after entering island habitats is not uncommon (on the other hand, small mammals may become much larger than their mainland counterparts). The Pygmy Mammoth appears to be descended from M. columbi, with some limb proportional changes that appear to have allowed it to ascend somewhat steeper slopes than were surmountable by M. columbi (Agenbroad 2003).

Radiocarbon dates suggest presence on the island more than 40,000 BP and that it survived until the general timeframe of the late Pleistocene extinctions (Agenbroad 2003). Sites. Mid/late Wisconsin: Arlington Canyon, Santa Rosa Island (Jefferson 1991b); Garanon Canyon, Santa Rosa Island (Jefferson 1991b); San Miguel Island (Jefferson 1991b). Literature. Agenbroad 2003; Jefferson 1991b.

†Mammuthus imperator (Leidy 1858)—Imperial Mammoth All of the occurrences of Mammuthus imperator have been plotted as Irvingtonian except that from Arizpe (which could be Irvingtonian). Morgan and Lucas (2005) have pointed out that several records have no confirming evidence; they may be Rancholabrean in age. Osborn (1929) named Mammuthus (Archidiskodon) sonoriensis from Arizpe; Lucas and González-León (1996) place this as a synonym of Mammuthus imperator.

Fig. 1. Lower anterior mandible with m/1 (?) from the eastern side of El Paso, Texas. Sites. Early/Medial Pleistocene: Marley Ranch (Morgan and Lucas 2005); Rio Conchas (Morgan and Lucas 2005). Irvingtonian: Anza-Borrego Desert (Murray 2008).

Irvingtonian ?: Galisteo (Morgan and Lucas 2005); (Morgan and Lucas 2005); San Francisco River (Morgan and Lucas 2005); Taylor (Mead et al. 2005). Irvingtonian: El Paso (UTEP: ?); Inman Gravel Pit (Morgan and Lucas 2005); Tijeras Arroyo (Morgan and Lucas 2005); Tortugas Mountain Gravel Pit (Morgan and Lucas 2005). Late Irvingtonian or Early Rancholabrean: Eighteenmile Bend (Morgan and Lucas 2005); X-Bar-X Ranch (Morgan and Lucas 2005). ?Irvingtonian/Rancholabrean: Emery Borrow Pit (Jefferson 1991b: cf.). Rancholabrean: Arizpe (White et al. 2010). Literature. Jefferson 1991b; Lucas and González-León 1996; Mead et al. 2005; Morgan and Lucas 2005; Murray 2008; Osborne 1929; White et al. 2010.

†Mammuthus meridionalis (Nesti 1825)—Southern Mammoth The tendency within the presumed anagenetic line Mammuthus meridionalis-M. imperator-M. columbi is to increase the number of tooth plates and reduce the thickness of the plate enamel. Even if this is not an ancestraldescendent sequence, the tooth morphology follows the trend. As the first in the line, M. meridionalis has relatively few plates with relatively thick enamel. Fig. 1. Occlusal and side view of a tooth of Mammuthus cf. meridionalis from the vicinity of

La Union, Doña Ana Co., NM. Sites. Irvingtonian: Anza-Borrego (Murray 2008); El Golfo (Croxen et al. 2007: cf.); Tijeras Arroyo (Morgan and Lucas 2005); Adobe Ranch (Morgan and Lucas 2005). Late Irvingtonian: Elsinore: Pauba Formation (Pajak et al. 1996: cf.). Literature. Croxen et al. 2007; Morgan and Lucas 2005; Murray 2008; Pajak et al. 1996.

Main Menu Class Mammalia Order Proboscidea Family Gomphotheriidae

Cuvieronius tropicus —Cuvier's Gomphothere // Rhynchotherium sp.—Snouted Gomphothere // Stegomastodon mirificus —Wonderful Stegodont

Gomphotheriidae—Gomphotheres Gomphotheres share the general proboscidean characters. Their dentition is more complex than that of the mastodon and less than that of the mammoths. The cheek teeth are relatively low crowned, but cusps and accessory cusps add complexity such that wear produces trefoils (Kurtén and Anderson 1980), the lobes of which may be further subdivided (Fig. 1). Fig 1. Upper left second molar of Stegomastodon mirificus, anterior to the top. The anterior of the tooth is heavily worn, with decreasing wear posteriorly. The dark gray and black is enamel; the light gray inside the bands of enamel is dentine. The crown of the unworn tooth was covered with enamel, the dentine now showing only where the enamel has been worn away. Light gray on the sides of the tooth and running between the major lophs is cementum. The trefoil pattern shows up well on the third loph, though the left subdivision of the loph shows additional complexities. In general, herbivores that have low-crowned, simple teeth are typically browsers. With increasing harshness of foodstuffs, the teeth tend to become more complex. This serves two functions: increased complexity of the extremely hard enamel means that there is more of this slow-wearing material to contact the food and the opposing tooth, thus retarding wear (wearing out teeth and thus starving before completion of reproduction is an effective contraceptive; under such regimes, natural selection tends to favor individuals whose genetics produce more complex teeth). Increased enamel complexity also increases the area of linear enamel ridges caused by slower wearing of the enamel compared to the softer dentine; these ridges localize the intense pressure generated during chewing, efficiently reducing the plant parts. We can thus hypothesize that gomphotheres likely included a fair amount of harsh vegetation or, perhaps, open and somewhat sparsely vegetated areas where abrasive dust chronically coated their plant food.

The gomphotheres need revision. However, as far as known, only two species made it into the Irvingtonian in our region, and neither survived that land-mammal age (Morgan and Lucas 2005). Survival was later in Florida and very late in South America (Kurtén and Anderson 1980). Literature. Kurtén and Anderson 1980; Morgan and Lucas 2005.

Last Update: 27 Jun 2014

Main Menu Class Mammalia Order Proboscidea Family Gomphotheriidae

†Cuvieronius sp.— Cuvier's Gomphothere The El Fin Del Mundo record is the latest known occurrence in North America and was associated with artifacts of the Clovis culture (Sanchez et al. 2014). Sites. Irvingtonian: El Golfo (Croxen et al. 2007). Rancholabrean: Areniscas (White et al. 2010); Oquitoa (White et al. 2010); Térapa (White et al. 2010). Literature. Croxen et al. 2007; Sanchez et al. 2014; White et al. 2010.

†Cuvieronius tropicus (Cope 1884)—Cuvier's Gomphothere Cuvieronius is described (Kurtén and Anderson 1980) as having a spiral enamel band on the tusks, molars with secondary trefoils, no cement, and without obliquity to the molar lophs. In September 2010, Diana M. Alba of the Las Cruces Sun-News reported in the El Paso Times (19 September, p. 5B) the discovery of the skull of Cuvieronius in a "dirt mining pit near Mesquite", New Mexico. According to the account, the owner of the property, Eddie Binns, turned the specimen over to New Mexico State University. The skull apparently was damaged badly during removal. A photograph of the skull in situ accompanied the article. In view of the lack of further documentation, the occurrence is not given a site account nor listed below in the records of occurrence.

Fig. 1. Posterior palate of

Cuvieronius tropicus, anterior to top. Drawing of a different New Mexico State University specimen (79.1.12.) Sites. Late Blancan: La Union (Morgan and Lucas 2003); Irvingtonian: Inman Gravel Pit (Morgan and Lucas 2005);

Lucas 2005).

Early Irvingtonian: Domingo (Morgan and Lucas 2005); Adobe Ranch (Morgan and Lucas 2003); Tortugas Mountain Gravel Pit (Morgan and

Late Wisconsin: El Fin Del Mundo (Sanchez et al. 2014). Literature. Kurtén and Anderson 1980; Morgan and Lucas 2003, 2005.

Last Update: 22 Jul 2014

Main Menu Class Mammalia Order Proboscidea Family Gomphotheriidae

†Rhynchotherium sp.—Cuvier's Gomphothere According to Kurtén and Anderson (1980:346), "compressed, enamel-banded lower tusks, a short, sharply downturned symphysis, and a stout ramus" are characteristic of the genus. Sites. Late Blancan: 111 Ranch (Morgan and White 2005). Literature. Morgan and White 2005; Murray 2008.

Last Update: 1 Apr 2014

Main Menu Class Mammalia Order Proboscidea Family Gomphotheriidae

†Stegomastodon sp.—Stegodonts Morgan et al. (2011) recognized two species of Stegomastodon: the earlier S. primitivus and the late Blancan/Irvingtonian S. mirificus. The Caballo Local Fauna stegodont lacks specific characters and thus is recorded only as Stegomastodon sp. (Morgan et al. 2011). Sites. Late Blancan: Caballo (Morgan et al. 2011). Irvingtonian: Anza-Borrego (Murray 2008). Literature. Morgan et al. 2011.

†Stegomastodon mirificus (Leidy 1858)—Wonderful Stegomastodont Synonyms. Anancus bensonensis. I follow Morgan and Lucas (2005, 2011) in recognizing one Irvingtonian species of Stegomastodon. However, Lucas et al. (2011) recognized that there may be merit in recognizing the derived Irvingtonian Stegomastodon as a separate species, S. aftoniae, but Morgan and Lucas (2011) retained S. mirificus for these advanced forms pending revision of the genus. Although the teeth of Stegomastodon are far simpler than those of mammoths, Lucas et al. (2011) suggested that the evolution of the Stegomastodon lines indicates increasing adaptation to a grazing regime, evolution cut short with the invasion of mammoths. There is a lack of confirmed Stegomastodon younger than about 1.2 mya (Morgan and Lucas 2011). Isolated teeth are reasonably common in the El Paso Valley. Common reports of finding bones of mastodons in the Mesilla Basin and El Paso Valley generally turn out to be gomphotheres, and most likely represent this species, though Cuvieronius tropicus is a possibility.

Vanderhill (1986) described a palate (NMSU 75.2.4) with right and left M2-M3 from gravel pits east of Las Cruces, Doña Ana Co., NM, mentioning the presence of more than five cross-lophs on the teeth and a complex pattern of the enamel. Based on Vanderhill's description and measurements, the specimen in Fig. 1 is similar in age and size.

Fig. 1. Palate of Stegomastodon, anterior to left. Occlusal length of right anterior cheek tooth, 105 mm. El Paso, private collection. Sites. Late Blancan: California Wash (Morgan and White 2005); Cal Tech (Morgan and White 2005); Curtis Ranch (Morgan and White 2005). Irvingtonian: El Paso (UTEP; Private Collection); Taylor Gravel (Morgan and White 2005); Tortugas Mountain Gravel Pit (Morgan and Lucas 2005). Literature. Lucas et al. 2011; Morgan and Lucas 2005, 2011; Morgan and White 2005; Morgan et al. 2011; Vanderhill 1986.

Last Update: 27 Jun 2014

Main Menu Class Mammalia Order Proboscidea Family Mammutidae

†Mammut sp.—Mastodonts Sites. Rancholabrean: Beverly Hills (Jefferson 1991b); Black Butte (Jefferson 1991b: ? gen.); Camarillo (Jefferson 1991b); Corona, California (Jefferson 1991b); El Fin del Mundo (Sanchez et al. 2009); Fourth and Mesa streets, San Pedro (Jefferson 1991b); Gaviota Pass (Jefferson 1991b); Manchester and Airport boulevards (Jefferson 1991b: ? gen.); Manning Rock, Irwindale (Jefferson 1991b); Outfall Sewer, Rodeo and Kelley, Culver City (Jefferson 1991b); Point Sal (Jefferson 1991b); Rubidoux (Jefferson 1991b); Salt Creek, California (Jefferson 1991b); San Buenaventura (Jefferson 1991b); Santa Susana Pass, north of Chattsworth (Jefferson 1991b); Tijuana River Valley (Jefferson 1991b); Tremaine and 8th streets (Jefferson 1991b). Late Wisconsin: Maricopa (Jefferson 1991b). Literature. Jefferson 1991b; Sanchez et al. 2009.

†Mammut americanum (Kerr 1791)—American Mastodont Three families of proboscideans are represented in the Pleistocene of the region. Mastodonts have relatively simple cheek teeth, suggesting that they were browsers on soft vegetation. Stomach contents from elsewhere in North America bear this up, with conifers making up a fair amount of the diet. Although common during the Pleistocene in the northern parts of the continent, mastodonts are relatively uncommon in the inland West and Southwest. Extinction apparently occurred concurrently with other megafaunal taxa. Fiedel (2009) gives a number dates seemingly marking the last survivors and ranging from 11,720 ± 110 to 10,395 ± 100 BP.

Fig. 1. Mastodont skeleton, Museum of the Earth. This file is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 2.0 License. This image was originally posted to Flickr by bronayur at http://flickr.com/photos/54137788@N00/1882868267. Sites. Pleistocene: Lemitar (Morgan and Lucas 2005); Los Lunas (Morgan and Lucas 2005); Piñon (Morgan and Lucas 2005); Rancho Creek (Wheeler 1875); Trapped Rock Draw (Morgan and Lucas 2005); Tree Spring, Sandia Mts. (Morgan and Lucas 2005). Irvingtonian: El Paso (East of El Paso, Personal Observation; Northeast El Paso [UTEP]); N Bowie Mastodont Site (Pasenko 2012); Northeast El Paso (UTEP). ?Irvingtonian/Rancholabrean: Emery Borrow Pit (Jefferson 1991b). Rancholabrean: Arbogast Ranch (Jefferson 1991b); Beverly Blvd. and Kilkea Drive (Jefferson 1991b); Carizzo Plains (Jefferson 1991b); Chorro Creek (Jefferson 1991b); Consolidated Rock Co., Alameda St. near 26th St. (Jefferson 1991b); Cypress and Slauson avenues, Hyde Park (Jefferson 1991b); Jal (Schultz 1943); La Cienega Blvd. near Colgate Ave. (Jefferson 1991b); Los Angeles Brick Yard No. 3 (Jefferson 1991b); Placitas (Hibben 1941; Morgan and Lucas 2005); Solano Beach (Jefferson 1991b). Early Rancholabrean: Albuquerque Gravel Pits (Morgan and Lucas 2005).

Sangamon: Chandler Sand Pit, Rolling Hills Estates (Jefferson 1991b); Newport Bay Mesa (Jefferson 1991b). Wisconsin: Imperial Highway (Jefferson 1991b); Lehner Site (Mead et al. 1979). Mid Wisconsin: McKittrick (Schultz 1937). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Diamond Valley (Springer et al. 2009); Rancho La Brea (Stock and Harris 1992). Late Wisconsin: Billings (Minckley et al. 1997); Cerros Negros (Agenbroad et al. 2013); Davidson Canyon (Pasenko 2011); La Mirada (Jefferson 1991b); Leupp (Minckley et al. 1997); M & M Mastodon (Pasenko 2011); Placitas (Hibben 1941); Saint Johns (Agenbroad et al. 2013); Sandia Cave, Sandia Level (Hibben 1941; Morgan and Lucas 1997). Literature. Agenbroad et al. 2013; Fiedel 2009; Hibben 1941; Jefferson 1991a; Jefferson 1991b; Lucas and Morgan 1997; Mead et al. 1979; Minckley et al 1997; Morgan and Lucas 2005; Pasenko 2011, 2012; Schultz 1937, 1943; Springer et al. 2009; Stock and Harris 1992; Wheeler 1875.

Last Update: 11 Aug 2014

Main Menu Class Mammalia Order Cingulata

Dasypodidae—Armadillos // Glyptodontidae —Glyptodonts // Pampatheriidae—Pampatheres Cingulata—Armadillo-like Xenarthrans A major group of South American origin has a history of name changes. Two names well entrenched in the literature for the group consisting of the armadillo-like animals plus the sloths are Order Edentata and Order Xenarthra. The Edentata was based on some members ("anteaters") having no teeth; other, toothed forms, have teeth without enamel; that is, consisting of dentine only. The name xenarthra refers to a unique extra articulation between the lumbar vertebrae (Fig. 1). Kurtén and Anderson (1980:128) characterize the edentates in general as not only having xenarthrous vertebrae, but also with "a varying number of cervical vertebrae (six to nine instead of the usual seven), ossified ribs that reach the sternum, an elongated sacrum, loss of enamel on the teeth, a small brain with a low level of organization, and low body temperature with poor thermoregulation." Mammalian vertebrae join by the centra (the more or less cylindrical ventral portion) plus, except for the xenarthrans, by only anterior and posterior zygapophyses (prezygapophysis and postzygapophysis) coming off of the neural arch. The Cingulata and the Pilosa (sloths and myrmecophagid anteaters) are still grouped together at a higher rank (Magnorder Xenarthra).

Fig. 1. Armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus) lumbar vertebrae showing the extra articulation seen in xenarthrans. Top left: posterior view showing postzygapophysial process (A) and posterior xenarthrous process. Top right: anterior view of nextanterior vertebra showing the socket for the postzygapophysial process (C) and for the xenarthrous process (D). Bottom: lateral view of postzygapophysial process (E) and the articulated xenarthrous process (F). Pleistocene regional cingulates belong to two families, the armadillos and the glyptodonts. These do not show up in North America until after the formation of the Central American land bridge in the Pliocene. Literature. Kurtén and Anderson 1980.

Last Update: 29 Jun 2014

Main Menu Class Mammalia Order Cingulata Family Dasypodidae

†Dasypus bellus (Simpson 1930)—Beautiful Armadillo A few primarily eastern taxa reached into our region, apparently moving west along drainages that during the Pleistocene shared more or less continuous habitat with more eastern areas. The Beautiful Armadillo is one such, along with the Raccoon and probably the Eastern Gray Squirrel or the Fox Squirrel. The only records for these forms are from the Blackwater Draw area of extreme eastern New Mexico. Dasypus bellus was morphologically very similar to the living Nine-banded Armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus) except considerably larger; in the Late Pleistocene, they were about twice the size of D. novemcinctus (Kurtén and Anderson 1980). A drawing comparing the two is shown on the Illinois State Museum site.

courtesy of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Fig. 1. Nine-banded Armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus). Photo by John and Karen Hollingsworth,

Armadillo teeth are simple pegs and not differentiated morphologically into incisors, canines, premolars, and molars. The armor of armadillos is of dermal bone and consists of articulated plates and overlapping plates joined by flexible connective tissue; the armor proper is overlain by dermal and epidermal tissue. Virtually all of the light spots that can be seen in Fig. 1 are on separate armor elements. If the armor becomes disarticulated after death, a single animal can produce hundreds of recognizable fossils. The present day smaller armadillo is unknown as a fossil in the U.S. except for a possible Texas occurrence based on a single scute, possibly actually from a small D. bellus (Kurtén and Anderson 1980). Its present day U.S. distribution results from a combination of introductions into Florida and natural expansion from south of the border in the late 1800s. Slaughter (1975) hypothesized that cold temperatures to the

north and dryness to the west limit the geographic range of D. novemcinctus and likely were as limiting to D. bellus.

Fig. 2. Skull and mandibles of the Nine-banded Armadillo. UTEP Biodiversity Collections image. Sites. Late Wisconsin: Blackwater Draw Fauna (Slaughter 1975). Literature. Kurtén and Anderson; Slaughter 1975.

Last Update: 5 Mar 2013

Main Menu Class Mammalia Order Cingulata Family Glyptodontidae

†Glyptotherium sp.—Glyptodonts Although Mead et al. (2007) listed Sonoran species as Glyptotherium cylindricum, evidence was not strong and White et al. (2010) reverted the identifications of the Sonoran localities listed below to Glyptotherium sp. . Sites. Late Blancan: San Simon Fauna (Morgan and White 2005). Rancholabrean: Chinobampo (White et al. 2010); La Botana (White et al. 2010); Llano Prieto (White et al. 2010). Literature. Morgan and White 2005; White et al. 2010.

†Glyptotherium arizonae Gidley 1926—Gidley's Glyptodont Glyptodonts are large, armored relatives of the armadillos. Individual scutes of the armor, and occasional articulated portions, are found from the Blancan to Irvingtonian deposits along the Rio Grande Rift. Morgan and Lucas (2005), based on the revision of the genus by Gillette and Ray (1981), assigned all New Mexican glyptodonts to G. arizonae; the Arizona specimens likewise are of this species. Fig. 1. Three articulated glyptodont scutes and an edgewise view to show thickness. Apparently white

glue was used to maintain the contacts; some still obscures junctions. UTEP specimens from the vicinity of Fabens.

Fig. 2. Part of the carapace of Glyptotherium arizonae, from a display in the Centennial Museum, University of Texas at El Paso. Sites. Late Blancan: Caballo (Morgan et al. 2011); California Wash (Morgan and White 2005); Curtis Ranch (Lindsay 1984); La Union (Morgan and Lucas 2003); Virden (Morgan et al. 2008). Early Irvingtonian: El Paso (UTEP); Adobe Ranch (Morgan and Lucas 2003); Tijeras Arroyo (Morgan and Lucas 2005); Vicinity of Fabens (UTEP); Western Mobile Gravel pit (Morgan and Lucas 2005). Literature. Gillette and Ray 1981; Lindsay 1984; Morgan and Lucas 2003, 2005; Morgan and White 2005; Morgan et al. 2008; Morgan et al. 2011.

†Glyptotherium cylindricum (Brown 1912)'Cylindrical Glyptodont Sites. Mid Wisconsin: Térapa (Mead et al. 2007). Literature. Mead et al. 2007.

†Glyptotherium texanum Osborn 1903—Osborn's Glyptodont Glyptotherium texanum was the smallest of the North American glyptodonts and apparently was ancestral to G. arizonae (Kurtén and Anderson 1980). Sites. Late Blancan: 111 Ranch (Morgan and White 2005) Literature. Kurtén and Anderson 1980; Morgan and White 2005.

Last Update: 20 Nov 2013

Main Menu Class Mammalia Order Cingulata Family Pampatheriidae

†Pampatherium mexicanum Edmund 1996— Mexican Pampathere The occurrence at Térapa represents the first and only record from Sonora and our region. Sites. Mid Wisconsin: Térapa (Mead et al. 20070. Literature. Mead et al. 2007.

Last Update: 20 Nov 2013

Main Menu Class Mammalia Order Pilosa Family indet.

Family Megalonychidae—Megalonychid Ground Sloths // Family Nothrotheriidae—Nothrotheriid Ground Sloths // Family Mylodontidae—Mylodontid Ground Sloths // Myrmecophagidae — Anteaters

†Sloth—Ground Sloth Some fossils are obviously of ground sloth but lack characters allowing them to be placed into a family. Sites. Rancholabrean: Yeso Creek (Agogino and Stevens 1972). Mid/Late Rancholabrean: Mesa Redonda (Morgan and Lucas 2005). Late Wisconsin: McCullum Ranch (Morgan and Lucas 2005). Literature. Agogino and Stevens 1972; Morgan and Lucas 2005.

Last Update: 21 May 2014

Main Menu Class Mammalia Order Pilosa Family Megalonychidae

Megalonyx leptostomus—Narrow-mouthed Sloth // Megalonyx jeffersonii —Jefferson's Ground Sloth // Megalonyx wheatleyi— Wheatley's Ground Sloth

†Megalonyx sp.—Megalonyx Ground Sloths Kurtén and Anderson (1980) noted that the family is diagnosed as having a pair of selfsharpening cutting caniniform teeth with a greatly reduced pre-dentary spout. Size tended to increase from its appearance in the late Hemphillian through the Pliocene and Rancholabrean. The Rancholabrean species, Megalonyx jeffersonii, occurred as far north as Alaska and the Northwest Territories of Canada (Kurtén and Anderson 1980). Fig. 1. Megalonyx skeleton at the Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard. Wikipedia Commons image by Gainett under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 license. Sites. Irvingtonian: Bautista Badlands (Frick 1921; Fossilworks.org (accessed 25 Apr 2014: ?)). Early Irvingtonian: El Casco, San Timoteo Badlands (Albright 2000). ?Irvingtonian/Rancholabrean: Emery Borrow Pit (Jefferson 1991b). Irvingtonian/Rancholabrean: Manix Lake (Jefferson

1991b). Rancholabrean: Campbell Hill (Jefferson 1991b); Centinella Park (Jefferson 1991b); San Pedro Lumber Yard (Jefferson 1991b); Tule Springs (Mawby 1967). Sangamon: Chandler Sand Pit, Rolling Hills Estates (Jefferson 1991b); San Pedro Lumber Co. (Jefferson 1991b). Mid Wisconsin: McKittrick (Schultz 1937: ?). Late Wisconsin: La Mirada (Jefferson 1991b); Tule Springs (Mawby 1967: ? gen.). Literature. Albright 2000; Frick 1921; Jefferson 1991b; Kurtén and Anderson 1980; Mawby 1967; Schultz 1937.

†Megalonyx jeffersonii Desmarest 1822—Jefferson's Ground Sloth Jefferson's Ground Sloth was the largest of the North American megalonychid ground sloths (Kurtén and Anderson 1980). Sites.

Rancholabrean: Coconino Cavern (Mead et al. 2005); Springerville (McDonald et al. 2004); Tule Springs (Springer et al. 2005) Sangamon: Newport Bay Mesa (Jefferson 1991b; cf.) Mid/Late Wisconsin: Diamond Valley (Springer et al. 2009); Rancho La Brea (Stock and Harris Literature. Kurtén and Anderson 1980; McDonald et al. 2004; Mead et al. 2005; Springer et al. 2005, 2009; Stock and Harris 1992.

†Megalonyx leptostomus/wheatleyi—Narrow-mouthed or Wheatley's Ground Sloth Sites. Late Blancan/Early Irvingtonian: Elsinore: Mimomys (Pajak et al. 1996). Literature. Pajak et al. 1996.

†Megalonyx leptostomus Cope 1893—Narrow-mouthed Sloth Kurtén and Anderson (1980) noted that this taxon was widespread by the middle Pliocene and probably was ancestral to the larger and geologically later Megalonyx wheatleyi. Sites. Late Blancan: 111 Ranch (Morgan and White 2005); La Union Fauna (La Union Local Fauna) (McDonald and Morgan 2011); La Union Fauna (Santa Teresa Local Fauna) (McDonald and Morgan 2011).

Literature. Kurtén and Anderson 1980; McDonald and Morgan 2011.

†Megalonyx wheatleyi Cope 1871—Wheatley's Ground Sloth Vanderhill (1986) examined a nearly complete left femur that represents Megalonyx wheatleyi. It is intermediate in size between the Blancan/Early Irvingtonian M. leptostomus and smaller than M. jeffersonii. The specimen lacks stratigraphic data, but likely comes from the upper 45 m of Rio Grande Valley fill (Vanderhill 1986). This is the specimen referenced by Morgan and Lucas (2003, 2005). Sites. Late Blancan/Irvingtonian: Anza-Borrego (Murray 2008). Irvingtonian: El Golfo (Croxen et al. 2007). Early Irvingtonian: Adobe Ranch (McDonald and Morgan 2011; Morgan and Lucas 2003, 2005; Vanderhill 1986). Medial Irvingtonian: Gutierrez Gravel Pit (McDonald and Morgan 2011: cf.). Literature. Croxen et al. 2007; McDonald and Morgan 2011; Morgan and Lucas 2003, 2005; Murray 2008; Vanderhill 1986.

Last Update: 10 May 2014

Main Menu Class Mammalia Order Pilosa Family Nothrotheriidae

Nothrotheriops sp.—Nothrotheriops Ground Sloths // Nothrotheriops texanus—Texas Ground Sloth // Nothrotheriops shastensis—Shasta Ground Sloth

Nothrotheriidae—Nothrotheriid Sloths. The genus Nothrotheriops has been placed in the Megatheriidae until relatively recently. Muizon et al. (2004) raised it from subfamily to family rank and also noted that, although a monophyletic line separate from other sloth families, it is more closely related to the Megalonychidae than the Megatheriidae.

†Nothrotheriops texanus (Hay 1916)—Texas Ground Sloth Synonyms. Nothrotherium texanus. This relatively small species is assumed to be the ancestor of the later Pleistocene Nothrotheriops shastensis. Sites. Early Irvingtonian: Gypsum Ridge (Wagner and Prothero 2001). Irvingtonian: El Golfo (Croxen et al. 2007). Literature. Croxen et al. 2007; Wagner and Prothero 2001.

†Nothrotheriops shastensis (Sinclair 1905)—Shasta Ground Sloth Synonyms. Nothrotherium shastense. The Shasta Ground Sloth is the smallest of our late Pleistocene ground sloths, with an estimated mean body mass for adults of 463 kg (McDonald 2005). The diet is known to some degree from a number of recoveries of dung from dry caves. For example, Hansen (1978)

investigated the plants in sloth dung from Rampart Cave and Muave Cave of the lower Grand Canyon. Samples from a timeframe running from over 40 to about 11 kya (radiocarbon dates) produced 72 genera of plants. Hansen reported the major taxa as Desert Globemallow, Nevada Mormon Tea, saltbushes (Atriplex), Catclaw Acacia, cacti, common reed, and yucca.

during colder temperature.

McDonald and Jefferson (2008) investigated the relationship of elevation and geographic distribution, finding a correlation between latitude and elevation. Northern occurrences come from progressively lower elevations as one goes north. This was attributed to the apparently low basal metabolic rate that restricted the sloth to relatively high minimum temperatures. McDonald and Jefferson (p. 321) interpreted the data to indicate that the "lower limiting temperature falls in the range of 10 to 20°C. They also point out that the frequent occurrence of remains in caves could well be the result of sloth thermoregulatory behavior

Fig. 1. Assorted phalanges of Nothrotheriops shastensis from U-Bar Cave. Metric scale. Van Devender et al. (1977) mentioned sloth dung from several caves in our region: William's Cave, Lower Sloth Cave (C-05), and Upper Sloth Cave (C-08) in Guadalupe Mountains National Park. A radiocarbon date on dung from C-05 is 11,590 ± 230 BP (A-1519). Dung of a large artiodactyl (possibly Cervus elaphus merriami) was associated with sloth dung in C-08 and gave a date of 11,760 ± 610 BP. A date from juniper twigs from William's Cave was 12,040 ± 210 BP. Although some authors have listed only the genus, these have been included under

this species since the only known member of the genus in the Rancholabrean is N. shastensis. The other North American species, N. texanus, was a smaller form restricted to the Irvingtonian (McDonald and Jefferson 2008). Shasta Ground Sloths are known from a number of sites in and near Arizona and New Mexico, particularly in the southern parts. One of the best known occurrences is from Aden Fumarole, westsouthwest of Las Cruces. Recovered from dry guano approximately 100 feet below the entrance to the nearly vertical shaft, the specimen is of a nearly complete, articulated skeleton with a considerable amount of soft tissue preserved (Lull 1929). This specimen was long thought to be very recent, but radiocarbon dates are 11,080 ± 200 on dung and 9840 ± 160 BP on hide; the latter is thought to possibly be contaminated by organic preservatives (Long and Martin 1974). A juvenile individual from Carlsbad Caverns was dated at about 112 ka (Hill and Gillette 1987). Conkling (1932) noted that at least seven individuals were represented in Conkling Cavern, including a baby sloth. Harris (1985) recorded N. shastensis from Dust Cave on the basis of personal communication from L. Logan; the record may be erroneous, based on confusion between Dust Cave and the other two Upper Sloth Caves (both of which contained Nothrotheriops dung). A voucher for presence in Dust Cave has not been found, and the locality is not listed below. Youngest credible dates listed by Fiedel (2009) fall nicely into the extinction event that affected so many other large mammals; the latest date listed by him is 10,400 ± 275 BP (a later date of 10,035 ± 250 was questioned as possibly contaminated since another date on the same sample was 10,940 ± 60) . Sites. Pleistocene: Manzano Cave (Hibben 1941; McDonald and Jefferson (2008) list the record as spurious or suspect). Irvingtonian: Anza-Borrego (Murray 2008). Late Irvingtonian: Pauba Formation (McDonald and Jefferson 2008). Irvingtonian/Rancholabrean: Fort Irwin (McDonald and Jefferson 2008); Manix Lake (Jefferson 1991b; cf.). Rancholabrean: Campbell Hill (Jefferson 1991b); Carlsbad Caverns (Hill and Gillette 1987); Coconino Cavern (Lindsay and Tessman 1974); Devil Peak (Reynolds, Reynolds, and Bell 1991); Ludlow Cave (Jefferson 1991b); Nichols (Mead et al. 2005: ? gen.); Salton City South (Jefferson 1991b); Tule Springs (Mawby 1967); Vallecito Creek (McDonald and Jefferson 2008); Whitewater Draw (McDonald and Jefferson 1998). Sangamon: Newport Bay Mesa (Jefferson 1991b); San Pedro Lumber Co. (Jefferson 1991b: cf.). Early/Early-Mid Wisconsin: Rm Vanishing Floor (Harris 1993c). Mid Wisconsin: Kartchner Cave (McDonald and Jefferson 2008); Rampart Cave (Kenworthy et al. 2004); U-Bar Cave (Harris 1987).

Mid/Late Wisconsin: Animal Fair (Harris 1993c); Dark Canyon Cave ( 1 McDonald and Jefferson 2008); Diamond Valley (Springer et al. 2009); Rancho La Brea (Stock and Harris 1992); Shelter Cave (Harris 1993c); Sierra Diablo Cave (UTEP). Late Wisconsin: Aden Fumarole (Lull 1929); Algerita Blossom Cave (Harris 1993c); Conkling Cavern (Conkling 1932); Deadman Cave (Mead et al. 1984); Gypsum Cave (Harrington 1940); Lechuguilla Cave (McDonald and Jefferson 2009); Lower Sloth Cave (Logan 1983); Muav Caves (Mead et al. 2005); Newberry Cave (Jefferson 1991b); Pyeatt Cave (Mead et al. 2005); Rampart Cave (Kenworthy et al. 2004); Sandia Cave, Folsom Level (Hibben 1941); U-Bar Cave 13-14 ka (Harris 1989); UBar Cave 14-15 ka (Harris 1989); U-Bar Cave 15-18 ka (Harris 1989); Upper Sloth Cave (Logan and Black 1979); Ventana Cave (Colbert 1950). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Rancholabrean/?Early Holocene: Mitchell Caverns (Jefferson 1991b); Pendejo Cave (Harris 2003: cf. gen et sp; Zone A); Williams Cave (Ayer 1936). Literature. Ayer 1936; Colbert 1950; Conkling 1932; Fiedel 2009; Hansen 1978; Harrington 1940; Harris 1985a, 1987, 1989, 1993c, 2003; Hibben 1941; Hill and Gillette 1987; Jefferson 1991b; Kenworthy et al. 2004; Lindsay and Tessman 1974; Logan 1983; Logan and Black 1979; Long and Martin 1974; Lull 1929; Mawby 1967; McDonald 2005; McDonald and Jefferson 2008; Mead et al. 1984; Mead et al. 2005; Reynolds, Reynolds, and Bell 1991; Springer et al. 2009; Stock and Harris 1992.; Van Devender et al. 1977; Wilson 1942.

1 McDonald

and Jefferson cite Harris (1985) as the source of the record, but it is not listed for Dark Canyon Cave in that work.

Last Update: 29 Jun 2014

Main Menu Class Mammalia Order Pilosa Family Mylodontidae

Paramylodon sp.—Paramylodon Ground Sloths // Paramylodon garbanii —Gaban's Ground Sloth // Paramylodon harlani—Harlan's Ground Sloth

†Paramylodon sp.—Paramylodon Ground Sloths Sites. Irvingtonian/Rancholabrean: Manix Lake (Jefferson 1991b). Rancholabrean: Bolsa Chica State Park (Jefferson 1991b); Brea Canyon (Jefferson 1991b); Carbon Canyon (Jefferson 1991b); Century Blvd. and Van Ness Ave. (Jefferson 1991b); Conception Station (Jefferson 1991b); Los Alamos (Jefferson 1991b); Los Angeles Harbor Berth No. 128 (Jefferson 1991b); Palos Verdes Hills, Green Hills Memorial Park (Jefferson 1991b); San Clemente (Jefferson 1991b); San Fernando Dam (Jefferson 1991b); Woodland Hills, Canoga Park (Jefferson 1991b). Sangamon: Gaffey and Tenth streets, San Pedro (Jefferson 1991b: cf. gen.). Mid Wisconsin: Térapa (Mead et al. 2006). Literature. Jefferson 1991b; Mead et al. 2006.

†Paramylodon garbanii (Montellano and Carranza-Castaneda 1981)—Garban's Ground Sloth Synonyms: Glossotherium chapadmalense, Glossotherium garbanii. The genus Glossotherium was first used for a South American ground sloth. Several authors have found differences between Glossotherium and North American mylodonids, leading to the resurrection of Paramylodon for North American sloths previously assigned to Glossotherium

(Morgan 2008). Morgan (2008) tentatively referred those mylodont sloths that were somewhat smaller than Paramylodon harlani to Paramylodon garbanii in preference to Glossotherium chapadmalense. Sites. Late Blancan: 111 Ranch (Morgan and White 2005); La Union Fauna (Chamberino Local Fauna) (McDonald and Morgan 2011); La Union Fauna (La Union Local Fauna) (McDonald and Morgan 2011). Literature. Morgan 2008; McDonald and Morgan 2011; Morgan and White 2005.

†Paramylodon harlani (Owen 1840)—Harlan's Ground Sloth Synonyms. Glossotherium harlani.

Kurtén and Anderson (1980) characterized Harlan's Ground Sloth as a grassland species widespread in the U.S. during the Irvingtonian and Rancholabrean. They further note that it differs from Megalonyx and Nothrotheriops by larger size, lobate teeth, and dermal ossicles (bone nodules imbedded within the skin). Fig. 1. Skeleton of Paramylodon harlani from La Brea Tar Pits. Photograph

courtesy of David Monniaux, under GNU Free Documentation License. Sites. Late Blancan/Irvingtonian: Anza-Borrego (Murray 2008). Early Irvingtonian: Gypsum Ridge (Wagner and Prothero 2001). Late Irvingtonian: Elsinore: Pauba Formation (Pajak et al. 1996). Early Rancholabrean: Albuquerque Gravel Pits (Morgan and Lucas 2005). Rancholabrean: Badlands Ranch (Morgan and Lucas 2003); Canyon de Chelly (Mead et al. 2005); Harbor Freeway and 112-113th streets (Jefferson 1991b); Los Angeles Brick Yard No. 3 (Jefferson 1991b); Point Sal (Jefferson 1991b: cf.); Salt Creek, California (Jefferson 1991b); Springerville (McDonald et al. 2004). Sangamon: Naval Housing Unit (Jefferson 1991b); Pecho Creek (Jefferson 1991b). Wisconsin: Costeau Pit (Jefferson 1991b: cf.); Imperial Highway (Jefferson 1991b: cf.); La Brea Blvd. and San Vicente St. (Jefferson 1991b: cf.). Mid Wisconsin: McKittrick (Schultz 1937); Shonto (Agenbroad and Downs 1984). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Diamond Valley (Springer et al. 2009); Rancho La Brea (Stock and Harris. Late Wisconsin: Blackwater Draw (Morgan and Lucas 2005); Jal Horse Quarry (Morgan and Lucas 2005; Schultz 1943: ?); Roswell (McDonald and Morgan 2011). Literature. Agenbroad and Downs 1984; Jefferson 1991b; Kurtén and Anderson 1980; McDonald and Morgan 2011; McDonald et al. 2004; Mead et al. 2005; Morgan and Lucas 2003, 2005; Murray 2008; Pajak et al. 1996; Schultz 1937, 1943; Springer et al. 2009; Stock and Harris 1992; Wagner and Prothero 2001.

Last Update: 22 Apr 2014

Main Menu Class Mammalia Order Pilosa Family Myrmecophagidae

Myrmecophaga tridactyla Linnaeus 1758—Giant Anteater The Giant Anteater currently lives in South and Central America. The only record from North America (a third metacarpal) is from the Irvingtonian site of El Golfo. Sites. Irvingtonian: El Golfo (Croxen et al. 2007, Shaw and McDonald 1987). Literature. Croxen et al. 2007; Shaw and McDonald 1987.

Last Update: 20 Oct 2013

Class Mammalia Order Primates Family Hominidae

Homo sapiens—Human Main Menu Discussion. Conkling (1932) Noted skeletal elements of two individuals from Conkling Cavern. One individual was found at the depth of around 12 ft close to sloth and bear. The second comes from about 12 ft below the first and was below a consolidated sandstone that was from 4 to 8 inches thick. A radiocarbon date, however, is 1590 ± 80 (Berger and Libby 1969). Sites. Late Wisconsin: Human Corridor. Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Conkling Cavern (Conkling 1932). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Laguna Beach (Jefferson 1991b). Literature. Berger and Libby 1969; Conkling 1932; Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 22 Jan 2014

Main Menu Class Mammalia Order Rodentia

Sciuridae —Squirrels // Castoridae—Beavers // Heteromyidae— Kangaroo Rats and Pocket Mice // Geomyidae —Pocket Gophers // Cricetidae—Cricetid Mice and Rats // Erethizontidae —American Porcupines // Caviidae—Capybaras and Relatives Rodentia—Rodents The modern rodents are the largest and most diverse of the mammalian orders, with 33 families, 481 genera, and 2,277 species recognized (Wilson and Reeder 2005). Not counting introductions, there are seven regional families, six of which are represented as fossils (taxa of the seventh, the Dipodidae, are limited in their geographic range in the region and have small populations; in addition, another family is recognized in the Pleistocene fossil record). They occur on all of the continents except Antarctica. All depend largely on plants for food, though many include arthropods as part of their diet and many will partake of other animal products, including meat, if the opportunity presents. Major adaptations include those for climbing, digging, jumping, gliding, and swimming. Although morphologically diverse, universal characters include one upper and one lower, ever-growing incisor on each side, always separated by a diastema from the cheek teeth; there are no canines (Fig. 1). The enamel of the incisors is limited to the anterior surface. The bulk of the incisor is of the softer dentine, which wears more rapidly than the enamel. The unsupported portion of the enamel breaks off, leaving a constantly renewed sharp surface for gnawing. The maximum tooth formula for members of our region (and virtually all rodents) is 1/1 0/0 2/1 3/3 = 22; in many, the tooth number (tooth formula or dental formula) is reduced to 16 (1/1 0/0 0/0 3/3). The lower jaw is articulated such that it can move anteriorly and posteriorly to either bring the incisors into play for gnawing or the cheekteeth for mastication. Fig. 1. Rodent skull (Thomomys bottae) showing a typical arrangement of incisors, diastema, and cheekteeth. There are one premolar and three molars in this taxon (the premolar looks like two teeth to the unwary).

The cheekteeth

are highly varied within the order, and most regional rodents can be identified to the generic level by even isolated teeth. Identification to species, even on well preserved material, often is difficult to impossible. For some taxa, specific teeth (e.g., m1) may be necessary for identification to species. Especially problematical are identifications to the species level of members of the genus Peromyscus, and difficulties in the identification of the genus Microtus are especially vexing because members are of considerable value in reconstructions of past environments. Fig. 2. A lower incisor (top), a medial view of an upper incisor of Cratogeomys (middle), and an external view of the upper incisor of Cratogeomys (lower). The chisel-like wear at the tips and the enamel limited to the anterior surfaces are visible. Fossil teeth from Dark Canyon Cave.

Literature. Wilson and Reeder 2005.

Last Update: 21 Nov 2008

Main Menu Class Mammalia Order Rodentia Family Sciuridae

Ammospermophilus —Antelope Squirrels // Cynomys —Prairie Dogs // Marmota flaviventris —Yellow-bellied Marmot // Sciurus—Tree Squirrels // Spermophiles (Callospermophilus, Ictidomys, Otospermophilus, Urocitellus, Xerospermophilus)—Spermophile Ground Squirrels // Tamias —Chipmunks // Tamiasciurus hudsonicus —Red Squirrel Sciuridae—Squirrels Squirrels are highly successful and widely distributed in both the Old and the New World. There are some 51 genera and 278 living species (Wilson and Reeder 2005). Some have specialized as climbers; others are ground dwellers, most of which utilize burrows. The flying squirrels are specialized gliders. Our representatives include the antelope squirrels, prairie dogs, Yellow-bellied Marmot, tree squirrels, sSpermophiles, chipmunks, and the Red Squirrel. Until recently, the spermophiles were placed in the genus Spermophilus, but now are recognized as belonging to a number of separate genera including Callospermophilus, Ictidomys, Otospermophilus, Urocitellus, and Xerospermophilus (see discussion under Spermophiles). The dental formula is 1/1 0/0 1-2/1 3/3 = 20-22. Squirrel teeth (Fig. 1) are easily assigned to the family. Upper cheek teeth are variations on the theme of the "bear paw" pattern for the uppers (with a bit of imagination, the inner cusp is the heel of a foot and the ridges are toes). The lower cheek teeth again are variations on the pattern seen in the two examples. Other characteristics include the presence of postorbital processes, small infraorbital foramina, and a general lack of fusion of limb elements.

 

Fig. 1 (left). Upper right cheek teeth of the Spotted Ground Squirrel (Xerospermophilus spilosoma). Fig. 2 (right). Lower right cheek teeth of the Graycollared Chipmunk (Tamias cinereicollis) (left) and the Spotted Ground Squirrel (Xerospermophilus spilosoma) (right). Fig. 3. Ventral view of a typical sciurid skull (Callospermophilus lateralis). Several members of the weasel family (Mustelidae) are specialized for entering burrow systems of the various ground squirrels. A well known example is the Black-footed Ferret and prairie

dogs. However, squirrels in our region (and, except for the flying squirrels, generally) are diurnal, making them prime targets for diurnal raptors, which likely are the source of many remains of squirrels in caves. Literature. Wilson and Reeder 2005.

Last Update: 7 Jan 2010

Main Menu Class Mammalia Order Rodentia Family Sciuridae

Ammospermophilus sp.—Antelope Squirrels // Ammospermophilus interpres —Texas Antelope Squirrel // Ammospermophilus leucurus— White-tailed Antelope Squirrel

Ammospermophilus—Antelope Squirrels Synonyms. Spermophilus. At times, Ammospermophilus has been treated as a subgenus of Spermophilus. Antelope Squirrels are medium-sized ground squirrels characterized in the flesh in part by single white stripes along each side of the body. Three species occur in our region. In New Mexico, Ammospermophilus interpres occurs east of the Rio Grande Valley, north to Bernalillo County, NM, and southeast into the Trans-Pecos. Ammospermophilus leucurus comes south to central Socorro County west of the Rio Grande Valley. It is separated geographically from A. interpres by the Rio Grande Valley and the ecological niches of the two taxa. The eastern A. interpres is limited to rocky habitat and apparently does not abandon such habitat for the non-rocky interval between the foothills and the floodplain of the Rio Grande. The western A. leucurus descends onto the slopes of the valley on the western side, but apparently is unable to penetrate the riparian valley growth of the floodplain (Findley et al. 1975). The geographic range of A. leucurus continues northwesterly, eventually looping southward on the west side of the Colorado River in eastern California. The Colorado River Valley separates it from A. harrisii on the east side. The latter taxon occurs from there to southwestern New Mexico, but does not approach the other two species in New Mexico. Non-biologists frequently mistake these for chipmunks, but antelope squirrels lack facial striping and a dorsal stripe. Osteologically, Ammospermophilus can be mistaken for members of the genus Tamias and the spermophiles. If the maxilla is preserved, an infraorbital canal rather than just an opening in the zygomatic plate will separate Ammospermophilus and the spermophiles from Tamias. Dental characteristics also will separate most teeth of Tamias (see Tamias account and image of lower toothrow of Tamias in the Sciuridae account). In Ammospermophilus, the masseteric tubercle is directly below a narrowly oval infraorbital foramen, whereas in the spermophiles, the masseteric tubercle is medium to large and ventral to slightly lateral to an oval or subtriangular infraorbital foramen (Hall 1981). Other differences are more subtle and most identifications depend on direct comparison with modern specimens. Literature. Findley et al. 1975; Hall 1981.

Fig. 1. Palatal region of Ammospermophilus leucurus. The entrance to the infraorbital canal can be seen anterior to the toothrow. In this individual, DP3 and DP4 are in the process of being replaced by P3 and P4.

Ammospermophilus sp.—Antelope Squirrels If going on geography alone, the record from Lost Valley should pertain to A. interpres, but because of the relatively early age of the deposit, assignment to genus-only seems wise. Sites. Early/Early-Mid Wisconsin: Lost Valley (Harris 1993c). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Diamond Valley (Springer et al. 2009: cf. gen.). Late Wisconsin: Murray Springs (Lindsay and Tessman 1974); Picacho Peak (Van Devender et al. 1991); Potosi Mountain (Mead and Murray 1991). Literature. Harris 1993c; Lindsay and Tessman 1974; Mead and Murray 1991; Springer et al. 2009; Van Devender et al. 1991.

Ammospermophilus interpres (Merriam 1890)—Texas Antelope Squirrel The type locality of A. interpres is El Paso.

Assignment of the fossil material to species is on geographic grounds alone. Sites. Mid Wisconsin: Pendejo Cave (Harris 2003). Late Wisconsin: Cueva Quebrada (Lundelius 1984). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Pendejo Cave (Harris 2003: cf.). Literature. Harris 2003; Lundelius 1984.

Ammospermophilus leucurus (Merriam 1889)—White-tailed Antelope Squirrel Today, A. leucurus is distributed from central New Mexico west of the Rio Grande Valley to Sandoval Co. and then northwest into the San Juan Basin and beyond. The Rio Grande Rift from southern Sandoval Co. north appears to not support it. Fig. 1. Whitetailed Antelope Squirrel. Photo used under Creative Commons from J. N. Stuart. Sites. Medial Irvingtonian: SAM Cave (Rogers et al. 2000). Rancholabrean: Tule Springs (Springer et al. 2005). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Pintwater Cave (Hockett 2000). Late Wisconsin: Antelope Cave ((Reynolds, Reynolds, Bell, and Pitzer 1991: cf.). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Kokoweef Cave (Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991: cf.); Luz Solar Trough (Jefferson 1991b); Newberry Cave (Jefferson 1991b); Solar One (Jefferson

1991b). Literature. Hockett 2000; Jefferson 1991b; Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991; Reynolds, Reynolds, Bell, and Pitzer 1991; Rogers et al. 2000; Springer et al. 2005.

Ammospermophilus nelsoni (Merriam 1893)—San Joaquin Antelope Squirrel Sites. Mid Wisconsin: McKittrick (Schultz 1937: cf.). Literature. Schultz 1937.

Last Update: 30 May 2014

Main Menu Class Mammalia Order Rodentia Family Sciuridae

Cynomys sp.—Prairie Dogs // Cynomys gunnisoni —Gunnison's Prairie Dog // Cynomys ludovicianus—Black-tailed Prairie Dog // Cynomys mexicanus —Mexican Prairie Dog Cynomys—Prairie Dogs Prairie dogs are relatively large, social ground squirrels that associate in "towns". Historically they have been distributed widely from within the Great Plains and westward. Two subgenera usually are recognized: C. (Cynomys), the black-tailed prairie dogs, and C. (Leucocrossuromys), the white-tailed group. Fig. 1. Black-tailed Prairie Dog (Cynomys ludovicianus), El Paso Zoo. Photograph by A. H. Harris. Two species occur in our region today, though they have been extirpated from much of the historic range by poisoning. Roughly, the northwestern half of Texas and the southeastern 2/3 of New Mexico were within the range of Cynomys ludovicianus, the Black-tailed Prairie Dog. In New Mexico, it has been basically exterminated from about Santa Fe Co. south and southwest. The other species, Cynomys gunnisoni (Gunnison's Prairie Dog), still inhabits much of the northwestern third of New Mexico from Colfax Co. southeast to northern Sierra Co. In Arizona, it inhabits roughly the northeastern third of the state. It apparently has not occurred sympatrically with C. ludovicianus. The Black-tailed Prairie Dog is primarily a short-grass prairie animal and, like a number of other animals associated with grassland, extended westward in the far southern part of New Mexico and into adjacent southeastern Arizona. It appears that it was less common in Lower Sonoran Desert habitats than at somewhat higher elevations. Gunnison's Prairie Dog is elevationally pliant, occurring from low elevations into meadows in high montane areas, having been reported as high as 12,000 ft in Colorado (Findley et al. 1975). It occur north to south-central Colorado, but is replaced to the northwest and north by other species of the subgenus.

Dalquest (1988), in a study of fossil prairie dogs of Texas, pointed out differences in lower molars, especially m3, between the subgenera of prairie dogs. Fig. 2 shows the major differences between the m3s of the two subgenera. However, Semken (1966) found in samples of prairie dog third lower molars that 90% of the C. gunnisoni molars showed the C. ludovicianus condition and 91% of the latter showed the C. gunnisoni type. Likewise, Czaplewski and Smith (2012) found significant variability. Fig. 2. Lower third molars of Cynomys gunnisoni (left; left m3, Isleta Cave No. 2, UTEP 46.274) and Cynomys ludovicianus (right; right m3 reversed for comparison; Khulo site, UTEP 21.20). el, ectolophid; ml, mesolophid; ms, mesostylid; tb, trigonid basin; tp, talonid platform; tv, talonid valley. In Fig. 2, the m3 of C. gunnisoni is in Dalquest's wear stage 2, whereas that of C. ludovicianus is in wear stage 1. However the two are easily compared. In C. gunnisoni, there usually is a stylid internal to the ectolophid and the talonid platform that, with wear, joins a ridge (mesolophid) that runs along the anterior of the talonid platform, dividing the talonid valley into anterior and posterior parts. This mesolophid also restricts the talonid platform to a more or less triangular shape (according to Dalquest, even when the dividing stylid is absent). In C. ludovicianus, the talonid valley is continuous, at least until a late wear stage; the talonid valley is described by Dalquest as a flattened "W" shape. Literature. Czaplewski and Smith 2012; Dalquest 1988; Findley et al. 1975; Semken 1966.

Cynomys sp.—Prairie Dogs The massiveness and other characters of the postcranial skeleton often allow assignment to the genus, but not to the species. The same is true of some cranial and mandible fragments. Morgan and Lucas (2003:283) report a Cynomys mandible from southwest of Santa Fe of apparent late Blancan age that "most closely resembles the extinct species C. hibbardi...". It is mapped here as Cynomys sp., and no site

account has been made. Sites. Late Blancan: About 2 km west of Turquoise Hill (Morgan and Lucas 2003). Early/Early-Mid Wisconsin: Rm Vanishing Floor (Harris 1993c). Mid Wisconsin: U-Bar Cave (Harris 1987). Mid/Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Jimenez Cave (Messing 1986). Late Wisconsin:Dust Cave (Harris and Hearst 2012); Pendejo Cave (Harris 2003); UBar Cave 13-14 ka (Harris 1989); U-Bar Cave 14-15 ka (Harris 1989); U-Bar Cave 15-18 ka (Harris 1989); U-Bar Cave 18-20 ka (Harris 1989). Literature. Harris 1987, 1989, 1993c, 2003; Harris and Hearst 2012; Messing 1986; Morgan and Lucas 2003.

Cynomys gunnisoni (Baird 1855)—Gunnison's Prairie Dog Tebedge (1988) identified Cynomys leucurus from Dark Canyon Cave. This apparently was a matter of confusion between C. leucurus (White-tailed Prairie Dog), that has a more northern distribution, and C. gunnisoni, which occurs now in the northwestern third of New Mexico. Both are of the subgenus Leucocrossuromys, in contrast to the members of the subgenus Cynomys, which includes the Black-tailed Prairie Dog that currently occupies southeastern New Mexico. Fig. 1. Ventral view of the skull of Cynomys gunnisoni. The convergence posteriorly of the upper toothrows is typical of all prairie dogs and will separate them from other sciurids of similar size. Sites. Quaternary: Hatch Cemetery (Harris 1993c: ?). Mid Wisconsin: Pendejo Cave (Harris 2003); Screaming Neotoma Cave (Glennon 1994); U-Bar Cave (Goodwin 1995).

Mid/Late Wisconsin: Dark Canyon Cave (Tebedge 1988: C. leucurus). Mid/Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Sierra Diablo Cave (UTEP). Late Wisconsin: Alpine (UTEP: cf.); Animal Fair 18-20 ka (Harris 1993c); Harris' Pocket (UTEP, earlier as subgenus Leucocrossuromys); Screaming Neotoma Cave (Glennon 1994); Lower Sloth Cave (Logan 1983: cf.); Steeruwitz Hills #1(4) (Van Devender and Bradley 1990: cf.); U-Bar Cave (Goodwin 1995). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Howell's Ridge Cave (Harris 1993c); Isleta Cave No. 1 (Harris 1993c); Isleta Cave No. 2 (Harris 1993c); Williams Cave (Ayer 1936: cf.). Literature. Ayer 1936; Dalquest 1988; Glennon 1994; Goodwin 1995; Harris 1993c, 2003; Logan 1983; Tebedge 1988; Van Devender and Bradley 1990.

Cynomys ludovicianus (Ord 1815)—Black-tailed Prairie Dog Cynomys ludovicianus is more massively built than C. gunnisoni. In elements of comparable age, this alone often can identify an element as one or the other. Such elements as the dentary (Fig. 1) are separable from other sciurids by the combination of size and robustness. Fig. 1. Left dentary of Cynomys ludovicianus.

Sites. Medial Irvingtonian: SAM Cave (Rogers et al.

2000). Rancholabrean: La Playa (White et al. 2010); Tramperos Creek (Morgan and Lucas 2005). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Dark Canyon Cave (Tebedge 1988); Pit N & W Animal Fair (Harris 1993c).

Diablo Cave (UTEP).

Mid/Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Sierra

Late Wisconsin: Blackwater Loc. No. 1 (Slaughter 1975); Folsom (Morgan and Lucas 2005); Navar Ranch (Van Devender et al. 1987); Ventana Cave (Colbert 1950). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Burnet Cave (Schultz and Howard 1935); Conkling Cavern (Harris 1993c: cf.); Fowlkes Cave (Dalquest and Stangl 1984b); Howell's Ridge Cave (Harris 1993c); Pendejo Cave (Harris 2003); SAM Cave (Rogers et al. 2000). Literature. Colbert 1950; Dalquest and Stangl 1984b; Harris 1993c, 2003; Morgan and Lucas 2005; Rogers et al. 2000; Schultz and Howard 1935; Slaughter 1975; Tebedge 1988; Van Devender et al. 1987; White et al. 2010.

Cynomys mexicanus Merriam 1892—Mexican Prairie Dog Cynomys mexicanus is a member of the subgenus Cynomys, the black-tailed prairie dog group. Currently it is limited to a small area in northeastern Mexico. Goodwin (1985) studied fossils from the Lost Valley site in Dry Cave and tentatively assigned them to this species on the basis of overall similarity in size and in an elongated diastema; he did note, however, that the fossils seem to be generally more robust

and with deeper lower jaws, though within the range of variation of modern specimens. Goodwin also noted that genetic information from modern populations of C. mexicanus suggests separation from Cynomys ludovicianus about 42,000 years ago (McCullough and Chesser 1987). Goodwin hypothesized that the Lost Valley taxon, then, may represent the early history of the species, relatively shortly after speciation. Sites. Early/Early-Mid Wisconsin: Lost Valley (Goodwin 1995: cf.). Literature. Goodwin 1995; McCullough and Chesser 1987.

Last Update: 20 Nov 2013

Main Menu Class Mammalia Order Rodentia Family Sciuridae

Marmota—Marmots Although several species of marmot occur in North America, only Marmota flaviventris (Yellowbellied Marmot) currently occurs in our region, and it is the only species reported from the Pleistocene of the area. Absence of the eastern species, Marmota monax (Woodchuck), suggests that the Great Plains and incompatible habitat to the south were barriers to marmot movement. Fig. 1. Marmota sp. (probably M. monax, the Woodchuck). Photograph by James C. Leupold, courtesy of the US Fish & Wildlife Service. The current distribution in our region is limited to northern New Mexico (Fig. 2). Much of the population occurs in the high northern mountain ranges. Stearns (1942) and Murray (1957) used the then-accepted ecology of the marmot as indicating near-timberline conditions at New La Bajada Hill and the Guadalupe Mountains, respectively. Harris (1963) observed marmots at 5980 ft at Sambrito Creek, a tributary of the San Juan River, and attributed their presence at this low elevation to irrigation that supported green fodder during the spring drought period when green fodder is unlikely to occur naturally. He later (1970b) hypothesized that presence in the Pleistocene south of its present range likely was due to increased winter precipitation; that approximately 2 inches of December-February precipitation plus some minimal spring precipitation would be sufficient to support the green fodder required by Marmota through what now is the severe spring drought characteristic of New Mexico. This, however, ignored the effects of lower summer temperatures that may have been sufficient with little or no additional winter precipitation. Fig. 2. Approximate current geographic range of the Yellow-bellied Marmot. Adapted

from Frase and Hoffmann (1980). Present absence of Marmota in the southern high ranges that are mesic enough to presumably support marmots suggests that some time between the late Wisconsin and historic times, drought was sufficient to eradicate them throughout the southern reaches of the region. Presence of marmot and Bushy-tailed Woodrat at Pratt Cave in McKittrick Canyon has been suggested as indicating Holocene survival in a Guadalupe Mountains refugium. Lundelius (1979:243) noted that "McKittrick Canyon is much more mesic than the surrounding area." He goes on to say, "It seems likely that this has been the case of all of post-Pleistocene time and perhaps earlier. Conditions in the canyon remained favorable for the maintenance of both Marmota flaviventris and Neotoma cinerea after they had disappeared in the surrounding area." Harris (1990a) suggested that shallow, late Pleistocene deposits were mixed with late-Holocene materials at Pratt Cave and that these are Pleistocene occurrences. Neither alternative can be demonstrated to be the case at this time. Likely marmots are over-represented in published faunal lists because of their ease of identification. Literature. Frase and Hoffmann 1980; Harris 1963, 1970b, 1990a; Lundelius 1979; Murray 1957; Schultz and Howard 1935; Stearns 1942.

Marmota flaviventris (Audubon and Bachman 1841)—Yellow-bellied Marmot

Several of the earlier published records were in the form of Marmota sp. or Marmota cf. flaviventris. Since considerable study has revealed no other species within our timeframe and region, these have been recorded here as Marmota flaviventris. Fig. 1. Right dentary of Marmota flaviventris from Isleta Cave No. 1. Scale in mm. Sites. Pleistocene: Cave in Manzano Mts. (Howell 1915). Rancholabrean: Cylinder Cave (Mead et al. 2005); Devil Peak (Reynolds, Reynolds, and Bell 1991); Keet Seel Lange 1956); Mescal Cave (Jefferson 1991b: cf.); Tooth Cave (Mead et al. 2005; Tule Springs (Springer et al. 2005).

Rancholabrean/?Early Holocene: Mitchell Caverns (Jefferson 1991b: ?). Wisconsin: New La Bajada Hill (Stearns 1942); North Papago Cave (Mead et al. 2005). Mid Wisconsin: Papago Springs Cave (Czaplewski and Mead et al. 1999; Skinner 1942); Pendejo Cave (Harris 2003); U-Bar Cave (Harris 1987). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Dark Canyon Cave (Tebedge 1988); Kaetan Cave (Mead et al. 2005); Rampart Cave (Wilson 1942); Sierra Diablo Cave (UTEP); Vulture Cave (Mead and Phillips 1981). Late Wisconsin: Animal Fair 18-20 ka (Harris 1989); Antelope Cave (Reynolds, Reynolds, Bell, and Pitzer 1991); Big Manhole Cave (Harris 1993c); Dust Cave (Harris and Hearst 2012); Government Cave (Lange 1956); Harris' Pocket (Harris 1970a); Hermit's Cave (Harris 1993c); Lower Sloth Cave (Logan 1983); Marmot Cave (Thompson and Morgan 2001); Muskox Cave (Logan 1981); Mystery Light Cave (this volume); Pendejo Cave (Harris 2003); Sandia Cave (Thompson and Morgan 2001); Sheep Camp Shelter (Gillespie 1985); Tse'an Olje (Mead et al. 2005); Tularosa Cave (Howell 1915); U-Bar Cave 14-15 ka (Harris 2003); Upper Sloth Cave (Logan and Black 1979). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Balcony Room (Harris 1993c); Baldy Peak Cave (Harris 1993c); Burnet Cave (Schultz and Howard 1935); Fowlkes Cave (Dalquest and Stangl 1984b); Isleta Cave No. 2 (Harris 1993c); Kokoweef Cave (Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991); Newberry Cave (Jefferson 1991b); Pratt Cave (Lundelius 1979); Tooth Cave (Mead et al. 2005). Literature. Czaplewski and Mead et al. 1999; Dalquest and Stangl 1984b; Gillespie 1985; Harris 1970a, 1987, 1989, 1993c, 2003; Harris and Hearst 2012; Howell 1915; Jefferson 1991b; Logan 1981, 1983; Logan and Black 1979; Lundelius 1979; Mead and Phillips 1981; Mead et al. 2005; Reynolds, Reynolds, and Bell 1991; Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991; Reynolds, Reynolds, Bell, and Pitzer 1991; Schultz and Howard 1935; Skinner 1942; Springer et al. 2005; Stearns 1942; Thompson and Morgan 2001; Tebedge 1988; Wilson 1942.

Last Update: 29 May 2014

Main Menu Class Mammalia Order Rodentia Family Sciuridae

Sciurus—Tree Squirrels Sciurus (and Tamiasciurus) are thoroughly at home in trees and spend most of their time in them. With most of the region now in grassland or shrubland, habitat for tree squirrels is limited to riparian growth along river valleys and montane forests. Several members of the genus currently occur in our region. Sciurus aberti occurs predominantly in Ponderosa Pine forest, though it may venture into mixed coniferous forest at times. Historically, it occurred in the western and northern mountains of New Mexico. There is conflicting data regarding the mountains east of the Rio Grande and south of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains (Findley et al. 1975). They may or may not be native to the Sandia Mountains. They appear to have colonized the Manzano Mountains to the south from the Sandias sometime during the middle of the 20th century. They are unknown from farther southeast of the Rio Grande. The restricted distribution in New Mexico of Ponderosa Pine forest until some time around the end of the Pleistocene may explain the lack of occurrence in the east. The macrofossil evidence for Ponderosa Pine is limited to one site in the San Andres Mountains, with the species absent from glacial-age sites north of about 33.5° N latitude (Norris et al. 2006). Quite likely, the lowlands south of the Sangre de Cristos were deforested before the squirrel spread into the area from the west and north. Sciurus arizonensis occurs in riparian habitat in mountain valleys in the western portion of Catron County, NM (Findley 1987) and adjacent Arizona. Slaughter (1975) recorded Sciurus cf. S. arizonensis from Blackwater Draw Loc. No. 1 on the basis of a P4 that "resembles the Arizona Gray Squirrel more closely than the other two possibilities, Abert's Squirrel and the Fox Squirrel . . . ." (p. 182). Harris (1977) suggested that S. carolinensis would make more sense than S. arizonensis, which is limited to the Pacific drainage. He suggested that the record could pertain to a population of the Eastern Gray Squirrel moving up riparian growth along Blackwater Draw. However, S. carolinensis occurs today no closer than in approximately the eastern fourth of Texas, whereas the Fox Squirrel closely approaches the eastern border of New Mexico. I've opted for leaving this record as Sciurus sp. The identity of the Lower Sloth Cave (Logan 1983) squirrel is up in the air. The environment at the time of deposition would make S. aberti seem most likely, but if the geographic and local temporal range of S. aberti was as indicated above, that species should not have been there. Neither of the other two species mentioned above would seem likely to have been in the high-elevation coniferous forest zone as indicated by the woodrat midden record in the nearby and approximately contemporaneous Upper Sloth Cave (Van Devender et al. 1977). A fourth species of Sciurus, S. nayaritensis (Apache Fox Squirrel), occurs in our region, but almost entirely in Mexico. It is a primarily Mexican species that has a

presence in the Chiricahua Mountains of southeastern Arizona. Literature. Findley 1987; Findley et al. 1975; Harris 1977; Norris et al. 2006; Logan 1983; Slaughter 1975; Van Devender et al. 1977.

Sciurus sp.—Tree Squirrels Tree squirrel teeth are quite distinctive from those of ground squirrels, but isolated teeth are difficult to assign to species. Sites. Wisconsin: Carpinteria (Wilson 1933). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Sandblast Cave (Emslie 1988). Late Wisconsin: Blackwater Draw Fauna (Slaughter 1975); Lower Sloth Cave (Logan 1983). Literature. Emslie 1988; Logan 1983; Slaughter 1975; Wilson 1933.

Sciurus aberti—Abert's Squirrel Fig. 1. Abert's Squirrel. Photograph by Sally King, courtesy of the US National Park Service. Sites. Medial Irvingtonian: SAM Cave (Rogers et al. 2000). Mid Wisconsin: Papago Springs Cave (Czaplewski and Mead et al. 1999: cf. gen. et sp.). Literature. Czaplewski and Mead et al. 1999; Rogers et al. 2000.

Last Update: 28 Dec 2013

Main Menu Class Mammalia Order Rodentia Family Sciuridae

Spermophile Ground Squirrels —Spermophile Ground Squirrels // Spermophilus cochisei —Cochise Ground Squirrel // Callospermophilus lateralis —Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel // Ictidomys/Xerospermophilus)—Ictidomys or Xerospermophilus Ground Squirrel // Ictidomys tridecemlineatus —Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrel // Otospermophilus bensoni —Benson Rock Squirrel // Otospermophilus beecheyi—California Ground Squirrel // Otospermophilus variegatus —Rock Squirrel // "Spermophilus" cochisei —Cochise Ground Squirrel // Urocitellus elegans —Wyoming Ground Squirrel // Urocitellus townsendii —Piute Ground Squirrel // Xerospermophilus mohavensis —Mohave Ground Squirrel // Xerospermophilus spilosoma—Spotted Ground Squirrel // Xerospermophilus tereticaudus—Round-tailed Ground Squirrel Spermophile Ground Squirrels Since the naming of the genus Spermophilus by Cuvier in 1825, members of the genus have been split and lumped taxonomically in various ways, with Spermophilus recognized in recent years as consisting of a number of subgenera. In a far-reaching study including both molecular and morphological data, Helgen et al. (2009) have split the genus into eight genera. The restricted genus Spermophilus is limited to Eurasia. Anticipating that this taxonomy will be widely accepted, the system is adopted here. The changes are not without problems for fossil material, however. This is especially problematic in regards to taxa formerly relegated to the subgenus Ictidomys, specifically, S. spilosoma and S. tridecemlineatus. The former species has been transferred to a different genus from the latter, but identifications to subgeneric levels generally have been on the basis of dental characters shared by both. The taxa listed in the directory header above are taxa in our region that generally have been published under the genus Spermophilus. In many cases, the taxon recorded from the fossil record is identifiable to a currently recognized taxon; in other cases, however, sufficient evidence is not recorded as to allow such—these are listed below as Spermophiles. Synonyms. Most literature after about 1950 until after the recent publication of Helgen et al. (2009) uses Spermophilus for all of the genera noted above, though occasionally other names, such as Callospermophilus, were used.

Ground squirrels are widespread in both the New World and the Old. They are mostly inhabitants of grasslands or shrublands. Being active during the daylight hours places a premium on being able to spot predators in time to take cover. Activity usually is close to a burrow opening that is a haven from most predators except snakes and certain members of the weasel family (various weasels of appropriate size that are able to enter the burrow and the American Badger that is expert at digging out burrows). Tamias (chipmunks) and Ammospermophilus (antelope squirrels) have many similarities with the ground squirrels. Dental characteristics generally will separate Tamias (see Sciuridae and Tamias accounts). To repeat from the Ammospermophilus account, the masseteric tubercle is directly below a narrowly oval infraorbital foramen, whereas in taxa formerly assigned to Spermophilus, the masseteric tubercle is medium to large and ventral to slightly lateral to an oval or subtriangular infraorbital foramen (Hall 1981). Other differences are more subtle and most identifications depend on direct comparison with modern specimens. Literature. Hall 1981; Helgen et al. 2009.

Spermophiles—Ground Squirrels With a number of species possible, including those with considerable overlap in size, many elements that can be identified as a ground squirrel cannot be identified to a lower taxonomic level. Most were identified originally as members of the genus Spermophilus; with the split-up of that genus into several genera, it becomes problematical as to which of the present genera are involved. Sites. Pleistocene: Perico Creek (Morgan and Lucas 2005). Latest Blancan: La Union (Morgan and Lucas 2003). Irvingtonian: El Golfo (Croxen et al. 2007). Rancholabrean: Tramperos Creek (Morgan and Lucas 2005). Rancholabrean/?Early Holocene: Mitchell Caverns (Jefferson 1991b). Wisconsin: CC:5:5 (Mead et al. 2003); Glen Abby, Bonita (Majors 1993). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Rampart Cave (Lindsay and Tessman 1974); Mid/Late Wisconsin: Diamond Valley (Springer et al. 2009). Late Wisconsin: Antelope Cave [two species] (Jefferson 1991b); Folsom Site (Morgan and Lucas 2005); Potosi Mountain (Mead and Murray 1991.

Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Conkling Cavern (Conkling 1932); Isleta Cave No. 2 (?) (UTEP); Newberry Cave (Jefferson 1991b); Schuiling Cave (Jefferson 1991b). Literature. Conkling 1932; Croxen et al. 2007; 1991b; Lindsay and Tessman 1974; Mead and Murray 1991; Majors 1993; Mead et al. 2003; Morgan and Lucas 2003, 2005; Springer et al. 2009.

†"Spermophilus" cochisei (Gidley 1922)—Cochise Ground Squirrel Synonyms.Citellus cochisei There is insufficient information to allow placement within one of the currently recognized North American genera. Fig. 1. Spermophilus cochisei: palatal view of holotype (1); dorsal and lateral views of paratype (2, 2a). After Gidley 1922 (images have been manipulated for clarity).

Gidley's (1922) description follows:    Type.—Portion of a right maxillary containing all the cheek teeth (catalog No. 10490, U.S. Nat. Mus.).    Paratype.—Portion of a left lower jaw (catalog No. 10491).    Locality.—Both are from the Curtis locality, in sec. 25, T. 18 S., R. 21 E., and were found in exhuming a mastodon skeleton.    Description.—Length of upper cheek-tooth series 10.5 1 2 millimeters. Molars relatively wide, m and m one-third wider than long; lophs and valleys simple and narrow; both posterior transverse lophs of the molars completely united with protocone, forming a short, narrow valley opening outward and extending inward not more than one-half the width of the tooth crown, as in Cynomys. The anterior transverse lophs are more depressed and except in m3 are much longer than the other lophs, extending inward and upward to disappear in the anterior wall of the protocone. P4 differs from the anterior two molars only in being less wide and in having the anterior loph relatively and actually more extended anteriorly.     In the greater width of tooth crowns, the less extent of their

median external reentrant valleys, and the relative shortness of the heel of the last molar, this species suggests Cynomys, but it differs from species of that genus in the much more brachyodont tooth crowns, the greater relative depth of the median external reentrant valleys, and the incipiency, amounting to almost total absence, of the posterior reentrant valleys so prominent in species of Cynomys. The first of these features might be considered as a character of degree only, indicating less advanced specialization, but the other two I consider characters that denote relationship with the living species of Citellus rather than with those of the genus Cynomys.     The lower jaw, as indicated by specimen No. 10491, which carries the incisor and the anterior two cheek teeth, is relatively short and deep, the incisor narrow and pointed, and the cheek teeth relatively wide to a degree corresponding with those of the upper series. This species compares in size with C. evermani, but it differs from all the living forms in one or more of the characters enumerated above. Sites. Late Blancan: Curtis Ranch (Lindsay 1984); Prospect (Johnson et al. 1975). Literature. Gidley 1922; Lindsay 1984; Johnson et al. 1975.

Last Update: 1 Jul 2014

Main Menu Class Mammalia Order Rodentia Family Sciuridae

Spermophile Ground Squirrels —Spermophile Ground Squirrels // Callospermophilus lateralis —Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel // Ictidomys/Xerospermophilus)—Ictidomys or Xerospermophilus Ground Squirrel // Ictidomys tridecemlineatus —Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrel // Otospermophilus bensoni —Benson Rock Squirrel // Otospermophilus variegatus —Rock Squirrel // "Spermophilus" cochisei —Cochise Ground Squirrel // Urocitellus elegans —Wyoming Ground Squirrel // Xerospermophilus spilosoma—Spotted Ground Squirrel

Callospermophilus lateralis (Say 1823)—Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel Synonyms. Spermophilus lateralis. According to Bartels and Thompson (1993:4) C. lateralis "inhabits forested or sparsely brushy territory from the upper edge of the pinyon belt to above timberline. It occurs on rocky slopes adjoining grasslands and also on forest floors, areas of scattered chaparral, and margins of mountain meadows. C. lateralis ranges down into sagebrush country and even out into meadows, but only if there are rocks for shelter." Fig. 1. Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel. National Park Service photograph by Sally King. In Arizona, occurrence is largely along the Mogollon Rim and in the adjacent highlands of western New Mexico. It is absent from the mountains east of the Rio Grande and south of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains in New Mexico. The record from Marmot Cave in the Sandia Mountains but absence in the highlands to the south suggests it got into the Sandias too late to have a forested corridor leading farther south. North

of Arizona and New Mexico, it occurs through the Great Basin to southwestern Canada. The Ventana Cave identification seems unlikely on the face of it. The cave currently is in full Sonoran Desert and far from any likely habitat. Colbert (1950) noted that there were differences from C. lateralis in tooth size and proportions, suggesting it might be an unknown species of the Callospermophilus group. Sites. Medial Irvingtonian: SAM Cave (Rogers et al. 2000). Rancholabrean: Mescal Cave (Jefferson 1991b). Late Wisconsin: Marmot Cave (Thompson and Morgan 2001); Sheep Camp Shelter (Gillespie 1985); Ventana Cave (Colbert 1950. Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Kokoweef Cave (Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991). Literature. Bartels and Thompson 1993; Colbert 1950; Gillespie 1985; Jefferson 1991b; Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991; Thompson and Morgan 2001; Rogers et al. 2000.

Last Update: 27 May 2014

Main Menu Class Mammalia Order Rodentia Family Sciuridae

Spermophile Ground Squirrels —Spermophile Ground Squirrels // Callospermophilus lateralis —Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel // Ictidomys/Xerospermophilus)—Ictidomys or Xerospermophilus Ground Squirrel // Ictidomys tridecemlineatus —Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrel // Otospermophilus bensoni —Benson Rock Squirrel // Otospermophilus variegatus —Rock Squirrel // "Spermophilus" cochisei —Cochise Ground Squirrel // Urocitellus elegans —Wyoming Ground Squirrel // Xerospermophilus spilosoma—Spotted Ground Squirrel

Ictidomys/Xerospermophilus sp.—Ictidomys/Xerospermophilus Ground Squirrels Synonyms. Spermophilus tridecemlineatus, S. spilosoma. Members of the subgenus Ictidomys include I. tridecemlineatus and I. mexicanus from our region. Until recently, X. spilosoma was included in Ictidomys. Most or all fossils originally identified to Ictidomys were done so on the basis of dental characteristics shared with Xerospermophilus or on size, which varies geographically. Ictidomys mexicanus (Mexican Ground Squirrel) is enough larger than the other two species that it should not be confused with them. Sites. Early/Early-Mid Wisconsin: Lost Valley (Harris 1993c); Rm Vanishing Floor (Harris 1993c). Mid Wisconsin: Pendejo Cave (Harris 2003); U-Bar Cave (Harris 1987). Mid/Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Sierra Diablo Cave (UTEP). Late Wisconsin: Algerita Blossom Cave (Harris 1993c); Charlies Parlor (Harris 1993c); Mystery Light Cave (this volume: cf. gen. et sp.); TT II (Harris 1993c). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Howell's Ridge Cave (Harris 1993c).

Literature. Harris 1987, 1993c, 2003.

Last Update: 6 Mar 2013

Main Menu Class Mammalia Order Rodentia Family Sciuridae

Spermophile Ground Squirrels —Spermophile Ground Squirrels // Callospermophilus lateralis —Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel // Ictidomys/Xerospermophilus)—Ictidomys or Xerospermophilus Ground Squirrel // Ictidomys tridecemlineatus —Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrel // Otospermophilus bensoni —Benson Rock Squirrel // Otospermophilus variegatus —Rock Squirrel // "Spermophilus" cochisei —Cochise Ground Squirrel // Urocitellus elegans —Wyoming Ground Squirrel // Xerospermophilus spilosoma—Spotted Ground Squirrel

Ictidomys tridecemlineatus (Mitchill 1821)—Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrel Synonyms. Spermophilus tridecemlineatus. Although basically a Great Plains species, I. tridecemlineatus is scattered through New Mexico, being relatively common in the northeastern shortgrass plains. Otherwise, it occurs mostly in relictual grasslands in foothills and valleys of the southern mountains (Findley et al. 1975). It is not recorded from TransPecos Texas (Schmidly 2004). Tebedge (1988) records the presence of this small ground squirrel and compared it with I. mexicanus, which he noted has morphologically similar dentition, but is much larger. He does not mention, however, another local ground squirrel, Xerospermophilus spilosoma, that has similar dentition and is close in size to I. tridecemlineatus. Nonetheless, I. tridecemlineatus is expectable in the Pleistocene of southeastern New Mexico. Earlier reports of occurrences in the Dry Cave sites (Animal Fair, Bison Chamber, and Harris' Pocket) are of specimens not clearly assignable between this species and Xerospermophilus spilosoma and are listed as "cf." pending further study. Fig. 1. Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrel. Photo used under Creative Commons from Scorpions and Centaurs. Sites.

Medial Irvingtonian: SAM Cave (Rogers et al. 2000). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Dark Canyon Cave (Tebedge 1988). Late Wisconsin: Animal Fair 18-20 ka (Harris 1989; UTEP cf.); Balcony Room (UTEP cf.); Bison Chamber (Harris 1970; UTEP cf.); Dust Cave (Harris and Hearst 2012); Harris' Pocket (Harris 1970a; UTEP cf.); Hueco Mountains (Van Devender et al. 1987: cf.); Navar Ranch (Van Devender et al. 1987: cf.). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: SAM Cave (Rogers et al. 2000). Literature. Findley et al. 1975; Harris 1970a, 1989; Harris and Hearst 2012; Rogers et al. 2000; Schmidley 2004; Tebedge 1988; Van Devender et al. 1987.

Last Update: 6 Mar 2013

Main Menu Class Mammalia Order Rodentia Family Sciuridae

Spermophile Ground Squirrels —Spermophile Ground Squirrels // Callospermophilus lateralis —Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel // Ictidomys/Xerospermophilus)—Ictidomys or Xerospermophilus Ground Squirrel // Ictidomys tridecemlineatus —Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrel // Otospermophilus beecheyi—California Rock Squirrel // Otospermophilus bensoni —Benson Rock Squirrel // Otospermophilus variegatus —Rock Squirrel // "Spermophilus" cochisei —Cochise Ground Squirrel // Urocitellus elegans —Wyoming Ground Squirrel // Xerospermophilus spilosoma—Spotted Ground Squirrel

†Otospermophilus beecheyi (Richardson 1829)—California Ground Squirrel Synonyms. Spermophilus beecheyi Sites. Late Blancan/Early Irvingtonian: Elsinore: Mimomys (Pajak et al. 1996: aff.). ?Irvingtonian/Rancholabrean: Emery Borrow Pit (Jefferson 1991b). Rancholabrean: Harbor Freeway, Athens (Jefferson 1991b). Sangamon: Newport Bay Mesa (Jefferson 1991b: cf.); San Pedro Lumber Co. (Jefferson 1991b). Wisconsin: Costeau Pit (Jefferson 1991b). Mid Wisconsin: McKittrick (Schultz 1937: cf.). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Diamond Valley (Springer et al. 2009); Rancho La Brea (Stock and Harris). Literature. Jefferson 1991a; Pajak et al. 1996; Schultz 1937; Springer et al. 2009; Stock and Harris 1992.

†Otospermophilus bensoni (Gidley 1922)—Benson Ground Squirrel Synonyms. Citellus bensoni, Spermophilus bensoni Fig. 1. Otospermophilus bensoni Holotype. Last left upper molar, crown view (3); right upper molar (3a, 3b) probably of same individual; lower cheek teeth in fragment of jaw of left side, crown view. After Gidley 1922. Gidley (1922) described O. bensoni as follows:    Type.—A first or second upper molar of the right side and a last upper molar of the left side (catalog No. 10531, U.S. Nat. Mus.).    Paratype.—The cheek-tooth series of a left lower jaw (catalog No. 10532, U.S. Nat. Mus.).    Locality.—Both from the Benson locality.    Description.—Length of cheek-tooth series (estimated from measurements of the paratype), 10.3 millimeters; upper molar of about the same proportion as the corresponding one of C. cochisei at the base but much narrower at the summit, owing to the greater slope of the inner wall of the protocone; the three transverse lophs about equal in length, the posterior one being broken up into two distinct but slightly joined cuspules, the inner one of which is a rounded cone entirely disconnected from the protocone.    An upper m3 which I associate with the type specimen, like that of C. beecheyi, has a relatively small heel portion as compared with living species, and in addition there is a well defined isolated cone-shaped cuspule near the center of the posterior basin.    This species seems to approach C. beecheyi much more closely than any other living species but differs from it in a few apparently important particulars. In C. beecheyi the crowns of the upper molars are relatively narrower than in the fossil species, being nearly as long as wide; the lingual wall of the protocone is less sloping, and the exterior or buccal face of this cusp is much more sloping. Other differences noted in the living species are the generally less broken up condition of the posterior transverse lophs; the somewhat shallower transverse valleys, the posterior one of which usually has a small cuspule at its external entrance; and the relatively broader and less completely inclosed posterior valley of the last upper molar. Beyond the fact that the last lower molar, like the upper, is relatively smaller, and the valleys and cusps are somewhat more sharply defined than in C. beecheyi, there is little to distinguish between the lower cheek teeth of that

species and C. beecheyi. Sites. Late Blancan: 111 Ranch (Morgan and White 2005: ?); California Wash (Morgan and White 2005); San Simon Fauna (Morgan and White 2005: ?); Tecopa Lake Beds (Woodburne and Whistler 1991: cf.). Literature. Morgan and White 2005; Woodburne and Whistler 1991.

Otospermophilus variegatus (Erxleben 1777)—Rock Squirrel Synonyms. Citellus grammarus, Spermophilus grammarus, Spermophilus variegatus. Rock Squirrels look more like they should be tree squirrels than ground squirrels, and indeed it is not rare to see them climbing. They are about the size of our Southwestern species of Sciurus, and size alone will separate them from other regional ground squirrels . The Rock Squirrel currently is distributed throughout the region, lowlands to high mountains, where rocky terrain or steep-banked arroyos occur, but are otherwise absent from desert and grassland (Findley et al. 1975). Fig. 1. As seen here, Sciurus aberti (top) and Otospermophilus variegatus are very close in size. Dental characteristics and configuration of the dentary (especially the length and depth of the diastema) will separate the two. Characters of the posterior dentary also are quite different, but often missing in fossil material. Fig. 2. Rock Squirrel. National Park Service photograph by Sally King. Sites. Medial Irvingtonian: SAM Cave (Rogers et al. 2000). Rancholabrean: Papago Springs Cave (Czaplewski and Mead et al. 1999; Skinner 1942) Early/Early Mid Wisconsin: Rm Vanishing Floor (Harris 1993c).

Mid Wisconsin: Screaming Neotoma Cave (Glennon 1994); UBar Cave (Harris 1987). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Dark Canyon Cave (Tebedge 1988) Mid/Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Jimenez Cave (Messing 1986); Sierra Diablo Cave (UTEP). Late Wisconsin: Antelope Cave (Reynolds, Reynolds, Bell, and Pitzer 1991); Dust Cave (Harris and Hearst 2012); Murray Springs (Mead et al. 2005); Muskox Cave (Logan 1981); U-Bar Cave 14-15 ka (Harris 1989); U-Bar Cave 15-18 ka (Harris 1989); U-Bar Cave 18-20 ka (Harris 1989); Upper Sloth Cave (Logan and Black 1979); Vulture Cave (Mead and Phillips 1981). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Burnet Cave (Schultz and Howard 1935); Conkling Cavern (UTEP); Deadman Cave (Mead et al. 1984); Fowlkes Cave (Dalquest and Stangl 1984b); Kokoweef Cave (Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991: cf.); Pendejo Cave (UTEP); Stanton's Cave (Olsen and Olsen 1984); Williams Cave (Ayer 1936) Literature. Ayer 1936; Czaplewski and Mead et al. 1999; Dalquest and Stangl 1984b; Findley et al. 1975; Glennon 1994; Harris 1987, 1989, 1993c; Harris and Hearst 2012; 1991b; Logan 1981; Logan and Black 1979; Mead and Phillips 1981; Mead et al. 1984, 2005; Messing 1986; Olsen and Olsen 1984; Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991; Reynolds, Reynolds, Bell, and Pitzer 1991; Rogers et al. 2000; Schultz and Howard 1935; Skinner 1942; Tebedge 1988.

Last Update: 1 Jul 2014

Main Menu Class Mammalia Order Rodentia Family Sciuridae

Spermophile Ground Squirrels —Spermophile Ground Squirrels // Callospermophilus lateralis —Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel // Ictidomys/Xerospermophilus)—Ictidomys or Xerospermophilus Ground Squirrel // Ictidomys tridecemlineatus —Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrel // Otospermophilus bensoni —Benson Rock Squirrel // Otospermophilus variegatus —Rock Squirrel // "Spermophilus" cochisei —Cochise Ground Squirrel // Urocitellus elegans —Wyoming Ground Squirrel // Urocitellus townsendii —Piute Ground Squirrel // Xerospermophilus spilosoma—Spotted Ground Squirrel Urocitellus elegans-size Ground Squirrel—Ground Squirrel size of Wyoming Ground Squirrel Synonyms. Spermophilus elegans, S. richardsonii. A partial maxilla and palatine from Pendejo Cave is consistent with U. elegans, but not diagnostic. Sites. Mid Wisconsin: Pendejo Cave (Harris 2003). Literature. Harris 2003.

Urocitellus elegans (Kennicott 1863)—Wyoming Ground Squirrel Synonyms. Spermophilus elegans, S. richardsonii. The taxon earlier known as S. richardsonii has been recognized as consisting of two species; the more southerly takes the name U. elegans and the more northern now is U. richardsonii, and records in our area are assumed to belong to U. elegans. The current geographic range is to the north,

with the extreme southern limits reaching barely into central Colorado. However, remains have been recovered in an archaeological context (early 14th to early 15th centuries) near Santa Fe (Lang and Harris 1984), suggesting that some factor other than climate has caused their extirpation from the south. One possibility lies in the changes and losses in low vegetation following introduction of stock into the Southwest—especially sheep and goats. Zegers (1984) noted from the literature that U. elegans inhabits sage plains and grassland habitats from valley bottoms to subalpine talus slopes. This fits well with the hypothesized presence of sagebrush grasslands in southern New Mexico during late glacial times. Sites. Mid/Late Wisconsin: Dark Canyon Cave (Tebedge 1988: cf.). Late Wisconsin: Animal Fair 18-20 ka (Harris 1989); Balcony Room (UTEP); Charlies Parlor (Harris 1993c: cf.); Harris' Pocket (Harris 1989) Sheep Camp Shelter (Gillespie 1985: cf.). Literature. Gillespie 1985; Harris 1989, 1993c; Lang and Harris 1984; Tebedge 1988; Zegers 1984.

Urocitellus townsendii (Kennicott 1863)—Piute Ground Squirrel Synonyms. Spermophilus townsendii. Discussion. Nomenclatural changes within the genus Spermophilus have resulted in a number of differences (Helgen et al. 2009) since the appearance of most publications reporting fossil ground squirrels from our region. Urocitellus townsendii currently is limited to a small area in southeastern Washington; U. mollis is a more likely species based on modern distribution; however,the identification given in Jefferson (1991b) is retained for the time being. Sites.

Rancholabrean: Piute Valley (Jefferson 1991b). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Kokoweef Cave (Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991). Literature. Jefferson 1991b; Helgen et al. 1009; Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991.

Last Update: 27 May 2014

Main Menu Class Mammalia Order Rodentia Family Sciuridae

Spermophile Ground Squirrels —Spermophile Ground Squirrels // Callospermophilus lateralis —Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel // Ictidomys/Xerospermophilus)—Ictidomys or Xerospermophilus Ground Squirrel // Ictidomys tridecemlineatus —Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrel // Otospermophilus bensoni —Benson Rock Squirrel // Otospermophilus variegatus —Rock Squirrel // "Spermophilus" cochisei —Cochise Ground Squirrel // Urocitellus elegans —Wyoming Ground Squirrel // Xerospermophilus mohavensis —Mohave Ground Squirrel // Xerospermophilus spilosoma—Spotted Ground Squirrel // Xerospermophilus tereticaudus—Round-tailed Ground Squirrel

Xerospermophilus mohavensis (Merriam, 1889)—Mohave Ground Squirrel Sites. Rancholabrean: Cool Water Coal Gasification Solid Waste Site (Jefferson 1991b). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Calico Lakes (Jefferson 1991b); Kokoweef Cave (Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991: ?); Luz Solar Trough (Jefferson 1991b). Literature. Jefferson 1991b; Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991.

Xerospermophilus spilosoma Bennett 1833—Spotted Ground Squirrel Synonyms. Spermophilus spilosoma. Spotted Ground Squirrels are common in the basins of New Mexico and Trans-Pecos Texas. They almost never are found in rocky habitats, apparently preferring the more mellow soils away from the mountains and foothills. In

Arizona, a large portion of the southeastern sector and much of the northern portion supports the species. The record from Isleta Cave No. 1 (Harris

1993c) is withdrawn, no voucher having been found. Fig. 1. Spotted Ground Squirrel. After Bailey (1931). Sites. Mid Wisconsin: Papago Springs Cave (Czaplewski and Mead et al. 1999: cf.); Tank Trap Wash (Van Devender et al. 1987: cf.); Tunnel View #1 (Van Devender and Bradley 1990: cf.).

Mid/Late Wisconsin: Animal Fair (Harris 1993c); Dark Canyon Cave (UTEP); Pit N&W Animal Fair (Harris 1993c: cf.). Mid/Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Jimenez Cave (Messing 1986: cf.) Late Wisconsin: Balcony Room (UTEP cf.); Dust Cave (Harris and Hearst 2012); Lower Sloth Cave (Logan 1983); Pendejo Cave (Harris 2003); Steeruwitz Hills #1(4) (Van Devender and Bradley 1990: cf.); U-Bar Cave 14-15 ka (Harris 1989: cf.); UBar Cave 15-18 ka (Harris 1989); U-Bar Cave 18-20 ka (Harris 1989). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Fowlkes Cave (Dalquest and Stangl 1984b); Pendejo Cave (Harris 2003). Literature. Bailey 1931; Czaplewski and Mead et al. 1999; Dalquest and Stangl 1984b; Harris 1989, 1993c, 2003; Harris and Hearst 2012; Logan 1983; Messing 1986; Van Devender and Bradley 1990; Van Devender et al. 1987.

Xerospermophilus tereticaudus (Baird 1858)—Round-tailed Ground Squirrel Sites. Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Luz Solar Trough (Jefferson 1991b); Solar One (Jefferson 1991b).

Literature. Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 27 May 2014

Main Menu Class Mammalia Order Rodentia Family Sciuridae

Tamias sp.—Chipmunks // Tamias canipes/quadrivittatus —Grayfooted or Colorado Chipmunk // Tamias canipes—Gray-footed Chipmunk // Tamias minimus—Least Chipmunk // Tamias panamintinus —Panamint Chipmunk Tamias—Chipmunks Synonyms. Eutamias, Neotamias. Western chipmunks have widely been placed in the genus Eutamias, and the genus Neotamias also has been used. To quote Thorington and Hoffmann (2005:813), "Thus, a single genus, Tamias, may be employed for all chipmunks (Levenson et al., 1985), but two genera (Tamias and Neotamias) could be recognized, or all three could be recognized as genera." We follow Thorington and Hoffmann here in considering all of our chipmunks to belong to the genus Tamias. Chipmunks are small squirrels limited, in our region, to montane situations. In the Trans-Pecos, they are limited to the higher portions of the Guadalupe Mountains and the Sierra Diablos (Schmidly 2004). In New Mexico and Arizona, chipmunks are expected in ranges that support woodland or higher-elevation vegetation. Where more than one species occurs, there generally is an elevational division of habitat; where only a single species occurs, it generally encompasses an elevational range greater than when another species is present. Chipmunks can be confused with other small sciurids. but dental characters and the nature of the infraorbital foramen (Figs. 1) will separate them (see figure 2 in the Sciuridae account for lower dentition differences). Within the genus, however, identification to species is difficult. Fling (1997) attempted to discriminate among the regional taxa through tooth measurements. Tamias minimus, a notably small-sized species, was the only taxon reliably separated from the others. Qualitative differences in teeth among the species are unknown. In light of this, identifications of species other than T. minimus must be considered highly speculative and, in practice, based on geographic considerations. A

chipmunk from U-Bar Cave (Fig. 1) is larger than any measured by Fling (1997). His largest measurement of the upper tooth row is 6.2 mm for T. cinereicollis. The specimen figured has an estimated minimum tooth row length of 7.2 mm. Fig. 1. This Wisconsin-age Tamias shows two characters typical of chipmunk maxillae and upper dentition. The infraorbital opening can be seen as a simple hole through the zygomatic plate (just above the masseteric tubercle in the figure), and the divergence of the lophs of M1 and M2 is clearly visible. Scale in mm. The absence of Tamias from the extensive late Wisconsin faunas from Dry Cave is puzzling. The hypothesized vegetation (Harris 1989) should have supported them. Tamias minimus, for example, inhabits similar habitat in modern areas most similar to those thought to have been present at Dry Cave. Chipmunks were present at contemporaneous faunas in the southern Guadalupes and also at Dry Cave during the interstadial earlier faunas. Literature. Fling 1997; Harris 1989; Schmidly 2004; Thorington and Hoffmann 2005.

Tamias sp.—Chipmunks

Chipmunks identified to genus-only recognizes the difficulty in identifying these rodents to the species level. Two records (Baldy Peak Cave and Mid Wisconsin U-Bar Cave) were originally reported as T. ? cinereicollis and T. ? dorsalis respectively. They currently are considered to be unidentifiable to species. The record of Tamias at Conkling Cavern appears to not be documented with specimens and is withdrawn pending further investigation. Sites. Late Blancan/Early Irvingtonian: Elsinore: Mimomys (Pajak et al. 1996). Rancholabrean: Anthony Gap Cave (UTEP); Papago Springs Cave (Skinner 1942). Wisconsin: Carpinteria (Wilson 1933). Early/Early-Mid Wisconsin: Lost Valley (Harris 1993c). Mid Wisconsin: Papago Springs Cave (Czaplewski and Mead et al. 1999); U-Bar Cave (Harris 1987). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Rampart Cave (Lindsay and Tessman 1974); Diamond Valley (Springer et al. 2009). Mid Wisconsin-Holocene: Shelter Cave (UTEP) Late Wisconsin: Antelope Cave (Reynolds, Reynolds, Bell, and Pitzer 1991); Big Manhole Cave (Harris 1993c); Lower Sloth Cave (Logan 1983); Muskox Cave (Logan 1981); Nankoweap Canyon (Cole and Mead 1981); Tucson Mountains (Mead et al. 2005); U-Bar Cave 14-15 ka (Harris 1989); U-Bar Cave 15-18 ka (Harris 1989); UBar Cave 18-20 ka (Harris 1989). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Baldy Peak Cave (Harris 1993c); Conkling Cavern (Harris 1993c; Rejected); Kokoweef Cave (Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991): 2 species, one large and one small). Literature. Cole and Mead 1981; Czaplewski and Mead et al. 1999; Harris 1987, 1989, 1993c, 2003; 1991b; Lindsay and Tessman 1974; Logan 1981, 1983; Mead et al. 2005;Pajak et al. 1996; Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991; Reynolds, Reynolds, Bell, and Pitzer 1991; Skinner 1942; Springer et al. 2009; Wilson 1933.

Tamias canipes (V. Bailey 1902)/T. quadrivittatus (Say 1823)—Gray-footed or Colorado Chipmunk Identification

to species is based on geographic grounds. Currently, T. canipes is found in the southern mountains east of the Rio Grande Valley. The Colorado Chipmunk is primarily northern, but evidence of occurrence far to the south is seen in its presence as a relictual population in the Organ Mountains (Findley 1987). Thus, either of these two species are potentially possible. Fig. 1. Colorado Chipmunk. National Park Service photograph by Sally King. Sites. Mid Wisconsin: Pendejo Cave (Harris 2003). Late Wisconsin:Dust Cave (Harris and Hearst 2012). Literature. Findley 1987; Harris 2003; Harris and Hearst 2012.

Tamias canipes (V. Bailey 1902)—Gray-footed Chipmunk Synonyms. Tamias cinereicollis. In 1960, Fleharty split T. cinereicollis into the western populations that kept the name T. cinereicollis and resurrected the name T. canipes for populations in the southern mountains east of the Rio Grande. Dalquest and Stangl (1984b) for whatever reason used the earlier name, but made it clear that they meant the taxon that currently inhabits the Guadalupe Mountains. The assignment to species was only tentative. Likewise, the Sierra Diablo specimen is assigned to this species on the basis of distribution and that it is not T. minimus. Tamias canipes is limited today to the mountains from the Gallinas south to the Guadalupes (Findley 1987), and Schmidly (2004) notes that they also are recorded from the Sierra Diablo of Trans-Pecos Texas. Sites. Mid/Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Sierra Diablo Cave (UTEP).

Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Fowlkes Cave (Dalquest and Stangl 1984b). Literature. Dalquest and Stangl 1984b; Findley 1987; Fleharty 1960; Schmidly 2004.

Tamias merriami (J. A. Allen 1889)—Merriam's Chipmunk Sites. Mid/Late Wisconsin: Rancho La Brea (Whistler 1989: cf.). Literature. Whistler 1989.

Tamias minimus Bachman 1839—Least Chipmunk The Least Chipmunk has relictual distributions in the southeastern New Mexico mountains, but is common in the northern mountains. There also is a relictual population in the White Mountains of eastern Arizona. Fig. 1. Least Chipmunk. National Park Service photograph by Sally King. Tamias minimus is enough smaller than other regional species of Tamias to allow reasonably secure species identification. The Bat Cave occurrence is of special interest because it lies about halfway between western (White Mountains of Arizona) and eastern (Sierra Blanca/Sacramento Mountains of New Mexico), demonstrating rather nicely continuous distribution between present-day highlands. Sites. Rancholabrean: Cool Water Coal Gasification Solid Waste Site (Jefferson 1991b: cf.). Mid Wisconsin: Pendejo Cave (Harris 2003).

Late Wisconsin: Dust Cave (Harris and Hearst 2012); Sheep Camp Shelter (Gillespie 1985: cf.). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Bat Cave (Scarbrough 1986); Kokoweef Cave (Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991); SAM Cave (Rogers et al. 2000). Literature. Gillespie 1985; Harris 1993c, 2003; Harris and Hearst 2012; Jefferson 1991b; Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991; Scarbrough 1986; Rogers et al. 2000.

Tamias panamintinus (Merriam 1893)—Panamint Chipmunk Sites. Late Wisconsin: Antelope Cave (Reynolds, Reynolds, Bell, and Pitzer 1991). Literature. Reynolds, Reynolds, Bell, and Pitzer 1991.

Last Update: 29 May 2014

Main Menu Class Mammalia Order Rodentia Family Sciuridae

Tamiasciurus hudsonicus (Erxleben 1777)—Red Squirrel Red Squirrels are inhabitants of mixed coniferous and spruce-fir forests in our region. Although sometimes descending into the Ponderosa Pine zone, they apparently are absent from those ranges that lack the higher elevation forests (Findley et al. 1975). Fig. 1. Tamiasciurus hudsonicus. Photograph by Donna Dewhurst, US Fish & Wildlife Service Red Squirrels today are absent south of the Sacramento Mountains of southeastern New

Mexico. Their presence as fossils in the Guadalupe Mountains fits well with the vegetational evidence of subalpine forest at the southern end of the range (Van Devender et al. 1979). Sites.

(Logan 1981); Mystery Light Cave (this volume).

Late Wisconsin: Dust Cave (Harris and Hearst 2012); Lower Sloth Cave (Logan 1983); Muskox Cave

Literature. Findley et al. 1975; Harris and Hearst 2012; Logan 1981, 1983; Van Devender et al. 1979.

Squirrel about the size of Tamiasciurus hudsonicus—Squirrel about the size of Red Squirrels There probably is no squirrel in our region during the time frame that is of this size other than Tamiasciurus hudsonicus. Sites. Wisconsin: New La Bajada Hill (Stearns 1942). Literature. Stearns 1942.

Last Update: 6 Jul 2012

Main Menu Class Mammalia Order Rodentia Family Castoridae

Castor sp.—American Beavers Sites. Late Blancan: 111 Ranch (Morgan and White 2005); Anza-Borrego (Murray 2008); Curtis Ranch (Lindsay 1984a); San Simon Fauna (Morgan and White 2005); Snowflake (Lindsay and Tessman 1974). Literature. Lindsay 1984a; Lindsay and Tessman 1974; Morgan and White 2005; Murray 2008.

†Castor californicus Kellogg 1911—Kellogg's Beaver Sites. Irvingtonian: El Golfo (Croxen et al. 2007: cf.). Literature. Croxen et al. 2007;

Castor canadensis Kuhl 1820—American Beaver Castor canadensis is the only living species in North America. This is the largest of the regional rodents, exceptionally reaching a weight of about 75 lbs. American Beavers are closely associated with permanent water. Historically, they were common along the Colorado, Rio Grande and Pecos rivers, as well as smaller streams

throughout the region. As most school children know, beavers build dams that trap stream water, providing a relatively deep pond that provides security for the lodge, a structure built largely of wood and having underwater entrances that lead to an area of the lodge that rises above the water. The pond also allows relatively safe access to the trees whose bark and other parts provide food for the beaver. Stores of sticks with bark attached may be stored in the bottom of the pond for later use. This traditional picture fits well with small, mountain streams, but doesn't work well with rivers that usually are too broad to dam successfully. In such situations, beavers usually tunnel into a river bank that rises well above the normal water level. The entrance is submerged and the entrance tunnel rises to a chamber above the water, much as with the "traditional" lodge. Beaver remains are rare in our region, where most sites either are some distance from expected habitat or unproductive for other than very large mammals. The large size of the beaver decreases the likelihood of a predator moving it any great distance to a cave situation. The Early Irvingtonian record is from valley fill of the Rio Grande. The valley sediments were aggrading until well into the Irvingtonian NALMA before downcutting commenced, eventually forming the present valley. Presence of beaver indicates permanent water and presumably ample valley vegetation as a food source. Fig. 1. The Early Irvingtonian specimen of Castor canadensis from the vicinity of La Union, Doña Ana Co., NM.

The tooth formula is 1/1 0/0 1/1 3/3 = 20. The teeth are complex and hypselodont (Figs. 2, 4). Expectably, the incisors are especially large and robust.

Fig. 2. Left upper cheek teeth of the American Beaver, anterior to left. The skull and post-cranial skeleton also are heavily built. Although the uninitiated could confuse the skull or teeth of the other large regional rodent, the porcupine, with that of the beaver, porcupines have rooted and somewhat less complicated cheekteeth, and the infraorbital foramen is huge. As can be seen in Fig. 3, that opening is almost minute in the beaver. Fig. 3 (left). Anterior view of Castor

canadensis skull showing the massiveness of the skull and the very small infraorbital foramena. Fig. 4 (right) Ventral view of the skull of Castor canadensis

Fig. 5 (below). Lateral view of Castor

canadensis skull. Sites. Early Irvingtonian: Adobe Ranch (Morgan and Lucas 2003). Rancholabrean: Black Rock (Morgan and Lucas 2005). and Olsen 1984).

Wisconsin/Holocene: Stanton's Cave (Olsen

Literature. Morgan and Lucas 2003, 2005; Olsen and Olsen 1984.

Last Update: 1 Apr 2014

Main Menu Class Mammalia Order Rodentia Family Heteromyidae

Chaetodipus —Spiny Pocket Mice // Chaetodipus/Perognathus—Spiny or Silky Pocket Mice // Dipodomys —Kangaroo Rats // Perognathus — Silky Pocket Mice // Microdipodops—Kangaroo Mice // Prodipodomys—Prodipodomys Kangaroo Rats Heteromyidae—Kangaroo Rats and Pocket Mice The word "heteromyidae" can be translated as "different mice", and the name fits. Although related to the pocket gophers (heteromyids and geomyids are placed in the superfamily Geomyoidea), they've taken a different ecological/morphological route. Instead of the heavy skeleton adapted for constructing burrows, the heteromyids are lightly built and most have some adaptations for a jumping (saltatorial) mode of locomotion. This is carried to the extreme in the kangaroo rats Among the characteristics of this family are grooved upper incisors, infraorbital foramina opening on the side of the rostrum, enlarged bullae, weak zygomatic arches, and the fur-lined pockets (shared with the pocket gophers) that are external, opening beside the mouth rather than inside of the mouth as in some other rodents. In Dipodomys, the cheek teeth are unrooted; in the pocket mice, they are rooted.  

Fig. 1. Lateral view of the dorsal skull of Dipodomys merriami, showing the infraorbital foramen opening on the side of the rostrum, the weak zygomatic arch, and the greatly enlarged auditory region. Fig. 2 (near right). Dorsal view of the skull of the Chihuahuan Pocket Mouse

(Chaetodipus eremicus) and lateral view of its left dentary. Scale in mm (note the scale difference between the two images). The very weak zygomatic arches are broken away in Fig. 2. Fig. 3 (far right). Dorsal view of the skull of the Banner-tailed Kangaroo Rat (Dipodomys spectabilis) and lateral view of its left dentary. Scale in mm. In the figures, the enlarged bullae are prominent, forming much of the back of the skull of Dipodomys. Pocket mice differ among themselves in the degree of enlargement of the bullae, but they are enlarged to some degree in all. In the genus Perognathus, the bullae are much more enlarged than in Chaetodipus. In the image of the Chihuahuan Pocket Mouse, the pale structures at the hind quarters of the skull are the mastoid bullae.

Fig. 4, left. Close-up of the anterior skull of Merriam's Kangaroo Rat showing the typical configuration and the grooved upper incisors. Fig. 4, right. Palate of Merriam's Kangaroo Rat showing the upper cheek teeth. As in the geomyids, the enamel capping the teeth is quickly worn away, leaving an interrupted ring of enamel around dentine. Fig. 5. Ventral view of the anterior skull of Chaetodipus eremicus. The cheek teeth are typical of moderately worn pocket mouse dentition. The zygomatic arch has broken away in this specimen.

Last Update: 2 Jul 2014

Main Menu Class Mammalia Order Rodentia Family Heteromyidae

Chaetodipus sp.—Spiny Pocket Mice // Chaetodipus baileyi—Bailey's Pocket Mouse // Chaetodipus californicus—California Pocket Mouse // Chaetodipus formosus —Long-tailed Pocket Mouse // Chaetodipus hispidus —Hispid Pocket Mouse // Chaetodipus intermedius —Rock Pocket Mouse

Chaetodipus—Spiny Pocket Mice Synonyms. Perognathus (part). For many years, Chaetodipus was considered a subgenus of Perognathus until elevated to generic status (Hafner and Hafner 1983). Chaetodipus differs from Perognathus especially in the smaller bullae (less than half the transverse distance across the skull at the interparietal compared to more than half in Perognathus). Dalquest and Stangl (1984b), looking for ways of identifying Perognathus (which at the time included Chaetodipus) from Fowlkes Cave, took a number of measurements of 25 adult specimens of each of five species now occurring in the general region. Their maximum and minimum measurements of the alveolar tooth rows of the lower jaws are given in Table 1, with updated nomenclature. They also measured lower incisor breadth, finding that it exceeded 0.65 mm in hispidus, whereas the breadths in the other four species were less than 0.60 and overlapped extensively. They concluded that hispidus could be identified on the basis of breadth of the lower incisor and that most or all of dentaries with the alveolar cheek tooth row less than 3.15 mm likely represented P. flavus. Species

Length of Lower Alveolar Tooth row

Chaetodipus hispidus

4.0-4.75 mm

Chaetodipus nelsoni

3.35-3.70 mm

Chaetodipus intermedius

3.25-3.70 mm

Chaetodipus eremicus

3.25-3.90 mm

Perognathus flavus

2.65-3.30 mm

Only four species of Chaetodipusare recognized from Pleistocene deposits in the eastern portion of the region, but this likely is due in part to the difficulty in identifying fragmentary material to species. Literature. Dalquest and Stangl 1984b; Hafner and Hafner 1983.

Chaetodipus sp.—Spiny Pocket Mice Various specimens can be identified as Chaetodipus, but have not been assigned to species. The specimens from Shafter #1B and Tunnel View #12 were listed as Perognathus penicillatus-type by Van Devender and Bradley (1990). Sites. Wisconsin: Carpinteria (Wilson 1933: cf.). Early/Early-Mid Wisconsin: Rm Vanishing Floor (Harris 1993c). Mid Wisconsin: U-Bar Cave (Harris 1987). Late Wisconsin: Antelope Cave (Reynolds, Reynolds, Bell, and Pitzer 1991); Shafter #1B (Van Devender and Bradley 1990); U-Bar Cave 14-15 ka (Harris 1989). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Fowlkes Cave (Dalquest and Stangl 1984b); Kokoweef Cave (Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991); Pendejo Cave (Harris 2003); Tunnel View #12 (Van Devender and Bradley 1990). Literature. Dalquest and Stangl 1984b; Harris 1987, 1989, 1993c, 2003; 1991b; Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991; Reynolds, Reynolds, Bell, and Pitzer 1991; Van Devender and Bradley 1990; Wilson 1933.

Chaetodipus baileyi (Merriam 1894)—Bailey's Pocket Mouse Chaetodipus baileyi is a relatively large pocket mouse that enters New Mexico along the Arizona border; it ranges through the southern half of Arizona and most of Sonora west of the Sierra Madre Occidental. Sites. Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Howell's Ridge Cave (Harris 1993c: cf.); U-Bar Cave (Harris 1993c).

Literature. Harris 1993c.

Chaetodipus californicus (Merriam 1889)—California Pocket Mouse The current range is in portions of California and Baja California. Sites. Sangamon: Newport Bay Mesa (Jefferson 1991b). Wisconsin: Costeau Pit (Jefferson 1991b). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Rancho La Brea (Stock and Harris. Late Wisconsin: Maricopa (Jefferson 1991b). Literature. Jefferson 1991b; Stock and Harris 1992.

Chaetodipus formosus (Merriam 1889)—Long-tailed Pocket Mouse This is basically a Great Basin form, though it extends south well into the Baja California peninsula. It does not approach coastal California today. Sites. Sangamon: Naval Housing Unit (Jefferson 1991b: cf.). Literature. Jefferson 1991b.

Chaetodipus hispidus (Baird 1858)—Hispid Pocket Mouse Although primarily an eastern species, the Hispid Pocket Mouse does extend across our area into southeastern Arizona and south into Mexico. Much of the Big Bend country and adjacent Mexico lacks the mouse at present, however. Sites. Mid/Late Wisconsin: Dark Canyon Cave

(Tebedge 1988). Mid/Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Sierra Diablo Cave (UTEP). Late Wisconsin: TT II (Harris 1993c). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Balcony Room (UTEP); Beyond Bison Chamber (Harris 1970: ?), Fowlkes Cave (Dalquest and Stangl 1984b). Literature. Dalquest and Stangl 1984b; Harris 1970a, 1993c; Tebedge 1988.

Chaetodipus intermedius (Merriam 1889)—Rock Pocket Mouse As per the common name, this pocket mouse is almost invariably found in rocky situations, whereas the Chihuahuan Pocket Mouse (C. eremicus) is equally limited to sandy substrata (C. eremicus east of the continental divide has been known as C. penicillatus until the mid 1990s, when that species was split). Harris and Findley (1964) identified this taxon from the Isleta Caves, and Harris (1993c) repeated that record. At present, this taxon cannot be shown to occur in the caves preHolocene. The Holocene record is included below (and mapped in blue as rejected) Sites. Late Wisconsin: Vulture Cave (Mead et al. 2005: cf.) Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Williams Cave (Ayer 1936: cf.). Holocene: Isleta Caves (rejected). Literature. Ayer 1936; Harris 1993c; Harris and Findley 1964.

Last Update: 27 May 2014

Main Menu Class Mammalia Order Rodentia Family Heteromyidae

Chaetodipus/Perognathus—Spiny or Silky Pocket Mice // Perognathus sp —Silky Pocket Mice // Perognathus flavus—Silky Pocket Mouse // Perognathus gidleyi —Gidley's Pocket Mouse // Perognathus inornatus—San Joaquin Pocket Mouse // Perognathus merriami —Merriam's Pocket Mouse

Chaetodipus sp. or Perognathus sp.—Spiny or Silky Pocket Mice It's not clear whether some of the larger silky pocket mice can be separated from smaller species of Chaetodipus on the basis of the types of material usually available as fossils, let alone into morphological species of Perognathus. At the time many of the records below were published, all of our pocket mice were considered to belong to Perognathus— thus there is no way to know for these which genus was represented without examination of the specimens involved, and quite likely not then. Sites. Late Blancan: California Wash (Morgan and White 2005); Curtis Ranch (Lindsay 1984); Jack Rabbit Trail, San Timoteo Badlands (Albright 2000). Late Blancan/Early Irvingtonian: Elsinore: Mimomys (Pajak et al. 1996). Late Blancan/Irvingtonian: Anza-Borrego (Murray 2008). Irvingtonian: El Casco, San Timoteo Badlands (Albright 2000); Elsinore: Microtus/Mammuthus (Pajak et al. 1996). Early Irvingtonian: Gypsum Ridge (Wagner and Prothero 2001). Irvingtonian/Early Rancholabrean: Archer (Jefferson 1991b). Late Irvingtonian: Elsinore: Pauba Formation (Pajak et al. 1996).

Rancholabrean: Bedford Properties (Jefferson 1991b); Cool Water Coal Gasification Solid Waste Site (Jefferson 1991b); Devil Peak (Reynolds, Reynolds, and Bell 1991); Glen Abbey, Bonita (Jefferson 1991b); Helendale (Jefferson 1991b); Mescal Cave (Jefferson 1991b); Morena Blvd. (Jefferson 1991b); Siphon 11 (Jefferson 1991b); Tule Springs (Springer et al. 2005); Tramperos Creek (Morgan and Lucas 2005). Early/Early-Mid Wisconsin: Lost Valley (Harris 1993c). Mid Wisconsin: Papago Springs Cave (Czaplewski and Mead et al. 1999); Plumosa Mountains (Mead et al. 1983); Screaming Neotoma Cave (Glennon 1994); Shonto (Mead et al. 2005). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Dark Canyon Cave (Harris 1993c); Diamond Valley (Springer et al. 2009); Sandblast Cave (Emslie 1988). Mid/Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Jimenez Cave (Messing 1986). Late Wisconsin: Alamo Canyon (Mead et al. 1983); Bonfire Shelter (Frank 1968); Cueva Quebrada (Lundelius 1984: possibly both genera); Falling Arches (Jefferson 1991b); Murray Springs (Mead et al. 2005); Picacho Peak (Van Devender et al. 1991); Potosi Mountain (Mead and Murray 1991). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Bat Cave (Scarbrough 1986); Calico Lakes (Jefferson 1991b); Wolcott Peak (Mead et al. 1983); Luz Foundation (Jefferson 1991b); Luz Solar Trough (Jefferson 1991b); Schuiling Cave (Jefferson 1991b; Solar One (Jefferson 1991b); Whipple Mountains Midden (Jefferson 1991b). Literature. Albright 2000; Czaplewski and Mead et al. 1999; Emslie 1988; Frank 1968; Glennon 1994; Harris 1993c; 1991b; Lindsay 1984; Mead et al. 1983; Mead et al. 2005; Lundelius 1984; Mead and Murray 1991; Messing 1986; Morgan and Lucas 2005; Pajak et al. 1996; Reynolds, Reynolds, and Bell 1991; Scarbrough 1986; Springer et al. 2005, 2009; Van Devender et al. 1991; Wagner and Prothero 2001.

Chaetodipus/Perognathus sp. A—Unpublished Spiny or Silky Pocket Mouse According to Murray (2008), a diagnosis was included in a M.S. thesis by Gensler (2002), but the taxon has not been formally named nor published. Sites. Late Blancan/Irvingtonian: Anza-Borrego (Murray 2008). Literature. Gensler 2002; Murray 2008.

Chaetodipus/Perognathus sp. B—Unpublished Spiny or Silky Pocket Mouse

According to Murray (2008), a diagnosis was included in a M.S. thesis by Gensler (2002), but the taxon has not been formally named nor published. Sites. Late Blancan/Irvingtonian: Anza-Borrego (Murray 2008). Literature. Gensler 2002; Murray 2008.

Perognathus—Silky Pocket Mice The genus Perognathus was long divided into two subgenera: P. (Chaetodipus) and P. (Perognathus) until they were deemed to be enough different as to represent two separate genera (Hafner and Hafner 1983). Perognathus shares many characteristics with Chaetodipus, but have auditory bullae even more enlarged and have fine hairs making up the pelage rather than the relatively coarse hairs characteristic of the Spiny Pocket Mice. Our species also are small, with Perognathus flavus being the smallest North American rodent. Dalquest and Stangl (1984b) made a number of measurements of pocket mice and concluded that most or all of dentaries with the alveolar cheek tooth row less than 3.15 mm likely represented P. flavus. Frey (2004) recognized four species of silky pocket mice in New Mexico, whereas apparently Dalquest and Stangl (1984b) only considered one possibility. The problem with silky pocket mice in our region is that species have been split and merged over the fairly recent past. The following situation is not necessarily agreed upon by all. Following Frey (2004), Perognathus merriami is recognized as separate from P. flavus on the basis of genetic, but not morphological, information. Perognathus apache has been considered a separate species, then as a subspecies of Perognathus flavescens, and now as separate once again. Perognathus apache/flavescens is slightly larger than P. flavus, and the latter apparently is indistinguishable from P. merriami on the basis of size or osteological character. Which of these species is represented by the records below is problematic; records are given as recorded in the literature except where otherwise stated. Literature. Dalquest and Stangl 1984b; Frey 2004; Hafner and Hafner 1983.

Perognathus sp.—Silky Pocket Mice These records are of specimens originally

identified as Perognathus (Perognathus), thus ruling out Chaetodipus (assuming correct identifications to subgenus). Early/Early-Mid Wisconsin: Rm Vanishing Floor (Harris 1993c). Mid Wisconsin:Tunnel View #8A(2) (Van Devender and Bradley 1990). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Animal Fair (Harris 1993c). Mid/Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Sierra Diablo Cave (UTEP). Late Wisconsin: Algerita Blossom Cave (Harris 1993c); Antelope Cave (Reynolds, Reynolds, Bell, and Pitzer 1991); Bison Chamber (Harris 1970a); Charlies Parlor (Harris 1989); Pendejo Cave (Harris 2003); TT II (Harris 1993c); U-Bar Cave 13-14 (Harris 1989); U-Bar Cave 14-15 ka (Harris 1989); U-Bar Cave 15-18 ka (Harris 1989); U-Bar Cave 18-20 ka (Harris 1989). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Beyond Bison Chamber (Harris 1970a); Entrance Chamber (UTEP); Kokoweef Cave (Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991); Pendejo Cave (Harris 2003). Literature. Harris 1970a, 1989, 1993c, 2003; 1991b; Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991; Reynolds, Reynolds, Bell, and Pitzer 1991; Van Devender and Bradley 1990.

Perognathus flavus Baird 1855—Silky Pocket Mouse El Paso is the type locality of P. flavus. The following are sites where P. flavus is identified in the literature. As noted in the generic account, however, at least the possibility of other species must be acknowledged. Sites. Mid Wisconsin: Pendejo Cave (UTEP: cf.); U-Bar Cave (Harris 1987: cf.). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Deadman Cave (Mead et al. 1984; cf.); Fowlkes Cave (Dalquest and Stangl 1984b); Howell's Ridge Cave (Harris 1993c); Pendejo Cave (UTEP: cf.). Holocene Isleta Cave No. 1 (Harris 1993c: cf.) and Isleta Cave No. 2 (Harris 1993c) rejected as not a Pleistocene occurrence.

Literature. Dalquest and Stangl 1984b; Harris 1987, 1993c; Mead et al. 1984.

†Perognathus gidleyi Hibbard 1941—Gidley's Pocket Mouse. This is a pocket mouse the size of the extant P. formosus, originally described from the Rexroad fauna of Meade County, Kansas (Hibbard 1941). Sites. Late Blancan: 111 Ranch (Morgan and White 2005). Literature. Hibbard 1941; Morgan and White 2005.

Perognathus inornatus Merriam 1889—San Joaquin Pocket Mouse. Current geographic distribution is limited to central California. Sites. Mid Wisconsin: McKittrick (Schultz 1937: cf.). Literature. Schultz 1937.

Perognathus merriami J. A. Allen 1892—Merriam's Pocket Mouse. Perognathus merriami has at times been considered as conspecific with P. flavus and at times as a separate species. Currently it is recognized as separate, mostly on the basis of biochemical genetic data. However, Tebedge (1988), citing Lundelius, noted that "P. merriami collected from Pratt Cave differed from P. flavus in the greater posterior turning of the anterolabial cusps of M 1 and M 2 , the lesser anteroposterior compression of the cross lophs of M 1 and M 2 , the smaller size of the posterolabial cusps of M 1 and M 2 (especially M 3 ), and the relatively deeper mandible. P. merriami differs from P. flavescens in the larger P and the presence of an external

4

cingulum joining the two lophs on M1 and M2 (Lundelius, 1979)." Sites. Mid/Late Wisconsin: Dark Canyon Cave (Tebedge 1988). Late Wisconsin: Muskox Cave (Logan 1981; Harris 1993c as P. flavus). Literature. Logan 1981; Tebedge 1988.

Last Update: 30 May 2014

Main Menu Class Mammalia Order Rodentia Family Heteromyidae

Dipodomys sp.—Kangaroo Rats // Dipodomys small—Small Kangaroo Rat // Dipodomys agilis—Agile Kangaroo Rat // Dipodomys compactus—Gulf Coast Kangaroo Rat // Dipodomys deserti—Desert Kangaroo Rat // Dipodomys gidleyi —Gidley's Kangaroo Rat // Dipodomys hibbardi—Hibbard's Kangaroo Rat // Dipodomys merriami —Merriam's Kangaroo Rat // Dipodomys merriami/ordii— Merriam's or Ord's Kangaroo Rat // Dipodomys microps —Chiseltoothed Kangaroo Rat // Dipodomys ordii —Ord's Kangaroo Rat // Dipodomys nelsoni/spectabilis —Nelson's or Banner-tailed Kangaroo Rat // Dipodomys panamintinus —Panamint Kangaroo Rat // Dipodomys spectabilis—Banner-tailed Kangaroo Rat Dipodomys—Kangaroo Rats Kangaroo rats received their name because of similarities of locomotion and the morphology that goes with it between these rodents and the marsupials. The hind limbs are massively developed for the size of the animal and the forelimbs diminutive. Other characteristics include huge feet, a very long tail for balance, and an oversized head, thanks to the greatly enlarged bullae. Kangaroo rats tend to forage in open spaces, using their paws to stuff seeds into the cheek pouches and, with the food safely stored, then retreating to cover. While in the open, they are subject to predation, especially from owls. Owls have feathers adapted for silent flight, but checking their dive upon potential food produces a low frequency sound. This sound apparently is not detected by most rodents. However, laboratory studies indicate that the large bullae of kangaroo rats are specifically adapted to pick up the slight sound made a split second before the rat is in the grip of the owl's talons. In that brief window of time, the rat undertakes a panic jump that may (or may not) save it. Since kangaroo remains tend to be plentiful in owl pellets, it can be assumed that selective pressure for this hearing is strong. Presence of kangaroo rats in our region is taken to indicate presence of open areas basically free of vegetation (though with bushes or other vegetation nearby for cover). D. merriami and D. ordii are similar in size (though D. ordii is a bit larger) and may end up identified merely as "Dipodomys" or as "Dipodomys small" (to separate them from D. spectabilis, which is large enough as an adult to be identified by size alone in the eastern portion of the region). Identifications to modern species may break down

in early sites, since extinct or extralimital species may be present. Kangaroo rats construct burrows for protection, usually with several openings to the burrow system. As with their relatives, the pocket gophers, they tend to be antisocial except during the breeding season, but two or three species may occur sympatrically. Dalquest and Stangl (1984b) found that the lower incisor breadth is greater than 1.0 mm in D. spectabilis, 0.8 to 0.95 mm in D. ordii, and less than 0.8 mm in D. merriami. They also found that the alveolar toothrow length would separate the three species, with toothrows of D. spectabilis greater than 5.6 mm, those of D. ordii 4.85.5 mm, and those of D. merriami less than 4.75 mm. The incisor breadth is most useful, since the posterior rim of bone adjacent to the alveolus of m3 often is broken away in fossils. Literature. Dalquest and Stangl 1984b.

Dipodomys sp.—Kangaroo Rats Sites. Identification only to the generic level likely means that the record is based on material that cannot be identified to a lower taxonomic level or that the species has not been recorded in the literature. The La Brisca specimens are within the size range of D. ordii and D. merriami (Van Devender et al. 1985). Sites. Late Blancan: Caballo (Morgan et al. 2011); La Union (Morgan and Lucas 2003); Jack Rabbit Trail, San Timoteo Badlands (Albright 2000); Tecopa Lake Beds (Woodburne and Whistler 1991: two new spp.). Late Blancan/Early Irvingtonian: Elsinore: Mimomys (Pajak et al. 1996). Irvingtonian: El Casco, San Timoteo Badlands (Albright 2000); El Golfo (Croxen et al. 2007); Elsinore: Microtus/Mammuthus (Pajak et al. 1996). Early Irvingtonian: Gypsum Ridge (Wagner and Prothero 2001: cf.). Late Irvingtonian: Elsinore: Pauba Formation [large and small species] (Pajak et al. 1996). Late Irvingtonian/Early Rancholabrean: Thorn, Victorville (Jefferson 1991b). Rancholabrean: Bedford Properties (Jefferson 1991b); Cool Water Coal Gasification Solid Waste Site (Jefferson 1991b); Devil Peak (Reynolds, Reynolds, and Bell 1991); Glen Abbey, Bonita (Jefferson 1991b); Helendale (Jefferson 1991a); Piute Valley (Jefferson 1991b); Silver Lake (Jefferson 1991b); Wilshire Blvd., 10580 The Wilshire,

Los Angeles (Jefferson 1991b). Sangamon: Kelly Pits (Jefferson 1991b); La Brisca (Van Devender et al. 1985); Naval Fuel Reserve Quarry (Jefferson 1991b). Wisconsin: Carpinteria (Wilson 1933); Costeau Pit (Jefferson 1991b); Danby Lake (Jefferson 1991c). Mid Wisconsin: Screaming Neotoma Cave (Glennon 1994). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Diamond Valley (Springer et al. 2009); Rampart Cave (Lindsay and Tessman 1974). Late Wisconsin: Antelope Cave (Reynolds, Reynolds, Bell, and Pitzer 1991); Falling Arches (Jefferson 1991b); New Water Mountains (Mead et al. 2005); Red Tail Peak Midden (Jefferson 1991b); Tunnel Ridge Midden (Jefferson 1991b); Valley Wells (Springer et al. 2010). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Calico Lakes (Jefferson 1991b); Conkling Cavern (Harris 1993c); Kokoweef Cave (Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991); Luz Foundation (Jefferson 1991b); Luz Solar Trough (Jefferson 1991b); Newberry Cave (Jefferson 1991b); Schuiling Cave (Jefferson 1991b); Solar One (Jefferson 1991b); Tule Springs (Mawby 1967. Literature. Albright 2000; Croxen et al. 2007; Glennon 1994; Harris 1993c; Jefferson 1991b, 1991c; Lindsay and Tessman 1974; Mawby 1967; Mead et al. 2005; Morgan and Lucas 2003; Morgan et al. 2011; Pajak et al. 1996; Reynolds, Reynolds, and Bell 1991; Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991; Reynolds, Reynolds, Bell, and Pitzer 1991; Springer et al. 2009, 2010; Van Devender et al. 1985; Wagner and Prothero 2001; Wilson 1933; Woodburne and Whistler 1991.

Dipodomys (small)—Small Kangaroo Rat As noted above, presumably either D. merriami or D. ordii is represented. Sites. Early/Early-Mid Wisconsin: Rm Vanishing Floor; Sabertooth Camel Maze (Harris 1993c). Literature. Harris 1993c.

Dipodomys sp. A—Unpublished Kangaroo Rat According to Murray (2008), a diagnosis was included in a M.S. thesis by Cunningham (1984), but has not formally named nor

published. Sites. Late Blancan/Irvingtonian: Anza-Borrego (Murray 2008). Literature. Cunningham 1984; Murray 2008.

Dipodomys sp. B—Unpublished Kangaroo Rat According to Murray (2008), a diagnosis was included in a M.S. thesis by Cunningham (1984), but has not been formally named nor published. Sites. Late Blancan/Irvingtonian: Anza-Borrego (Murray 2008). Literature. Cunningham 1984; Murray 2008.

Dipodomys agilis Gambel 1848—Agile Kangaroo Rat Sites. Sangamon: Naval Housing Unit (Jefferson 1991b: cf.); Newport Bay Mesa (Jefferson 1991b: cf.). Mid/Late Wisconsin: Rancho La Brea (Stock and Harris. Late Wisconsin: Maricopa (Jefferson 1991b). Literature. Jefferson 1991b; Stock and Harris 1992.

Dipodomys compactus True 1889—Gulf Coast Kangaroo Rat One is strongly inclined to assume the identification is incorrect—the current range is

limited to the Gulf of Mexico coastal areas of Texas and south along the Mexican coast. The assignment of fossils to this taxon appears limited to California (fossilworks, accessed 4 July 2014). Zakrzewski (1981) noted that D. compactus may be considered as the most primitive of extant species. This being the case, it seems probable that the name is being applied to a morphological grade rather than a biological species. Sites. Irvingtonian: Anza-Borrego (Murray 2008). Literature. Murray 2008; Zakrzewski 1981.

Dipodomys deserti Stephens 1887—Desert Kangaroo Rat The Desert Kangaroo Rat is one of the larger of the genus. Distribution today is the western Great Basin and south into the Sonoran Desert of southwestern Arizona and northern Mexico. Sites. Rancholabrean: Saltmarsh (Jefferson 1991b); Siphon 11 (Jefferson 1991b). Late Wisconsin: Pintwater Cave (Hockett 2000). Literature. Hockett 2000; Jefferson 1991b.

†Dipodomys gidleyi Wood 1935—Gidley's Kangaroo Rat Sites. Late Blancan: 111 Ranch (Morgan and White 2005); Curtis Ranch (Morgan and White 2005). Literature. Morgan and White 2005.

†Dipodomys hibbardi Zakrzewski 1981—Hibbard's Kangaroo Rat Dipodomys hibbardi was described by Zakrzewski (1981) as approximately evolutionarily intermediate between Prodipodomys and the living Dipodomys compactus, with shorter dentine tracts than the living form, but higher than in Prodipodomys. He also pointed out that root development was intermediate. Sites. Late Blancan: 111 Ranch (Morgan and White 2005); Anza-Borrego (Murray 2008); San Simon Fauna (Morgan and White 2005). Literature. Morgan and White 2005; Murray 2008; Zakrzewski 1981.

Dipodomys ingens (Merriam 1904)—Giant Kangaroo Rat This large kangaroo rat currently has a very limited range in central California. Sites. Mid Wisconsin: McKittrick (Schultz 1937: cf.). Literature. Schultz 1937.

Dipodomys merriami Mearns 1890—Merriam's Kangaroo Rat

Merriam's Kangaroo Rat is an arid-land species essentially limited to Lower Sonoran habitats. It tends to prefer firmer soils than Ord's Kangaroo Rat. However, there may be overlap in habitat usage, and at times both of these smaller species may be taken in the same trap line. Aside from the discriminatory measurements recorded in the generic account, the auditory bullae tend to be somewhat differently developed than in D. ordii. This and other subtle differences can be seen in Fig. 1. Fig. 1. Comparison of the skulls of D. merriami (left) and D. ordii. Scale is in mm. Although reported from the Isleta Caves (1993c), it does not seem to be vouchered and is rejected. Sites. Rancholabrean: Saltmarsh (Jefferson 1991b). Rancholabrean/?Early Holocene: Mitchell Caverns (Jefferson 1991b: aff.).

2005).

Mid Wisconsin: Castle Mountains (Mead et al.

Late Wisconsin: Murray Springs (Mead et al. 2005); Wellton Hills (Mead et al. 2005: cf.); Wolcott Peak (Mead et al. 2005). Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Fowlkes Cave (Dalquest and Stangl 1984b); Howell's Ridge Cave (Harris 1993c); Pendejo Cave (Harris 2003) Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Isleta Caves (Harris 1993c), rejected. Literature. Dalquest and Stangl 1984b; Harris 1993c, 2003; Jefferson 1991b; Mead et al. 2005.

Dipodomys merriami/D. ordii—Merriam's or Ord's Kangaroo Rat The material on which the following records are based are of a nature not allowing

discrimination between the two species. Sites. Mid Wisconsin: Tank Trap Wash (Van Devender et al. 1987). Late Wisconsin: Algerita Blossom Cave (Harris 1993c); Balcony Room (UTEP); Dry Cave 33,100 and >29,900. General Description. This cave is located only about 30 m above the Colorado River. Fauna. †Equus sp.—Horse (Mead et al. 2003)

About the size of a burro (Mead et al. 2003).

†Camelops hesternus—Yesterday's Camel (Mead et al. 2003) †Oreamnos harringtoni—Harrington's Mountain Goat (Mead et al. 2003) Bison sp.—Bison (Mead et al. 2003)

Cave CB:8:1 AZ:Coconino Co., 1413 m Age. 14C dates were unavailable at the time of writing by Mead et al. (2003), but they assumed on the basis of preservation that all were of Rancholabrean and Wisconsin age. General Description. This is a small limestone shelter with an extensive platform below it; only surface remains were collected (Mead et al. 2003) Fauna. Puma concolor—Mountain Lion (Mead et al. 2003) †Euceratherium collinum—Shrub-ox (Mead et al. 2003)

NAUQSP Locality 991 AZ:Coconino Co., 1140 m Age. A 14C date of 16,620 ± 110 is available (Mead et al. 2003).

General Description. This is a woodrat midden from an isolated crevice away from any cave (Mead et al. 2003). Fauna. Neotoma sp.—Woodrats (Mead et al. 2003) Literature. Mead et al. 2003.

Last Update: 16 Nov 2012

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Ehrenberg AZ: La Paz Co.

Synonyms: Age. Age is assumed to be Rancholabrean (Mead et al. 2005). General Description. It is assumed that the site is in or near Ehrenberg, AZ, though the literature places it in Yuma County. La Paz County was split away from Yuma County in 1983. Fauna. †Mammuthus columbi—Columbian Mammoth (Mead et al. 2005). Literature. Mead et al. 2005.

Last Update: 19 Dec 2012

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Elgin School AZ: Santa Cruz Co.

Age. Assumed to be Rancholabrean. General Description. The site is next to the Elgin School (Mead et al. 2005). Fauna. †Mammuthus columbi—Columbian Mammoth (Mead et al. 2005) Literature. Mead et al. 2005.

Last Update: 19 Dec 2012

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Empire South AZ: Pima Co.

Age. Age is assumed to be Rancholabrean (Mead et al. 2005). General Description. Not recorded. Fauna. †Equus sp.—Horses (Mead et al. 2005) Literature. Mead et al. 2005.

Last Update: 26 Dec 2012

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Escapule AZ: Cochise Co. 1280 m

Age. Late Wisconsin, with a date of around 11,200 BP, assuming associations are correct (Mead et al. 2005). General Description. A mammoth skeleton occurred near Clovis artifacts (Mead et al. 2005). Fauna. †Mammuthus columbi—Columbian Mammoth (Mead et al. 2005) Literature. Mead et al. 2005.

Last Update: 26 Dec 2012

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Fain Ranch AZ: Yavapai Co.

Synonyms: Prescott Valley (Mead et al. 2005). Age. Late Wisconsin. A radiocarbon date of 11,560 ± 290 BP is available from ca. 1 m above the mammoth remains (Pasenko and Agenbroad 2012). General Description. Sediments in the Agua Fria River drainage (Pasenko and Agenbroad 2012). Fauna. †Mammuthus columbi—Columbian Mammoth (Pasenko and Agenbroad 2012: cf.) †Equus conversidens—Mexican Horse (Pasenko and Agenbroad 2012: cf.) †Camelops sp.—American Camel (Pasenko and Agenbroad 2012) Bison sp.—Bison (Pasenko and Agenbroad 2012) Literature. Pasenko and Agenbroad 2012.

Last Update: 30 Dec 2012

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Fenn Site AZ: Cochise Co.

Age. A Rancholabrean age is assumed (Mead et al. 2005). General Description. Not recorded. Fauna. †Mammuthus columbi—Columbian Mammoth (Mead et al. 2005) †Equus sp.—Horses (Mead et al. 2005) †Camelops hesternus— (Mead et al. 2005) Bison sp.—Bison (Mead et al. 2005) Literature. Mead et al. 2005.

Last Update: 26 Dec 2012

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Fort McDowell AZ: Maricopa Co., 548 m

Age. Presumed to be Rancholabrean (Mead et al. 2005). General Description. Not recorded. Fauna. †Mammuthus columbi—Columbian Mammoth (Mead et al. 2005) Literature. Mead et al. 2005.

Last Update: 26 Dec 2012

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Gardner Gravel AZ: Cochise Co.

Synonyms: Gardner Draw (Mead et al. 2005). Age. Rancholabrean age assumed (Mead et al. 2005). General Description. Confluence of Gardner Canyon and the San Pedro River (Mead et al. 2005). Fauna. †Mammuthus columbi—Columbian Mammoth (Mead et al. 2005) Literature. Mead et al. 2005.

Last Update: 26 Dec 2012

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Gila Bend AZ: Maricopa Co.

Age. Rancholabrean assumed. General Description. Not recorded. Fauna. †Mammuthus columbi—Columbian Mammoth (Agenbroad et al. 2013) Literature. Agenbroad et al. 2013.

Last Update: 23 Mar 2013

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Golden Shores AZ: Mohave Co.

Age. Rancholabrean assumed. General Description. Not recorded. Fauna. †Mammuthus columbi—Columbian Mammoth (Agenbroad et al. 2013) Literature. Agenbroad et al. 2013.

Last Update: 22 Mar 2013

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Goodwater Wash AZ: Navajo Co., 1623 m

Age. Age is presumed to be Rancholabrean (Mead et al. 2005). General Description. Not recorded. Fauna. †Mammuthus columbi—Columbian Mammoth (Mead et al. 2005) Literature. Mead et al. 2005.

Last Update: 27 Dec 2012

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Government Cave AZ: Coconino Co., 2135 m

Age. Presumed to be late Wisconsin. General Description. Lava tube. A nearly complete skeleton was collected amidst blocks of fallen lava (Lange 1956). Fauna. Marmota flaviventris—Yellow-bellied Marmot (Lange 1956) Literature. Lange 1956.

Last Update: 27 Dec 2012

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Granite Creek AZ: Yavapai Co.

Age. Assumed to be Rancholabrean. General Description. Terrace gravels above Granite Creek (Pasenko and Agenbroad 2012). Fauna. †Mammuthus sp.—Mammoth (Pasenko and Agenbroad 2012) Literature. Pasenko and Agenbroad 2012.

Last Update: 30 Dec 2012

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Gray AZ: Cochise Co., 1127 m

Age. Assumed to be Rancholabrean (Mead et al. 2005). General Description. Not recorded. Fauna. †Mammuthus columbi—Columbian Mammoth (Mead et al. 2005) Literature. Mead et al. 2005.

Last Update: 27 Dec 2012

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Greaterville AZ: Pima Co.

Age. Rancholabrean. General Description. This is the type locality for Bison arizonica, later placed within B. latifrons (Mead et al. 2005). Fauna. †Bison latifrons (Mead et al. 2005) Literature. Mead et al. 2005.

Last Update: 27 Dec 2012

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Guenther Mammoth AZ: Navajo Co.

Synonyms: Age. Presumably Rancholabrean (Mead et al. 2005). General Description. Not recorded. Fauna. †Mammuthus columbi—Columbian Mammoth (Mead et al. 2005) Literature. Mead et al. 2005.

Last Update: 27 Dec 2012

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Hance Canyon AZ: Coconino Co., 1095 m

Synonyms: Age. Late Wisconsin, 13,800 ± 330 BP (Mead et al. 2005). General Description. Woodrat midden (Mead et al. 2005). Fauna. Neotoma sp.—Woodrats (Mead et al. 2005) Literature. Mead et al. 2005.

Last Update: 27 Dec 2012

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Hereford Dairy AZ: Cochise Co.

Age. A Rancholabrean age is assumed (Mead et al. 2005). General Description. Not recorded. Fauna. †Mammuthus columbi—Columbian Mammoth (Mead et al. 2005) Literature. Mead et al. 2005.

Last Update: 27 Dec 2012

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Horsethief Draw AZ: Cochise Co.

Age. Rancholabrean age is assumed (Mead et al. 2005). General Description. Not recorded. Fauna. †Equus—Horses (Lindsay and Tessman 1974) Literature. Lindsay and Tessman 1974.

Last Update: 1 March 2013

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Huachuca Mountains Cave AZ: Cochise Co.: 2270 m

Age. Late Pleistocene (Czaplewski and Willsey 2013). General Description. Huachuca Mountains Cave lies near the crest of the Huachuca Mountains (Czaplewski and Willsey 2013). Discussion. Elements of a partially carbonate covered bear skull were on the surface of the cave fill. Measurements and photographs were taken, but the remains were not collected (Czaplewski and Willsey 2013) Fauna. Ursus arctos—Brown Bear (Czaplewski and Willsey 2013: cf.) Literature. Czaplewski and Willsey 2013.

Last Update: 16 Jan 2014

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Hurley AZ: Cochise Co., 1275 m

Age. Probably late Wisconsin. Mead et al. (2005) note that a radiocarbon date of 21,210 ± 770 BP is available but suspect. General Description. Not recorded. Fauna. †Mammuthus columbi—Columbian Mammoth (Mead et al. 2005) Literature. Mead et al. 2005.

Last Update: 27 Dec 2012

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Inscription House AZ: Coconino Co.

Age. Rancholabrean assumed. General Description. Not recorded. Fauna. †Mammuthus columbi—Columbian Mammoth (Agenbroad et al. 2013) Literature. Agenbroad et al. 2013.

Last Update: 22 Mar 2013

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Jarrett AZ: Navajo Co.

Synonyms: Age. Age is presumed to be Rancholabrean (Mead et al. 2005). General Description. Not recorded. Fauna. †Mammuthus columbi—Columbian Mammoth (Mead et al. 2005) Literature. Mead et al. 2005.

Last Update: 27 Dec 2012

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Johnson Pocket AZ: Cochise Co.

Age. Late Blancan, between 2.43 and 1.86 mya (Johnson et al. 1975). General Description. Sediments of the St. David formation (Johnson et al. 1975). Fauna. Canis sp.—Wolves (Johnson et al. 1975) †Platygonus sp.—Flat-headed Peccaries (Johnson et al. 1975) Literature. Johnson et al. 1975.

Last Update: 9 Jan 2013

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Joseph City AZ: Navajo Co.

Age. Age is assumed to be Rancholabrean (Mead et al. 2005). General Description. Not recorded. Fauna. †Equus sp.—Horses (Mead et al. 2005) Literature. Mead et al. 2005.

Last Update: 27 Dec 2012

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Kaetan Cave AZ: Coconino Co., 1460 m

Synonyms: Tse'an Kaetan Age. Mead et al. (2005): Mid and late Wisconsin, with Holocene archaic archaeological material also present. Much of the cave surface is Rancholabrean in age. Harrington's Mountain Goat dung occurred on the surface (14,220 ± 320 BP, 18,290 ± 1,400 BP); dung at the 2530 cm level dated 30,600 ± 1800 BP. Remains attributed to a late Wisconsin owl roost were present. General Description. Cave with archaeological material and Wisconsin-age faunal materials (Mead et al. 2005). Fauna. Marmota flaviventris—Yellow-belled Marmot (Mead et al. 2005) †Oreamnos harringtoni—Harrington's Mountain Goat (Mead et al. 2005) Literature. Mead et al. 2005.

Last Update: 27 Dec 2012

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Kartchner Caverns State Park AZ: Cochise Co., 1430 m

Age. Mid Wisconsin (Carpenter and Mead 2003). Sloth remains were dated at ca. 85 ka (Hill 1999) and Myotis velifer remains at ca. 5045 ka (Buecher and Sidner 1999). General Description. An extensive cavern system at the base of the Whetstone Mountains in the San Pedro Valley (Carpenter and Mead 2003). Fauna. †Geococcyx californianus conklingi—Conkling's Greater Roadrunner (Carpenter and Mead 2003) †Nothrotheriops shastensis—Shasta Ground Sloth (McDonald and Jefferson 2008) Myotis velifer—Cave Myotis (Buecher and Sidner 1999) †Equus sp.—Horses (Carpenter and Mead 2003) Literature. Buecher and Sidner 1999; Carpenter and Mead 2003; Hill 1999.

Last Update: 26 Apr 2014

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Keams Canyon AZ: Navajo Co.

Age. Rancholabrean (Richards et al. 1996). General Description. Spring deposits (Mead et al. 2005). Fauna. †Mammuthus sp.—Mammoth (Lindsay and Tessman 1974) †Arctodus simus—Giant Short-faced Bear (Richards et al. 1996) †Equus sp.—Horses (Lindsay and Tessman 1974) Odocoileus hemionus—Mule Deer (Mead et al. 2005) †Camelops hesternus—Yesterday's Camel (Mead et al. 2005) Bison sp.—Bison (Lindsay and Tessman 1974) Literature. E. H. Lindsay and N. T. Tessman 1974; Mead et al. 2005; Richards et al. 1996.

Last Update: 27 Dec 2012

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Keet Seel AZ: Navajo Co.

Synonyms: Kiet Siel Age. Mostly Holocene; Marmot possibly is Rancholabrean (Mead et al. 2005). General Description. This is a puebloan cliff dwelling abandoned some 750 years ago (Lange 1956). It was partially excavated in 1934, during which faunal remains were recovered. Fauna. Marmota flaviventris—Yellow-bellied Marmot (Lange 1956) Literature.. Lange 1956; Mead et al. 2005.

Last Update: 24 Dec 2012

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Kelton AZ: Cochise Co.

Age. Assumed to be Rancholabrean (Mead et al. 2005). General Description. Not recorded. Fauna. †Mammuthus columbi—Columbian Mammoth (Mead et al. 2005) Literature. Mead et al. 2005.

Last Update: 27 Dec 2012

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Lehner Ranch AZ: Cochise Co., 1280 m

Age. It appears that two ages are present. The classic Clovis mammoth kill site at about 11.9 kya (13.7 cal kya) (Haynes 2008) and the mastodon site. The age of the latter is >30 kya (Mead et al. 1979). General Description. An open site along the San Pedro River near the Mexican Boundary. Fauna. †Mammuthus columbi—Columbian Mammoth (Lindsay 1978) †Mammut americanum—American Mastodont (Mead et al. 1979) Lepus sp.—Jackrabbits (Mead et al. 2005) Sylvilagus audubonii—Desert Cottontail (Mead et al. 2005) †Canis dirus—Dire Wolf (Mead et al. 2005) Canis latrans—Coyote (Mead et al. 2005) Ursus americanus—Black Bear (Saunders 1977) †Equus sp.—Horse (Lindsay 1978) †Tapirus merriami—Merriam's Tapir (Lindsay 1978) Tapirus sp.

†Camelops hesternus—Yesterday's Camel (Saunders 1977: cf. gen. et sp.) †Bison sp.—Bison (Lindsay 1978) Literature. Lindsay 1978; Mead et al. 1979; Mead et al. 2005; Saunders 1977.

Last Update: 1 Mar 2013

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Leikum AZ: Cochise Co., 1382 m

Synonyms: Naco #2 (Mead et al. 2005). Age. Assumed to be Rancholabrean (Mead et al. 2005). General Description. Two Columbian Mammoths were recovered from Quaternary sediments near Naco, Arizona. Fauna. †Mammuthus columbi—Columbian Mammoth (Mead et al. 2005) Literature. Mead et al. 2005.

Last Update: 25 Dec 2012

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Leupp AZ: Coconino Co.

Age. Rancholabrean assumed. General Description. Not recorded. Fauna. †Mammut americanum—American Mastodont (Minckley et al. 1997) †Mammuthus columbi—Columbian Mammoth (Agenbroad et al. 2013) Literature. Agenbroad et al. 2013; Minckley et al. 1997.

Last Update: 21 Mar 2013

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Lewis Hill AZ: Cochise Co.

Age. Rancholabrean age is assumed. General Description. Not recorded. Fauna. †Equus sp.—Horses (Lindsay and Tessman 1974) †Camelops sp. (Lindsay and Tessman 1974) Literature. Lindsay and Tessman 1974.

Last Update: 1 Mar 2013

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Lindsay Ranch AZ: Cochise Co.

Age. Rancholabrean. General Description. Situation unrecorded (Mead et al. 2005). Fauna. †Mammuthus columbi—Columbian Mammoth (Mead et al. 2005) †Equus sp.—Horses (Mead et al. 2005) Bison sp.—Bison (Mead et al. 2005) Literature. Mead et al. 2005.

Last Update: 25 Dec 2012

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Lopez AZ: Pima Co., 1125 m

Age. Rancholabrean age is assumed (Mead et al. 2005). General Description. Not recorded. Fauna. †Mammuthus columbi—Columbian Mammoth (Mead et al. 2005) Literature. Mead et al. 2005.

Last Update: 25 Dec 2012

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Luka Cave AZ: Coconino Co., 1460 m

Synonyms: Age. Assumed to be late Rancholabrean. General Description. Cave in a cliff, with a single, tentatively identified condor bone on the surface (DeSaussure 1956). Fauna. Gymnogyps californianus—California Condor (DeSaussure 1956: cf.) Literature. DeSaussure 1956.

Last Update: 25 Dec 2012

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Lynx Creek AZ: Yavapai Co.

Age. Assumed to be Rancholabrean. General Description. Not recorded. Fauna. †Equus sp.—Horses (Pasenko and Agenbroad 2012) Literature. Pasenko and Agenbroad 2012.

Last Update: 30 Dec 2012

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Mammoth AZ: Pinal Co., 762 m

Age. Assumed to be Rancholabrean (Mead et al. 2005). General Description. Site along the San Pedro River (Mead et al. 2005). Fauna. †Mammuthus columbi—Columbian Mammoth (Mead et al. 2005) Literature. Mead et al. 2005.

Last Update: 26 Dec 2012

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M & M Mastodon Site AZ: Yavapai Co., 1208 m

Age. Late Wisconsin. Sediments around the mastodont ranged from 10,360 to 10,960 BP (Pasenko 2011). General Description. Base of a channel fill incised into alluvial sediments (Pasenko 2011). Discussion. Pollen studies suggest deposition during the Clovis Drought followed by a return to more mesic conditions (Minckley et al. 1997). Fauna. †Mammut americanum—American Mastodont (Pasenko 2011) Literature. Minckley et al. 1997; Pasenko 2011.

Last Update: 21 Mar 2013

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Midden Cave AZ: Coconino Co.

Age. Late Wisconsin; faunal remains are dated at 22,180 ± 400 BP (Mead et al. 2005). General Description. Surface remains in a cave (Mead et al. 2005). Fauna. Gymnogyps californianus—California Condor (Mead et al. 2005) †Oreamnos harringtoni—Harrington's Mountain Goat (Mead et al. 2005). Literature. Mead et al. 2005.

Last Update: 26 Dec 2012

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Montezuma's Head AZ: Pima Co., 975 m

Age. Late Wisconsin, with a 14C date of 17, 830 ± 870 BP (Mead et al. 2005). General Description. Woodrat midden. Fauna. Neotoma sp.—Woodrats (Mead et al. 2005) Literature. Mead et al. 2005.

Last Update: 26 Dec 2012

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Morris Gravel AZ: Graham Co.

Age. Rancholabrean age is assumed (Mead et al. 2005). General Description. Gravel pit about 1.5 km S of Safford (Mead et al. 2005). Fauna. †Mammuthus columbi—Columbian Mammoth (Mead et al. 2005) Literature. Mead et al. 2005.

Last Update: 26 Dec 2012

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Morrow AZ: Cochise Co.

Age. A Rancholabrean age is assumed (Mead et al. 2005). General Description. Not recorded. Fauna. †Mammuthus columbi—Columbian Mammoth (Mead et al. 2005) Literature. Mead et al. 2005.

Last Update: 26 Dec 2012

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Mosan Wash AZ: Cochise Co., 1234 m

Age. Age is assumed to be Rancholabrean (Mead et al. 2005). General Description. Not recorded. Fauna. †Mammuthus columbi—Columbian Mammoth (Mead et al. 2005) Literature. Mead et al. 2005.

Last Update: 26 Dec 2012

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Muav Caves AZ: Mohave Co., 420 m

Age. Late Wisconsin, with radiocarbon dates of 11,810 ± 70 to 10,650 ± 220 BP (Mead et al. 2005). General Description. Three small solution tubes (Mead et al. 2005). Fauna. †Nothrotheriops shastensis—Shasta Ground Sloth (Mead et al. 2005) †Oreamnos harringtoni—Harrington's Mountain Goat Mead et al. 2005) Literature. Mead et al. 2005.

Last Update: 28 Dec 2012

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Muav Gate AZ: Mohave Co., 440 m

Age. Late Wisconsin: 12,430 ± 550 BP (Van Devender et al. 1977). General Description. Woodrat midden in Grand Canyon near Rampart Cave (Van Devender et al. 1977). Fauna. Gopherus morafkai—Morafka's Desert Tortoise (Van Devender et al. 1977) Gopherus agassizi See discussion in the G. morafkai account.

Literature. Van Devender et al. 1977.

Last Update: 14 Jan 2013

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Murray Springs AZ: Cochise Co., 1270 m

Age. Late Wisconsin. Numerous 14C are available (Haynes 2007). General Description. An open site along a tributary of the San Pedro River near the Mexican Boundary. The site includes evidence of Clovis-culture hunters associated with extinct mammals. the faunal remains from several units are combined here. Hemmings (2007a) discussed the vertebrate remains. Fauna. †Mammuthus columbi—Columbian Mammoth (Hemmings 2007b) Ammospermophilus sp.—Antelope Ground Squirrel (Lindsay and Tessman 1974) Otospermophilus variegatus—Rock Squirrel (Mead et al. 2005) Thomomys sp.—Western Pocket Gophers (Lindsay and Tessman 1974) Dipodomys merriami—Merriam's Kangaroo Rat (Mead et al. 2005) Microtus sp.—Voles ((Hemmings 2007a) Neotoma sp.—Woodrats (Hemmings 2007a) Onychomys torridus-type—Southern Grasshopper Mouse (Mead et al. 2005) Onychomys torridus

Peromyscus sp.—Deer Mice (Lindsay and Tessman 1974) Reithrodontomys sp.—Harvest Mice (Lindsay and Tessman 1974) Sigmodon sp.—Cotton Rats (Lindsay and Tessman 1974) Lepus sp.—Jackrabbits (Mead et al. 2005) Sylvilagus sp.—Cottontails (Mead et al. 2005) †Canis dirus—Dire Wolf (Hemmings 2007a) Canis latrans/lupus—Coyote or Gray Wolf (Hemmings 2007a)

Domestic Dog may be a possibility; see the comment in Hemmings 2007a).

†Equus sp.—Horse (Hemmings 2007b) †Tapirus merriami—Merriam's Tapir (Lindsay 1978) Tapirus sp.

†Platygonus sp.—Flat-headed Peccaries ((Hemmings 2007a) †Camelops hesternus—Yesterday's Camel (Hemming 2007a: cf.) †Bison antiquus—Ancient Bison (Hemmings 2007a: cf.) Literature. Haynes 2007; Hemmings 2007a; Hemmings 2007b; Lindsay and Tessman 1974; Mead et al. 1979.

Last Update: 1 Mar 2013

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N Bowie Mastodont Site AZ: Graham Co.

Age. Probably early Pleistocene (Pasenko 2012) (interpreted as likely Irvingtonian). General Description. Section 19, Township 11S and Range 28E. Sediments partially overlying a zeolite deposit corresponding to the 111 Ranch beds (Pasenko 2012). Fauna. †Mammut americanum—American Mastodont (Pasenko 2012) Literature. Pasenko 2012.

Last Update: 10 Jan 2013

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North of Golden Shores AZ: Mohave Co.

Age. Rancholabrean assumed. General Description. Not recorded. Fauna. †Mammuthus columbi—Columbian Mammoth (Agenbroad et al. 2013) Literature. Agenbroad et al. 2013.

Last Update: 22 Mar 2013

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Naco AZ: Cochise Co., 1381 m MEXICO: Sonora

Synonyms: Navarette site; Naco #1 (Mead et al. 2005); Greenbush Draw (Agenbroad et al. 2013 [assumed to be synonymous with Naco]). White et al. (2010) report mammoth and horse from the Sonoran side of the border, with the mammoth not clearly identifiable as to whether it is Columbian or Imperial. Age. Late Wisconsin. A radiocarbon date of 9,250 ± 300 BP is considered too young for the fauna and Clovis artifact (Mead et al. 2005). General Description. Site along a tributary (Greenbush Draw) of the San Pedro River (Mead et al. 2005). Fauna. †Mammut americanum—American Mastodont (Agenbroad et al. 2013) †Mammuthus columbi—Columbian Mammoth (Mead et al. 2005) †Equus sp.—Horses (Mead et al. 2005) Bison sp.—Bison (Mead et al. 2005); White et al. 2010) Literature. Mead et al. 2005; White et al. 2010..

Last Update: 11 Nov 2013

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Nankoweap Canyon AZ: Coconino Co.

Synonyms: Age. Late Wisconsin (12,170 ± 210, 17,950 ± 600 BP, 18,130 ± 350) (Cole and Mead 1981). General Description. Woodrat midden (Mead et al. 2005). Fauna. Sceloporus sp.— Spiny Lizard (Cole and Mead 1981) Tamias sp.—Chipmunk (Cole and Mead 1981) Microtus sp.—Vole (Cole and Mead 1981) Neotoma devia/lepida—Arizona/Desert Woodrat (Cole and Mead 1981: cf.) Reithrodontomys sp.—Harvest Mouse (Cole and Mead 1981: cf. gen.). Literature. Cole and Mead 1981.

Last Update: 27 Feb 2013

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Navajo AZ: Apache Co.

Age. Rancholabrean assumed. General Description. Not recorded. Fauna. †Mammuthus columbi—Columbian Mammoth (Agenbroad et al. 2013) Literature. Agenbroad et al. 2013.

Last Update: 21 Mar 2013

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NE Bowie AZ: Cochise Co.

Age. Probably early Pleistocene (Pasenko 2012) (interpreted as likely Irvingtonian). General Description. Section 2, Township 12S and Range 29E. Sediments partially overlying a zeolite deposit corresponding to the 111 Ranch beds (Pasenko 2012). Fauna. †Mammuthus columbi—Columbian Mammoth (Pasenko 2012) Literature. Pasenko 2012.

Last Update: 10 Jan 2013

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New Water Mountains AZ: La Paz Co., 605-615 m

Age. For mammals, late Wisconsin; radiocarbon dates for middens #4 and #7 range from 11,000 ± 510 to 10,880 ± 900 BP (Mead et al. 1983). Midden #2 has two late Wisconsin dates, but also a Holocene date at 7,870 ± 750; all reptiles except the Desert Spiny Lizard and the Desert Glossary Snake are represented only in midden #2. General Description. Woodrat middens (Mead et al. 1983). Fauna. Sceloporus magister—Desert Spiny Lizard (Van Devender and Mead 1978: cf.) Arizona elegans—Eastern Glossy Snake (Van Devender and Mead 1978) Phyllorhynchus decurtatus—Spotted Leaf-nosed Snake (Van Devender and Mead 1978) Rhinocheilus lecontei—Long-nosed Snake (Van Devender and Mead 1978) Sonora semiannulata—Ground Snake (Van Devender and Mead 1978) Trimorphodon lambda—Sonoran Lyre Snake (Van Devender and Mead 1978) Hypsiglena chlorophaea—Desert Glossary Snake (Van Devender and Mead 1978) Hypsiglena torquata

Dipodomys sp.—Kangaroo Rats (Mead et al. 1983) Neotoma sp.—Woodrats (Mead et al. 1983) Peromyscus sp.—Deer Mice (Mead et al. 1983) Reithrodontomys sp.—Harvest Mice (Mead et al. 1983) Sylvilagus sp.—Cottontails (Mead et al. 2005) Literature. Mead et al. 1983; Mead et al. 2005; Van Devender and Mead 1978.

Last Update: 27 Feb 2013

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Nichols AZ: Maricopa Co.

Age. Assumed to be Rancholabrean (Mead et al. 2005). General Description. Fossils were recovered during excavations for artificial lakes (Mead et al. 2005). Fauna. †Mammuthus columbi—Columbian Mammoth (Lundin and Royse 1973) †Nothrotheriops shastensis—Shasta Ground Sloth (Mead et al. 2005) †Equus sp. (two species, one large, one small)—Horses (Lundin and Royse 1973) Literature. Mead et al. 2005; Lundin and Royse 1973.

Last Update: 29 Dec 2012

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North Papago Cave AZ: Santa Cruz Co.

Synonyms: Sonoita Cave (Rea 1980). Age. Wisconsin. General Description. Cave to the north of Papago Springs Cave and probably connected to it (Mead et al. 2005). Fauna. †Meleagris crassipes—Bigfoot Turkey (Rea 1980). Marmota flaviventris—Yellow-bellied Marmot (Mead et al. 2005) Literature. Mead et al. 2005; Rea 1980.

Last Update: 29 Dec 2012

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Papago Springs Cave AZ: Santa Cruz Co., 1560 m

Age. Dates range from 246 ± 19 kya to 26.7 ± 0.7 kya on speleothems and fossil Stockoceros bones. Czaplewski and Mead et al. (1999) do point out that the dates available do not necessarily apply to everything within a unit. Dates from various units are at 246 kya, >172 kya (Section 1, unit 6 and recorded here and in taxon accounts as Rancholabrean); 23.3 kya, 33.5 kya (Section 2, top of unit 5; interpreted here as mid Wisconsin); 127 kya, 133 kya (bottom of unit 5; assumed to be of Sangamonian interglacial age); 85.9 kya (Section 2, unit 6; interpreted here as early Wisconsin); and 42.4 kya, 42.9 kya (Section 2, unit 7; mid Wisconsin)(Czaplewski and Mead et al. 1999). In addition, those from the Annex are considered to be mid Wisconsin. Most of the fossil material dates to the mid Wisconsin of Section 2, unit 7 (Czaplewski and Mead et al. 1999). General Description. The cave is located in the Canelo Hills. Both lower (to 1395 m) and higher (to 1785 m) elevations occur within 5 km of the cave, and the predominant current vegetation is Madrean evergreen woodland (Czaplewski and Mead et al. 1999). The geology, cave deposits descriptions, and dating data are given in Czaplewski and Peachey et al. (1999). Discussion. The Sangamonian Interglacial (the interglacial previous to the present Holocene) produced only two taxa: Hyla (tree frog) and Stockoceros onusrosagris (treated as S. conklingi here—see the S. conklingi account for reasons for synonymizing the two). Most of the material garnered by Czaplewski and Mead et al. (1999) was from mid Wisconsin deposits. However, some were from deposits dated as 246 kya and >172 kya; these are given in the listing as Rancholabrean, as are those treated by Skinner (1942) and those of Czaplewski and Mead et al. (1999) from undated deposits. It is quite probable that many or all of Skinner's fossils are mid Wisconsin, but direct dates are unavailable. In 1934, Roosevelt and Burden discovered the fossil deposits and described the extinct pronghorn as Tetrameryx onusrosagris. Skinner (1942) later made a large collection of vertebrates from the cave, reporting the Pleistocene fauna along with Holocene and archaeological material. Later research, including collecting, was carried out between 1987 and 1996, resulting in two major publications: Czaplewski and Peachey et al. (1999) on physical aspects of the cave and deposits and Czaplewski and Mead et al. (1999) on the vertebrate paleofauna.

In the faunal list below, what is interpreted to be the current accepted name is given in the main citation; if different, the name given in the original publication is given below in smaller type, as are comments. Fauna. Rancholabrean Amphibia

Ambystoma mavortium—Barred Tiger Salamander (Czaplewski and Mead et al. 1999: cf.) Hyla sp.—Treefrog (Czaplewski and Mead et al. 1999) Reptilia

Colubridae—Colubrid Snakes (Czaplewski and Mead et al. 1999) Crotalidae—Rattlesnakes and Relatives (Czaplewski and Mead et al. 1999) Natricidae—Natricid Snakes (Czaplewski and Mead et al. 1999) Natricinae

Aves

Threskiornithidae—Ibises and Spoonbills (Skinner 1942) Threskiornithoidae

†Meleagris crassipes—Big-foot Turkey (Rea 1980) Mammalia

Otospermophilus variegatus—Rock Squirrel (Czaplewski and Mead et al. 1999; Skinner 1942) Spermophilus variegatus

Tamias sp.—Chipmunk (Czaplewski and Mead et al. 1999)

Skinner (1942) listed Eutamias ?dorsalis on the basis of two lower jaws. However, dental measurements by Fling (1997) strongly suggest that only T. minimus is identifiable on the basis of dental characteristics.

Thomomys bottae/umbrinus—Botta's Pocket Gopher/Southern Pocket Gopher (Skinner 1942; Czaplewski and Mead et al. 1999) Neotoma albigula—White-throated Woodrat (Czaplewski and Mead et al. 1999: cf.) Neotoma mexicana—Mexican Woodrat (Czaplewski and Mead et al. 1999: cf.) Onychomys leucogaster—Northern Grasshopper Mouse (Skinner 1942: ?) Lepus californicus—Black-tailed Jackrabbit (Skinner 1942) Sylvilagus audubonii—Desert Cottontail (Czaplewski and Mead et al. 1999: cf. Tadarida brasiliensis—Mexican Free-tailed Bat (Skinner 1942: ? sp.) Rejected--Mead et al. (2005) note that Skinner's specimens have been reexamined and are not Tadarida brasiliensis.

Antrozous pallidus—Pallid Bat (Skinner 1942)

Myotis evotis—Long-Eared Myotis (Skinner 1942: ? sp.) Canis latrans—Coyote (Skinner 1942)

Skinner (1942) named Canis caneloensis from a Papago Springs Cave skull; it is now considered to be C. latrans.

Canis lupus—Gray Wolf (Skinner 1942) Canis nubilus

Urocyon cinereoargenteus—Gray Fox (Skinner 1942) Mustela frenata—Long-tailed Weasel (Czaplewski and Mead et al. 1999: cf.) Taxidea taxus—American Badger (Skinner 1942)

Skinner (1942) named a new subspecies, (Taxidea taxus papagoensis), from Papago Springs Cave material.

Spilogale sp.—Spotted Skunks (Skinner 1942)

Skinner (1942) listed Spilogale arizonae, which now is considered to be S. gracilis. Spilogale gracilis is most likely the species represented, but osteological criteria to separate this species from S. putorius have not been established.

Bassariscus astutus—Ringtail (Skinner 1942)

Skinner (1942) named the Papago Springs Cave material as B. sonoitensis. This species was synonymized as conspecific to B. astutus by Harris (1990b), though he indicated that it might be considered as a temporal subspecies.

†Equus francisci—Stilt-legged Onager (Skinner 1942) Equus tau.

Platygonus compressus—Flat-headed Peccary (Skinner 1942) Platygonus alemanii

Cervus sp.—Deer (Skinner 1942)

Skinner (1942) noted that the specimen compared favorably with Cervus canadensis (=C. elaphus).

†Stockoceros conklingi—Conkling's Pronghorn (Skinner 1942; Czaplewski and Mead et al. 1999) S. onusrosagris.

Early Wisconsin †Stockoceros conklingi—Conkling's Pronghorn (Skinner 1942; Czaplewski and Mead et al. 1999) S. onusrosagris.

Mid Wisconsin Osteichthyes

Rhinichthys osculus—Speckled Dace (Czaplewski and Mead et al. 1999) Amphibia

Ambystoma mavortium—Barred Tiger Salamander (Czaplewski and Mead et al. 1999: cf.) cf. A. tigrinum

Anaxyrus woodhousii or A. punctatus—Woodhouse's Toad or Red-spotted Toad (Czaplewski and Mead et al. (1999)

Bufo woodhousii or B. punctatus

Hyla sp.—Treefrog (Czaplewski and Mead et al. 1999) Gastrophryne sp.—Narrow-mouthed Frog (Czaplewski and Mead et al. 1999: cf.) Scaphiopus/Spea sp.—Spadefoot Toad (Czaplewski and Mead et al. 1999) Lithobates sp.—North American True Frogs (Czaplewski and Mead et al. 1999: cf.) Rana sp.

Reptilia

Crotaphytus sp.—Collared Lizard (Czaplewski and Mead et al. 1999) Phrynosoma hernandesi—Mountain Short-horned Lizard (Czaplewski and Mead et al. 1999) P. douglasi

Sceloporus magister—Desert Spiny Lizard (Czaplewski and Mead et al. 1999: cf.) Large, medium, and small sceloporine lizards—Sceloporine Lizards (Czaplewski and Mead et al. 1999) Colubridae—Colubrid Snakes (Czaplewski and Mead et al. 1999) Crotalidae—Rattlesnakes and Relatives (Czaplewski and Mead et al. 1999) Natricidae—Natricid Snakes Natricinae

Aves

Cyrtonyx montezumae—Montezuma Quail (Czaplewski and Mead et al. 1999: cf.) Aphelocoma wollweberi—Mexican Jay (Czaplewski and Mead et al. 1999) Aphelocoma ultramarina

Salpinctes obsoletus—Rock Wren (Czaplewski and Mead et al. 1999) Mammalia

Marmota flaviventris—Yellow-bellied Marmot (Skinner 1942; Czaplewski and Mead et al. 1999) Sciurus aberti—Abert's Squirrel (Czaplewski and Mead et al. 1999: cf. gen. et sp.) Tamias sp.—Chipmunk (Czaplewski and Mead et al. 1999) Skinner (1942) listed Eutamias ?dorsalis on the basis of two lower jaws. However, dental measurements by Fling (1997) strongly suggest that only T. minimus is identifiable on the basis of dental characteristics.

Xerospermophilus spilosoma—Spotted Ground Squirrel (Czaplewski and Mead et al. 1999: cf.) Spermophilus spilosoma

Perognathus/Chaetodipus—Silky/Spiny Pocket Mouse (Czaplewski and Mead et al. 1999) Skinner (1942) listed Perognathus ?apache, apparently on the basis of a partial lower jaw. In view of the difficulty in separating the various pocket mice, it seems best to go with Perognathus/Chaetodipus

Cratogeomys/Geomys—Yellow-faced or Plains Pocket Gopher (Czaplewski and Mead et al. 1999)

Thomomys bottae/umbrinus—Botta's Pocket Gopher/Southern Pocket Gopher (Skinner 1942; Czaplewski and Mead et al. 1999) Microtus sp.—Voles (Czaplewski and Mead et al. 1999) Skinner listed Microtus ?mexicanus (presumably = to M. mogollonensis of this volume.

Peromyscus/Reithrodontomys—Deer Mice/Harvest Mice (Czaplewski and Mead et al. 1999) Czaplewski and Mead et al. (1999) didn't identify their material to species, but did suggest at least P. boylii and P. maniculatus were present. Skinner (1942) tentatively listed P. maniculatus and P. maniculatus and P. ?boylii or P. ?truei.

Neotoma albigula—White-throated Woodrat (Czaplewski and Mead et al. 1999: cf.) Neotoma mexicana—Mexican Woodrat (Czaplewski and Mead et al. 1999: cf.) Neotoma pygmaea/stephensi—Pygmy/Stephen's Woodrat (Czaplewski and Mead et al. 1999) Onychomys sp.—Grasshopper Mouse (Czaplewski and Mead et al. 1999) Sigmodon arizonae—Arizona Cotton Rat (Czaplewski and Mead et al. 1999: cf.) Czaplewski and Mead et al. (1999) considered only one of their specimens tentatively identifiable to species.

†Aztlanolagus agilis—Aztlán Rabbit (Czaplewski and Mead et al. 1999) Sylvilagus audubonii—Desert Cottontail (Czaplewski and Mead et al. 1999: cf.; Skinner 1942) Notiosorex dalquesti—Dalquest's Shrew (Carraway 2010) Sorex arizonae—Arizona Shrew (Czaplewski and Mead et al. 1999) Myotis sp. (small)—Small Myotis (Czaplewski and Mead et al. 1999) Myotis velifer—Cave Myotis (Czaplewski and Mead et al. 1999) Myotis thysanodes—Fringed Myotis (Czaplewski and Mead et al. 1999) Corynorhinus townsendii—Townsend's Big-eared Bat (Czaplewski and Mead et al. 1999) Urocyon cinereoargenteus—Gray Fox (Czaplewski and Mead et al. 1999) Ursus americanus—Black Bear (Skinner 1942)

Skinner (1942) described a new subspecies (Ursus americanus gentryi) on the basis of a skull from this site. Czaplewski and Mead et al. (1999) listed Ursus cf. americanus from the mid Wisconsin.

Mephitis sp.—Striped and Hooded Skunks (Czaplewski and Mead et al. 1999)

Czaplewski and Mead et al. (1999) point out that the two species are difficult to distinguish on osteological material; the Hooded Skunk is the common one in the vicinity of the cave today. Skinner (1942) listed Mephitis occidentalis, now considered to be a synonym of M. mephitis.

†Equus conversidens—Mexican Horse (Czaplewski and Mead et al. 1999) †Stockoceros conklingi—Conkling's Pronghorn (Skinner 1942; Czaplewski and Mead et al. 1999) S. onusrosagris.

†Bison antiquus—Ancient Bison (Skinner 1942)

Czaplewski and Mead et al. (1999) listed Cf. Bison from the mid Wisconsin.

Literature. Carraway 2010; Czaplewski and Peachey et al. 1999; Czaplewski and Mead et al. 1999; Fling 1997; Harris 1990; Rea 1980; Roosevelt and Burden 1934; Skinner 1942.

Last Update: 27 Feb 2013

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Peach Springs Wash AZ: Mohave Co., 855 m

Synonyms: Age. Late Wisconsin (12,040 ± 400 BP) (Van Devender et al. 1977). General Description. Woodrat midden. Fauna. Sceloporus magister—Desert Spiny Lizard (Van Devender et al. 1977: cf.). Literature. Mead et al. 2005; Van Devender et al. 1977.

Last Update: 29 Dec 2012

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Pettit AZ: Cochise Co., 1200 m

Synonyms: Age. Presumed to be Rancholabrean (Mead et al. 2005). General Description. Not recorded. Fauna. †Mammuthus columbi—Columbian Mammoth (Mead et al. 2005). Literature. Mead et al. 2005.

Last Update: 29 Dec 2012

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Phoenix AZ: Maricopa Co.

Age. Rancholabrean assumed. General Description. Not recorded. Fauna. †Mammuthus columbi—Columbian Mammoth (Agenbroad et al. 2013) Literature. Agenbroad et al. 2013.

Last Update: 22 Mar 2013

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Picacho Peak AZ: Pinal Co., 655 m

Age. Late Wisconsin, with dates ranging from 13,170 ± 200 to 10,280 ± 140; there also is a midden dating to the early Holocene (Van Devender et al. 1991). General Description. Van Devender et al. 1991: The site consists of remains from four woodrat middens from a crevice in Picacho Peak. The peak rises from 550 m to 1,010 m and is isolated from other highlands. The nearest highland of consequence is 55 km to the southeast (Santa Catalina Mountains). Fauna. Scaphiopus multiplicata—Mexican Spadefoot (Van Devender et al. 1991) Scaphiopus hammondi

Crotaphytus collaris—Eastern Collared Lizard (Van Devender et al. 1991: cf.) Coleonyx variegatus—Western Banded Gecko (Van Devender et al. 1991) Phrynosoma platyrhinos—Desert Horned Lizard (Van Devender et al. 1991) Urosaurus ornatus—Tree Lizard (Van Devender et al. 1991) Sceloporus sp.—Spiny Lizards (Van Devender et al. 1991) Aspidoscelis tigris—Tiger Whiptail (Van Devender et al. 1991) Cnemidophorus tigris

Arizona elegans—Eastern Glossy Snake (Van Devender et al. 1991) Hypsiglena chlorophaea—Desert Night Snake (Van Devender et al. 1991) See the H. torquata account for the reason behind the quotes

Lampropeltis getula—Common Kingsnake (Van Devender et al. 1991) Pituophis catenifer—Gopher Snake (Van Devender et al. 1991) Rhinocheilus lecontei—Long-nosed Snake (Van Devender et al. 1991) Sonora semiannulata—Ground Snake (Van Devender et al. 1991) Tantilla hobartsmithi—Southwestern Blackhead Snake (Van Devender et al. 1991: cf.) Rena humilis—Western Blind Snake (Mead 2005) Aeronautes saxatilis—White-throated Swift (Van Devender et al. 1991) Micrathene whitneyi—Elf Owl (Van Devender et al. 1991) Micranthe whitneyi

Ammospermophilus sp.—Antelope Squirrel (Van Devender et al. 1991) Chaetodipus/Perognathus—Pocket Mice (Van Devender et al. 1991) Dipodomys merriami/ordii—Merriam's or Ord's Kangaroo Rat (Van Devender et al. 1991) Thomomys bottae—Botta's Pocket Gopher (Van Devender et al. 1991: cf.) Neotoma albigula—White-throated Woodrat (Van Devender et al. 1991: cf.)

Peromyscus sp.—Deer Mice (Van Devender et al. 1991) Sylvilagus audubonii—Desert Cottontail (Van Devender et al. 1991: cf.) Literature. Mead 2005; Van Devender et al. 1991.

Last Update: 17 Jan 2013

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Pirtleville AZ: Cochise Co.

Age. Assumed to be Rancholabrean (Mead et al. 2005). General Description. Not recorded. Fauna. †Mammuthus columbi—Columbian Mammoth (Mead et al. 2005) Literature. Mead et al. 2005.

Last Update: 29 Dec 2012

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Pit Stop Quarry AZ: Navajo Co.

Age. Rancholabrean (Murray et al. 2005). General Description. A commercial sand and gravel quarry 11 km south of Taylor (Murray et al. 2005). Murray et al. (2005) suggest that the vertebrate fauna, taken together with previous studies of Pleistocene environments in Arizona and elsewhere, records an relatively open habitat of sagebrush-grassland steppe habitat, with possibly open stands of conifers nearby. Fauna. Ambystoma mavortium—Barred Tiger Salamander (Mead 2005)

Murray et al. (2005) in the original report listed as Ambystomatidae, gen. et sp. indet. Mead 2005 listed as Ambystoma tigrinum (= current A. mavortium—see the taxon account for the use of the latter).

Thomomys sp.—Western Pocket Gophers (Murray et al. 2005) Lemmiscus curtatus—Sagebrush Vole (Murray et al. 2005) Brachylagus idahoensis—Pygmy Rabbit (Murray et al. 2005) Platygonus compressus—Flat-headed Peccary (Murray et al. 2005). Literature. Mead 2005; Murray et al. 2005.

Last Update: 13 Feb 2012

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Plumosa Mountains AZ: Mohave Co., 525 m

Synonyms: Age. Mid Wisconsin (>32,000 BP) (Mead et al 1983). General Description. Woodrat midden (Mead et al. 1983). Fauna. Chaetodipus/Perognathus sp.—Spiny or Silky Pocket Mice (Mead et al. 1983) Perognathus sp.

Neotoma sp.—Woodrats (Mead et al. 2005) Literature. Mead et al. 1983; Mead et al. 2005.

Last Update: 29 Dec 2012

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Pomerene West AZ: Cochise Co.

Age. Rancholabrean is assumed (Mead et al. 2005). General Description. Not recorded. Fauna. †Mammuthus columbi—Columbian Mammoth (Mead et al. 2005) Literature. Mead et al. 2005.

Last Update: 30 Dec 2012

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Porter Springs AZ: Coconino Co.

Age. Assumed to be Rancholabrean in age. General Description. A mammoth was recovered from a layer of sand under 7.4 m of caliche. Fauna. †Mammuthus columbi—Columbian Mammoth (Mead et al. 2005) Literature. Mead et al. 2005.

Last Update: 30 Dec 2012

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Prospect AZ: Cochise Co.

Age. May be considered Irvingtonian or very late Blancan. Morgan and White (2005) note the absence of Mammuthus, often correlated with the start of the Irvingtonian, as suggestive of a late Blancan age. For the purposes here, the site will be considered late Blancan. General Description. Sediments of the St. David formation (Johnson et al. 1975). Fauna. †Spermophilus cochisei—Cochise Ground Squirrel (Johnson et al. 1975) †Equus sp.—Horses (Johnson et al. 1975) Literature. Johnson et al. 1975.

Last Update: 9 Jan 2013

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Pyeatt Cave AZ: Cochise Co., 1654 m

Age. Late Wisconsin. A date on a Nothrotheriops vertebra is 22,480 ± 490 BP (Mead et al. 2005). General Description. Cave on Fort Huachuca Military Reservation (Mead et al. 2005). Fauna. †Nothrotheriops shastensis—Shasta Ground Sloth (Mead et al. 2005) Sylvilagus audubonii—Desert Cottontail (Mead et al. 2005) †Panthera atrox—American Lion (Mead et al. 2005) Puma concolor—Mountain Lion (Mead et al. 2005) Literature. Mead et al. 2005).

Last Update: 30 Dec 2012

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Rampart Cave AZ: Mohave Co.

Age. Mid and late Wisconsin. Radiocarbon dates range from >40 kya to ca. 11 kya (Santucci et al. 2001). General Description. Wilson (1942): The cave is located on the south side of the Grand Canyon at an elevation of about 534 m. When first investigated, in 1936, the floor consisted mainly of dried ground sloth dung. Excavations include those by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the late 1930s and Remington Kellogg in 1942 (Kenworthy et al. 2004). Much of the cave deposits was destroyed by fire in 1976 (Santucci et al. 2001). Discussion. Later, Van Devender et al. (1977) recovered a number of reptile and mammal remains from woodrat middens within the cave and in nearby areas and, importantly, excellent material for radiocarbon dates. In the faunal lists below, the material researched by Van Devender et al. (1977) is given separately with associated radiocarbon dates. Fauna. Gopherus morafkai—Morafka's Desert Tortoise (Wilson 1942) Gopherus agassizi See discussion in the G. morafkai account

Sauromalus ater—Chuckwalla (Wilson 1942: cf.) Gymnogyps californianus—California Condor (Miller 1960) †Nothrotheriops shastensis—Shasta Ground Sloth (Wilson 1942) Marmota flaviventris—Yellow-bellied Marmot (Wilson 1942) Spermophile—Spermophile Ground Squirrels (Lindsay and Tessman 1974) Spermophilus

Tamias sp.—Chipmunks (Lindsay and Tessman 1974) Eutamias

Dipodomys sp.—Kangaroo Rats (Lindsay and Tessman 1974) Thomomys sp.—Western Pocket Gophers (Lindsay and Tessman 1974) Neotoma sp.—Woodrats (Lindsay and Tessman 1974) Lepus sp.—Jackrabbit (Lindsay and Tessman 1974) Sylvilagus sp.—Cottontail (Lindsay and Tessman 1974) Desmodus stocki—Stock's Vampire Bat (Mead et al. 2005) Lynx sp.—Bobcat (Wilson 1942) Puma concolor—Mountain Lion (Kenworthy et al. 2004)

Felis concolor

Bassariscus astutus—Ringtail (Lindsay and Tessman 1974) Bassariscus

Mustela sp.—Weasels (Lindsay and Tessman 1974) Spilogale gracilis/putorius—Western or Eastern Spotted Skunk (Lindsay and Tessman 1974) Spilogale

†Equus sp.—Horses (Wilson 1942) †Oreamnos harringtoni—Harrington's Mountain Goat (Wilson 1942) Ovis sp.—Sheep (Wilson 1942) Rampart Cave Roof Crack: 13,510 ± 910 BP (Van Devender et al. 1977)

Lampropeltis getula—Common Kingsnake Neotoma mexicana—Mexican Woodrat (cf.) Neotoma devia/lepida—Arizona or Desert Woodrat Neotoma lepida

Rat Layer: 14,810 ± 230, 18,890 ± 500 (Van Devender et al. 1977)

Sauromalus ater—Chuckwalla Sauromalus obesus

Gopherus morafkai—Morafka's Desert Tortoise Gopherus agassizi

Neotoma devia/lepida—Arizona or Desert Woodrat Neotoma lepida

Neotoma stephensi—Stephen's Woodrat Pit B Front: 16,330 ± 270 (Van Devender et al. 1977

Sceloporus magister—Desert Spiny Lizard (cf.) Sceloporus tristichus—Northern Plateau Lizard (cf.) Sceloporus cf. undulatus

Rhinocheilus lecontei—Long-nosed Snake Neotoma mexicana—Mexican Woodrat (cf.) Peromyscus sp.—Deer Mice Pit B Floor: 12,600 ± 260 (Van Devender et al. 1977)

Sceloporus magister—Desert Spiny Lizard (cf.) Pituophis catenifer—Gopher Snake Gopherus morafkai—Morafka's Desert Tortoise Gopherus agassizi

Neotoma mexicana—Mexican Woodrat (cf.)

Stake 35: 12,230 ± 350 (Van Devender et al. 1977)

Sceloporus magister—Desert Spiny Lizard (cf.) Gopherus morafkai—Morafka's Desert Tortoise Gopherus agassizi

Neotoma devia/lepida—Arizona or Desert Woodrat Neotoma lepida

Neotoma stephensi—Stephen's Woodrat (cf.) Erethizon dorsata—American Porcupine Stake 45: 13,170 ± 310 (Van Devender et al. 1977)

Sceloporus magister—Desert Spiny Lizard (cf.) Neotoma mexicana—Mexican Woodrat (cf.) Literature. Harington 1971; Harington 1971; Kenworthy et al. 2004; Lindsay and Tessman 1974; Miller 1960; Santucci et al. 2001; Wilson 1942.

Last Update: 12 Jan 2013

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Red Creek AZ: Yavapai Co.

Age. Age is presumed to be Rancholabrean. General Description. Not recorded. Fauna. Ursus sp.—Bears (Mead et al. 2005) Literature. Mead et al. 2005.

Last Update: 30 Dec 2012

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Safford AZ: Graham Co.

Synonyms: Age. Assumed to be Rancholabrean. General Description. A tibia from gravels 1.5 km south of Safford (Mead et al. 2005) and a skull found 1/2 mi southeast of the tibia (Tekowski and White 2000). Fauna. †Mammuthus columbi—Columbian Mammoth (Mead et al. 2005; Tegowski and White 2000) Literature. Mead et al. 2005; Tekowski and White 2000.

Last Update: 31 Dec 2012

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Saint Johns AZ: Apache Co.

Age. Late Wisconsin. Mammuthus is dated at 23,370 ± 1720 BP (Mead et al. 2005). General Description. Little Colorado River gravels (Mead et al. 2005). Fauna. †Mammut americanum—American Mastodon (Agenbroad et al. 2013) †Mammuthus columbi—Columbian Mammoth (Mead et al. 2005) Literature. Agenbroad et al. 2013; Mead et al. 2005.

Last Update: 20 Mar 2013

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San Simon AZ: Cochise Co.

Synonyms: Age. Assumed to be Rancholabrean. General Description. 2.4 km west of San Simon (Mead et al. 2005). Fauna. †Mammuthus columbi—Columbian Mammoth (Mead et al. 2005) Literature. Mead et al. 2005.

Last Update: 31 Dec 2012

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San Simon Creek AZ: Graham Co.

Age. Assumed to be Rancholabrean. General Description. San Simon Creek 1/3 mi E of junction with Ryan Draw (Tekowski and White 2000). Fauna. †Mammuthus sp.—Mammoth (Tegowski and White 2000) Literature. Tekowski and White 2000.

Last Update: 31 Dec 2012

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San Simon Fauna AZ: Graham Co.

Included Localities: Several collection areas about 30 km southeast of Safford, including the San Simon Power Line, the Central and Southern Whitlock Mountain and the Whitlock Oil Well, the Artesia Fauna, and the Tanque Road Fauna (Morgan and White 2005). Age. Late Blancan, estimated at between 2.2 and 2.4 mya (Morgan and White 2005). General Description. Sediments of the Gila Group in the San Simon Valley (Morgan and White 2005). Fauna. †Glyptotherium sp.—Glyptodonts (Morgan and White 2005) †Otospermophilus bensoni—Benson Ground Squirrel (Morgan and White 2005: ?) Spermophilus bensoni

Castor sp.—American Beavers (Morgan and White 2005) †Dipodomys hibbardi—Hibbard's Kangaroo Rat (Morgan and White 2005) †Cratogeomys sansimonensis—San Simon Pocket Gopher (Morgan and White 2005) †Geomys persimilis—Hay's Pocket Gopher (Morgan and White 2005: ?) Sigmodon sp.—Cotton Rats (Morgan and White 2005) †Alilepus wilsoni—Wilson's Rabbit (Morgan and White 2005) †Aluralagus virginiae—Virginia Rabbit (Morgan and White 2005) Lepus townsendii—White-tailed Jackrabbit (Morgan and White 2005) Sylvilagus cunicularius—Mexican Cottontail (Morgan and White 2005) †Sylvilagus hibbardi—Hibbard's Cottontail (Morgan and White 2005) †Xenosmilus sp.—Strange Sabertooths (Morgan and White 2005) †Borophagus diversidens—Bone-eating Dog (Morgan and White 2005) †Canis edwardii—Edward's Wolf (Morgan and White 2005) †Arctodus sp.—Short-faced Bears (Morgan and White 2005) †Tremarctos sp.—Spectacled Bears (Morgan and White 2005) Taxidea sp.—American Badgers (Morgan and White 2005) Procyon sp.—Raccoons (Morgan and White 2005) †Equus sp.—Horses (Morgan and White 2005) †Tapirus sp.—Tapirs (Morgan and White 2005) †Platygonus sp.—Flat-headed Peccaries (Morgan and White 2005) †Camelops sp.—American Camels (Morgan and White 2005) †Gigantocamelus sp.—Giant Camel (Morgan and White 2005) †Hemiauchenia blancoensis—Blanco Llama (Morgan and White 2005)

†Hemiauchenia undescribed species—Llamas (Morgan and White 2005) †Megatylopus cochrani—Big Camels (Morgan and White 2005: ?) †Bretzia—False Elks (Morgan and White 2005: cf.) Odocoileus sp.—Odocoiline Deer (Morgan and White 2005) †Capromeryx arizonensis—Skinner's Pronghorn (Morgan and White 2005) Literature. Morgan and White 2005.

Last Update: 20 Jan 2013

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Sandblast Cave AZ: Coconino Co., 915 m

Age. Late and mid Wisconsin; dates are 9,580 ± 160 to 13,110 ± 680 on condor and >29,900 and >33,100 BP on Harrington's Mountain Goat dung (Mead et al. 2005). General Description. A small limestone cave (Mead et al. 2005). Fauna. Anas americana—American Widgeon (Emslie 1988) Anas crecca—Green-winged Teal (Emslie 1988) Aythya sp.—Diving Ducks (Emslie 1988) Aechmophorus occidentalis—Western Grebe (Emslie 1988) Podilymbus podiceps—Pied-billed Grebe (Emslie 1988) Cathartes aura—Turkey Vulture (Emslie 1988) Gymnogyps californianus—California Condor (Emslie 1988) Buteo sp.—Buteo Hawks (Emslie 1988) Fulica americana—American Coot (Emslie 1988) Porzana carolina—Sora (Emslie 1988; cf.) Zenaida macroura—Mourning Dove (Emslie 1988) Colaptes auratus—Northern Flicker (Emslie 1988) Falco mexicanus—Prairie Falcon (Emslie 1988) Falco peregrinus—Peregrine Falcon (Emslie 1988) Falco sparverius—American Kestrel (Emslie 1988) Corvus sp.—Ravens (Emslie 1988) †Mammuthus columbi—Columbian Mammoth (Emslie 1988) Mammoth

Sciurus sp.—Tree Squirrels (Emslie 1988: cf.) Chaetodipus/Perognathus—Pocket Mice (Emslie 1988) Perognathus sp.

Microtus sp.—Voles (Emslie 1988) Neotoma sp.—Woodrats (Emslie 1988) Peromyscus sp.—Deer Mice (Emslie 1988) Sylvilagus sp.—Cottontails (Emslie 1988) Notiosorex sp.—Notiosorex Shrews (Emslie 1988) Notiosorex crawfordi

Antrozous pallidus—Pallid Bat (Emslie 1988) Corynorhinus townsendii—Townsend's Big-eared Bat (Emslie 1988) Plecotus townsendi

Myotis sp.—Myotis Bats (Emslie 1988: cf.)

†Equus sp.—Horses (Emslie 1988) †Camelops sp.—American Camels (Emslie 1988: cf.) †Oreamnos harringtoni—Harrington's Mountain Goat (Emslie 1988) Bison sp.—Bison (Emslie 1988) Literature. Emslie 1988; Mead et al. 2005.

Last Update: 13 Feb 2013

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San Rafael Aqueduct AZ: Cochise Co.

Age. Rancholabrean is assumed (Mead et al. 2005). General Description. Not recorded. Fauna. †Equus sp.—Horses (Mead et al. 2005) Bison sp.—Bison (Mead et al. 2005) †Camelops sp.—American Camels (Lindsay and Tessman 1974) Literature. Mead et al. 2005.

Last Update: 1 Mar 2013

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Savallini-Williams AZ: Yavapai Co.

Age. Rancholabrean assumed. General Description. Not recorded. Fauna. †Mammuthus columbi—Columbian Mammoth (Agenbroad et al. 2013) Literature. Agenbroad et al. 2013.

Last Update: 22 Mar 2013

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Schaldack AZ: Cochise Co.

Age. Rancholabrean age is assumed (Mead et al. 2005). General Description. Not recorded. Fauna. †Equus sp.—Horses (Mead et al. 2005) †Mammuthus columbi—Columbian Mammoth (Mead et al. 2005) Literature. Mead et al. 2005.

Last Update: 1 Mar 2013

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Scottsdale AZ: Maricopa Co.

Age. Rancholabrean assumed. General Description. Not recorded. Fauna. †Mammuthus columbi—Columbian Mammoth (Agenbroad et al. 2013) Literature. Agenbroad et al. 2013.

Last Update: 22 Mar 2013

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Screaming Neotoma Cave AZ: Apache Co., 1800 m

Age. Late Wisconsin and Mid Wisconsin (Bell and Glennon 2003; Glennon 1974). 14C dates include 29,650 ± 250 on bone collagen (Beta71307) and 25,020 ± 200 on wood (Beta59784) from the 60-70 cm level and the 40-50 cm level of Test Pit 4 respectively (Bell and Glennon 2003). Glennon (1994), on faunal grounds, thought that the 20-30 cm level of Pit 4 represented the Pleistocene/Holocene boundary. In the taxon accounts, I've arbitrarily listed taxa from the 20-30 cm level as Late Wisconsin and taxa from the 30-70 cm levels as Mid Wisconsin. General Description. Bell and Glennon (2003): The site is a travertine pitfall trap located between St. Johns and Springerville. The highest cave surface is about 26 m below the entrance. Excavations were conducted in 1992 with four test pits, with contents of Pit 4 serving as the basis for presence of taxa and for interpretation of the Pleistocene fauna (Glennon 1994). A specimen of Ondatra zibethicus reported by Bell and Glennon (2003) was a surface find and presumed not to be Pleistocene. Fauna. Cynomys gunnisoni—Gunnison's Prairie Dog (Glennon 1994) Otospermophilus variegatus—Rock Squirrel (Glennon 1994) Spermophilus variegatus

Chaetodipus/Perognathus sp.—Silky or Spiny Pocket Mice (Glennon 1994) Perognathus sp.

Dipodomys sp.—Kangaroo Rats (Glennon 1994) Thomomys talpoides—Northern Pocket Gopher (Glennon 1994) Thomomys bottae—Botta's Pocket Gopher (Glennon 1994) Lemmiscus curtatus—Sagebrush Vole (Bell and Glennon 2003) Microtus sp.—Voles (Bell and Glennon 2003) Neotoma albigula—White-throated Woodrat (Glennon 1994) Neotoma cinerea—Bushy-tailed Woodrat (Glennon 1994) Neotoma stephensi—Stephen's Woodrat (Glennon 1994) Onychomys leucogaster—Northern Grasshopper Mouse (Glennon 1994) Peromyscus sp.—Deer Mice (Glennon 1994) Reithrodontomys megalotis—Western Harvest Mouse (Glennon 1994: cf.) Brachylagus idahoensis—Pygmy Rabbit (Glennon 1994) Sylvilagus sp.—Cottontails (Glennon 1994)

Myotis/Plecotus sp.—Myotis or Big-eared Bats (Glennon 1994) Sorex sp.—Long-tailed Shrews (Glennon 1994) Canis lupus—Gray Wolf (Glennon 1994: cf.) Literature. Bell and Glennon 2003; Glennon 1994.

Last Update: 22 Jan 2013

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Seff AZ: Cochise Co., 1131 m

Age. Assumed to be Rancholabrean (Mead et al. 2005). General Description. Not recorded. Fauna. †Mammuthus columbi—Columbian Mammoth (Mead et al. 2005) †Equus sp.—Horses (Mead et al. 2005) †Camelops hesternus—Yesterday's Camel (Mead et al. 2005) Literature. Mead et al. 2005.

Last Update: 31 Dec 2012

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Stevens Cave AZ: Coconino Co., 1220 m

Synonyms: Age. Late Wisconsin, with dates ranging from 22,000 to 12,000 BP (Mead et al. 2005). General Description. Cave in Grand Canyon National Park. Fauna. Gymnogyps californianus—California Condor (Emslie 1988) Canis dirus/lupus—Dire or Gray Wolf (Emslie 1988) †Oreamnos harringtoni—Harrington's Mountain Goat (Emslie 1988) Literature. Emslie 1988; Mead et al. 2005.

Last Update: 13 Feb 2013

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Sells AZ: Santa Cruz Co.

Age. Age is assumed to be Rancholabrean (Mead et al. 2005). General Description. Not recorded. Fauna. †Mammuthus columbi—Columbian Mammoth (Mead et al. 2005) Literature. Mead et al. 2005.

Last Update: 31 Dec 2012

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Shill Ranch AZ: Navajo Co.

Age. Age is assumed to be Rancholabrean (Mead et al. 2005). General Description. Not recorded. Fauna. †Mammuthus columbi—Columbian Mammoth (Mead et al. 2005) Literature. Mead et al. 2005.

Last Update: 31 Dec 2012

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Shinumo Creek AZ: Mohave Co., 730 m

Age. Late Wisconsin, with a date of 13,660 ± 160 BP (Van Devender et al. 1977). General Description. Woodrat midden from a shelter north of the Colorado River just north of the confluence of that river with Shinumo Creek (Mead et al. 2005). Fauna. Sceloporus tristichus—Northern Plateau Lizard (Van Devender et al. 1977: cf.) Sceloporus cf. undulatus

Neotoma sp.—Woodrats (Van Devender et al. 1977) Peromyscus sp.—Deer Mice (Van Devender et al. 1977) Literature. Mead et al. 2005; Van Devender et al. 1977.

Last Update: 19 Dec 2012

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Shonto AZ: Navajo Co., 1860 m

Synonyms: Shonto Springs; Shato Springs (Mead et al. 2005). Age. Mid Wisconsin, judging from a date on bone of 30,800 BP (Mead et al. 2005). General Description. Lacustrine and sand dune deposit. Fauna. †Mammuthus columbi—Columbian Mammoth (Mead et al. 2005) †Paramylodon harlani—Harlan's Ground Sloth (Agenbroad and Downs 1984) Glossotherium harlani

Thomomys sp.—Western Pocket Gophers (Mead et al. 2005) Chaetodipus/Perognathus sp.—Pocket Mice (Mead et al. 2005) Perognathus

Peromyscus sp.—Deer Mice (McDonald et al. 2004) Lepus californicus—Black-tailed Jackrabbit (Mead et al. 2005) Felis sp.—Cats (McDonald et al. 2004) Urocyon cinereoargenteus—Gray Fox (McDonald et al. 2004) Urocyon

†Equus sp.—Horses (Agenbroad and Downs 1984) †Tapirus merriami—Merriam's Tapir (Agenbroad and Downs 1984) †Camelops hesternus—Yesterday's Camel (Mead et al. 2005) Cervus sp.—Elk (McDonald et al. 2004) Bison sp.—Bison (Agenbroad and Downs 1984) Ovis sp.—Sheep (McDonald et al. 2004) Literature. Agenbroad and Downs 1984; McDonald et al. 2004; Mead et al. 2005.

Last Update: 1 Jan 2013

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Shoulder AZ: Cochise Co., 1265 m

Synonyms: Age. The age is assumed to be Rancholabrean (Mead et al. 2005). General Description. Not recorded. Fauna. †Mammuthus columbi—Columbian Mammoth (Mead et al. 2005) Literature. Mead et al. 2005.

Last Update: 1 Jan 2013

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Skull Cave AZ: Coconino Co., 915 m

Age. Late Wisconsin; dates range from 10,550 ± 130 to 16,000 ± 2000 BP (Mead et al. 2005). General Description. Cave in Grand Canyon about 30 m above river level. There is a single opening and three passageways (Emslie 1988). Three test pits produced the fauna listed below (Emslie 1988). Fauna. Anas americana—American Widgeon (Emslie 1988) Anas crecca—Green-winged Teal (Emslie 1988) Anas platyrhynchos—Mallard (Emslie 1988) Aythya sp.—Diving Ducks (Emslie 1988) Chen caerulescens—Snow Goose (Emslie 1988) Colinus virginianus—Bobwhite (Emslie 1988: cf. gen. et sp.) Gymnogyps californianus—California Condor (Emslie 1988) Phalaropus lobatus—Red-necked Phalarope (Emslie 1988) Colaptes auratus—Northern Flicker (Emslie 1988) Junco sp.—Juncos (Emslie 1988: cf.) Agelaius phoeniceus—Red-winged Blackbird (Emslie 1988) Neotoma sp.—Woodrats (Emslie 1988) Peromyscus sp.—Deer Mice (Emslie 1988) Lepus sp.—Jackrabbits (Emslie 1988) Sylvilagus sp.—Cottontails (Emslie 1988) Parastrellus hesperus—Western Pipistrelle (Emslie 1988) Spilogale gracilis—Western Spotted Skunk (Emslie 1988) Spilogale putorius

Oreamnos/Ovis—Mountain Goat/Sheep (Emslie 1988) Spilogale putorius

Literature. Emslie 1988; Mead et al. 2005.

Last Update: 13 Feb 2013

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Sky Harbor AZ: Pinal Co.

Age. Believed to be Rancholabrean (Mead et al. 2005). General Description. Salt River terrace deposits of sand and gravel, about 30 cm below the surface (Mead et al. 2005). Fauna. †Equus—Horses (Mead et al. 2005) Literature. Mead et al. 2005.

Last Update: 1 Jan 2013

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Skylight Cave AZ: Coconino Co.

Age. Late Wisconsin; a radiocarbon date on condor bones gave an age of 11,345 ± 130 BP (Emslie 1988). General Description. A small cave in the Grand Canyon some 35 m above the Colorado River (Mead et al. 2005). Fauna. Anas clypeata—Northern Shoveler (Emslie 1988) Podiceps nigricollis—Black-necked Grebe (Emslie 1988) Podilymbus podiceps—Pied-billed Grebe (Emslie 1988) Gymnogyps californianus—California Condor (Emslie 1988) Recurvirostra americana—American avocet (Emslie 1988) Falco sparverius—American Kestrel (Emslie 1988) †Oreamnos harringtoni—Harrington's Mountain Goat (Mead and Lawler 1994) Literature. Emslie 1988; Mead and Lawler 1994; Mead et al. 2005.

Last Update: 13 Feb 2013

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Snowflake AZ: Navajo Co., 1265 m

Age. Lindsay and Tessman (1974) gave as late Blancan, but Morgan et al. (2005) point out that the fauna could as easily be later in the Pleistocene. We'll tentatively assume late Blancan. General Description. Not recorded. Fauna. Castor sp.—American Beavers (Lindsay and Tessman 1974) Sigmodon sp.—Cotton Rats (Lindsay and Tessman 1974) †Equus sp.—Horses (Lindsay and Tessman 1974) Literature. Lindsay and Tessman 1974.

Last Update: 10 Jan 2013

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Solomon AZ: Graham Co.

Age. Assumed to be Rancholabrean. General Description. About 2 mi south of Solomon (Tekowski and White 2000). Fauna. †Mammuthus sp.—Mammoth (Tegowski and White 2000) Literature. Tekowski and White 2000.

Last Update: 31 Dec 2012

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Sonoita AZ: Santa Cruz Co.

Age. Assumed to be Rancholabrean. General Description. Not recorded. Fauna. †Mammuthus columbi—Columbian Mammoth (Mead et al. 2005) †Equus sp.—Horses (Mead et al. 2005) †Camelops sp.—American Camel (Mead et al. 2005: Cf.) Literature. Mead et al. 2005.

Last Update: 1 Jan 2013

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Sonoita Creek AZ: Santa Cruz Co., 1470 m

Age. Age is assumed to be Rancholabrean (Mead et al. 2005). General Description. Not recorded. Fauna. †Mammuthus columbi—Columbian Mammoth (Mead et al. 2005) Literature. Mead et al. 2005.

Last Update: 1 Jan 2013

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South of Charleston AZ: Cochise Co.

Age. Rancholabrean (Lindsay and Tessman 1974). General Description. Not recorded. Fauna. †Equus sp.—Horses (Lindsay and Tessman 1974). Literature. Lindsay and Tessman 1974.

Last Update: 1 Jan 2013

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Springerville AZ: Apache Co., 1920 m

Synonyms: Richville Gravels (Lindsay and Tessman 1974). Age. Rancholabrean. General Description. Sediments, known as the Richville gravels, deposited by the Little Colorado River (Mead et al. 2005). Fauna. †Mammuthus sp.—Mammoth (McDonald et al. 2004) †Megalonyx jeffersoni—Jefferson's Ground Sloth (McDonald et al. 2004) †Paramylodon harlani—Harlan's Ground Sloth (McDonald et al. 2004) †Equus sp.—Horses (McDonald et al. 2004) †Camelops sp.—Horses (McDonald et al. 2004) Literature. Lindsay and Tessman 1974; McDonald et al. 2004; Mead et al. 2005.

Last Update: 12 Feb 2013

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Stanton's Cave AZ: Coconino Co.

Age. Holocene and Late Wisconsin. Mead et al. (2005) report dates ranging from 10,870 ± 200 to 23,030 ±300. Olsen and Olsen (1984) report a date of 13,770 ± 500. Harington (1984) lists 11 radiocarbon dates on Oreamnos horn sheaths, ranging from 11,700 ± 380 to 20,060 ± 930. According to Rea and Hargrave (1984), Paul S. Martin considered material below 20 cm to represent the end of the Pleistocene, though noting that some surface material and woodrat midden contents also may be Pleistocene in age. Olsen and Olsen (1984) indicate that Euler placed the Holocene/Pleistocene boundary at the 25-30-cm level. General Description. A large cave in Grand Canyon National Park, 51 river kilometers below Lee's Ferry and ca. 44 m above the present level of the Colorado River (Euler 1984a). Archaeological materials, mostly in the form of split-twig figurines, were dated to between 3000 and 4000 years ago (Euler 1984b). Unfortunately, Olsen and Olsen (1984) gave little stratigraphic information in their study of the mammals and reptiles. In the faunal list, taxa not indicated as occurring below 20 cm are listed as Late Wisconsin/Holocene unless clearly Pleistocene (e.g., Oreamnos harringtoni). Fauna. Late Wisconsin Osteichthyes

Catostomus discobolus—Bluehead Sucker (Miller and Smith 1984) Reptilia

Lampropeltis getula—Common Kingsnake (Olsen and Olsen 1984) Aves

Anas discors—Blue-winged Teal(Rea and Hargrave 1984) Anas platyrhynchos—Mallard (Rea and Hargrave 1984)

Teratornis merriami—Merriam's Teratorn (Rea and Hargrave 1984) Gymnogyps californianus—California Condor (Rea and Hargrave 1984)

More than half of the remains are larger than present day California Condors, thus falling into the Pleistocene species G. amplus or subspecies (G. c. amplus); most of the remainder are in areas of overlap between "amplus" and the modern, smaller form.

Actitis macularia—Spotted Sandpiper (Rea and Hargrave 1984) Calidris melanotos—Pectoral Sandpiper (Rea and Hargrave 1984) Erolia melanotos

Phalaropus fulicarius—Red Phalarope (Rea and Hargrave 1984) Phalaropus lobatus—Red-necked Phalarope (Rea and Hargrave 1984) Lobipes lobatus

Bubo virginianus—Great Horned Owl (Rea and Hargrave 1984) Falco sparverius—American Kestrel (Rea and Hargrave 1984) Cinclus mexicanus—American Dipper (Rea and Hargrave 1984) Junco hyemalis—Dark-eyed Junco (Rea and Hargrave 1984) Mammalia

Neotoma sp.—Woodrats (Olsen and Olsen 1984) Peromyscus sp.—Deer Mice (Olsen and Olsen 1984) Eptesicus fuscus—Big Brown Bat (Olsen and Olsen 1984) Eptesicus cf. E. fuscus

Sylvilagus audubonii—Desert Cottontail (Olsen and Olsen 1984: cf.) Lontra canadensis—North American River Otter (Olsen and Olsen 1984) †Equus sp.—Horses (Harington 1984) †Camelops hesternus—Yesterday's Camel (Mead et al. 2005) †Oreamnos harringtoni—Harrington's Mountain Goat (Harington 1984) Late Wisconsin/Holocene Osteichthyes

Gila cypha—Humpback Chub (Miller and Smith 1984) Gila elegans—Bonytail (Miller and Smith 1984) Ptychocheilus lucius—Colorado Squawfish (Miller and Smith 1984) Castostomus latipinnis—Flannelmouth Sucker (Miller and Smith 1984) Reptilia

Crotaphytus collaris—Eastern Collared Lizard (Olsen and Olsen 1984) Sauromalus ater—Chuckwalla (Olsen and Olsen 1984) Sauromelas obesus

Sceloporus cowlesi—Southern Plateau Lizard (Olsen and Olsen 1984) Sceloporus undulatus

Aves

Aix sponsa—Wood Duck (Rea and Hargrave 1984) Anas acuta—Northern Pintail (Rea and Hargrave 1984) Anas americana—American Wigeon (Rea and Hargrave 1984) Anas clypeata—Northern Shoveler (Rea and Hargrave 1984) Anas crecca—Green-winged Teal (Rea and Hargrave 1984)

Anas cyanoptera—Cinnamon Teal (Rea and Hargrave 1984) Anas strepera—Gadwall (Rea and Hargrave 1984) Aythya affinis—Lesser Scaup (Rea and Hargrave 1984) Aythya americana—Redhead (Rea and Hargrave 1984) Aythya marila—Greater Scaup (Rea and Hargrave 1984) Aythya valisineria—Canvasback (Rea and Hargrave 1984) Branta canadensis—Canadian Goose (Rea and Hargrave 1984) Bucephala albeola—Bufflehead (Rea and Hargrave 1984) Bucephala clangula—Common Goldeneye (Rea and Hargrave 1984) Chen caerulescens—Snow Goose (Rea and Hargrave 1984) Anser caerulescens

Clangula hyemalis—Oldsquaw (Rea and Hargrave 1984: Cf. gen. et sp.) Lophodytes cucullatus—Hooded Merganser (Rea and Hargrave 1984) Mergus cucullatus

Mergus merganser—Common Merganser (Rea and Hargrave 1984) Oxyura jamaicensis—Ruddy Duck (Rea and Hargrave 1984) Centrocercus urophasianus—Greater Sage-grouse (Rea and Hargrave 1984) Meleagris crassipes—Big-foot Turkey (Rea 1980) Aechmophorus occidentalis—Western Grebe (Rea and Hargrave 1984) Podiceps nigricollis—Eared Grebe (Rea and Hargrave 1984) Cathartes aura—Turkey Vulture (Rea and Hargrave 1984) Ardea herodias—Great Blue Heron (Rea and Hargrave 1984) Accipiter striatus—Sharp-shinned Hawk (Rea and Hargrave 1984) Aquila chrysaetos—Golden Eagle (Rea and Hargrave 1984) Buteo jamaicensis—Red-tailed Hawk (Rea and Hargrave 1984) Buteogallus anthracinus—Common Black Hawk (Rea and Hargrave 1984) Circus cyaneus—Northern Harrier (Rea and Hargrave 1984) Fulica americana—American Coot (Rea and Hargrave 1984) Gallinula chloropus—Common Moorhen (Rea and Hargrave 1984) Gallinago gallinago—Common Snipe (Rea and Hargrave 1984) Capella gallinago

Numenius americanus—Long-billed Curlew (Rea and Hargrave 1984) Recurvirostra americana—American Avocet (Rea and Hargrave 1984) Leucophaeus pipixcan—Franklin's Gull (Rea and Hargrave 1984) Larus pipixcan

Cygnus columbianus—Whistling Swan (Rea and Hargrave 1984: cf.) Olor columbianus

Zenaida macroura—Mourning Dove (Rea and Hargrave 1984) Megascops kennicottii—Western Screech Owl (Rea and Hargrave 1984) Otus asio

Falco mexicanus—Prairie Falcon (Rea and Hargrave 1984) Contopus sordidulus—Western Wood Pewee (Rea and Hargrave 1984) Empidonax sp.—Empidonax Flycatchers (Rea and Hargrave 1984) Sayornis nigricans—Black Phoebe (Rea and Hargrave 1984) Sayornis saya—Say's Phoebe (Rea and Hargrave 1984) Lanius excubitor—Great Gray Shrike (Rea and Hargrave 1984) Aphelocoma californica—Western Scrub Jay (Rea and Hargrave 1984: ? gen. et sp.) Corvus corax—Common Raven (Rea and Hargrave 1984) Pica hudsonica—Black-billed Magpie (Rea and Hargrave 1984) Pica pica hudsonica

Eremophila alpestris—Horned Lark (Rea and Hargrave 1984) Hirundo rustica—Barn Swallow (Rea and Hargrave 1984: ?) Catherpes mexicanus—Canyon Wren (Rea and Hargrave 1984) Salpinctes obsoletus—Rock Wren (Rea and Hargrave 1984) Myadestes townsendi—Townsend's Solitaire (Rea and Hargrave 1984) Turdus grayi—Clay-colored Robin (Rea and Hargrave 1984) Turdus migratorius—American Robin (Rea and Hargrave 1984) Sialia currucoides—Mountain Bluebird (Rea and Hargrave 1984) Setophaga coronata—Yellow-rumped Warbler (Rea and Hargrave 1984) Dendroica coronata

Passerella iliaca—Fox Sparrow (Rea and Hargrave 1984) Zonotrichia leucophrys—White-crowned Sparrow (Rea and Hargrave 1984: cf.) Passerina sp.—Bunting (Rea and Hargrave 1984: ?) Icterus bullockii—Bullock's Oriole (Rea and Hargrave 1984) Icterus galbula

Mammalia

Otospermophilus variegatus—Rock Squirrel (Olsen and Olsen 1984) Rock Squirrel (Spermophilus sp. indet.)

Ondatra zibethicus—Common Muskrat (Olsen and Olsen 1984) Sciurus sp. (Olsen and Olsen 1984) Castor canadensis—American Beaver (Olsen and Olsen 1984) Erethizon dorsata—American Porcupine (Olsen and Olsen 1984) Lepus californicus—Black-tailed Jackrabbit (Olsen and Olsen 1984) Notiosorex sp.—Notiosorex Shrews (Olsen and Olsen 1984) Notiosorex cf. N. crawfordi

Myotis sp.—Myotis Bats (Olsen and Olsen 1984) Puma concolor—Mountain Lion (Olsen and Olsen 1984) Canis latrans—Coyote (Olsen and Olsen 1984) Bassariscus astutus—Ringtail (Olsen and Olsen 1984) Odocoileus hemionus—Mule Deer (Olsen and Olsen 1984) Ovis canadensis—Bighorn Sheep (Harington 1984) Bison sp.—Bison (Harington 1984) Literature. Euler 1984a; Euler 1984b; ; Harington 1984; Mead et al. 2005; Olsen and Olsen 1984; Rea 1980; Rea and Hargrave 1984.

Last Update: 6 Feb 2013

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Taylor Gravel Pit AZ: Navajo Co.

Age. Irvingtonian. General Description. Not given. Fauna. †Mammuthus imperator—Imperial Mammoth (Morgan and White 2005) †Stegomastodon mirificus—Wonderful Stegodont (Lucas and Morgan 2005). Stegomastodon barbouri

Literature. Lucas and Morgan 2005; Morgan and White 2005.

Last Update: 20 Jan 2013

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Tinajas Altas Mountains AZ: Yuma Co., 580 m

Age. Late Wisconsin, with a 14C date of 10,300 ± 110 (Mead et al. 2005). General Description. Woodrat midden (Mead et al. 2005). Fauna. Neotoma devia/lepida—Arizona or Desert Woodrat (Mead et al. 2005) Literature. Mead et al. 2005.

Last Update: 1 Jan 2013

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Tombstone Gulch AZ: Cochise Co.

Synonyms: Age. Presumed Rancholabrean (Mead et al. 2005). General Description. Not recorded. Fauna. †Mammuthus columbi—Columbian Mammoth (Mead et al. 2005) Literature. Mead et al. 2005.

Last Update: 1 Jan 2013

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Tooth Cave AZ: Coconino Co., 1460 m

Age. Rancholabrean, probably late Wisconsin (Mead et al. 2005). Tooth Cave, Coconino County. Tooth Cave is an unstudied cave in the Redwall Limestone in the central portion of Grand Canyon National Park at approximately I ,460 m elevation. No formal excavations have occurred; however, surface faunal remains, including Marmota and Equus, were recovered. No radiocarbon dates exist, but based on the extinct species a late Rancholabrean age is assumed. Results of radiometric dating from other caves in the region would indicate that the surface of Tooth Cave probably dates between 18,000 and 10,000 yr B.P., with some areas of Holocene deposition. [DeSaussure, 1956; Lange, 1956] General Description. Cave in the Grand Canyon (Mead et al. 2005). Fauna. Gymnogyps californianus—California Condor (DeSaussure 1956) Marmota flaviventris—Yellow-bellied Marmot (Lange 1956) †Equus sp.—Horses (DeSaussure 1956) Odocoileus hemionus—Mule Deer (Mead et al. 2005) Literature. DeSaussure 1956; Lange 1956; Mead et al. 2005.

Last Update: 3 Jan 2013

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Tse'an Olje AZ: Coconino Co., 1460 m

Age. Assumed to be late Rancholabrean (Mead et al. 2005). General Description. A large limestone cave in the Grand Canyon (Lange 1956). Fauna. Marmota flaviventris—Yellow-bellied Marmot (Lange 1956) Literature. Lange 1956; Mead et al. 2005.

Last Update: 2 Jan 2013

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Tsegi Canyon AZ: Navajo Co., 1883 m

Age. A Rancholabrean age is assumed (Mead et al. 2005). General Description. Sediments at the mouth of Tsegi Canyon (Mead et al. 2005). Fauna. †Mammuthus columbi—Columbian Mammoth (Mead et al. 2005) Literature. Mead et al. 2005.

Last Update: 2 Jan 2013

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Tsegihatsosi Canyon AZ: Navajo Co.

Age. Assumed to be Rancholabrean. General Description. Not recorded. Fauna. †Mammuthus columbi—Columbian Mammoth (Mead et al. 2005) Literature. Mead et al. 2005.

Last Update: 2 Jan 2013

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Tucson Brickyard AZ: Pima Co.

Age. Assumed to be Rancholabrean. General Description. Locality along the Santa Cruz River near Tucson (Mead et al. 2005). Fauna. †Mammuthus columbi—Columbian Mammoth (Mead et al. 2005)

Conjecture on the part of Mead et al. (2005) that this may be the site of the "Tucson Mammoth"

†Equus sp.—Horses (Mead et al. 2005) Bison sp.—Bison (Mead et al. 2005) Literature. Mead et al. 2005.

Last Update: 2 Jan 2013

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Tucson Mountains AZ: Pima Co., 890 m

Age. Late Wisconsin, with a radiocarbon date of 12,430 ± 400 BP (Van Devender and Mead 1978). General Description. Woodrat midden (Van Devender and Mead 1978). Fauna. Crotaphytus collaris—Eastern Collared Lizard (Van Devender and Mead 1978) Rhinocheilus lecontei—Long-nosed Snake (Van Devender and Mead 1978) Tamias sp.—Chipmunks (Mead et al. 1983) Thomomys bottae—Botta's Pocket Gopher (Mead et al. 1983) Peromyscus sp.—Deer Mice (Mead et al. 1983) Sylvilagus sp.—Cottontails (Mead et al. 1983)) Literature. Mead et al. 1983; Van Devender and Mead 1978.

Last Update: 27 Feb 2013

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Ventana Cave AZ: Pima Co.

Age. Late Wisconsin. Probable source of Pleistocene fauna with a date of 12,300 ± 600 BP (Huckell and Vance 2003). Fig. 1. Ventana Cave. Image courtesy of the U.S. National Park Service. General Description. Huckell and Vance (2003): A rock shelter in the Castle Mountains formed by erosion of poorly consolidated material at the junction with overlying basalt. A spring is present. The pertinent strata are the volcanic debris layer and the underlying agglomerate. The original excavation was in 1941 and the major report by Haury, with others, in 1950. Ventana Cave became well known for the apparent association of extinct fauna and human-produced artifacts. However, a later series of radiocarbon dates in a block of material left by Haury indicate mixing of the volcanic debris layer, and the current interpretation is that the source of the extinct fauna in that layer is the underlying conglomerate (Huckell and Vance 2003). Fauna. †Nothrotheriops shastensis—Shasta Ground Sloth (Colbert 1950) Callospermophilus lateralis—Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel (Colbert 1950) Cynomys ludovicianus—Black-tailed Prairie Dog (Colbert 1950) Neotoma sp.—Woodrats (Lance 1959) Lepus californicus—Black-tailed Jackrabbit (Colbert 1950) †Panthera atrox—American Lion (Colbert 1950) Felis atrox

†Canis dirus—Dire Wolf (Colbert 1950) Canis latrans—Coyote (Colbert 1950) Vulpes macrotis—Kit Fox (Colbert 1950) Taxidea taxus—American Badger (Colbert 1950) †Equus occidentalis—Western Horse (Colbert 1950) †Tapirus merriami—Merriam's Tapir (Colbert 1950) Tapirus sp.

Pecari sp.—Peccary (Colbert 1950)

Colbert (1950:137): "...it is realized that this tooth may well represent the genus Platygonus, rather than Pecari."

Odocoileus sp.—Odocoiline Deer (Colbert 1950: ?)

Large Cervid. Colbert 1950:138: "...it would seem possible that it represents one of the western deer of the genus Odocoileus." (Colbert 1950)

†Stockoceros conklingi—Conkling's Pronghorn (Colbert 1950: cf.) Tetrameryx (Stockoceros) cf. conklingi

Bison sp.—Bison (Colbert 1950) Literature. Colbert 1950.; Haury 1950; Huckell and Haynes 2003

Last Update: 1 Mar 2013

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Virden NM: Hidalgo Co.

Age. A latest Blancan age (~1.8-2.2 Ma) is indicated (Morgan et al. 2008). General Description. Pearson Mesa lies on the eastern flank of the Duncan Basin near Virden in extreme western New Mexico and extends into southeastern Arizona. The Virden Local Fauna comes from an interval about 10 m thick between 45 and 55 m above the base of the section (Morgan et al. 2008). Although Morgan et al. (2008) list Geomys (Nerterogeomys) persimilis in Table 2 as occurring in the Virden Local Fauna, the taxonomic account (p. 156) makes clear that the taxon is only from the earlier Pearson Mesa Local Fauna. Fauna. Anura—Frogs and Toads (Morgan et al. 2008) Colubridae—Colubrid Snakes (Morgan et al. 2008) Sauria—Lizards (Morgan et al. 2008) Galliformes—Galliform Birds (Morgan et al. 2008) Passeriformes—Perching Birds (Morgan et al. 2008) Terrapene sp.—Box Turtle (Morgan et al. 2008) †Hesperotestudo sp. (large)—Large Hesperotestudo Tortoise (Morgan et al. 2008) †Proboscidea—Proboscideans (Morgan et al. 2008) †Glyptotherium arizonae—Arizona Glyptodont (Morgan et al. 2008) Lynx—Bobcats (Morgan et al. 2008: cf.) Sciuridae—Squirrels (Morgan et al. 2008) Baiomys sp.—Pygmy Mice (Morgan et al. 2008) Neotoma sp.—Woodrats (Morgan et al. 2008) †Bensonomys arizonae—Arizona Vesper Mouse (Morgan et al. 2008: cf.) †Sigmodon minor—Dwarf Cotton Rat (Morgan et al. 2008: cf.) Lepus—Jackrabbits (Morgan et al. 2008: cf.) †Sylvilagus hibbardi—Hibbard's Cottontail (Morgan et al. 2008: cf.) †Canis lepophagus—Johnston's Coyote (Morgan and Lucas 2003) †Equus scotti—Scott's Horse (Morgan and Lucas 2003) †Hemiauchenia blancoensis—Blanco Llama (Morgan et al. 2008) †Hemiauchenia gracilis—Gracile Llama (Morgan et al. 2008) Withdrawn: Camelops sp. (Morgan and Lucas 2003).

Literature. Morgan and Lucas 2003; Morgan et al. 2008.

Last Update: 25 Sep 2011

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Vulture Canyon AZ: Mohave Co., 410-565 m

Age. Late Wisconsin, with dates between 10,250 ± 290 and 12,770 ± 440 BP (Van Devender et al. 1977). General Description. A series of woodrat middens in the vicinity of Vulture Cave (Mead et al. 2005). Fauna. Gopherus morafkai—Morafka's Desert Tortoise (Van Devender et al. 1977) Gopherus agassizi See discussion in the G. morafkai account.

Sauromalus ater—Chuckwalla (Van Devender et al. 1977) Sauromalus obesus

Sceloporus tristichus—Northern Plateau Lizard (Van Devender et al. 1977: cf.) Sceloporus undulatus

Aspidoscelis tigris—Western Whiptail (Van Devender et al. 1977: cf.) Cnemidophorus tigris

Crotalus sp.—Rattlesnakes (Van Devender et al. 1977) Hypsiglena chlorophaea—Western Night Snake (Van Devender et al. 1977a) Neotoma devia/lepida—Arizona or Desert Woodrat (Mead et al. 2005) Neotoma stephensi—Stephen's Woodrat (Van Devender et al. 1977: cf.) Peromyscus sp.—Deer Mice (Van Devender et al. 1977) Sylvilagus sp.—Cottontails (Van Devender et al. 1977) Literature. Mead et al. 2005; Van Devender et al. 1977a.

Last Update: 13 Feb 2013

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Vulture Cave AZ: Mohave Co., 645 m

Age. Mid and Late Pleistocene (Mead and Phillips 1981). General Description. Mead and Phillips (1981): Vulture Cave is a small limestone cave in a tributary to the nearby Vulture Canyon. Woodrat middens and a Ringtail refuse area are distributed through the cave. Fauna. Gopherus morafkai—Morafka's Desert Tortoise (Mead and Phillips 1981: 14 kya, 20 kya) Gopherus agassizi See discussion in the taxon account.

Crotaphytus collaris—Eastern Collared Lizard (Mead and Phillips 1981: =13 kya) Heloderma suspectum—Gila Monster (Mead and Phillips 1981)

In the published account (Mead and Phillips 1981), presence of the Gila Monster is shown in Table 3 as only occurring in the 1-2 ky time frame; in text, the age is given as " =13 kya" They also state (p. 268) that "The Vulture Cave specimen does not indicate unequivocally whether or not Heloderma inhabited the region during the late Pleistocene." Mead (2005) states that it has not been recovered in adequate chronologic position.

Sauromalus ater—Chuckwalla (Mead and Phillips 1981: =13 kya; 14 kya) Sauromelas obesus

Sceloporus tristichus—Northern Plateau Lizard (Mead and Phillips 1981: 14 kya cf.) Sceloporus cf. undulatus. Referred to S. undulatus (=S. tristichus) rather than other similarly-sized Sceloporus because this species occurs today in the Grand Canyon rim area.

Sceloporus magister—Desert Spiny Lizard (Mead and Phillips 1981: =13 kya cf.) Uta stansburiana—Side-blotched Lizard (Mead and Phillips 1981: 17 kya) Aspidoscelis tigris—Tiger Whiptail (Mead and Phillips 1981: =13 kya cf.) Cnemidophorus cf. tigris

Lampropeltis getula—Common Kingsnake (Mead and Phillips 1981: =13 kya) Lampropeltis pyromelana—Sonoran Mountain Kingsnake (Mead and Phillips 1981: =13 kya) Crotalus mitchelli/oreganus—Speckled or Northern Pacific Rattlesnake (Mead and Phillips 1981: =13, 15 kya) Crotalus viridis or michelli. Since 1981, C. viridis has been subdivided, with the Arizona taxon becoming C. oreganus.

Hypsiglena chlorophaea—Western Night Snake (Mead and Phillips 1981: =13, 17-18 kya) See H. torquata account for use of quotes.

Gymnogyps californianus—California Condor (Mead and Phillips 1981: 14 kya) Marmota flaviventris—Yellow-bellied Marmot (Mead and Phillips 1981: 14 kya cf.)

Otospermophilus variegatus—Rock Squirrel (Mead and Phillips 1981: 17 kya) Spermophilus variegatus

Perognathus intermedius—Rock Pocket Mouse (Mead and Phillips 1981: =13, 14-15, 17 kya) Microtus sp.—Voles (Mead and Phillips 1981: =13, 17 kya) Neotoma spp.—Woodrats (Mead and Phillips 1981: 12-19, 22, 30 kya) Peromyscus sp.—Deer Mice (Mead and Phillips 1981: =13, 15, 17, 19, 29 kya) Erethizon dorsata—American Porcupine (Mead and Phillips 1981: =13 kya) Notiosorex sp.—Notiosorex Shrews (Mead and Phillips 1981: 30 kya) Notiosorex crawfordi

Bassariscus astutus—Ringtail (Mead and Phillips 1981: 14 kya) †Camelops hesternus—Yesterday's Camel (Mead and Phillips 1981: 14 kya cf.) Odocoileus sp.—Odocoline Deer (Mead and Phillips 1981: 14 kya) Antilocapra americana—Pronghorn (Mead and Phillips 1981: 14 kya) Ovis canadensis—Bighorn Sheep (Mead and Phillips 1981: ≤ 13 kya) Literature. Mead 2005; Mead and Phillips 1981; Mead et al. 2005.

Last Update: 1 Mar 2013

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Wakefield AZ: Cochise Co., 1722 m

Age. Assumed to be Rancholabrean (Mead et al. 2005), General Description. In a red calcareous mudstone in the Huachuca Mountains (Mead et al. 2005). Fauna. †Mammuthus columbi—Columbian Mammoth (Mead et al. 2005) Literature. Mead et al. 2005.

Last Update: 2 Jan 2013

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Walnut Grove AZ: Yavapai Co., 1242 m

Age. Presumed to be of Rancholabrean age (Mead et al. 2005). General Description. Not recorded. Fauna. †Mammuthus columbi—Columbian Mammoth (Mead et al. 2005) Literature. Mead et al. 2005.

Last Update: 2 Jan 2013

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Wellton Hills AZ: Yuma Co.

Age. Late Wisconsin, with radiocarbon dates of 10,750 ± 400 and 10,580 ± 550 BP (Mead et al. 2005). General Description. Woodrat middens (Mead et al. 2005). Fauna. Gopherus morafkai—Morafka's Desert Tortoise (Mead 2005) Gopherus agassizii

Sceloporus magister—Desert Spiny Lizard (Van Devender and Mead 1978: cf.) Uta stansburiana—Side-blotched Lizard (Van Devender and Mead 1978) Crotalus cerastes—Sidewinder (Van Devender and Mead 1978) Dipodomys merriami—Merriam's Kangaroo Rat (Mead et al. 2005: cf.) Literature. Mead et al. 2005; Van Devender and Mead 1978.

Last Update: 11 Jan 2013

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Werner AZ: Pima Co.

Age. Rancholabrean or Holocene (Mead et al. 2005). General Description. Not recorded. Fauna. Bison sp.—Bison (Mead et al. 2005) Literature. Mead et al. 2005.

Last Update: 2 Jan 2013

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Whipple Gravels AZ: Navajo Co.

Age. Presumed to be Rancholabrean (Mead et al. 2005). General Description. Not recorded. Fauna. †Equus sp.—Horses Literature. Mead et al. 2005.

Last Update: 2 Jan 2013

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Whitewater Draw AZ: Cochise Co., 900 m

Age. Rancholabrean (Mead et al. 2005). General Description. A deep arroyo with a long sequence of late Quaternary deposits (Mead et al. 2005). Fauna. †Mammuthus columbi—Columbian Mammoth(Mead et al. 2005) †Nothrotheriops shastensis—Shasta Ground Sloth (McDonald and Jefferson 2008). †Canis dirus—Dire Wolf (Mead et al. 2005) †Equus sp.—Horses (Mead et al. 2005) †Camelops hesternus—Yesterdays Camel (Mead et al. 2005) Bison sp.—Bison(Mead et al. 2005) Literature. McDonald and Jefferson 2008; Mead et al. 2005.

Last Update: 27 Apr 2014

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Whitlock Valley AZ: Graham Co.

Age. Presumed to be Rancholabrean. General Description. Not recorded. Fauna consists of a few enamel plate fragments (Tegowski and White 2000). Fauna. †Mammuthus sp.—Mammoth (Tegowski and White 2000) Literature. Tekowski and White 2000.

Last Update: 31 Dec 2012

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Wildcat AZ: Coconino Co.

Age. Rancholabrean assumed. General Description. Not recorded. Fauna. †Mammuthus columbi—Columbian Mammoth (Agenbroad et al. 2013) Literature. Agenbroad et al. 2013.

Last Update: 23 Mar 2013

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Willcox AZ: Cochise Co., 1270 m

Synonyms: Willcox Gravel, Gardner Gravel (different from the site account given here under the name of Gardner Gravel) (Mead et al. 2005). Age. Rancholabrean (Mead et al. 2005). General Description. Deposits around the edge of Willcox Playa (Pleistocene Lake Cochise) (Mead et al. 2005). Bryan and Gidley (1926) gave several discrete sites and some stratigraphy. They recorded E. cf. pacificus, E. cf. hatcheri, Equus sp., Elephas cf. primigenius, Camelops niobrarensis, and Bison sp. The horses were of three different sizes. Which presently-recognized taxa the horses and camel belong to is problematic. Fauna. Terrapene ornata—Ornate Box Turtle (Moodie and Van Devender 1978) †Mammuthus columbi—Columbian Mammoth (Mead et al. 2005) †Equus sp.—Horses (Mead et al. 2005) †Camelops hesternus—Yesterday's Camel (Mead et al. 2005) Bison sp.—Bison (Bryan and Gidley 1926) Literature. Bryan and Gidley 1926; Mead et al. 2005; Moodie and Van Devender 1978.

Last Update: 27 Mar 2013

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Window Rock, 465 m AZ: Mohave Co.

Age. A date of 11,310 ± 380 BP was obtained from juniper Juniperus twigs (Van Devender et al. 1977). General Description. A woodrat midden (Van Devender et al. 1977). Fauna. Sauromalus ater—Chuckwalla (Van Devender et al. 1977) Sauromalus obesus

Sceloporus magister—Desert Spiny Lizard (Van Devender et al. 1977a: cf.) Neotoma devia/lepida—Arizona or Desert Woodrat Mead et al. 2005) Peromyscus sp.—Deer Mice (Van Devender et al. 1977) Literature. Mead et al. 2005; Van Devender et al. 1977a.

Last Update: 18 Dec 2012

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Winslow AZ: Navajo Co.

Synonyms: Age. Late Wisconsin, with a radiocarbon date of 22,360 ± 500 BP (Mead et al. 2005). General Description. Gravel quarry (Mead et al. 2005). Fauna. †Mammuthus columbi—Columbian Mammoth (Mead et al. 2005) Literature. Mead et al. 2005.

Last Update: 2 Jan 2013

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Wiregrass AZ: Coconino Co.

Age. Rancholabrean assumed. General Description. Not recorded. Fauna. †Mammuthus columbi—Columbian Mammoth (Agenbroad et al. 2013) Literature. Agenbroad et al. 2013.

Last Update: 23 Mar 2013

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Wolcott Peak AZ: Pima Co.

Age. Late Wisconsin/Holocene (#2: 14,550 ± 800 and 5,020 ± 80; Late Wisconsin (#5: 12,130 ± 500) (Van Devender and Mead 1978). Synonyms. Silver Bell Mountains. General Description. Woodrat middens (Mead et al. 2005) from Wolcott Peak in the Silver Bell Mountains. Fauna. Midden #2 Crotaphytus collaris—Eastern Collared Lizard (Van Devender and Mead 1978) Sauromalus ater—Chuckwalla (Van Devender and Mead 1978) Sauromelas obesus

Sceloporus sp.—Spiny Lizards (Van Devender and Mead 1978) Aspidoscelis tigris—Western Whiptail (Van Devender and Mead 1978: cf.) Cnemidophorus tigris

Masticophis sp.—Coachwhips (Van Devender and Mead 1978) Phyllorhynchus decurtatus—Spotted Leaf-nose Snake (Van Devender and Mead 1978) Rhinocheilus lecontei—Long-nose Snake (Van Devender and Mead 1978) Rena humilis—Western Blind Snake (Van Devender and Mead 1978: cf.) Leptotyphlops humilis

Chaetodipus/Perognathus sp.—Pocket Mice (Mead et al. 1983) Perognathus sp.

Dipodomys merriami—Merriam's Kangaroo Rat (Mead et al. 1983) Thomomys bottae—Botta's Pocket Gopher (Mead et al. 1983) Neotoma albigula—White-throated Woodrat (Mead et al. 1983) Onychomys torridus—Southern Grasshopper Mouse Type (Mead et al. 1983) Peromyscus sp.—Deer Mice (Mead et al 1983) Sigmodon ochrognathus—Yellow-nosed Cotton Rat (Mead et al 1983) Erethizon dorsata—American Porcupine (Mead et al. 1983) Sylvilagus sp.—Cottontails (Mead et al. 1983) Midden #5 Anaxyrus punctatus—Red-spotted Toad (Van Devender and Mead 1978) Bufo punctatus

Sceloporus sp.—Spiny Lizards (Van Devender and Mead 1978) Chionactis occipitalis—Western Shovel-nosed Snake (Van Devender and Mead 1978) Phyllorhynchus sp.—Leaf-nose Snakes (Van Devender and Mead 1978)

Pituophis catenifer—Gopher Snake (Van Devender and Mead 1978) Hypsiglena "torquata"—Night Snake (Van Devender and Mead 1978) Dipodomys merriami—Merriam's Kangaroo Rat (Mead et al. 1983) Thomomys bottae—Botta's Pocket Gopher (Mead et al. 1983) Sylvilagus sp.—Cottontails (Mead et al. 1983) Notiosorex dalquesti—Dalquest's Shrew (Carraway 2010) Literature. Carraway 2010; Mead et al. 1983; Mead et al. 2005; Van Devender and Mead 1978.

Last Update: 27 Feb 2013 2013

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Woodruff AZ: Navajo Co.

Age. Assumed to be Rancholabrean (Mead et al. 2005). General Description. Terrace gravels of the Little Colorado River east and south of Holbrook (Mead et al. 2005). Fauna. †Mammuthus columbi—Columbian Mammoth (Mead et al. 2005) Literature. Mead et al. 2005.

Last Update: 2 Jan 2013

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Wupatki Monument AZ: Coconino Co.

Age. A Rancholabrean age is assumed (Mead et al. 2005). General Description. Not recorded. Fauna. †Mammuthus columbi—Columbian Mammoth (Mead et al. 2005) Literature. Mead et al. 2005.

Last Update: 2 Jan 2013

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Yuma AZ: Yuma Co.

Synonyms: Age. Age is assumed to be Rancholabrean. General Description. Not recorded. Fauna. †Mammuthus columbi—Columbian Mammoth (Mead et al. 2005) Literature. Mead et al. 2005.

Last Update: 2 Jan 2013

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California Counties

General Description. Map of southern California showing counties containing the fossil sites treated in this work (Kings, Tulare, and Inyo counties are not included).

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17th Street between Broadway and C Streets, San Diego CA: San Diego Co.

Age. Rancholabrean, possibly Holocene (Jefferson 1991b). Fauna. †Bison sp.—Bison (Jefferson 1991b: cf.) Literature. Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 3 Feb 2014

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Algodones Dunes Imperial Co.

Age. Rancholabrean (Jefferson 1991b). Description. Algodones Dunes, Glamis (Jefferson 1991b). In the past, the Colorado River has periodically flowed into the Salton Sink, forming a chronologic series of lakes (Lake Cahuilla) that would dry whenever the Colorado River changed course back to the Gulf of California. Sand blown from the dry lake bed is believed to be the source of an extensive dune field, the Algodones Dunes (Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area, accessed 12 Mar 2014). Fauna. †Equus sp. large—Large Horses (Jefferson 1991b) Literature. Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 20 Feb 2014

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Anacapa Island Ventura Co.

Age. Rancholabrean (Jefferson 1991b). Discussion. This is the type locality for Peromyscus anyapahensis. Fossils were retrieved from the north shore of the eastern end of West Anacapa Island at about 25 ft above sea level (Miller et al. 1961). Miller et al. (1961) considered the site to represent a Pleistocene supra-littoral deposit. Fauna. †Chendytes lawi—Law's Flightless Goose (Miller et al. 1961) †Peromyscus anyapahensis—Anacapa Island Mouse (White 1966)) Literature. Jefferson 1991b; Miller et al. 1961; White 1966.

Last Update: 21 Feb 2014

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Antelope Cave CA: San Bernardino Co.: 1768 m.

Age. Jefferson (1991a) gives a date of Late Wisconsin (a radiocarbon date of 11,080 ± 160). However, Reynolds, Reynolds, Bell, and Pitzer (1991), noted that the cave had been emptied of matrix, gave no date, and indicated that all fossils were recovered from the debris cone outside of the cave. It will be considered here as Late Wisconsin since the fauna includes extinct and extralimital taxa. The site is located in the east-central portion of the Mescal Range, about 3 mi. west-northwest of Kokoweef Cave (Reynolds, Reynolds, Bell, and Pitzer 1991). Fauna. Osteichthyes Gila sp.—Chubs (Reynolds, Reynolds, Bell, and Pitzer 1991) Chelonia Gopherus agassizii—Agassiz's Desert Tortoise (Reynolds, Reynolds, Bell, and Pitzer 1991) Reptilia Crotaphytus collaris—Eastern Collared Lizard(Reynolds, Reynolds, Bell, and Pitzer 1991) Gambelia wislizenii—Long-nosed Leopard Lizard (Reynolds, Reynolds, Bell, and Pitzer 1991) Coleonyx variegatus—Western Banded Gecko (Reynolds, Reynolds, Bell, and Pitzer 1991) Sauromalus ater—Chuckwalla (Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991) Sauromalus obesus

Phrynosoma platyrhinos—Desert Horned Lizard (Reynolds, Reynolds, Bell, and Pitzer 1991)

Sceloporus sp.—Spiny Lizards (Reynolds, Reynolds, Bell, and Pitzer 1991) Plestiodon gilberti—Gilbert's Skink (Reynolds, Reynolds, Bell, and Pitzer 1991: cf.) Eumeces cf. E. gilberti

Aspidoscelis tigris—Western Whiptail Lizard (Reynolds, Reynolds, Bell, and Pitzer 1991) Cnemidophorus tigris

Crotalus sp.—Rattlesnakes (Reynolds, Reynolds, Bell, and Pitzer 1991) Aves Gymnogyps californianus—California Condor (Reynolds, Reynolds, Bell, and Pitzer 1991: cf.) Accipiter cooperii—Cooper's Hawk (Reynolds, Reynolds, Bell, and Pitzer 1991) Turdus migratorius—American Robin (Reynolds, Reynolds, Bell, and Pitzer 1991) Icterus sp.—Blackbirds (Reynolds, Reynolds, Bell, and Pitzer 1991) Mammalia Ammospermophilus leucurus—White-tailed Antelope Squirrel (Reynolds, Reynolds, Bell, and Pitzer 1991: cf.) Marmota flaviventris—Yellow-bellied Marmot (Reynolds, Reynolds, Bell, and Pitzer 1991) Otospermophilus variegatus—Rock Squirrel (Reynolds, Reynolds, Bell, and Pitzer 1991) Spermophilus variegatus

Spermophile sp. A—Spermophile (Reynolds, Reynolds, Bell, and Pitzer 1991) Spermophilus sp. A

Spermophile sp. B—Spermophile (Reynolds, Reynolds, Bell, and Pitzer 1991) Spermophilus sp. B

Tamias sp. (large)—Chipmunks (Reynolds, Reynolds, Bell, and Pitzer 1991) Eutamias sp. (lg)

Tamias panamintinus—Panamint Chipmunk (Reynolds, Reynolds, Bell, and Pitzer 1991) Eutamias panamintinus

Chaetodipus sp.—Spiny Pocket Mice (Reynolds, Reynolds, Bell, and Pitzer 1991) Perognathus (Chaetodipus) sp.

Dipodomys sp.—Kangaroo Rats (Reynolds, Reynolds, Bell, and Pitzer 1991) Perognathus sp.—Silky Pocket Mice (Reynolds, Reynolds, Bell, and Pitzer 1991) Perognathus (Perognathus) sp.

Thomomys bottae—Botta's Pocket Gopher (Reynolds, Reynolds, Bell, and Pitzer 1991) Lemmiscus curtatus—Sagebrush Vole (Reynolds, Reynolds, Bell, and Pitzer 1991) Lagurus curtatus

Microtus californicus—California Vole (Reynolds, Reynolds, Bell, and Pitzer 1991) Neotoma lepida—Desert Woodrat (Reynolds, Reynolds, Bell, and Pitzer 1991) Neotoma sp. large—Large Woodrats (Reynolds, Reynolds, Bell, and Pitzer 1991) Peromyscus (Haplomylomys) sp.—Haplomylomys Deer Mice (Reynolds, Reynolds, Bell, and Pitzer 1991) Peromyscus (Peromyscus) sp.—Peromyscus Deer Mice (Reynolds, Reynolds, Bell, and

Pitzer 1991) Lepus californicus—Black-tailed Jack Rabbit (Reynolds, Reynolds, Bell, and Pitzer 1991) Sylvilagus audubonii—Desert Cottontail (Reynolds, Reynolds, Bell, and Pitzer 1991: cf.) Sylvilagus bachmani—Brush Rabbit (Reynolds, Reynolds, Bell, and Pitzer 1991: ?) Ochotona princeps—American Pika (Reynolds, Reynolds, Bell, and Pitzer 1991) Notiosorex crawfordi—Desert Shrew (Reynolds, Reynolds, Bell, and Pitzer 1991) Sorex sp.—Long-tailed Shrews (Reynolds, Reynolds, Bell, and Pitzer 1991) Antrozous pallidus—Pallid Bat (Reynolds, Reynolds, Bell, and Pitzer 1991) Myotis sp. (large)—Large Myotis (Reynolds, Reynolds, Bell, and Pitzer 1991) Myotis ciliolabrum—Western Small-footed Myotis (Reynolds, Reynolds, Bell, and Pitzer 1991) Myotis subulatus leibii

Canis latrans—Coyote (Reynolds, Reynolds, Bell, and Pitzer 1991) Ursus americanus—black Bear (Reynolds, Reynolds, Bell, and Pitzer 1991) Mustela frenata—Long-tailed Weasel (Reynolds, Reynolds, Bell, and Pitzer 1991) Spilogale gracilis—Western Spotted Skunk (Reynolds, Reynolds, Bell, and Pitzer 1991) Spilogale putorius— (Reynolds, Reynolds, Bell, and Pitzer 1991)

†Equus conversidens—Mexican Horse (Reynolds, Reynolds, Bell, and Pitzer 1991) †Camelops hesternus—Yesterday's Camel (Jefferson 1991b: cf.) †Hemiauchenia sp.—American Llamas(Reynolds, Reynolds, Bell, and Pitzer 1991) †Navahoceros sp.—Mountain Deer (Jefferson 1991b: ? gen.) Odocoileus sp.—Odocoline Deer (Reynolds, Reynolds, Bell, and Pitzer 1991) Antilocapra americana—Pronghorn (Reynolds, Reynolds, Bell, and Pitzer 1991) Ovis canadensis—Bighorn Sheep (Reynolds, Reynolds, Bell, and Pitzer 1991) Literature. Jefferson 1991a, 1991b; Reynolds, Reynolds, Bell, and Pitzer 1991.

Last Update: 29 May 2014

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Anza-Borrego Desert State Park CA: San Diego Co.

Fossils from the Anza-Borrego Desert come from a large number of localities, with pertinent ages ranging from Blancan to Irvingtonian. Because of the large number of localities within the park along with the large size of the park, a single dot is made to stand for the entire area. Figure 1 indicates fossil areas. Age. Late Blancan to Irvingtonian for this account. For purposes here, Late Blancan is considered to originate with the start of the Pleistocene at 2.6 mya, with the Blancan/Irvingtonian transition at 1.8 mya, keeping in mind however that the Blancan/Irvingtonian transition is just that, with overlaps between typical Late Blancan and Early Irvingtonian taxa. Some researchers, (e. g., Cassiliano 2006) consider the Irvingtonian to have commenced somewhat later, at about 1.4 mya. I have relied heavily on Cassiliano (1999) to place taxa as earlier than Pleistocene, and thus not considered here, or within the Pleistocene time span. Fig. 1. Locality map, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. BW = Big Wash; BB = Borrego Badlands; CB = Carrizo Badlands CL = Clark Lake; CCB = Coyote Canyon Badlands; FCB = Fish Creek Badlands; HC = Hawk Canyon; TR = Truckhaven Rocks; VB = Vallecito Creek Badlands. Adapted from Murray (2008). General Description and Discussion. Fossils from the AnzaBorrego State Park come primarily from the deposits noted in Fig. 1, and most interpretation has involved the Vallecito Creek badlands. Downs and White (1968) noted that there are more than 12,000 ft of superposed deposits (including pre-Pleistocene). Downs and White (1968) named three faunas: the Layer Cake fauna (prePleistocene Blancan), the Arroyo Seco fauna (probable Late Blancan [Early Pleistocene]), and Vallecito Creek fauna (Irvingtonian). They emphasized that these faunas lack defined boundaries and were used for purposes of clearer reference. Dates given by Cassiliano (1999) for the Arroyo Seco fauna (5.58-2.58 mya), however, suggests that virtually all of the Arroyo Seco fauna is pre-Pleistocene and is so considered here. The Vallecito Creek fauna, then, includes the Pleistocene portion of the Late Blancan and a considerable portion of the Irvingtonian. Cassiliano (1999) gave faunal lists for the local faunas named by Downs and White (1968), but the accuracy of these lists is expected to display the limitations noted by

Murray (2008: see below). The non-mammalian faunas are especially iffy in terms of chronology; it is quite possible that some taxa recorded here predate the Irvingtonian and that taxa recovered from Irvingtonian deposits have been omitted. Gensler et al. (2006) have added some data regarding the lower vertebrates beyond those given in Cassiliano (1999), and these have been included. The birds (Jefferson 2006) adds a number of taxa beyond those identified by Howard (1963), but for the most part without chronological data; a flamingo and the Sandhill Crane have been added to the list on the basis of a figure caption. Murray (2008) upended many of the earlier suppositions regarding chronology and taxa, going critically through identification and locality data of the Anza-Borrego faunal collections. The mammals of the faunal list given here replace the mammals of earlier faunal lists. See Murray (2008) for detailed reasons for changes from earlier faunal lists. The same inadequacies that called for radical changes in the mammal list undoubtedly contribute to a degree of chaos among the other taxonomic lists, but mostly cannot be resolved at present. I have relied on Murray (2008) to decide on which of the named Pleistocene mammalian taxa should be included. In the mammal list, a taxon followed by an asterisk was considered a Local Taxon Nudum by Murray (2008), who described the term as referring "to any taxon name that appears on any ABD [Anza-Borrego Desert] faunal list, but for which no catalogue number, specimen description, or diagnosis was ever published, and at least one catalogued specimen appears on the database or other archived documents identified to that taxon." Thus identifications of these taxa have a low level of confidence. Some of these would seem to be likely, while others unlikely. I have in these cases decided whether or not to include them on their taxon account on subjective grounds, hopefully aided by information contained in the literature. A number of other taxa are somewhat more secure, but still with relatively low levels of confidence. Genera not followed by a species nomen or "sp." implies there may be more than one species; "sp." implies a single species. Because of what I perceive as insufficient published data on the geographic and chronologic limits, I have reluctantly decided to list all the faunal elements as the Anza-Borrego Desert Fauna ("Anza-Borrego" in the taxon accounts), though trying to limit the list to the Pleistocene Blancan and Irvingtonian. Thus all geographic localities (Fig. 1) are included. However, those taxa with citation to "Cassiliano 1999" are those from his list of the Vallecito fauna and include the majority of taxa. In the taxon accounts, I have listed many as just Late Blancan/Irvingtonian, but have listed under narrower chronological spans when judged possible. Some taxa are presumed to be present but fall into the "Retired Taxa" category of Murray (2008). For the most part, these have been omitted. Likewise such taxa as Equus Species A and Equus Species B (where the Species A of one author may be different from that of a different author have been omitted. The overall exercise of trying to put together an accurate faunal list for the Anza-Borrego has been frustrating and the final list obviously less accurate than desirable. Equally sobering is the likelihood that major faunal lists of other localities have similar weaknesses as those seen here by Murray (2008), but without benefit of studies similar to his. Anza-Borrego Desert Fauna.

Osteichthyes Gila sp.—Chub (Gensler et al. 2006) Ptychocheilus lucius—Pike Minnow (Gensler et al. 2006) Xyrauchen texanus—Razorback Sucker (Gensler et al. 2006: cf.) Amphibia Anaxyrus sp.—True Toads (Cassiliano 1999) Bufo sp.

Chelonia Actinemys pallida—Southern Western Pond Turtle (Cassiliano 1999) Clemmys marmorata

Trachemys scripta—Slider (Cassiliano 1999) Pseudemys scripta

Kinosternon sonoriense—Sonoran Mud Turtle (Gensler et al. 2006: cf.) Gopherus agassizii—Agassiz's Desert Tortoise (Cassiliano 1999) †Hesperotestudo sp.—Hesperotestudo Tortoises (Cassiliano 1999) Geochelone sp.

Reptilia Elgaria sp.—Alligator Lizards (Gensler et al. 2006) Gerrhonotus sp.

Heloderma sp.—Gila Monsters (Gensler 2001) Dipsosaurus sp.—Desert Iguanas (Cassiliano 1999) Iguana iguana—Green Iguana (Cassiliano 1999) Callisaurus sp.—Zebratail Lizards (Cassiliano 1999) †Phrynosoma anzaense—Anza Horned Lizard (Cassiliano 1999) Sceloporus magister—Desert Spiny Lizard (Cassiliano 1999) Uta stansburiana—Side-blotched Lizard (Cassiliano 1999) Plestiodon sp.—Skinks (Cassiliano 1999) Eumeces sp. (Cassiliano 1999)

Ameivra/Aspidoscelis—Jungle-runner or Whiptail (Cassiliano 1999) Ameivra or Cnemidophorus

†Xantusia downsi—Down's Night Lizard (Cassiliano 1999) Lampropeltis getula—Common Kingsnake (Cassiliano 1999) Masticophis flagellum—Coachwhip (Cassiliano 1999) Crotalus sp.—Rattlesnakes (Cassiliano 1999) Hypsiglena sp.—Nightsnakes (Cassiliano 1999) Thamnophis sp.—Garter Snakes (Cassiliano 1999) Aves Anas acuta—Northern Pintail (Howard 1963: ?) Anas clypeata—Northern Shoveler (Howard 1963) †Anser sp.—Extinct Goose (Howard 1963)

†Brantadorna downsi—Down's Taradorn (Howard 1963) †Bucephala fossilis—Fossil Bufflehead (Howard 1963) Melanitta perspicillata—Surf Scoter (Howard 1963: ?) †Oxyura bessomi—Bessom's Ruddy Duck (Howard 1963) Callipepla gambelii—Gambel's Quail (Howard 1963) Lophortyx gambeli

†Agriocharis anza—Anza Turkey (Howard 1963) †Podiceps sp.—Extinct Grebe (Howard 1963) Podiceps nigricollis—Eared Grebe (Howard 1963) Podiceps caspicus

†Phoenicopterus sp.—Extinct Flamingo (Jefferson 2006) †Teratornis incredibilis—Incredible Teratorn (Howard 1963) Aquila chrysaetos—Golden Eagle (Howard 1963: ?) †Neophrontops vallecitoensis—Vallecito Neophrontops (Howard 1963) Grus canadensis—Sandhill Crane (Jefferson 2006) Fulica americana—American Coot (Olson 1974)

Howard (1963) described †Fulica hesterna from the Fish Creek/Vallecito Creek fauna; Olson (1974) reidentified the material as Fulica americana, thus rendering F. hesterna as a synonym of F. americana.

Charadrius vociferus—Killdeer (Howard 1963) †Asio sp.—Extinct Owl (Howard 1963) Corvus sp.—Ravens and Relatives (Jefferson 2006) Mammalia †Mammuthus columbi—Columbian Mammoth (Murray 2008)

McDaniel and Jefferson (2006), following Agenbroad (2001), considered M. columbi to be a synonym of M. imperator and thus listed occurrences from Anza-Borrego as M. columbi rather than M. imperator.

†Mammuthus meridionalis—Southern Mammoth (Murray 2008) †Rhynchotherium*—Snouted Gomphotheres (Murray 2008) †Stegomastodon sp.—Stegodonts (Murray 2008) †Megalonyx jeffersoni*—Jefferson's Ground Sloth (Murray 2008) †Megalonyx wheatleyi—Wheatley's Ground Sloth (Murray 2008) †Nothrotheriops shastensis—Shasta Ground Sloth (Murray 2008) †Paramylodon harlani—Harlan's Ground Sloth (Murray 2008) Castor—Beavers (Murray 2008) Chaetodipus/Perognathus*—/Spiny or Silky Pocket Mice (Murray 2008) Perognathus sp.

Dipodomys compactus—Gulf Coast Kangaroo Rat (Murray 2008) †Dipodomys hibbardi—Hibbard's Kangaroo Rat (Murray 2008) †Dipodomys sp. A—Unpublished, unnamed kangaroo rat (Murray 2008) †Dipodomys sp. B—Unpublished, unnamed kangaroo rat (Murray 2008)

The above two species were described with diagnoses in a M.S. thesis, but not formally named or published by Cunningham (1984) according to Murray (2008)

Chaetodipus/Perognathus sp. A—Unpublished, unnamed pocket mouse (Murray 2008) Chaetodipus/Perognathus sp. B—Unpublished, unnamed pocket mouse (Murray 2008) The above two species were described with diagnoses in a M.S. thesis by Gensler (2002), according to Murray (2008)

Microdipodops sp.—Kangaroo Mouse (Murray 2008: ?) †Geomys anzensis—Anza-Borrego Desert Pocket Gopher (Becker and White 1981)

†Geomys garbanii—Garbani's Pocket Gopher (Becker and White 1981) Thomomys—Western Pocket Gophers (Murray 2008) "Lasiopodomys" morphotype—Lasiopodomys-like vole (Murray 2008) Microtus with five triangles—Primitive vole (Murray 2008) †Microtus meadensis—Mead Vole (Murray 2008) †Mimomys (Cosomys) sp.—Water Voles (Murray 2008) According to Murray (2008), probably referable to Ophiomys parvus.

†Mictomys vetus—Ancient Bog Lemming (Murray 2008) Ondatra idahoensis*—Idaho Muskrat (Murray 2008) Ophiomys parvus—Ophiomys Vole (Murray 2008) Baiomys—Pygmy Mice (Murray 2008) †Calomys (Bensonomys)*—Extinct Vesper Mice (Murray 2008) Neotoma c—Unnamed Woodrat c (Murray 2008) Neotoma e—Unnamed Woodrat e (Murray 2008) Onychomys*—Grasshopper Mice (Murray 2008) Peromyscus*—Deer Mice (Murray 2008) Reithrodontomys*—Harvest Mice (Murray 2008) Sigmodon minor—Dwarf Cotton Rat (Murray 2008) †Erethizon bathygnathum—Extinct Porcupine (Murray 2008) †Pewelagus dawsonae—Dawson's Rabbit (Murray 2008) Sylvilagus floridanus—Eastern Cottontail (Murray 2008: cf.) †Sylvilagus hibbardi—Hibbard's Cottontail (Murray 2008) Notiosorex*—Notiosorex Shrews (Murray 2008) Sorex*—Long-tailed Shrews (Murray 2008) †Scapanus malatinus—Malatinus Mole (Murray 2008) †Felis rexroadensis—Rexroad Cat (Murray 2008) Felis Smaller than Lynx rufus—Small Cat (Murray 2008) Felis size of Lynx rufus*—Bobcat-size Cat (Murray 2008) †Miracinonyx inexpectatus—American Cheetah-like Cat (Murray 2008) Panthera onca—Jaguar (Murray 2008) †Smilodon gracilis—Gracile Sabertooth (Murray 2008) †Borophagus diversidens—Bone-eating Dog (Murray 2008) Canis size of modern C. lupus—Wolf size of modern Gray Wolf (Murray 2008) Canis size modern C. latrans and C. lepophagus*—Canid size of Coyote and Johnson's Coyote (Murray 2008) †Canis edwardii/priscolatrans—Edward's Wolf or Wolf Coyote (Murray 2008) Urocyon—Gray Foxes (Murray 2008) †Arctodus simus—Giant Short-faced Bear (Murray 2008) †Tremarctos floridanus—Florida Spectacled Bear (Murray 2008) †Satherium priscinarium—Extinct Otter (Murray 2008) Taxidea taxus—American Badger (Murray 2008) †Trigonictis macrodon—Big-toothed Grison (Murray 2008) Spilogale—Spotted Skunks (Murray 2008) †Bassariscus casei—Case's Ringtail (Murray 2008) Nasua sp.—Coatimundi (Murray 2008) †Procyon rexroadensis—Rexroad Raccoon (Murray 2008: cf.) †Equus enormis—Enormous Horse (Murray 2008) †Equus francescana*—Francescan Horse (Murray 2008: cf.) †Equus pacificus—Pacific Horse (Murray 2008: ?) †Equus simplicidens—American Zebra (Murray 2008: cf.) †Hippidion sp.—Hippidion Horses (Murray 2008: cf. gen.)

†Tapirus merriami—Merriam's Tapir (Murray 2008) †Platygonus—Flat-headed Peccaries (Murray 2008) †Blancocamelus meadei—Meade's Camel (Murray 2008) †Camelops—American Camels (Murray 2008) †Camelops hesternus*—Yesterday's Camel (Murray 2008) †Camelops minidokae*—Minidoka Camel (Murray 2008) †Gigantocamelus spatula—Giant Camel (Murray 2008) †Hemiauchenia blancoensis*—Blanco Llama (Murray 2008) †Hemiauchenia macrocephala*—Big-headed Llama (Murray 2008) †Hemiauchenia sp.—Undescribed Llama (Webb et al. 2006) †Paleolama—Ancient Llama (Webb et al. 2006) Odocoileini size range of modern Odocoileus—Odocoileini Tribe (Murray 2008) Cervus*—Elk (Murray 2008) Antilocapra americana—Pronghorn (Murray 2006) †Capromeryx arizonensis—Arizona Diminutive Pronghorn (Murray 2006) †Stockoceros sp.—Stock's Pronghorn (Murray 2008: cf. gen.) †Euceratherium/Soergelia sp.—Shrub or Soergel's Oxen (Murray 2006) Literature. Becker and White 1981; Cassiliano 1999, 2006; Cunningham 1984; Downs and White 1968; Gensler 2001, 2002; Gensler et al. 2006); Jefferson and Lindsay 2006); Howard 1963; McDaniel and Jefferson 2006; Murray 2006; Murray 2008; Olson 1974; Webb et al. 2006.

Last Update: 8 Apr 2014

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Arbogast Ranch, Salinas River CA: San Luis Obispo Co.

Age. Rancholabrean (Jefferson 1991b). The location of the Arbogast Ranch along the Salinas River is near Paso Robles (Jefferson et al. 1992). Fauna. †Mammuthus sp.—Mammoths (Jefferson 1991b) †Equus occidentalis—Western Horse (Jefferson 1991b: cf.) †Bison antiquus—Ancient Bison (Jefferson 1991b: cf.) Literature. Jefferson 1991b; Jefferson et al. 1992.

Last Update: 4 Feb 2014

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Archer, Cadiz Dry Lake. CA: San Bernardino Co.

Age. Wisconsin (Jefferson 1991c). Fauna. Phrynosoma sp.—Horned Lizards (Jefferson 1991a) Chaetodipus/Perognathus sp.—Pocket Mice (Jefferson 1991b) Perognathus sp.

Dipodomys ordii—Ord's Kangaroo Rat (Jefferson 1991b) Peromyscus sp.—Deer Mice (Jefferson 1991b) Lepus sp.—Jack Rabbits (Jefferson 1991b) Literature. Jefferson 1991a, 1991b, 1991c.

Last Update: 3 Jun 2014

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Arlington Canyon, Santa Rosa Island CA: Santa Barbara Co.

Age. Mid/late Wisconsin; radiocarbon dates of ≥37,000, 29,700 ± 3000, 16,700 ± 1500, 15,820 ± 280 yr BP (Jefferson 1991b). Fauna. †Asio priscus—Ancient Owl (Howard 1964) †Mammuthus columbi—Columbian Mammoth (Jefferson 1991b) †Mammuthus exilis—Pygmy Mammoth (Jefferson 1991b) †Peromyscus nesodytes—Columbian Mammoth (Jefferson 1991b) Literature. Howard 1964; Jefferson 1991b; Jefferson et al. 1992.

Last Update: 10 Feb 2014

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Awl Site, Drinkwater Basin San Bernardino Co.

Age. Rancholabrean (Jefferson 1991b). Fauna. †Mammuthus sp.—Mammoths (Jefferson 1991b) Literature. 1991b.

Last Update: 12 Feb 2014

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Ballast Point, San Diego CA: San Diego Co.

Age. Rancholabrean (Jefferson 1991b). Fauna. †Mammuthus sp.—Mammoths (Jefferson 1991b) Literature. Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 31 Jan 2014

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Bautista Badlands CA: Riverside Co.

Age. Irvingtonian. The Bautista Badlands, near the town of Hemet, lie only a few miles southeast of the Timoteo Badlands (Frick 1921). Frick (1921) named two new species from the badlands: Tapirus merriami and Equus bautistensis. The latter now is considered a synonym of E. scotti (Scott 1998), but Merriam's Tapir is still recognized. Also see Fossilworks.org (accessed 25 Apr 2014). Faunas. Megalonyx—Megalonyx Ground Sloth (Frick 1921; Fossilworks: ?) Lepus—Jack Rabbit (Frick 1921)

Identification based on two fragments of calcaneum and podial bone; almost certainly unidentifiable to genus.

Equus scotti—Scott's Horse (Frick 1921) Equus bautistensis

Tapirus merriami—Merriam's Tapir (Frick 1921) Odocoileus spp.—Odocoiline Deer (Frick 1921: ?) Antilocapra sp.—Pronghorn (Frick 1921: ?) Antilocapra or Neotragoceros

Capromeryx sp.—Diminutive Pronghorn Literature: Frick 1921; Scott 1998.

Last Update: 25 Apr 2014

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Beaumont CA: Riverside Co. Age. Rancholabrean (Jefferson 1991a). Fauna. †Bison antiquus— Ancient Bison (Jefferson 1991b) Literature. Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 24 Jan 2014

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Bedford Road, Harvard Hill San Bernardino Co.

Age. Rancholabrean (Jefferson 1991b). Fauna. †Equus sp.—Horses (Jefferson 1991b) Literature. 1991b.

Last Update: 12 Feb 2014

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Big Bear Cutoff, Hesperia San Bernardino Co.

Age. Rancholabrean. Fauna. †Mammuthus sp.—Mammoths (Jefferson 1991b) Literature. 1991b.

Last Update: 12 Feb 2014

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Bitter Springs Playa San Bernardino Co.

Age. Rancholabrean. Description: Bitter Springs Playa, Rodgers Ridge, Fort Irwin (Jefferson 1991a). Fauna. Gopherus sp.—Gopher Tortoises (Jefferson 1991a) †Mammuthus sp.—Mammoths (Jefferson 1991b) Lepus sp.—Jack Rabbits (Jefferson 1991b) Canis sp.—Wolves (Jefferson 1991b) †Equus sp. (large)—Large Horses (Jefferson 1991b) †Equus conversidens—Mexican Horse (Jefferson 1991b: cf.) †Camelops sp.—American Camels (Jefferson 1991b: ? gen.) †Hemiauchenia sp.—American Llamas (Jefferson 1991b) Literature. 1991a; 1991b.

Last Update: 13 Feb 2014

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Black Butte, Newberry San Bernardino Co.

Age. ?Rancholabrean. Fauna. †Mammuthus sp.—Mammoths (Jefferson 1991b) †Mammut sp.—Mastodonts (Jefferson 1991b: ? gen.) †Camelops sp.—American Camels (Jefferson 1991b) Literature. Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 13 Feb 2014

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Bolsa Chica State Park Ventura Co.

Age. Rancholabrean (Jefferson 1991b). Description. I have been unable to find the site and thus have placed the locality dot in the approximate middle of the county. Fauna. †Mammuthus sp.—Mammoths (Jefferson 1991b) †Paramylodon sp.—Paramylodon Ground Sloths (Jefferson 1991b) Glossotherium sp.

Bison sp.—Bison (Jefferson 1991b) Literature. Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 20 Feb 2014

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Bonito Creek, Costa Mesa CA: Orange Co. Age. Sangamon (Jefferson 1991b). Fauna. Sylvilagus sp.—Cottontails (Jefferson 1991b) †Eguus sp.—Horses (Jefferson 1991b) †Tapirus californicus—California Tapir (Jefferson 1991b: cf.) †Camelops sp.—American Camels (Jefferson 1991b) Odocoileus hemionus—Mule Deer (Jefferson 1991b: cf.) Bison sp.—Bison (Jefferson 1991b) Literature. Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 21 Jan 2014

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Brea Canyon, Simi Valley Ventura Co.

Age. Rancholabrean (Jefferson 1991b). Fauna. †Paramylodon sp.—Paramylodon Ground Sloths (Jefferson 1991b) Glossotherium sp.

†Equus sp.—Horses (Jefferson 1991b) Literature. Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 22 Feb 2014

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Broadwell Lake East San Bernardino Co.

Age. Rancholabrean. Fauna. Vulpes sp.—Red Foxes (Jefferson 1991b: cf.) Literature. Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 13 Feb 2014

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Broadwell Lake West San Bernardino Co.

Age. Rancholabrean. Fauna. Gopherus sp.—Gopher Tortoises (Jefferson 1991b) Lepus sp.—Jack Rabbits (Jefferson 1991b) Antilocapra/Stockoceros sp.—American Pronghorn or Stock's Pronghorn (Jefferson 1991b) Literature. Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 13 Feb 2014

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Calico Lakes Project, Daggett San Bernardino Co.

Age. Late Wisconsin/Holocene. Jefferson (1991b) reports 14C dates of 12,800 ± 900 and 9,050 ± 350 BP. Fauna. Rana sp.—True Frogs (Jefferson 1991a)

Since Jefferson (1991a), Rana has been split into two species, Rana and Lithobates. Although Rana seems to make the most sense geographically, there is some possibility that Lithobates may be the taxon involved.

Xantusia vigilis—Desert Night Lizard (Jefferson 1991a: cf.) Xerospermophilus mohavensis—Mohave Ground Squirrel (Jefferson 1991b) Spermophilus mohavensis

Chaetodipus/Perognathus—Spiny or Silky Pocket Mice (Jefferson 1991b) Dipodomys sp.—Kangaroo Rats (Jefferson 1991b) Thomomys bottae—Botta's Pocket Gopher (Jefferson 1991b) Microtus californicus—California Vole (Jefferson 1991a: cf.) Neotoma lepida—Desert Woodrat (Jefferson 1991b) Peromyscus sp.—Deer Mice (Jefferson 1991b) Lepus californicus—Black-tailed Jack Rabbit (Jefferson 1991b: cf.) Sylvilagus sp.—Cottontail (Jefferson 1991b) †Equus occidentalis—Western Horse (Jefferson 1991b: cf.) †Camelops hesternus—Yesterday's Camel (Jefferson 1991b: cf.) †Hemiauchenia macrocephala—Big-headed Llama (Jefferson 1991b) Ovis canadensis—Bighorn Sheep (Jefferson 1991b) Literature. Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 13 Feb 2014

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Calico Road, Calico Mountains San Bernardino Co.

Age. Rancholabrean (Jefferson 1991b). Fauna. Lepus sp.—Jack Rabbits (Jefferson 1991b) †Equus sp.—Horses (Jefferson 1991b) †Camelops sp.—American Camels (Jefferson 1991b) Literature. Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 14 Feb 2014

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Camarillo Ventura Co.

Age. Rancholabrean (Jefferson 1991b). Fauna. †Mammut sp.—Mastodonts (Jefferson 1991b) Literature. Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 20 Feb 2014

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Camarillo Hills Ventura Co.

Age. Rancholabrean (Jefferson 1991b). Fauna. †Equus occidentalis—Western Horse (Jefferson 1991b: cf.) Literature. Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 20 Feb 2014

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Camarillo, Las Posas Estates Ventura Co.

Age. Rancholabrean (Jefferson 1991b). Fauna. †Mammuthus sp.—Mammoths (Jefferson 1991b) †Equus sp.—Horses (Jefferson 1991b) Literature. Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 20 Feb 2014

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Campbell Hill and Twentynine Palms Gravel Pit San Bernardino Co.

Age. Rancholabrean, ? Illinoian (Jefferson 1991b). Fauna. Gopherus sp.—Gopher Tortoises (Jefferson 1991a) †Mammuthus sp.—Mammoths (Jefferson 1991b) †Megalonyx sp.—Megalonyx Ground Sloths (Jefferson 1991b) †Nothrotheriops sp.—Nothrotheriops Ground Sloths (Jefferson 1991b) Thomomys sp.—Western Pocket Gophers (Jefferson 1991b) Puma concolor—Mountain Lion (Jefferson 1991b) Felis concolor

†Smilodon fatalis—Sabertooth (Jefferson 1991b: cf.) Taxidea taxus—American Badger (Jefferson 1991b) †Equus sp. (large)—Large Horses (Jefferson 1991b) †Equus sp. (small)—Small Horses (Jefferson 1991b) †Camelops sp.—American Camels (Jefferson 1991b) †Hemiauchenia sp.—American Llamas (Jefferson 1991b) Odocoileus virginianus—White-tailed Deer (Jefferson 1991b: cf.) †Capromeryx furcifer—Matthew's Pronghorn (Jefferson 1991b) Capromeryx sp.

†Bison antiquus—Ancient Bison (Jefferson 1991b: cf.) Ovis canadensis—Bighorn Sheep (Jefferson 1991b: cf.) Literature. Jefferson 1991a; Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 14 Feb 2014

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Carbon Canyon, Waste Water San Bernardino Co.

Age. Rancholabrean (Jefferson 1991b). Description: It is possible that the site is mismapped—no information on locality was given by Jefferson (1991b) beyond the name. The mapped locality is in the Chino Hills. Fauna. †Paramylodon sp.—Paramylodon Ground Sloths (Jefferson 1991b) Glossotherium sp.

†Equus sp.—Horses (Jefferson 1991b) †Camelops sp.—American Camels (Jefferson 1991b) Literature. Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 15 Feb 2014

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Carpinteria CA: Santa Barbara Co.

Age. Axelrod (1983) gave the age as 40,000 BP without comment. Without further documentation, the fossils will be recorded as Wisconsin in age pending further information. General Description. Fossils were recovered from asphalt deposits near the city of Carpinteria. Fauna. Chelonia Actinemys pallida—Southern Western Pond Turtle (Jefferson 1991a) Clemmys marmorata

Reptilia Gambelia wislizenii—Long-nosed Leopard Lizard (Jefferson 1991a) Sceloporus occidentalis—Western Fence Lizard (Jefferson 1991a) Aves Anas platyrhynchos—Mallard (Guthrie 2009) Anas strepera—(Guthrie 2009) Anas americana—(Guthrie 2009) Anas crecca—Green-winged Teal (Guthrie 2009) Chen caerulescens—(Guthrie 2009) Callipepla californica—California Quail (Guthrie 2009) †Meleagris californicus—California Turkey (Guthrie 2009) †Ciconia maltha—(Guthrie 2009) Pelecanus occidentalis—Brown Pelican (Guthrie 2009) †Teratornis merriami—Merriam's Teratorn (Guthrie 2009) Cathartes aura—Turkey Vulture (Guthrie 2009) Gymnogyps californianus—California Condor (Guthrie 2009) Gymnogyps amplus (see G. californianus account for usage)

†Coragyps occidentalis—Western Black Vulture (Guthrie 2009) †Amplibuteo woodwardi—Woodward's Eagle (Guthrie 2009) Accipiter cooperii—Cooper's Hawk (Guthrie 2009) Accipiter gentilis—Northern Goshawk (Guthrie 2009)

Accipiter striatus—Sharp-shinned Hawk (Guthrie 2009) Aquila chrysaetos—Golden Eagle (Guthrie 2009) Buteo jamaicensis—Red-tailed Hawk (Guthrie 2009) Buteo lagopus—Rough-legged Hawk (Guthrie 2009: cf.) Buteo lineatus—Red-shouldered Hawk (Guthrie 2009) Buteo regalis—Ferruginous Hawk (Guthrie 2009) †Buteogallus daggetti—Daggett's Eagle (Guthrie 2009) Wetmoregyps daggetti

†Buteogallus fragilis—Fragile Black-hawk (Guthrie 2009: ?) Circus cyaneus—Northern Harrier (Guthrie 2009) Haliaeetus leucocephalus—Bald Eagle (Guthrie 2009) †Neogyps errans—Errant Eagle (Guthrie 2009) †Neophrontops americanus—American Neophrontops (Guthrie 2009) †Spizaetus grinnelli—Grinnell's Hawk-eagle (Guthrie 2009) Rallus limicola—Virginia Rail (Guthrie 2009) Tringa melanoleuca—Greater Yellow-legs (Guthrie 2009) Patagioenas fasciata—Band-tailed Pigeon (Guthrie 2009) Zenaidura macroura—Mourning Dove (Guthrie 2009) Geococcyx californianus—Greater Roadrunner (Guthrie 2009) Tyto alba—Barn Owl (Guthrie 2009) Aegolius acadicus—Northern Saw-whet Owl (Campbell and Bocheński 2013) Asio otus—Long-eared Owl (Guthrie 2009) Megascops wilsonianus

Otus kennicottii—Western Screech Owl (Guthrie 2009) Otus wilsonianus

Bubo virginianus—Great Horned Owl (Guthrie 2009) †Glaucidium kurochkini—Kurochkin's Pygmy Owl (Campbell and Bocheński 2013) Glaucidium gnoma—Northern Pygmy-owl (Guthrie 2009) †Oraristrix brea—Tar-pit Owl (Campbell and Bocheński 2010) Phalaenoptilus nuttalli—Common Poorwill (Guthrie 2009) Melanerpes formicivorus—Acorn Woodpecker (Guthrie 2009) Melanerpes lewisi—Lewis's Woodpecker (Guthrie 2009) Colaptes auratus—Northern Flicker (Guthrie 2009) Sphyrapicus sp.—Sapsuckers (Guthrie 2009) Picoides villosus—Hairy Woodpecker (Guthrie 2009) Dendrocopus sp.—Dendrocopus Woodpeckers (Guthrie 2009) Dryobates sp.

Caracara cheriway—Crested Caracara (Guthrie 2009) Caracara plancus

Falco columbarius—Merlin (Guthrie 2009: cf.) Falco sparverius—American Kestrel (Guthrie 2009) Empidonax sp.—Empidonax Flycatchers (Guthrie 2009) Sayornis sp.—Phoebes (Guthrie 2009) Tyrannus verticalis—Western Kingbird (Guthrie 2009) Lanius ludovicianus—Loggerhead Shrike (Guthrie 2009) Aphelocoma californica—Western Scrub-jay (Guthrie 2009) Corvus brachyrhynchos—American Crow (Guthrie 2009) Corvus corax—Common Raven (Guthrie 2009) Cyanocitta stelleri—Steller's Jay (Guthrie 2009) Pica nuttallii—Yellow-billed Magpie (Guthrie 2009) Petrochelidon pyrrhonota—Cliff Swallow (Guthrie 2009)

Tachycineta bicolor—Tree Swallow (Guthrie 2009: cf.) Poecile sp.—Chickadees (Guthrie 2009) Sitta canadensis—Red-breasted Nuthatch (Guthrie 2009) Sitta pygmaea—Pygmy Nuthatch (Guthrie 2009) Regulus sp.—Kinglets (Guthrie 2009) Chamaea fasciata—Wrentit (Guthrie 2009) Catharus sp.—Thrushes (Guthrie 2009) Ixoreus naevius—Varied Thrush (Guthrie 2009) Sialia mexicana—Western Bluebird (Guthrie 2009) Turdus migratorius—American Robin (Guthrie 2009) Bombycilla cedrorum—Cedar Waxwing (Guthrie 2009) Setophaga sp.—New World Warblers (Guthrie 2009) Dendroica sp.

Melozone crissalis—California Towhee (Guthrie 2009) Pipilo crissalis

†Pipilo angelensis—(Guthrie 2009: cf.) Pipilo maculatus—Spotted Towhee (Guthrie 2009) Passerella iliaca—Fox Sparrow (Guthrie 2009) Zonotrichia leucophrys—White-crowned Sparrow (Guthrie 2009: cf.) Piranga ludoviciana—Western Tanager (Guthrie 2009) Sturnella neglecta—Western Meadowlark (Guthrie 2009) Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus—Yellow-headed Blackbird (Guthrie 2009) Spinus pinus—Pine Siskin (Guthrie 2009) Carduelis pinus

Loxia curvirostra—Red Crossbill (Guthrie 2009) Mammalia Tamias sp.—Chipmunks (Wilson 1933) Sciurus sp.—Tree Squirrels (Wilson 1933) Dipodomys sp.—Kangaroo Rats (Wilson 1933) Chaetodipus sp.—California Pocket Mouse (Wilson 1933: cf.)

Perognathus sp.; "The size of the lower jaws are within range of variation of jaws of Perognathus californicus californicus. . ." (Wilson 1933:71)

Thomomys bottae—Botta's Pocket Gopher (Wilson 1933: cf.) Microtus californicus—California Vole (Wilson 1933) Neotoma sp.—Woodrats (Wilson 1933) Onychomys sp.—Grasshopper Mice (Wilson 1933: ?) Peromyscus sp.—White-footed Mice (Wilson 1933) Lepus californicus—Black-tailed Jackrabbit (Wilson 1933) Sylvilagus bachmani—Brush Rabbit (Wilson 1933) Sorex ornatus—Ornate Shrew (Wilson 1933: cf.) Sorex trowbridgii—Trowbridge's Shrew (Wilson 1933: cf.) †Panthera atrox—American Lion (Wilson 1933: cf.) Felis probably atrox

Lynx sp.—Bobcats (Wilson 1933) Canis dirus—Dire Wolf (Wilson 1933: cf.) Canis latrans—Coyote Aenocyon near(Wilson dirus 1933)

Urocyon cinereoargenteus—Gray Fox (Wilson 1933: cf.)

Mustela sp.—Weasels (Wilson 1933) Taxidea taxus—American Badger (Wilson 1933) Taxidea sp.—

Mephitis mephitis—Striped Skunk (Wilson 1933) Spilogale gracilis—Western Spotted Skunk (Wilson 1933) Spilogale phenax

†Equus occidentalis—Western Horse (Wilson 1933: cf.) †Camelops hesternus—Yesterdays Camel (Wilson 1933: ? gen.) Odocoileus sp.—Deer (Wilson 1933) Bison sp.—Bison (Wilson 1933: ?) Literature. Axelrod 1983; Campbell and Bocheński 2013; Guthrie 2009; Jefferson 1991a; Wilson 1933.

Last Update: 19 Jun 2014

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Carizzo Plains School CA: San Luis Obispo Co.

Age. Rancholabrean (Jefferson 1991b). Fauna. †Mammuthus sp.—Mammoths (Jefferson 1991b) †Mammut americanum—American Mastodont (Jefferson 1991b) †Camelops sp.—American Camels (Jefferson 1991b) †Bison latifrons—Giant Bison (Jefferson 1991b) Literature. Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 4 Feb 2014

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Carr Ranch CA: Riverside Co. Age. ?Rancholabrean (Jefferson 1991a). Fauna. Gopherus sp.—Tortoises (Jefferson 1991a) Literature. Jefferson 1991a.

Last Update: 24 Jan 2014

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Carrington Point, Santa Rosa Island CA: Santa Barbara Co.

Age. Late Wisconsin. Radiocarbon dating of a nearby mammoth believed to be contemporary gives a date of 12,840 ± 140 BP (Mead et al. 2004). Fauna. †Batrachoseps sp.—Slender Salamanders (Mead et al. 2004) †Microtus sp.—Voles (Mead et al. 2004) Literature. (Mead et al. 2004).

Last Update: 12 Mar 2014

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Century City, Los Angeles CA: Los Angles Co.

Age. Rancholabrean (Jefferson 1991a). Fauna. Taricha sp.—Western Newts (Jefferson 1991a) Anaxyrus sp.—Nearctic Toads (Jefferson 1991a) Bufo sp.

Actinemys pallida—Southern Western Pond Turtle (Jefferson 1991a) Clemmys marmorata

Podiceps nigricollis—Eared Grebe (Jefferson 1991a) Thomomys bottae—Botta's Pocket Gopher (Jefferson 1991b) Microtus californicus—California Vole (Jefferson 1991b) Peromyscus sp.—White-footed Mouse (Jefferson 1991b: cf. gen.) Neotoma sp.—Woodrats (Jefferson 1991b) Sylvilagus sp.—Cottontails (Jefferson 1991b) Canis latrans—Coyote (Jefferson 1991b: cf.) †Equus sp.—Horses (Jefferson 1991b) Literature. Jefferson 1991a; Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 8 Jun 2014

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China Lake CA: Kern Co.

Age. Late Wisconsin; radiocarbon ages are 18,600 ± 450 and 11,800 ± 800 yr BP (Jefferson 1991a). Discussion: The fauna has been recovered from scattered lacustrine deposits over the Naval Air Weapons Station near Ridgecrest (Kurtén and Anderson 1980. Fauna. Gila bicolor mohavensis—Mohave Tui Chub (Jefferson 1991a) Anas sp.—Dabbling Ducks (Jefferson 1991a) Aythya sp.—Diving Ducks (Jefferson 1991a) Branta sp.—Geese (Jefferson 1991a) Cygnus sp.—Swans (Jefferson 1991a) Oxyura sp.—Ruddy Ducks (Jefferson 1991a) Phalacrocorax sp.—Cormorants (Jefferson 1991a) Aquila chrysaetos—Golden Eagle (Jefferson 1991a: cf.) Haliaeetus sp.—Bald Eagles (Jefferson 1991a) Grus sp.—Cranes (Jefferson 1991a) Fulica sp.—Coots (Jefferson 1991a) †Mammuthus columbi—Columbian Mammoth (Jefferson 1991b: cf.) Microtus californicus—California Vole (Jefferson 1991b) †Smilodon sp.—Sabertooth Cat (Jefferson 1991b) Canis sp.—Wolf (Jefferson 1991b) †Equus conversidens—Mexican Horse (Jefferson 1991b: cf.) †Equus occidentalis—Western Horse (Jefferson 1991b: cf.) †Camelops hesternus—Yesterday's Camel (Jefferson 1991b: cf.) †Hemiauchenia sp.—American Llama (Jefferson 1991b) Odocoileus sp.—Deer (Jefferson 1991b) †Bison antiguus—Ancient Bison (Jefferson 1991b) Bison sp. (large-size)—Large Bison (Jefferson 1991b) Literature. Jefferson 1991a; Jefferson 1991b; Kurtén and Anderson 1980.

Last Update: 25 Feb 2014

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Chino San Bernardino Co.

Age. Rancholabrean (Jefferson 1991b). Discussion. The Chino site and the Los Serranos Creek, Aspen Lane, Chino site of Jefferson (1991b), have been combined here. Fauna. †Equus sp.—Horses (Jefferson 1991b: cf. gen.) †Camelops sp.—American Camels (Jefferson 1991b: cf. gen.) †Nothrotheriops shastensis—Shasta Ground Sloth (McDonald and Jefferson 2008) Odocoileus sp.—Deer (Jefferson 1991b) †Bison antiquus—Ancient Bison (Jefferson 1991b: cf.) Literature. Jefferson 1991b; McDonald and Jefferson 2008.

Last Update: 27 Apr 2014

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Chorro Creek, Morro Bay CA: San Luis Obispo Co.

Age. ?Rancholabrean (Jefferson 1991b). Fauna. †Mammut americanum—American Mastodont (Jefferson 1991b) Literature. Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 4 Feb 2014

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Coachella, Niland Imperial Co.

Age. Rancholabrean (Jefferson 1991b). Description. Given by Jefferson (1991b) as Coachella, Niland. These towns are some distance apart and are mapped here at Coachella. Fauna. †Camelops sp.—American Camels (Jefferson 1991b) Literature. Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 20 Feb 2014

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Coachella Canal 1 Imperial Co.

Age. Rancholabrean (Jefferson 1991b). Fauna. †Mammuthus sp.—Mammoths (Jefferson 1991b) Bison sp.—Bison (Jefferson 1991b) Literature. Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 20 Feb 2014

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Coachella Canal 2 Imperial Co.

Age. Rancholabrean (Jefferson 1991b). Description. Coachella Canal, Glamis (Jefferson 1991b). Fauna. †Equus sp.—Horses (Jefferson 1991b) †Camelops sp.—American Camels (Jefferson 1991b) †Bison antiquus—Ancient Bison (Jefferson 1991b) Literature. Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 20 Feb 2014

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Conception Station, Point Conception CA: Santa Barbara Co.

Age. Rancholabrean (Jefferson 1991b). Fauna. †Paramylodon sp.—Paramylodon Ground Sloths (Jefferson 1991b) Glossotherium sp.

†Camelops sp.—American Camel (Jefferson 1991b) Literature. Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 5 Feb 2014

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Conejo Valley, New Park Ventura Co.

Age. Rancholabrean (Jefferson 1991b). Fauna. †Mammuthus sp.—Mammoths (Jefferson 1991b) †Equus sp.—Horses (Jefferson 1991b) Literature. Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 20 Feb 2014

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Cool Water, Coal Gasification Site, Daggett San Bernardino Co.

Age. Rancholabrean (Jefferson 1991b). Fauna. Gopherus agassizii—Agassiz's Desert Tortoise (Jefferson 1991a) †Mammuthus sp.—Mammoths (Jefferson 1991b) Lepus californicus—Jack Rabbits (Jefferson 1991b: cf.) Sylvilagus sp.—Cottontails (Jefferson 1991b) †Equus occidentalis (Jefferson 1991b: cf.) Literature. Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 15 Feb 2014

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Cool Water, Coal Gasification Solid Waste Site, Daggett San Bernardino Co.

Age. Rancholabrean (Jefferson 1991b). Fauna. Gila bicolor—Tui Chub (Jefferson 1991a) Gasterosteus aculeatus—Three-spined Stickleback (Jefferson 1991a) Scaphiopus/Spea sp.—Spadefoots (Jefferson 1991a) Scaphiopus sp.

Elgaria sp.—Alligator Lizards (Jefferson 1991a) Gerrhonotus sp.

Gambelia wislizenii—Long-nosed Leopard Lizard (Jefferson 1991a) Phrynosoma platyrhinos—Desert Horned Lizard (Jefferson 1991a) Sceloporus sp.—Spiny Lizards (Jefferson 1991a) Aspidoscelis sp.—Whiptails (Jefferson 1991a) Cnemidophorus

Xantusia vigilis—Desert Night Lizard (Jefferson 1991a: cf.) Callipepla sp.—Crested Quail (Jefferson 1991a) Geococcyx californianus—Greater Roadrunner (Jefferson 1991a) Colaptes sp.—Flickers (Jefferson 1991a) Eremophila alpestris—Horned Lark (Jefferson 1991a) Turdus sp.—Thrushes (Jefferson 1991a: cf. gen.) Mimus sp.—Mockingbirds (Jefferson 1991a: cf. gen.) Setophaga sp.—New World Warblers (Jefferson 1991a) Dendroica sp.

Pheuticus—Grosbeaks (Jefferson 1991a: aff.) aff. Pheuticus

Zonotrichia—White-crowned Sparrows (Jefferson 1991a: aff.) aff. Zonotrichia

Junco—Juncos (Jefferson 1991a: aff.) aff. Junco

Icterus cucullatus—Hooded Oriole (Jefferson 1991a: aff.) Icterus sp., aff. I. cucullatus

Sturnella—Meadow Larks (Jefferson 1991a: aff.) aff. Sturnella

Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus—Yellow-headed Blackbird (Jefferson 1991a: cf.) Xerospermophilus mohavensis—Mohave Ground Squirrel (Jefferson 1991b) Spermophilus mohavensis

Tamias minimus—Least Chipmunk (Jefferson 1991b: cf.)

Chaetodipus/Perognathus sp.—Spiny or Silky Pocket Mice (Jefferson 1991b) Perognathus sp.

Dipodomys sp.—Kangaroo Rats (Jefferson 1991b) Thomomys sp.—Western Pocket Gophers (Jefferson 1991b) Microtus sp.—Voles (Jefferson 1991b) Neotoma lepida—Desert Woodrat (Jefferson 1991b) Peromyscus sp.—Deer Mice (Jefferson 1991b) Lepus sp.—Jack Rabbits (Jefferson 1991b) Sylvilagus audubonii—Desert Cottontail (Jefferson 1991b) Sylvilagus bachmani—Brush Rabbit (Jefferson 1991b) Notiosorex crawfordi—Crawford's Desert Shrew (Jefferson 1991b) Sorex ornatus—Ornate Shrew (Jefferson 1991b) Scapanus latimanus—Broad-footed Mole (Jefferson 1991b) Antrozous pallidus—Pallid Bat (Jefferson 1991b) Vulpes macrotis—Kit Fox (Jefferson 1991b) †Eguus sp.(large)—Large Horses (Jefferson 1991b) †Hemiauchenia macrocephala—Big-headed Llama (Jefferson 1991b) Literature. Jefferson 1991a; Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 25 Feb 2014

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Corona, California CA: Riverside Co. Age. Rancholabrean (Jefferson 1991b). Discussion. Includes Corona and Corona, Santa Ana River of Jefferson (1991b). Fauna. †Mammut sp.—Mastodonts (Jefferson 1991b) Microtus sp.—Voles (Jefferson 1991b) †Equus sp.—Horses (Jefferson 1991b) †Camelops sp.— American Camels (Jefferson 1991b: cf. gen.) Odocoileus sp.— Deer (Jefferson 1991b) Bison sp.— Bison (Jefferson 1991b) Literature. Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 24 Jan 2014

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Coronado Beach, San Diego CA: San Diego Co.

Age. Rancholabrean (Jefferson 1991b). Fauna. †Equus occidentalis—Western Horse (Jefferson 1991b) Literature. Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 31 Jan 2014

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Corralitos Canyon, Point Sal CA: Santa Barbara Co.

Age. Rancholabrean (Jefferson 1991b). Fauna. †Tapirus californicus—California Tapir (Jefferson 1991b: cf.) †Bison sp.—Bison (Jefferson 1991b) Literature. Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 6 Feb 2014

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Costa Mesa CA: Orange Co.

Age. Rancholabrean (Jefferson 1991b). Fauna. †Mammuthus sp.—Mammoths (Jefferson 1991b) Literature. Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 22 Jan 2014

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Costeau Pit, Laguna Hills, El Toro CA: Orange Co.

Age. Wisconsin (Jefferson 1991a). A radiocarbon date is >40,000 BP (Jefferson 1991a). Fauna. Aneides lugubris—Arboreal Salamander (Jefferson 1991a) Anaxyrus boreas—Western Toad (Jefferson 1991a) Bufo boreas.

Rana aurora—Northern Red-legged Frog (Jefferson 1991a) Actinemys pallida—Southern Western Pond Turtle (Jefferson 1991a: cf. gen. et sp.) Clemmys marmorata

Gopherus sp.—Gopherus Tortoises (Jefferson 1991a) Sceloporus sp.—Desert Spiny Lizard (Jefferson 1991a) Aspidoscelis sp.—Whiptail Lizards (Jefferson 1991a) Cnemidophorus sp.

Pituophis catenifer—Gophersnake (Jefferson 1991a) Pituophis melanoleucus

Crotalus oreganus—Western Rattlesnake (Jefferson 1991a) Crotalus viridis

Anas sp.—Ducks (Jefferson 1991a) Callipepla sp.—Quail (Jefferson 1991a) Buteogallus sp.—Buteogallus Hawks (Jefferson 1991a) Fulica americana—American Coot (Jefferson 1991a: cf.) Athene sp.—Burrowing Owls (Jefferson 1991a) †Mammuthus columbi— (Jefferson 1991a) †Paramylodon harlani—Harlan's Ground Sloth (Jefferson 1991b: cf.) Glossotherium harlani

Otospermophilus beecheyi—California Ground Squirrel (Jefferson 1991a) Spermophilus beecheyi

Chaetodipus californicus—California Pocket Mouse (Jefferson 1991a) Perognathus californicus

Dipodomys sp.—Kangaroo Rats (Jefferson 1991a) Thomomys bottae—Western Pocket Gophers (Jefferson 1991a) Microtus sp.—Voles (Jefferson 1991a) Ondatra sp.—Muskrats (Jefferson 1991a) Neotoma sp.—Woodrats (Jefferson 1991a) Peromyscus maniculatus—White-footed Mouse (Jefferson 1991a)

Reithrodontomys humulis—Harvest Mouse (Jefferson 1991a: cf.) Lepus californicus—Black-tailed Jackrabbit (Jefferson 1991a: cf.) Sylvilagus audubonii—Desert Cottontail (Jefferson 1991a) Sylvilagus bachmani— (Jefferson 1991a: cf.) Notiosorex crawfordi—Desert Shrew (Jefferson 1991a) †Smilodon fatalis— (Jefferson 1991a: cf.) †Canis dirus—Dire Wolf (Jefferson 1991a: cf.) Canis latrans—Coyote (Jefferson 1991a: cf.) Mustela frenata—Long-tailed Weasel (Jefferson 1991b) †Eguus sp. (large)—Large Horse (Jefferson 1991a) †Equus sp. (small)—Small Horse (Jefferson 1991a: cf. gen.) †Camelops hesternus— (Jefferson 1991a: cf.) †Hemiauchenia sp.—American Llamas (Jefferson 1991a) †Capromeryx sp.—Diminutive Pronghorns (Jefferson 1991a) †Bison antiguus—Ancient Bison (Jefferson 1991a) †Bison latifrons—Giant Bison (Jefferson 1991a) Literature. Jefferson 1991a; Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 9 Jun 2014

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Coyote Lake, IPP Electrodes, northeast of Yermo San Bernardino Co.

Age. Wisconsin (Jefferson 1991b). Fauna. Gila bicolor—Tui Chub (Jefferson 1991a) Gasterosteus aculeatus—Three-spined Stickleback (Jefferson 1991a) Literature. Jefferson 1991a.

Last Update: 16 Feb 2014

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Creston Mammoth Site CA: San Luis Obispo Co.

Age. Rancholabrean (Jefferson 1991b). Fauna. †Mammuthus sp.—Mammoths (Jefferson 1991b) Literature. Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 4 Feb 2014

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Dana Point CA: Orange Co.

Age. Rancholabrean (Jefferson 1991b). Fauna. †Mammuthus sp.—Mammoths (Jefferson 1991b) Bison sp.—Bison (Jefferson 1991b) Literature. Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 22 Jan 2014

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Danby Lake CA: San Bernardino Co.

Age. Wisconsin (Jefferson 1991c). Jefferson (1991c) lists under Saltmarsh, Danby Lake, east of Amboy. Fauna. Dipodomys sp.—Kangaroo Rats (Jefferson 1991c) Lepus sp.—Jackrabbits (Jefferson 1991c) †Equus sp.—Horses (Jefferson 1991b) †Camelops sp.—American Camels Jefferson 1991c) Literature. Jefferson 1991b; Jefferson 1991c.

Last Update: 3 Jun 2014

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Diamond Valley Lake Local Fauna CA: Riverside Co

Age Mid/Late Wisconsin (Springer et al. 2009) Two suites of fossils were present. Radiocarbon dates from the deeper depths of Diamond Valley are 41,490 ± 1380 and 41,200 ± 2100 BP. Fossils from shallower depths of Domenigoni and Diamond valleys indicate deposition between about 125 and 135 ka based on a number of dates. A single specimen of Equus conversidens from a depth of 2166 m gave an electron spin resonance date estimated as 230 ± 60 ka (Springer et al. 2009). The Diamond Valley Lake Local Fauna consists of fossils from 2646 localities within the Domenigoni and Diamond valleys (Springer et al. 2009) recovered during excavations for Diamond Valley Lake Reservoir. It's unclear in some cases whether Spring et al. (2009) is using "cf." to include the genus as well as the specific epithet; for example, cf. Sturnella neglecta. I have listed such cases as "cf. gen." The site is listed in the taxon accounts as Diamond Valley. Fauna Anaxyrus boreas—Western toad (Springer et al. 2009: cf.) Bufo boreas

Pseudacris cadaverina—California Treefrog (Springer et al. 2009: cf.) Hyla cadaverina

Rana sp.—True Frogs (Springer et al. 2009) Spea hammondii—Western Spadefoot Toad (Springer et al. 2009) Scaphiopus hammondi

Actinemys pallida—Southern Western Pond Turtle (Springer et al. 2009) Clemmys marmorata

Gopherus agassizii—Agassiz's Desert Tortoise (Springer et al. 2009) Elgaria sp.—Alligator Lizard (Springer et al. 2009) Gerrhonotus sp.

Crotaphytus collaris—Eastern Collared Lizard (Springer et al. 2009) Phrynosoma coronatum—Coast Horned Lizard (Springer et al. 2009) Sceloporus graciosus—Sagebrush Lizard (Springer et al. 2009: cf.) Sceloporus occidentalis—Western Fence Lizard (Springer et al. 2009) Uta stansburiana—Side-blotched Lizard (Springer et al. 2009) Aspidoscelis tigris—Western Whiptail Lizard (Springer et al. 2009)

Cnemidophorus tigris

Lampropeltis sp.—Kingsnakes (Springer et al. 2009: cf. gen.) Masticophis sp.—Coachwhips (Springer et al. 2009) Pituophis catenifer—Gopher Snake (Springer et al. 2009) Pituophis melanoleucus

Tantilla sp.—Black-headed Snakes (Springer et al. 2009) Crotalus cerastes—Sidewinder (Springer et al. 2009: cf.) Thamnophis sp.—Garter Snakes (Springer et al. 2009) Anas sp.—Ducks(Springer et al. 2009) Aquila chrysaetos—Golden Eagle (Springer et al. 2009) Callipepla californica—California Quail (Springer et al. 2009) †Meleagris californica—California Turkey (Springer et al. 2009: ? gen.) Accipiter cooperii—Cooper's Hawk (Springer et al. 2009: cf.) Asio flammeus—Short-eared Owl (Springer et al. 2009: ?) Colaptes auratus—Northern Flicker (Springer et al. 2009) Falco sp.—Falcons (Springer et al. 2009) Hirundo sp.—Swallows (Springer et al. 2009: cf. gen.) Corvus corax—Raven (Springer et al. 2009) Cyanocitta stelleri—Steller’s Jay (Springer et al. 2009) Turdus migratorius—American Robin (Springer et al. 2009; cf. gen.) Sturnella neglecta—Western Meadowlark (Springer et al. 2009; cf. gen.) †Mammuthus columbi—Columbian Mammoth (Springer et al. 2009) †Mammut americanum—American Mastodont (Springer et al. 2009) †Megalonyx jeffersonii—Jefferson's Ground Sloth (Springer et al. 2009) †Nothrotheriops shastensis—Shasta Ground Sloth (Springer et al. 2009) †Paramylodon harlani—Harlan's Ground Sloth (Springer et al. 2009) Ammospermophilus sp.—Antelope Ground squirrel (Springer et al. 2009: cf. gen.) Otospermophilus beecheyi—California Ground Squirrel (Springer et al. 2009) Spermophilus beecheyi

Spermophilus sp.—Small Ground Squirrel (Springer et al. 2009) Tamias sp.—Chipmunks (Springer et al. 2009) Eutamias sp.

Chaetodipus/Perognathus sp.—Large Spiny or Silky Pocket Mouse (Springer et al. 2009) Perognathus sp.

Dipodomys sp.—Kangaroo Rats (Springer et al. 2009) Thomomys bottae—Botta's Pocket Gopher (Springer et al. 2009) Microtus californicus—California Vole (Springer et al. 2009) Neotoma fuscipes—Dusky-footed Woodrat (Springer et al. 2009) Neotoma lepida—Desert Woodrat (Springer et al. 2009) Peromyscus crinitus—Canyon Mouse (Springer et al. 2009: cf.) Reithrodontomys sp.—Harvest Mouse (Springer et al. 2009) Lepus californicus—Black-tailed Jackrabbit (Springer et al. 2009) Sylvilagus audubonii—Desert Cottontail (Springer et al. 2009) Sorex ornatus—Ornate Shrew (Springer et al. 2009) Scapanus latimanus—Broad-footed Mole (Springer et al. 2009) Myotis sp.—Myotis bats (Springer et al. 2009) Lynx rufus—Bobcat (Springer et al. 2009) †Panthera atrox—North American Lion (Springer et al. 2009) †Smilodon fatalis—Sabertooth (Springer et al. 2009) †Canis dirus—Dire Wolf (Springer et al. 2009)

Canis latrans—Coyote (Springer et al. 2009) Urocyon cinereoargenteus—Gray Fox (Springer et al. 2009) †Arctodus sp.— Short-faced Bears (Springer et al. 2009: cf. gen.) Ursus americanus—American Black Bear (Springer et al. 2009) Mustela frenata—Long-tailed Weasel (Springer et al. 2009) Taxidea taxus—American Badger (Springer et al. 2009) Mephitis macroura/mephitis—Hooded or Striped skunk (Springer et al. 2009) †Equus conversidens—Mexican Horse (Springer et al. 2009) †Equus occidentalis—Western Horse (Springer et al. 2009) †Platygonus compressus—Flat-headed Peccary (Springer et al. 2009) †Camelops hesternus—Yesterday's Camel (Springer et al. 2009) †Hemiauchenia macrocephala—Big-headed Llama (Springer et al. 2009) Odocoileus hemionus—Mule Deer (Springer et al. 2009) Antilocapra americana—Pronghorn (Springer et al. 2009) †Capromeryx furcifer—Matthew's Pronghorn (Springer et al. 2009) Capromeryx minor

†Bison antiquus—Ancient Bison (Springer et al. 2009) †Bison latifrons—Giant Bison (Springer et al. 2009) Literature. Springer et al. 2009.

Last Update: 9 Jun 2014

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Dove Springs Wash CA: Kern Co.

Age. Late Wisconsin (Jefferson 1991a). Fauna. Phrynosoma sp.—Horned Lizards (Jefferson 1991a) Sceloporus occidentalis—Western Spiny Lizard (Jefferson 1991a) Elgaria sp.—Alligator Lizards (Jefferson 1991a) Gerrhonotus sp. Western species of Gerrhonotus have been reassigned to Elgaria.

Lampropeltis zonata—California Mountain Kingsnake (Jefferson 1991a) Pituophis catenifer—Gopher Snake (Jefferson 1991a) Pituophis melanoleucus catenifer (Jefferson 1991a)

Mammuthus columbi—Columbian Mammoth (Jefferson 1991b) Ammospermophilus sp.—Antelope Squirrels (Jefferson 1991b) Tamias minimus—Least Chipmunk (Jefferson 1991b) Chaetodipus penicillatus—Desert Pocket Mouse (Jefferson 1991b) Perognathus penicillatus

Dipodomys merriami—Merriam's Kangaroo Rat (Jefferson 1991b: cf.) Dipodomys panamintinus—Panamint Kangaroo Rat (Jefferson 1991b: cf.) Perognathus longimembris—Little Pocket Mouse (Jefferson 1991b) Thomomys monticola—Mountain Pocket Gopher (Jefferson 1991b) Microtus californicus—California Vole (Jefferson 1991b) Neotoma fuscipes/cinerea—Dusky-footed Woodrat or Bushy-tailed Woodrat (Jefferson 1991b) Peromyscus maniculatus—Deer Mouse (Jefferson 1991b) Reithrodontomys megalotis—Western Harvest Mouse (Jefferson 1991b: cf.) Sylvilagus sp.—Cottontails (Jefferson 1991b) Sorex palustris—Water Shrew (Jefferson 1991b) Parastrellus hesperus—Western Pipistrelle (Jefferson 1991b) Pipistrellus hesperus

Eguus sp. (large)—Large Horses (Jefferson 1991b) Camelops sp.—American Camels (Jefferson 1991b) Bison antiquus—Ancient Bison (Jefferson 1991b) Literature. Jefferson 1991a; Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 3 Jan 2014

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Earp San Bernardino Co.

Age. Rancholabrean (Jefferson 1991b). Description. Possibly mis-mapped. Fauna. †Mammuthus sp.—Mammoths (Jefferson 1991b) Literature. Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 16 Feb 2014

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El Evado Edison Road, Victorville San Bernardino Co.

Age. Late Irvingtonian/Early Rancholabrean (Jefferson 1991b). Fauna. Gopherus sp.—Gopherus Tortoises (Jefferson 1991a) †Equus sp.—Horses (Jefferson 1991b) Literature. Jefferson 1991a; Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 16 Feb 2014

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Elsinore Fault Zone CA: Riverside Co.

Age. Blancan and Irvingtonian (Pajak et al. 1996). General Description.There are three formations within the Elsinore Fault Zone that are fossiliferous (Pajak et al. 1996): the older Temecula Arkose appears to be pre-Pleistocene. Above this, the unnamed sandstone includes three informal faunal components: the Paraneotoma unit estimated at ±3.5 mya to 2.2 ± 0.1; and the Mimomys unit (± 1.6 to ± 0.75 mya. Stratigraphically above the unnamed sandstone, the Pauba Formation is late Irvingtonian at 0.12 mya. The fauna from the Paraneotoma unit is included here but not mapped on the taxon accounts since much, or possibly all, may be pre-Pleistocene. The other units are listed in the taxon accounts as Elsinore: Mimomys, Elsinore: Microtus/Mammuthus, and Elsinore: Pauba. Pajak et al. (1996) list taxa from a fairly large number of sites; I have included only taxa from sites noted as belonging to specific units. Paraneotoma faunal unit, pre-Pleistocene and/or early Pleistocene Blancan, taxa not mapped Fauna. Dipodomys sp.—Kangaroo Rats (Pajak et al. 1996: ? gen.) Thomomys sp.—Western Pocket Gophers (Pajak et al. 1996) Lepus sp.—Jack Rabbits (Pajak et al. 1996) Neotoma (Paraneotoma) fossilis—Fossil Woodrat (Pajak et al. 1996) Paraneotoma fossilis

Peromyscus sp.—Deer Mice (Pajak et al. 1996) Sigmodon sp.—Cotton Rats (Pajak et al. 1996) Mimomys faunal unit, late Blancan to early Irvingtonian †Megalonyx leptostomus/wheatleyi—Narrow-mouthed or Wheatley's Ground Sloth (Pajak et al. 1996) Chaetodipus/Perognathus sp.—Spiny or Silky Pocket Mice (Pajak et al. 1996) Perognathus sp.

Dipodomys sp.—Kangaroo Rats (Pajak et al. 1996) †Prodipodomys sp.—Prodipodomys Kangaroo Rats (Pajak et al. 1996) Geomys sp.—Eastern Pocket Gophers (Pajak et al. 1996) Thomomys bottae—Botta's Pocket Gopher (Pajak et al. 1996) Tamias sp.—Chipmunks (Pajak et al. 1996) Eutamias sp.

Otospermophilus beecheyi—California Ground Squirrel (Pajak et al. 1996: aff.) Spermophilus— aff. S. beecheyi

†Ophiomys parvus—Small Water Vole (Pajak et al. 1996) Mimomys (Ophiomys) parva

Ondatra sp.—Muskrats (Pajak et al. 1996) †Neotoma (Paraneotoma) sp.—Paraneotoma Woodrats (Pajak et al. 1996) Reithrodontomys sp.—Harvest Mice (Pajak et al. 1996) †Sigmodon minor—Dwarf Cotton Rat (Pajak et al. 1996) Coendou sp.—Prehensile-tailed Porcupines (Pajak et al. 1996) †Hypolagus sp.—Hypolagus Rabbits (Pajak et al. 1996) Sylvilagus sp.—Cottontails (Pajak et al. 1996) Canis latrans—Coyote (Pajak et al. 1996: cf. gen. et sp.) Mustela sp.—Weasels (Pajak et al. 1996) †Equus sp. (small)—Small Horse (Pajak et al. 1996) †Equus sp. (large)—Large Horse (Pajak et al. 1996) †Equus scotti—Scott's Horse (Pajak et al. 1996) Equus bautistensis

†Platygonus bicalcaratus—Cope's Peccary (Pajak et al. 1996) Antilocapra sp.—Pronghorns (Pajak et al. 1996) Tetrameryx sp.—Four-horned Pronghorns (Pajak et al. 1996: ?) Odocoileus sp.—Deer (Pajak et al. 1996) Microtus/Mammuthus faunal unit, Irvingtonian Anniella sp.—Legless Lizards Lizard (Bell 1993) Phrynosoma coronatum—Coast Horned Lizard (Bell 1993) Plestiodon sp.—Skinks (Bell 1993) Eumeces sp.

Aspidoscelis sp.—Whiptail Lizards (Bell 1993: cf.) Cf. Cnemidophorus sp.

†Mammuthus sp.—Mammoths (Pajak et al. 1996) Chaetodipus/Perognathus spp.—Spiny or Silky Pocket Mice (Pajak et al. 1996) Perognathus sp.

Dipodomys spp.—Kangaroo Rats (Pajak et al. 1996) Thomomys bottae—Botta's Pocket Gopher (Pajak et al. 1996) Microtus sp.—Voles (Pajak et al. 1996) Neotoma sp.—Woodrats (Pajak et al. 1996) Peromyscus sp.—Deer Mice (Pajak et al. 1996) Sylvilagus sp.—Cottontails (Pajak et al. 1996) Scapanus sp.—Western Moles (Pajak et al. 1996) Canis sp.—Wolves (Pajak et al. 1996) Vulpes sp.—Red Foxes (Pajak et al. 1996) †Arctodus simus—Giant Short-faced Bear (Pajak et al. 1996) †Equus scotti—Scott's Horse (Pajak et al. 1996)

Equus bautistensis

†Camelops sp.—American Camel (Pajak et al. 1996) †Hemiauchenia sp.—American Llamas (Pajak et al. 1996) Tetrameryx sp.—Four-horned Pronghorns (Pajak et al. 1996: ?) Pauba Formation, late Irvingtonian †Mammuthus columbi—Columbian Mammoth (Pajak et al. 1996: cf.) †Mammuthus meridionalis—Southern Mammoth (Pajak et al. 1996: cf.) †Paramylodon harlani—Harlan's Ground Sloth (Pajak et al. 1996) †Nothrotheriops shastensis—Shasta Ground Sloth (McDonald and Jefferson 2008) Chaetodipus/Perognathus—Spiny or Silky Pocket Mouse (Pajak et al. 1996) Perognathus sp.

Dipodomys spp.—Large and Small Kangaroo Rats(Pajak et al. 1996) Thomomys bottae—Botta's Pocket Gopher (Pajak et al. 1996) Microtus sp.—Voles (Pajak et al. 1996) Neotoma sp.—Woodrats (Pajak et al. 1996) Peromyscus sp.—Deer Mice (Pajak et al. 1996) Lepus sp.—Jack Rabbits (Pajak et al. 1996) Sylvilagus sp.—Cottontails (Pajak et al. 1996) Sorex sp.—Long-tailed Shrews (Pajak et al. 1996) Scapanus sp.—Western Moles (Pajak et al. 1996: cf.) †Smilodon fatalis—Sabertooth (Pajak et al. 1996) Canis latrans—Coyote (Pajak et al. 1996) Mustela sp.—Weasels (Pajak et al. 1996) †Equus sp. (large)—Large Horse (Pajak et al. 1996) †Equus scotti—Scott's Horse (Pajak et al. 1996) Equus bautistensis

†Tapirus californicus—California Tapir (Pajak et al. 1996) †Camelops sp.—American Camels (Pajak et al. 1996) Odocoileus sp.—Odocoline Deer (Pajak et al. 1996: cf.) Antilocapra sp.—Pronghorns (Pajak et al. 1996: cf.) Ovis canadensis—Bighorn Sheep (Pajak et al. 1996: cf.) Literature. Bell 1993; McDonald and Jefferson 2008; Pajak et al. 1996.

Last Update: 27 Apr 2015

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Emery Borrow Pit, Ralph Clark Regional Park, Fullerton CA: Orange Co. Age. ?Late Irvingtonian through Rancholabrean (Jefferson 1991a). Fauna. Osteichthyes Gila orcuttii—Arroyo Chub (Jefferson 1991a) Amphibia Taricha sp.—Western Newts (Jefferson 1991a) Anaxyrus boreas—Western Toad (Jefferson 1991a)

Bufo nestor. Tihen (1962) considered this to be a synonym of Bufo boreas.

Rana aurora—Northern Red-legged Frog Hyla sp.—Tree Frogs (Jefferson 1991a) Chelonia Actinemys pallida—Southern Western Pond Turtle (Jefferson 1991a) Clemmys marmorata

"Pseudemys scripta" (Jefferson 1991a).

It is unclear what species is represented. P. scripta (now Trachemys scripta) is a southcentral U.S. species that does not occur close to California except as introduced. A species account has not been made.

Reptilia

Elgaria liocephalus—Smooth-headed Alligator Lizard (Jefferson 1991a) Gerrhonotus liocephalus. This is assumed to be a misidentification. The current distribution is from eastern Chihuahua and farther south in Mexico and deemed by myself to be unlikely to have occurred in Pleistocene California. No species account is given.

Elgaria multicarinatus—Southern Alligator Lizard (Jefferson 1991a)

Coluber sp.—Racers and Coachwhips (Jefferson 1991a) Lampropeltis getula—Common Kingsnake (Jefferson 1991a) Pituophis catenifer—Gopher Snake (Jefferson 1991a) Pituophis melanoleucus catenifer

Trimorphodon lyrophanes—California Lyre Snake (Jefferson 1991a) Trimorphodon biscutatus. Trimorphodon biscutatus has been

Gerrhonotus multicarinatus

divided into several species since Jefferson's publication. Based solely on the current distribution, T. lyrophanes is the most likely species represented.

Phrynosoma blainvillii—Blainvill's Horned Lizard (Jefferson 1991a) Phrynosoma coronatum

Sceloporus magister—Desert Spiny Lizard (Jefferson 1991a) Sceloporus occidentalis—Western Spiny Lizard (Jefferson 1991a) Uta stansburiana—Side-blotched Lizard (Jefferson 1991a) Plestiodon skiltonianus—Western Skink (Jefferson 1991a)

Crotalus oreganus—Western Rattlesnake (Jefferson 1991a) Crotalus viridis

Hypsiglena ochrorhyncha—Coast Nightsnake (Jefferson 1991a) Hypsiglena torquata. The genus Hypsiglena has been split into several species; based solely on present distribution, likely H. ochrorhyncha is the species represented.

Eumeces skiltonianus

Aspidoscelis sp.—Whiptails (Jefferson 1991a) Cnemidophorus sp.

Xantusia vigilis—Desert Night Lizard (Jefferson 1991a)

Aves

Anas acuta—Northern Pintail (Jefferson 1991a) Anas clypeata—Northern Shoveler (Jefferson 1991a) Anas crecca—Green-winged Teal (Jefferson 1991a) Anas platyrhynchos—Mallard (Jefferson 1991a) Anas strepera—Gadwall (Jefferson 1991a) Aythya affinis—Lesser Scaup (Jefferson 1991a) Branta canadensis—Canada Goose (Jefferson 1991a) Bucephala sp.—Golden Eyes (Jefferson 1991a) Chen sp.—Chen Geese (Jefferson 1991a) †Chendytes lawi—Law's Flightless Sea Duck (Jefferson 1991a) Oxyura jamaicensis—Ruddy Duck

Pelecanus erythrorhynchus—White Pelican (Jefferson 1991a) Ardea herodias—Great Blue Heron (Jefferson 1991a) Cathartes aura—Turkey Vulture (Jefferson 1991a) Accipiter striatus—Sharp-shinned Hawk (Jefferson 1991a) Buteo jamaicensis—Red-tailed Hawk (Jefferson 1991a) Grus sp.—Cranes (Jefferson 1991a) Fulica americana—American Coot (Jefferson 1991a) Gallinula sp.—Moorhens (Jefferson 1991a) Rallus sp.—Rails (Jefferson 1991a) Charadrius vociferus—Killdeer (Jefferson 1991a) Patagioenas fasciata—Band-tailed Pigeon (Jefferson 1991a) Columba fasciata

(Jefferson 1991a) Callipepla californicus—California Quail (Jefferson 1991a) Meleagris sp.—Turkeys (Jefferson 1991a) Podiceps sp.—Podiceps Grebes (Jefferson 1991a) Podilymbus sp.—Podilymbus Grebes (Jefferson 1991a) Phalacrocorax sp.—Cormorants (Jefferson 1991a)

Tyto alba—Barn Owl (Jefferson 1991a) Caracara cheriway—Crested Caracara (Jefferson 1991a) Polyborus plancus

Falco sp.—Falcons (Jefferson 1991a)

Mammalia

†Mammuthus imperator—Imperial Mammoth (Jefferson 1991b:cf.) †Mammut americanum—American Mastodont (Jefferson 1991b) †Megalonyx sp.—Megalonyx Ground Sloths (Jefferson 1991b) Otospermophilus beecheyi—California Ground Squirrel (Jefferson 1991b) Spermophilus beecheyi

Thomomys bottae—Botta's Pocket Gopher (Jefferson 1991b) Microtus californicus—California Vole (Jefferson 1991b) Neotoma lepida—Desert Woodrat (Jefferson 1991b) Peromyscus sp.—White-footed Mice (Jefferson 1991b) Sigmodon sp.—Cotton Rats (Jefferson 1991b) Lepus sp.—Jackrabbits (Jefferson 1991b) Sylvilagus bachmaniBrush Rabbit— (Jefferson 1991b) Scapanus latimanus—Broad-footed Mole (Jefferson 1991b: cf.)

Lynx sp.—bobcats (Jefferson 1991b) Canis latrans—Coyote (Jefferson 1991b: cf.) Urocyon sp.—Gray Foxes (Jefferson 1991b: cf. gen.) Mephitis sp.—Striped Skunks (Jefferson 1991b) Bassariscus astutus—Ringtail (Jefferson 1991b: cf.) †Eguus occidentalis—Western Horse (Jefferson 1991b: cf.) †Tapirus merriami—Merriam's Tapir (Jefferson 1991b) †Camelops hesternus—Yesterdays Camel (Jefferson 1991b) †Palaeolama mirifica—Stout-legged Llama (Jefferson 1991b: cf.) Cervus elaphus—Elk (Jefferson 1991b) Odocoileus hemionus—Mule Deer (Jefferson 1991b) Antilocapra sp.—Pronghorn (Jefferson 1991b: ? gen.)

Literature. Camp1917; Jefferson 1991a; Jefferson 1991b; Tihen 1962.

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Eureka Street, Victorville San Bernardino Co.

Age. Latest Irvingtonian/Earliest Rancholabrean (Jefferson 1991b). Fauna. †Mammuthus sp.—Mammoths (Jefferson 1991b) Literature. Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 16 Feb 2014

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Falling Arches, Whipple Mountains San Bernardino Co.

Age. Late Wisconsin, 14C 11,650 ± 190 (Jefferson 1991b). Description: Woodrat midden. Fauna. Sauromalus ater—Common Chuckwalla (Jefferson 1991a) Sauromalus obesus

Chionactis occipitalis—Western Shovel-nosed Snake (Jefferson 1991a) Chaetodipus/Perognathus sp.—Spiny or Silky Pocket Mice (Jefferson 1991a) Perognathus sp.

Dipodomys sp.—Kangaroo Rats (Jefferson 1991a) Neotoma sp.—Woodrats (Jefferson 1991a) Sylvilagus sp.—Cottontails (Jefferson 1991a) Literature. Jefferson 1991a; Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 17 Feb 2014

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Flowing Wells no. 3, East Mesa CA: Imperial Co.

Age. Rancholabrean (Jefferson 1991a). Fauna. Xyrauchen texanus—Razorback Sucker (Jefferson 1991a) Actinemys pallida—Southern Western Pond Turtle (Jefferson 1991a: ? gen. et sp.) Clemmys marmorata

Literature. Jefferson 1991a.

Last Update: 8 Jun 2014

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Flowing Wells no. 10, East Mesa CA: Imperial Co.

Age. Rancholabrean (Jefferson 1991a). Fauna. Gila elegans—Bonytail Chub (Jefferson 1991a) Literature. Jefferson 1991a.

Last Update: 2 Jan 2014

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Fort Irwin, Artillery Range Number 10 San Bernardino Co.

Age. Irvingtonian/Rancholabrean (Jefferson 1991b). Fauna. †Nothrotheriops shastensis—Shasta Ground Sloth (McDonald and Jefferson 2008) †Panthera onca—Jaguar (Jefferson 1991b) Canis sp.—Large Wolf (Jefferson 1991b) †Equus sp.—Horses (Jefferson 1991b) Literature. Jefferson 1991a; Jefferson 1991b; McDonald and Jefferson 2008.

Last Update: 27 Apr 2014

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Fullerton CA: Orange Co.

Age. Wisconsin (Jefferson 1991b). Fauna. †Equus sp.—Horses (Jefferson 1991b) Literature. Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 22 Jan 2014

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Galivan CA: Orange Co.

Age. Rancholabrean (Jefferson 1991b). Fauna. Bison sp.—Bison (Jefferson 1991b) Literature. Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 22 Jan 2014

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Garanon Canyon, Santa Rosa Island CA: Santa Barbara Co.

Age. Mid/Late Wisconsin, based on dates from Jefferson (1991b). Fauna. †Mammuthus exilis—Pygmy Mammoth (Jefferson 1991b) Literature. Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 6 Feb 2014

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Gaviota Pass CA: Santa Barbara Co.

Age. Rancholabrean (Jefferson 1991b). Fauna. †Mammut sp.—Mastodonts (Jefferson 1991b) Literature. Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 6 Feb 2014

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General MacArthur Boulevard, Newport Bay Mesa, Newport Beach California: Orange County

Age. Sangamon (Jefferson 1991a). Fauna. †Chendytes sp.—Flightless Sea Ducks (Jefferson 1991a) †Mammuthus sp.—Mammoths (Jefferson 1991b) Literature. Jefferson 1991a; Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 21 Jan 2014

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Glasell and Fletcher, Orange CA: Orange Co.

Age. Rancholabrean (Jefferson 1991b). Fauna. †Equus sp.—Horses (Jefferson 1991b) Literature. Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 22 Jan 2014

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Glen Abbey, Bonita CA: San Diego Co.

Age. Majors (1993) tentatively assigns the age as Wisconsin, pointing out that the fauna limits the age to either Sangamon or Wisconsin and that mesic indicators make the latter most likely. Jefferson (1991b) listed as Rancholabrean. The fossil exposures are present in the lower portion of a road cut on Bonito Road near Glen Abbey Mortuary (Majors 1993). Fauna. Elgaria sp.—Alligator Lizards (Majors 1993: cf. gen.) Phrynosoma sp.—Horned Lizards (Majors 1993) Plestiodon sp.—Skinks (Major 1993) Eumeces sp.

Melanitta sp.—Scoters ((Majors 1993)

Slightly larger than extant M. perspicillata

Callipepla californica—California Quail (Majors 1993) †Ectopistes migratorius—Passenger Pigeon (Majors 1993) Spermophile sp.—Spermophiles ((Majors 1993) Spermophilus sp.

Dipodomys sp.—Kangaroo Rats ((Majors 1993) Chaetodipus/Perognathus—Spiny or Silky Pocket Mice (Jefferson 1991b) Perognathus sp.

Thomomys bottae—Botta's Pocket Gopher (Majors 1993: cf.) Microtus californicus—California Vole (Majors 1993) Neotoma sp.—Woodrats ((Majors 1993) Peromyscus maniculatus—Deer Mouse (Majors 1993) Reithrodontomys megalotis‐Western Harvest Mouse (Majors 1993) Lepus californicus—Black-tailed Jackrabbit ((Majors 1993) Sylvilagus sp.—Cottontails ((Majors 1993) Notiosorex crawfordi—Crawford's Gray Shrew ((Majors 1993) Sorex ornatus—Ornate Shrew ((Majors 1993: cf.) Scapanus latimanus—Broad-footed Mole ((Majors 1993) Tadarida sp.—Free-tailed Bats (Majors 1993: cf. gen.) Lasiurus sp.—Hairy-tailed Bats ((Majors 1993: cf. gen.) †Equus sp.—Horses ((Majors 1993) Literature. Jefferson 1991b; Majors 1993.

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Goldfish Point, La Jolla CA: San Diego Co.

Age. Rancholabrean (Jefferson 1991b). Fauna. †Equus sp.—Horses (Jefferson 1991b) Literature. Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 31 Jan 2014

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Goleta CA: Santa Barbara Co.

Age. Rancholabrean (Jefferson 1991b). Fauna. †Mammut sp.—Mastodonts (Jefferson 1991b) Literature. Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 6 Feb 2014

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Gypsum Ridge CA: San Bernardino Co.

Age. Early Irvingtonian, 1.95 to 2.1 Ma (Wagner and Prothero 2001). General Description.The site appears to represent the progradation of an alluvial fan onto a shallow lake (Wagner and Prothero 2001). Approximately 24 sites within a 55-ft stratigraphic section produced the Gypsum Ridge local fauna (Wagner and Prothero (2001). Fauna. Anaxyrus sp.—True Toads (Wagner and Prothero 2001) Bufo sp.

†Hesperotestudo campester— Flat Giant Tortoise (Wagner and Prothero 2001: cf.) Rallus sp.—Rails (Wagner and Prothero 2001) Uria sp.—Murres (Wagner and Prothero 2001) †Paramylodon harlani—Harlan's Ground Sloth (Wagner and Prothero 2001) †Nothrotheriops texanus—Texas Ground Sloth (Wagner and Prothero 2001) Chaetodipus/Perognathus sp.—Spiny or Silky Pocket Mice (Wagner and Prothero 2001) Perognathus sp.

Dipodomys sp.—Kangaroo Rats (Wagner and Prothero 2001: cf.) †Ondatra idahoensis—Idaho Muskrat (Wagner and Prothero 2001) †Neotoma (Paraneotoma)—Paraneotoma Wood Rats (Wagner and Prothero 2001) Paraneotoma sp.

Reithrodontomys sp.—Harvest Mice (Wagner and Prothero 2001) †Sigmodon medius—Intermediate Cotton Rat (Wagner and Prothero 2001) Sigmodon minor medius

Erethizon sp.—Porcupines (Wagner and Prothero 2001) †Hypolagus furlongi—Furlong's Rabbit (Wagner and Prothero 2001: cf.) Sylvilagus sp.—Cottontails (Wagner and Prothero 2001) Bassariscus sp.—Ringtails (Wagner and Prothero 2001) †Equus sp.—Horses (Wagner and Prothero 2001) †Hemiauchenia sp.— (Wagner and Prothero 2001: cf. gen.) Literature. Mead et al. 2005; Van Devender and King 1971; Wagner and Prothero 2001.

Last Update: 15 Apr 2015

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Helendale Marl Quarry San Bernardino Co.

Age. Rancholabrean (Jefferson 1991b). Fauna. Phrynosoma sp.—Horned Lizards (Jefferson 1991a) Zenaida macroura—Morning Dove (Jefferson 1991a) Chaetodipus/Perognathus sp.—Spiny or Silky Pocket Mice (Jefferson 1991b) Perognathus sp.

Dipodomys sp.—Kangaroo Rats (Jefferson 1991b) Thomomys sp.—Western Pocket Gophers (Jefferson 1991b) Neotoma sp.—Wood Rats (Jefferson 1991b) Lepus sp.—Jack Rabbits (Jefferson 1991b) Literature. Jefferson 1991a; Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 17 Feb 2014

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Hope Ranch, Santa Barbara CA: Santa Barbara Co.

Age. Rancholabrean (Jefferson 1991b). Fauna. †Mammuthus sp.—Mammoths (Jefferson 1991b) Literature. Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 6 Feb 2014

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Huntington Beach CA: Orange Co.

Age. Rancholabrean (Jefferson 1991b). Fauna. †Mammuthus sp.—Mammoths (Jefferson 1991b) Bison sp.—Bison (Jefferson 1991b) Literature. Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 22 Jan 2014

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Imperial Beach, Palm City CA: San Diego Co.

Age. Rancholabrean (Jefferson 1991b). Fauna. †Equus sp.—Large Horses (Jefferson 1991b) Literature. Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 31 Jan 2014

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Imperial Highway, La Habra California: Orange County

Age. Wisconsin (Jefferson 1991a). Fauna. †Meleagris californica—California Turkey (Jefferson 1991a) †Paramylodon harlani—Harlan's Ground Sloth (Jefferson 1991b: cf.) Glossotherium sp.

†Mammuthus columbi—Columbian Mammoth (Jefferson 1991b) †Mammut americanum—American Mastodont (Jefferson 1991b: cf.) †Eguus sp.—Horses (Jefferson 1991b) †Camelops sp.—American Camels (Jefferson 1991b: cf. gen.) Odocoileus sp.—Deer (Jefferson 1991b) Antilocapra sp.—Pronghorns (Jefferson 1991b) Literature. Jefferson 1991a; Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 21 Jan 2014

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Irish Canyon CA: San Luis Obispo Co.

Age. Rancholabrean (Jefferson 1991b). Dates (Jefferson et al. 1992) indicate early and/or mid Wisconsin. General Description:Two nearby localities are listed under this name (Jefferson et al. 1992), one northwest of the canyon mouth (Bison antiquus) and one southeast of the mouth (Equus cf. occidentalis). Fauna. †Equus occidentalis—Western Horse (Jefferson 1991b: cf.) †Bison antiquus—Ancient Bison (Jefferson 1991b) Literature. Jefferson 1991b; Jefferson et al. 1992.

Last Update: 4 Feb 2014

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Isla Vista CA: Santa Barbara Co.

Age. Rancholabrean (Jefferson 1991b). Fauna. †Equus sp.—Horses (Jefferson 1991b) Literature. Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 6 Feb 2014

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Jack Rabbit Trail Gravel Pit, San Jacinto Valley CA: Riverside Co. Age. Rancholabrean (Jefferson 1991b). Fauna. †Equus sp.—Horses (Jefferson 1991b) Literature. Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 25 Jan 2014

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Jalama State Park CA: Santa Barbara Co.

Age. Rancholabrean (Jefferson 1991b). Fauna. †Mammuthus sp.—Mammoths (Jefferson 1991b) †Equus sp.—Horses (Jefferson 1991b) Literature. Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 6 Feb 2014

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Kelly Pits, Palisades Rd., Newport Beach California: Orange County

Age. Sangamon (Jefferson 1991a). Fauna. Actinemys sp.—Pond Turtles (Jefferson 1991a) Clemmys sp.

Dipodomys sp.—Kangaroo Rats (Jefferson 1991b) †Eguus sp.—Horses (Jefferson 1991b) Literature. Jefferson 1991a; Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 21 Jan 2014

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Kingston Wash San Bernardino Co.

Age. Rancholabrean (Jefferson 1991b). Description: Kingston Wash Lacustrine Sediments, north Cima Road (Jefferson 1991b). Fauna. †Mammuthus sp.—Mammoths (Jefferson 1991b) †Equus sp.—Horses (Jefferson 1991b) Literature. Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 17 Feb 2014

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Kokoweef Cave San Bernardino Co.: 1770 m.

Age. Late Wisconsin/Holocene (Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991). Description: San Bernardino County Museum personnel collected fossils from 11 feet below datum to a depth of 45 feet below datum; stratigraphy was measured in 1-ft intervals (Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991). Although there appears to have been some confusion regarding radiocarbon dates (Bell and Jass 2004), the date of 9830 ± 150 from the 21.5 ft level (Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991) appears to be correct. For most taxa, stratigraphic depth in relation to the radiocarbon date is unavailable. However, Force (1991) listed depth in meters for woodrat dentition, stating that the date was from charcoal at a depth of 7 m. Neotoma albigula was not identified below 5.7 m depth and thus is not listed below as presumptive Holocene. Goodwin and Reynolds (1989) noted depth for the sciurid rodents, all of which occurred below the radiocarbon date. Fauna. Osteichthyes Gila sp.—Chubs (Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991) Chelonia Gopherus agassizii—Agassiz's Desert Tortoise (Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991) Reptilia Crotaphytus collaris—Eastern Collared Lizard (Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991) Gambelia wislizenii—Long-nosed Leopard Lizard (Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991) Coleonyx variegatus—Western Banded Gecko (Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991) Sauromalus ater—Chuckwalla (Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991) Sauromalus obesus

Phrynosoma platyrhinos—Desert Horned Lizards (Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991) Sceloporus magister—Spiny Lizard (Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991: cf.)

Sceloporus sp. B—Spiny Lizard (Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991) Plestiodon gilberti—Gilbert's Skink (Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991: cf.) Eumeces sp.

Aspidoscelis sp.—Whiptail (Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991) Cnemidophorus sp.

Lampropeltis getula—Common Kingsnake (Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991) Masticophis sp.—Coachwhip (Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991) Pituophis catenifer—Gopher Snake (Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991) Pituophis melanoleucus

Rhinocheilus lecontei—Long-nosed Snake (Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991) Salvadora hexalepis—Western Patch-nosed Snake (Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991) Trimorphodon lambda/lyrophanes—Sonora or California Lyre Snake (Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991) Trimorphodon biscutatus. T. biscutatus has been split into several species; both the Sonora and California lyre snakes currently occur in the Kokoweef Cave region.

Crotalus sp. A—Rattlesnake (Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991) Crotalus sp. B—Rattlesnake (Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991) Aves Centrocercus sp.—Sage Grouse (Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991: ? gen.) †Meleagris crassipes—Big-footed Turkey (Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991; cf.) Meleagris sp. cf. M. crassidens. Presumably this is a lapsis for M. crassipes.

Aechmophorus occidentalis—Western Grebe (Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991) Podiceps nigricollis—Eared Grebe (Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991: cf.) Gymnogyps californianus—California Condor (Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991) Gymnogyps cf. G. amplus

Buteo jamaicensis—Red-tailed Hawk (Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991: cf.) Fulica americana—American Coot (Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991) Megascops kennicottii—Western Screech Owl (Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991: cf.) Otus cf. O. asio

Falco mexicanus—Prairie Falcon (Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991) Falco sparverius—American Kestrel (Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991) Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus—Pinyon Jay (Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991) Oporornis sp.—Oporornis Warbler (Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991: cf. gen.) Mammalia Ammospermophilus leucurus—White-tailed Antelope Squirrel (Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991: cf.) Callospermophilus lateralis—Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel (Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991) S[permophilus]. lateralis

Marmota flaviventris—Yellow-bellied Marmot (Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991) Otospermophilus variegatus—Rock Squirrel (Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991: cf.) S[permophilus] variegatus

Tamias sp. (small)—Chipmunk (Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991) Tamias sp. (large)—Chipmunk (Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991) Tamias minimus—Least Chipmunk (Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991)

Urocitellus townsendii—Townsend's Ground Squirrel (Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991) Spermophilus townsendii. Although given here as the species recorded by (Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991), modern distributions suggest the possibility of Urocitellus mollis; see the U. townsendii account.

Xerospermophilus mohavensis—Mohave Ground Squirrel (Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991: ?) Spermophilus sp. ? S. mohavensis

Chaetodipus sp.—Spiny Pocket Mice (Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991) Perognathus (Chaetodipus)

Dipodomys sp.—Kangaroo Rats (Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991) Perognathus (Perognathus) sp.—Silky Pocket Mice (Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991) Thomomys bottae—Botta's Pocket Gopher (Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991) Lemmiscus curtatus—Sagebrush Vole (Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991) Lagurus curtatus

Microtus californicus—California Vole (Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991) Neotoma cinerea—Bushy-tailed Woodrat (Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991) Neotoma cinerea or Neotoma mexicana—Bushy-tailed or Mexican Woodrat (Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991) Neotoma lepida—Desert Woodrat (Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991) Neotoma stevensi—Stephen's Woodrat (Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991) Peromyscus (Peromyscus) sp.—Peromyscus Deer Mice (Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991) Peromyscus (Haplomylomys) sp.—Haplomylomys Deer Mice (Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991) Reithrodontomys megalotis—Western Harvest Mouse (Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991) Lepus californicus—Black-tailed Jack Rabbit (Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991) Sylvilagus audubonii—Desert Cottontail (Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991: cf.) Ochotona princeps—American Pika (Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991) Notiosorex crawfordi—Crawford's Gray Shrew (Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991) Sorex (Otisorex) tenellus—Inyo Shrew (Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991: ?) Antrozous pallidus—Pallid Bat (Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991) Corynorhinus townsendii—Townsend's Big-eared Bat (Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991: cf.) Plecotus townsendii

Myotis ciliolabrum—Western Small-footed Myotis (Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991) Myotis subulatus leibii

Myotis thysanodes—Fringe-tailed Myotis (Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991) Lynx rufus—Bobcat (Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991) Canis latrans—Coyote (Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991) Urocyon cinereoargenteus—Gray Fox (Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991) Vulpes macrotis—Kit Fox (Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991) Mustela frenata—Long-tailed Weasel (Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991) Taxidea taxus—American Badger (Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991) Spilogale gracilis—Western Spotted Skunk (Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991) Spilogale putorius

Bassariscus astutus—ringtail (Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991) †Eguus conversidens—Mexican Horse (Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991) †Camelops hesternus—Yesterday's Camel (Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991: cf.) †Hemiauchenia sp.—North American Llamas (Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991) Odocoileus sp.—Deer (Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991)

Antilocapra americana—Pronghorn (Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991) Ovis canadensis—Bighorn Sheep (Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991) Literature. Force 1991; Goodwin and Reynolds 1989; Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991.

Last Update: 28 May 2014

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Kramer San Bernardino Co.

Age. Rancholabrean (Jefferson 1991b). Fauna. Gopherus sp.—Gopherus Tortoises (Jefferson 1991a) Lepus sp.—Jack Rabbits (Jefferson 1991b) Sylvilagus sp.—Cottontails (Jefferson 1991b: ? gen.) †Equus sp.—Horses (Jefferson 1991b) †Hemiauchenia sp.—American Llamas (Jefferson 1991b) Antilocapra sp.—Pronghorns (Jefferson 1991b) Literature. Jefferson 1991a; Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 17 Feb 2014

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Laguna Beach CA: Orange Co.

Age. ?Holocene, but Jefferson (1991b) also gives a 14C date of 17,150 ± 1,470 BP. Fauna. Homo sapiens—Human (Jefferson 1991b) Literature. Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 22 Jan 2014

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Laguna Hills, Moreland Tract CA: Orange Co.

Age. Rancholabrean (Jefferson 1991b). Fauna. †Equus sp.—Horses (Jefferson 1991b) †Camelops sp.—American Camels (Jefferson 1991b) Bison sp.—Bison (Jefferson 1991b) Literature. Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 22 Jan 2014

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Laguna Niguel CA: Orange Co.

Age. Rancholabrean (Jefferson 1991b). Fauna. †Mammuthus sp.—Mammoths (Jefferson 1991b) †Equus sp.—Horses (Jefferson 1991b) †Tapirus californicus—Tapirs (Jefferson 1991b: cf.) Bison sp.—Bison (Jefferson 1991b) Literature. Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 22 Jan 2014

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La Jolla Shores CA: San Diego Co.

Age. Rancholabrean (Jefferson 1991b). Fauna. †Bison sp.—Bison (Jefferson 1991b) Literature. Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 2 Feb 2014

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Lakeview Hot Spring CA: Riverside Co. Age. Rancholabrean (Jefferson 1991a). Fauna. Actinemys sp.— Pond Turtles (Jefferson 1991a: ? gen.) Clemmys

†Equus sp.—Large Horse (Jefferson 1991b) Literature. Jefferson 1991a.

Last Update: 24 Jan 2014

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Lake Manix San Bernardino Co.

Age. Irvingtonian/Rancholabrean, uranium series and radiocarbon dates from uranium series and 14C, ≥350 to 14 ka BP (Jefferson 1991b). "Most taxa and the majority of specimens fall between 200 and about 300 Kyr BP" (Jefferson 1985). Jefferson (1985) gives a further chronological breakdown. Bison, according to Scott and Cox (2008), is limited to the younger deposits between ca. 35 to 19 ka. Fauna. Gila bicolor mojavensis—Mohave Tui Chub (Jefferson 1991a) Gasterosteus aculeatus—Three-spined Stickleback (Jefferson 1991a) Actinemys pallida—Southern Western Pond Turtle (Jefferson 1991a) Clemmys marmorata

Gopherus agassizii—Agassiz's Desert Tortoise (Jefferson 1991a) Anas crecca—Green-winged Teal(Jefferson 1991a) Anas platyrhynchos—Mallard (Jefferson 1991a: cf.) Aythya sp.—Diving Ducks (Jefferson 1991a) Branta canadensis—Canadian Goose (Jefferson 1991a) Cygnus columbianus—Tundra Swan (Jefferson 1991a: cf.) Mergus merganser—Common Merganser (Jefferson 1991a: cf.) Oxyura jamaicensis—Ruddy Duck (Jefferson 1991a) Gavia pacifica—Pacific Loon (Jefferson 1991a: cf.) Aechmophorus occidentalis—Western Grebe (Jefferson 1991a) Podiceps nigricollis—Eared Grebe (Jefferson 1991a: cf.) †Phoenicopterus copei—Cope's Flamingo (Jefferson 1991a) †Phoenicopterus minutus—Minute Flamingo (Jefferson 1991a) †Ciconia maltha—La Brea Stork (Jefferson 1991a) Phalacrocorax auritus—Double-crested Cormorant (Jefferson 1991a) †Phalacrocorax macropus—Big-footed Cormorant (Jefferson 1991a) Pelecanus erythrorhynchos—White Pelican (Jefferson 1991a: aff.) Aquila chrysaetos—Golden Eagle (Jefferson 1991a) Haliaeetus leucocephalus—Bald Eagle (Jefferson 1991a) Fulica americana—American Coot (Jefferson 1991a) Grus sp.—Cranes (Jefferson 1991a) Actitis sp.—Sandpipers (Jefferson 1991a: cf. gen.) †Larus oregonus—Oregon Gull (Jefferson 1991a: cf.)

Bubo virginianus—Great Horned Owl (Jefferson 1991a) †Mammuthus sp.—Mammoths (Jefferson 1991b) †Megalonyx sp.—Megalonyx Ground Sloths (Jefferson 1991b) †Nothrotheriops shastensis—(Jefferson 1991b: cf.) †Paramylodon sp.—Paramylodon Ground Sloths (Jefferson 1991b) Glossotherium sp.

Lepus sp.—Jack Rabbits (Jefferson 1991b) Felis sp.—Cats (Jefferson 1991b) †Homotherium crenatidens—Robust Scimitar Cat (Jefferson and Tejada-Fiores 1993: cf.) †Homotherium serum—Scimitar Cat (Jefferson and Tejada-Fiores 1993: ?) †Canis dirus—Dire Wolf (Jefferson 1991b: cf.) Canis latrans—Coyote (Jefferson 1991b) †Arctodus sp.—Short-faced Bear (Jefferson 1991b) Ursus sp.—Bears (Jefferson 1991b: cf. gen.) †Eguus conversidens—Mexican Horse (Jefferson 1991b: cf.) †Eguus sp. (large)—Large Horses (Jefferson 1991b) †Camelops hesternus—Yesterday's Camel (Jefferson 1991b: cf.) †Camelops minidokae—Minidoka Camel (Jefferson 1991b: aff.) †Hemiauchenia macrocephala—Big-headed Llama (Jefferson 1991b) Antilocapra sp.—Pronghorns (Jefferson 1991b) †Bison antiquus—Ancient Bison (Jefferson 1991b: cf.) Ovis canadensis—Bighorn Sheep (Jefferson 1991b) Literature. Jefferson 1985; Jefferson 1991a, 1991b; Jefferson and Tejada-Fiores 1993; Scott and Cox 2008.

Last Update: 8 Jun 2014

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La Mirada, Coyote Creek CA: Los Angles Co.

Age. Late Wisconsin; 10690 ± 360, 8550 ± 100 BP (Jefferson 1991b) The more recent date was on wood at about at about 12 ft below the surface, with Pleistocene extinct fossils immediately above and below (Berger and Libby 1969). I'm considering the site as late Wisconsin, but readers should be aware that Holocene material may be mixed in. Fauna. Rana sp.—Brown Frogs (Jefferson 1991a: cf. gen.) Actinemys sp.—Pond Turtles (Jefferson 1991a) Clemmys sp.

Callipepla sp.—Quail (Jefferson 1991a) †Meleagris californica—California Turkey (Jefferson 1991a) †Mammut americanum—American Mastodont (Jefferson 1991b) †Megalonyx sp.—Megalonyx Ground Sloths (Jefferson 1991b) Thomomys bottae—Botta's Pocket Gopher (Jefferson 1991b) Microtus californicus—California Vole (Jefferson 1991b: cf.) Peromyscus sp.—White-footed Mice (Jefferson 1991b) Sylvilagus sp.—Cottontails (Jefferson 1991b) Lynx rufus—Bobcat (Jefferson 1991b: cf.) †Canis dirus—Dire Wolf (Jefferson 1991b: cf.) Canis latrans—Coyote (Jefferson 1991b: cf.) Urocyon cinereoargenteus—Gray Fox (Jefferson 1991b: cf.) Ursus americanus—Black Bear (Jefferson 1991b) †Equus sp.—Horses (Jefferson 1991b) †Camelops hesternus—Yesterday's Camel (Jefferson 1991b: cf.) Odocoileus hemionus—Mule Deer (Jefferson 1991b: cf.) Bison sp.—Bison (Jefferson 1991b) Literature. Berger and Libby 1969; Jefferson 1991a; Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 14 Jan 2014

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Las Posas Hills Ventura Co.

Age. Rancholabrean (Jefferson 1991b). Fauna. †Equus sp.—Horses (Jefferson 1991b) Literature. Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 20 Feb 2014

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Leon, Victorville San Bernardino Co.

Age. Late Irvingtonian/Early Rancholabrean (Jefferson 1991b). Fauna. †Equus sp.—Horses (Jefferson 1991b) Literature. Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 18 Feb 2014

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Lincoln Ave., Playa Del Rey CA: Los Angles Co.

Age. Sangamon (Jefferson 1991a). Description: Lincoln Blvd., in the Del Rey Hills, about 2 miles east northeast of Playa del Rey (Howard 1936). This is the type locality of Mora reyana (Howard 1936). Fauna. †Chendytes lawi—Law's Flightless Sea Duck (Howard 1936) Gavia sp.—Loons (Howard 1936) Aechmophorus occidentalis—Western Grebe (Howard 1936) Phoebastria albatrus—Short-tailed Albatross (Howard 1936) Diomedea albatrus

Puffinus griseus—Sooty Shearwater (Howard 1936) Puffinus opisthomelas—Black-vented Shearwater (Howard 1936) †Mora reyana—Playa Del Rey Gannet (Howard 1936) Uria aalge—Common Murre (Howard 1936) Corvus corax—Common Raven (Howard 1936) Literature. Howard 1936; Jefferson 1991a.

Last Update: 13 Jan 2014

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Long Canyon Ventura Co.

Age. ?Rancholabrean. Synonyms. Wiggens Canyon. Description. Long Canyon, east of Harmon Canyon, Santa Clara Valley (Jefferson 1991b). Fauna. †Equus sp.—Horses (Jefferson 1991b) Literature. Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 20 Feb 2014

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Los Alamos and West Los Alamos CA: Santa Barbara Co.

Age. Rancholabrean (Jefferson 1991b). Fauna. †Paramylodon sp.—Paramylodon Ground Sloth (Jefferson 1991b) Glossotherium harlani

†Equus sp.—Horses (Jefferson 1991b) Literature. Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 6 Feb 2014

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Los Angeles A - D CA: Los Angeles Co.

There is a relatively large number of sites within Los Angeles County (most within the city limits of Los Angeles), with many of the sites with only one or a few taxa. To keep the number of linked sites to a reasonable number, the decision has been made to handle many of these under three groupings: Los Angeles A D, Los Angeles E - M, and Los Angeles N - Z. Within each major group, sites are grouped by age. Sites dated as 18O substage 5e (130-120 ka BP) in Jefferson (1991a, 1991b) are assigned to the Sangamon interglacial for our purposes. Since many of the site names will be unfamiliar to persons not attuned to Los Angeles and vicinity, the site names from the three Los Angeles County site accounts are underlined in the taxon accounts, indicating that they are located within Los Angeles County.

Rancholabrean Age Acton Railroad Station, Soledad Canyon

Centinella Park

Fauna.

Fauna.

†Mammuthus columbi—Columbian Mammoth (Jefferson 1991b)

†Megalonyx sp.—Megalonyx Sloths (Jefferson 1991b) †Panthera atrox—American Lion (Jefferson 1991b: cf.) Mustela frenata—Long-tailed Weasel

Alameda St. and Sepulveda Blvd., Carson

Fauna. Bison sp.—Bison (Jefferson 1991b) Alhambra and Workman streets (Workman Storm Drain)

(Jefferson 1991b: cf.) †Platygonus sp.—Flat-headed Peccaries (Jefferson 1991b) †Capromeryx sp.—Diminutive Pronghorns (Jefferson 1991b) Century Blvd. and Van Ness Ave.

Fauna.

Fauna.

Meleagris californica—California Turkey (Jefferson 1991a: ?)

†Mammuthus sp.—Mammoths (Jefferson 1991b) †Paramylodon sp.—Paramylodon Ground Sloth (Jefferson 1991b)

Alameda and Workman streets (Workman Storm Drain) Fauna. †Smilodon fatalis—Sabertooth (Jefferson 1991b: cf.) †Equus sp.—Horses (Jefferson 1991b) Odocoileus hemionus—Mule Deer (Jefferson 1991b) Anaheim Blvd. and Vermont Ave., San Pedro Fauna. †Tapirus californicus—California Tapir (Jefferson 1991b: cf.)

Glossotherium

Thomomys bottae—Botta's Pocket Gopher (Jefferson 1991b) †Equus sp. (large)—Large Horses (Jefferson 1991b) †Bison latifrons—Giant Bison (Jefferson 1991b) Chandler Oil Field, Puente Hills, Whittier Fauna. Bison bison—Bison (Jefferson 1991b) Channel St. between Gaffey St. and Harbor Freeway, San Pedro Fauna.

Anaheim Blvd. and Henry Ford Blvd. Fauna. †Equus sp.—Horses (Jefferson 1991b) Bison sp.—Bison (Jefferson 1991b) Artesia Fauna.

Pelecanus erythrorhynchos—American White Pelican (Jefferson 1991a) Brachyramphus sp.—Murrelets (Jefferson 1991a) Chatsworth, Plumer, and Farralone avenues Fauna.

†Equus sp. (small)— (Jefferson 1991b) Athens on the Hill Fauna. †Mammuthus sp.—Mammoths (Jefferson 1991b) Ballona Creek Wash Fauna. †Mammuthus sp.—Mammoths (Jefferson 1991b) Homo sapiens—Human (Jefferson 1991b) †Equus sp.—Horses (Jefferson 1991b) †Camelops sp.—American Camels (Jefferson 1991b) Beverly Blvd. and Kilkea Drive

†Equus sp.—Horses (Jefferson 1991b) Cherry Ave. and Spring St., Long Beach Fauna. †Mammuthus sp.—Mammoths (Jefferson 1991b) Compton Fauna. †Mammuthus sp.—Mammoths (Jefferson 1991b) Consolidated Rock Co., Alameda St. near 26th St. Fauna. †Mammut americanum—American Mastodont (Jefferson 1991b) Crenshaw Blvd. and 236th St., Torrance

Fauna. †Mammut americanum—American Mastodont (Jefferson 1991b) †Mammuthus columbi—Columbian Mammoth (Jefferson 1991b: cf.)

Fauna. †Equus sp.—Horses (Jefferson 1991b) Culver City East

Beverly Hills Fauna. Fauna. †Mammut sp.—Mastodonts (Jefferson 1991b)

†Equus sp.—Horses (Jefferson 1991b) †Camelops sp.—American Camels (Jefferson 1991b)

Bixby Road between Atlantic and Orange avenues, Long Beach

Cypress and Slauson avenues, Hyde Park

Fauna.

Fauna.

†Mammuthus sp.—Mammoths (Jefferson 1991b: ? gen.) Bixby Park, Long Beach Fauna.

†Mammuthus columbi—Columbian Mammoth (Jefferson 1991b) †Mammut americanum—American Mastodont (Jefferson 1991b) †Equus sp.—Horses (Jefferson 1991b) †Camelops hesternus—Yesterday's Camel (Jefferson 1991b)

†Mammuthus columbi—Columbian Mammoth (Jefferson 1991b: cf.) Blue Diamond Company, Alameda and 16th streets Fauna. †Mammuthus columbi—Columbian Mammoth (Jefferson 1991b: cf.) †Bison antiquus—Ancient Bison (Jefferson 1991b: cf.)

Dacolite Quarry, Walteria Fauna. †Mammuthus sp.—Mammoths (Jefferson 1991b) Davidson Brick Quarry, Belvedere Fauna. †Equus sp.—Horses (Jefferson 1991b)

Brickyard, 13633 South Central Ave. Fauna. †Mammuthus sp.—Mammoths (Jefferson 1991b)

Decker Road, Malibu Fauna. Bison sp.—Bison (Jefferson 1991b) Dominguez Hills Fauna. †Mammuthus sp.—Mammoths (Jefferson 1991b)

Sangamon Interglacial Anaheim Blvd. and Normandy Ave., Harbor City

Gavia sp.—Loons (Jefferson 1991a) Aechmophorus occidentalis—Western Grebe (Jefferson 1991a)

Fauna. †Equus sp.—Horses (Jefferson 1991b) Bison sp.—Bison (Jefferson 1991b) Bixby Slough (Harbor Lake), Harbor City Fauna. †Chendytes lawi—Law's Flightless Sea Duck (Jefferson 1991a)

†Mammuthus columbi—Columbian Mammoth (Jefferson 1991b: cf.) †Mammut americanum—American Mastodont (Jefferson 1991b) †Megalonyx sp.—Megalonyx Ground Sloths (Jefferson 1991b) †Equus sp.—Horses (Jefferson 1991b) †Tapirus californicus—California Tapir (Jefferson 1991b: cf.) Odocoileus hemionus—Mule Deer (Jefferson 1991b: cf.) Bison sp.—Bison (Jefferson 1991b)

Chandler Sand Pit, Rolling Hills Estates Fauna. †Chendytes lawi—Law's Flightless Sea Duck (Jefferson 1991a)

Wisconsin Age Bluefield, Whittier

Agua Amarga Canyon, Palos Verdes Hills, ? Wisconsin Age Fauna. †Bison latifrons—Giant Bison (Jefferson 1991b)

Fauna. †Equus sp.—Horses (Jefferson 1991b)

Literature. Howard 1936; Jefferson 1991a; Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 11 Mar 2014

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Los Angeles E - M CA: Los Angeles Co.

There is a relatively large number of sites within Los Angeles County (most within the city limits of Los Angeles), with many of the sites with only one or a few taxa. To keep the number of linked sites to a reasonable number, the decision has been made to handle many of these under three groupings: Los Angeles A D, Los Angeles E - M, and Los Angeles N - Z. Within each major group, sites are grouped by age. Sites dated as 18O substage 5e (130-120 ka BP) in Jefferson (1991a, 1991b) are assigned to the Sangamon interglacial for our purposes. Since many of the site names will be unfamiliar to persons not attuned to Los Angeles and vicinity, the site names from the three Los Angeles County site accounts are underlined in the taxon accounts, indicating that they are located within Los Angeles County.

Rancholabrean Age Figueroa and Sepulveda Boulevards, Carson Fauna. †Mammuthus sp.—Mammoths (Jefferson 1991b) Frito-Lay Plant, Westchester

Long Beach near Belmont Pier Fauna. †Tapirus sp.—Tapirs (Jefferson 1991b) †Bison antiquus sp.—Ancient Bison (Jefferson 1991b: cf.)

Los Angeles Brick Yard No. 3 Fauna. †Mammuthus columbi—Columbian Mammoth (Jefferson 1991b) Fourth and Mesa streets, San Pedro Fauna. †Chendytes sp.—Flightless Sea Ducks (Jefferson 1991a) Diomedea sp.—Albatrosses (Jefferson 1991a) †Mammut sp.—Mastodonts (Jefferson 1991b) Gaffey St. and Agajanian Dr., San Pedro

Fauna. Actinemys pallida—Southern Western Pond Turtle (Jefferson 1991a) Clemmys marmorata

†Mammuthus columbi—Columbian Mammoth (Jefferson 1991b: cf.) †Mammut americanum—American Mastodont (Jefferson 1991b) †Paramylodon harlani—Harlan's Ground Sloth (Jefferson 1991b) Glossotherium harlani

†Equus sp.—Horses (Jefferson 1991b) †Camelops sp.—American Camels (Jefferson 1991b) Bison sp.—Bison (Jefferson 1991b) Los Angeles Harbor Berth No. 128

Fauna. †Mammuthus sp.—Mammoths (Jefferson 1991b) Harbor Blvd. and First St., San Pedro

Fauna. †Paramylodon sp.—Paramylodon Ground Sloths (Jefferson 1991b) Glossotherium

†Equus sp.—Horses (Jefferson 1991b)

Fauna. †Equus sp.—Horses (Jefferson 1991b) Harbor Freeway, Athens Fauna. †Mammuthus sp.—Mammoths (Jefferson 1991b) Otospermophilus beecheyi—California Ground Squirrel (Jefferson 1991b: cf.) Spermophilus beecheyi

†Capromeryx sp.—Diminutive Pronghorns (Jefferson 1991b) Harbor Freeway and 99th St.

Los Angeles Police Station Fauna. Actinemys sp.—Pond Turtle (Jefferson 1991a) Clemmys sp.

Thomomys bottae—Botta's Pocket Gopher (Jefferson 1991b) Microtus sp.—Voles (Jefferson 1991b) Peromyscus sp.—White-footed Mice (Jefferson 1991b) Sylvilagus sp.—Cottontails (Jefferson 1991b) †Canis dirus—Dire Wolf (Jefferson

†Mammuthus sp.—Mammoths (Jefferson 1991b) †Equus sp.—Horses (Jefferson 1991b)

1991b) †Equus sp.—Horses (Jefferson 1991b) Odocoileus sp.—Deer (Jefferson 1991b) †Capromeryx sp.—Diminutive Pronghorns (Jefferson 1991b: cf. gen.)

Harbor Freeway and 112-113th streets

Los Angeles River, San Pedro

Fauna.

Fauna.

Fauna.

Actinemys sp.—Pond Turtles (Jefferson 1991a)

†Mammuthus columbi—Columbian Mammoth (Jefferson 1991b)

Clemmys sp.

†Paramylodon harlani—Harlan's Ground Sloth (Jefferson 1991b) Glossotherium harlani

Thomomys bottae—Botta's Pocket Gopher (Jefferson 1991b: cf.) †Canis dirus—Dire Wolf (Jefferson 1991b: cf.) Canis latrans—Coyote (Jefferson 1991b) †Equus sp.—Horses (Jefferson 1991b) Odocoileus hemionus—Mule Deer (Jefferson 1991b: cf.) †Bison antiquus—Ancient Bison (Jefferson 1991b: cf.)

Madison and Middlebury Fauna. †Mammuthus sp.—Mammoths (Jefferson 1991b) Magnolia Ave. and 11th St., Long Beach Fauna. Bison sp.—Bison (Jefferson 1991b) Main and 114th streets

Hawthorne Fauna. Fauna. †Mammuthus columbi—Columbian Mammoth (Jefferson 1991b: cf.)

†Mammuthus sp.—Mammoths (Jefferson 1991b) Malibu

Hill and 12th streets Fauna. Fauna. †Equus sp.—Horses (Jefferson 1991b)

†Euceratherium sp.—Shrub Oxen (Jefferson 1991b)

Hilltop Quarry, Cabrillo and Gatun streets, San Pedro

Manchester and Airport boulevards Fauna.

Fauna. Bison sp.—Bison (Jefferson 1991b) Hollywood Fauna. †Bison latifrons—Giant Bison (Jefferson 1991b) Hyde Park, School House Fauna. Bison sp.—Bison (Jefferson 1991b)

†Mammuthus sp.—Mammoths (Jefferson 1991b) †Mammut sp.—Mastodonts (Jefferson 1991b: ? gen.) Lepus sp.—Jackrabbits (Jefferson 1991b) †Equus sp.—Horses (Jefferson 1991b) Bison sp.—Bison (Jefferson 1991b) Manchester and Vermont boulevards Fauna. †Mammuthus sp.—Mammoths (Jefferson 1991b) †Equus sp.—Horses (Jefferson 1991b)

Kester Ave., Van Nuys Fauna.

Manning Rock, Irwindale Fauna.

†Equus sp.—Horses (Jefferson 1991b) La Brea Blvd. and 13-14th streets

†Mammut sp.—Mastodonts (Jefferson 1991b) Melrose Ave. and La Cienega Blvd.

Fauna. Bison sp.—Bison (Jefferson 1991b) La Cienega Blvd. near Colgate Ave.

Fauna. †Hesperotestudo sp.—Hesperotestudo Tortoises (Jefferson 1991a) Geochelone sp.

Fauna. †Mammut americanum—American Mastodont (Jefferson 1991b) †Bison latifrons—Giant Bison (Jefferson 1991b) Long Beach

†Mammuthus columbi—Columbian Mammoth (Jefferson 1991b) †Equus sp.—Horses (Jefferson 1991b) †Camelops sp.—American Camels (Jefferson 1991b) Bison sp.—Bison (Jefferson 1991b) Michigan St.

Bison sp.—Bison (Jefferson 1991b: cf. gen.)

Fauna. †Panthera atrox—American Lion (Jefferson 1991b Mobile Oil Refinery, 190th St., Torrance Fauna. †Equus sp.—Horses (Jefferson 1991b)

Sangamon Interglacial Long Wharf Canyon

Gaffey and Tenth streets, San Pedro Fauna.

Fauna.

†Paramylodon sp.—Paramylodon Ground Sloths (Jefferson 1991b: cf. gen.)

This is the type locality of Chendytes lawi.

Glossotherium

Gaffey St. Union Oil Refinery, Harbor City Fauna. †Equus sp.—Horses (Jefferson 1991b)

†Chendytes lawi—Law's Flightless Sea Duck (Jefferson 1991a) Phalacrocorax auritus—Double-crested Cormorant (Jefferson 1991a) Malaga Cove Wash, Palos Verdes Estates Fauna.

Long Beach

†Smilodon sp.—Sabertooth Cats (Jefferson 1991a)

Fauna. Bison sp.—Bison (Jefferson 1991b: cf. gen.)

Wisconsin Age

La Brea Blvd. near Pico Blvd.

La Mirada numbers II-X, Coyote Creek

Fauna.

Fauna.

Bison sp.—Bison (Jefferson 1991b: Wisconsin?)

†Equus sp.—Horses (Jefferson 1991b)

La Brea Blvd. and San Vicente St.

Los Angeles River, Higuera St. and Moynier Lane

Fauna.

Fauna.

†Paramylodon harlani—Harlan's Ground Sloth (Jefferson 1991b: cf.)

†Mammuthus sp.—Mammoths (Jefferson 1991b) Homo sapiens—Human (Jefferson 1991b)

Glossotherium harlani

†Equus sp.—Horses (Jefferson 1991b) †Camelops sp.—American Camels (Jefferson 1991b) Bison sp.—Bison (Jefferson 1991b) La Brea and Venice boulevards Fauna. †Mammuthus sp.— (Jefferson 1991b: ?Wisconsin)

Malaga Cove School, Palos Verdes Estates (Jefferson 1991b: Wisconsin?) Fauna. Bison sp.—Bison (Jefferson 1991b)

Age Uncertain Lomita †Mammuthus columbi—Columbian Mammoth (Jefferson 1991b) †Equus sp.—Horses (Jefferson 1991b)

Literature. Howard 1936; Jefferson 1991a; Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 9 Jun 2014

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Los Angeles N - Z CA: Los Angeles Co.

There is a relatively large number of sites within Los Angeles County (most within the city limits of Los Angeles), with many of the sites with only one or a few taxa. To keep the number of linked sites to a reasonable number, the decision has been made to handle many of these under three groupings: Los Angeles A D, Los Angeles E - M, and Los Angeles N - Z. Within each major group, sites are grouped by age. Sites dated as 18O substage 5e (130-120 ka BP) in Jefferson (1991a, 1991b) are assigned to the Sangamon interglacial for our purposes. Since many of the site names will be unfamiliar to persons not attuned to Los Angeles and vicinity, the site names from the three Los Angeles County site accounts are underlined in the taxon accounts, indicating that they are located within Los Angeles County.

Rancholabrean Age Norelle St.

Signal Hill, Long Beach

Fauna.

Fauna.

†Equus sp.—Horses (Jefferson 1991b)

†Equus—Horses (Jefferson 1991b)

Olympic Blvd. and Alvira St. Fauna.

Sparklets Mammoth, Lincoln Blvd. and 45th St., Pasadena

†Mammuthus sp.—Mammoths (Jefferson 1991b) Outfall Sewer, Culver City

Fauna. †Mammuthus sp.—Mammoths (Jefferson 1991b) Bison sp.— (Jefferson 1991b) Sylmar

Fauna. Thomomys bottae—Botta's Pocket Gopher (Jefferson 1991b) †Equus sp.—Horses (Jefferson 1991b) †Camelops sp.—American Camels (Jefferson 1991b) Odocoileus sp.—Deer (Jefferson 1991b) †Bison antiquus—Ancient Bison Outfall Sewer, Limpo and Exposition, Culver City

Fauna. †Mammuthus sp.—Mammoths (Jefferson 1991b) †Equus sp.—Horses (Jefferson 1991b) Torrance Recharge Basin, Torrance Fauna. †Equus sp.—Horses (Jefferson 1991b) Tremaine and 8th streets

Fauna. †Camelops sp.—American Camels (Jefferson 1991b) Outfall Sewer, Rodeo and Kelley, Culver City Fauna. †Mammut sp.—Mastodonts (Jefferson 1991b) Outfall Sewer North, Sabertooth, Culver City

Fauna. †Mammut sp.—Mastodonts (Jefferson 1991b) Van Norman Reservoir, Lower Fauna. †Mammuthus sp.—Mammoths (Jefferson 1991b) Van Norman Reservoir, Upper

Fauna.

Fauna.

†Smilodon sp.—Sabertooth (Jefferson 1991b)

Bison sp.—Bison (Jefferson 1991b)/p>

Outfall Sewer North, Section 15, Culver City

Van Nuys Clay Pit

Fauna. Fauna. †Equus sp.—Horses (Jefferson 1991b) Outfall Sewer North, Trench 19, Culver City Fauna.

Bison sp.—Bison (Jefferson 1991b) Venice Blvd. and Vineyard Ave., Los Angeles Fauna. Bison sp.—Bison (Jefferson 1991b)/p>

†Bison antiquus—Ancient Bison (Jefferson 1991b) Pacific Ave. and Second St. and Third St., San Pedro Fauna. †Equus—Horses (Jefferson 1991b) Palos Verdes Hills, Green Hills Memorial Park Fauna. †Paramylodon sp.—Paramylodon Ground Sloths (Jefferson 1991b) Glossotherium

Bison sp.—Bison (Jefferson 1991b) Pixie Ave. and Cover St., Lakewood Fauna. †Mammuthus sp.—Mammoths (Jefferson 1991b) Redondo Steam Generating Plant, Redondo Beach Fauna.

Wicks St., Arrow Rock Fauna. †Equus sp.—Horses (Jefferson 1991b) Wilmington Ave., Dominguez Hills Fauna. †Mammuthus sp.—Mammoths (Jefferson 1991b) Wilmington Blvd. and San Pedro Road Fauna. Branta sp.—Geese (Jefferson 1991a) Fulica sp.—Coots (Jefferson 1991a) Wilshire Blvd. and Bedford Fauna. †Equus sp.—Horses (Jefferson 1991b) Wilshire Blvd. and La Cienega Fauna. Bison sp.—Bison (Jefferson 1991b)

†Hemiauchenia sp.— (Jefferson 1991b) San Fernando Dam Fauna. †Paramylodon sp.—Paramylodon Ground Sloths (Jefferson 1991b) Glossotherium (Jefferson 1991b)

San Pedro Fauna. †Mammuthus columbi—Columbian Mammoth (Jefferson 1991b) San Pedro, Upper San Pedro Fauna. †Equus sp.—Horses (Jefferson 1991b) Santa Monica Freeway near Gramercy St. Fauna. †Mammuthus sp.—Mammoths (Jefferson 1991b: cf. gen.) †Bison antiquus—Ancient Bison (Jefferson 1991b: cf.) Santa Susana Pass, north of Chattsworth Fauna. †Mammut sp.—Mastodonts (Jefferson 1991b)

Wilshire Blvd. and Orange Grove Dr., Los Angeles Fauna. †Bison antiquus—Ancient Bison (Jefferson 1991b: cf.) Wilshire Blvd., 10580 The Wilshire, Los Angeles Fauna. Dipodomys sp.—Kangaroo Rats (Jefferson 1991b) Thomomys sp.—Western Pocket Gophers (Jefferson 1991b) Microtus sp.—Voles (Jefferson 1991b) Neotoma sp.—Woodrats (Jefferson 1991b) †Equus sp.—Horses (Jefferson 1991b) Woodland Hills, Canoga Park Fauna. †Paramylodon sp.—Paramylodon Ground Sloths (Jefferson 1991b) Glossotherium

York Valley, Ave. 45 and Lincoln Ave., Highland Park Fauna. †Meleagris californica—California Turkey (Jefferson 1991a)

Sangamon Interglacial Pacific Ave. and Olive St., San Pedro

U. S. Veterans Hospital, Long Beach

Fauna.

Fauna.

Actinemys sp.—Pond Turtles (Jefferson 1991a)

Actinemys sp.—Pond Turtles (Jefferson 1991a: cf.)

Clemmys sp.

Clemmys sp.

Puffinus griseus—Sooty Shearwater (Jefferson 1991a) †Canis dirus—Dire Wolf (Jefferson 1991b) †Equus sp.—Horses (Jefferson 1991b) Pacific Ave. and Second St., San Pedro Fauna.

†Chendytes lawi—Law's Flightless Sea Duck (Jefferson 1991a) Gavia sp.—Loons (Jefferson 1991a) Thomomys sp.—Western Pocket Gophers (Jefferson 1991b) Canis latrans— (Jefferson 1991b: cf.) Eguus sp.—Horses (Jefferson 1991b) †Hemiauchenia sp.—American Llamas (Jefferson 1991b)

†Chendytes lawi—Law's Flightless Sea Duck (Jefferson 1991a)

Union Oil 76 Refinery no. 2, Los Angeles Harbor Yard, San Pedro

Palos Verdes Hills, Green Hills Memorial Park

Fauna.

Fauna. †Camelops sp.—American Camels (Jefferson 1991b: cf. gen.)

Thomomys sp.—Western Pocket Gophers (Jefferson 1991b) †Camelops sp.—American Camels (Jefferson 1991b)

Paseo Del Mar St., Palos Verdes Estates Fauna. †Bison antiquus—Ancient Bison (Jefferson 1991b)

Wisconsin Age

Palos Verdes Hills Fauna. †Mammuthus sp.—Mammoths (Jefferson 1991b: ?Wisconsin) †Equus sp.—Horses(Jefferson 1991b: ?Wisconsin) Bison sp.—Bison(Jefferson 1991b: ?Wisconsin)

Literature. Carraway 2010; Howard 1936; Jefferson 1991a; Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 18 Jan 2014

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Ludlow Cave San Bernardino Co.

Synonyms. Two Raven Cave (Jefferson 1991b). Age. Rancholabrean (Jefferson 1991b). Fauna. Gopherus agassizii—Agassiz's Desert Tortoise (Jefferson 1991a) †Nothrotheriops shastensis—Shasta Ground Sloth (Jefferson 1991b) Canis latrans—Coyote (Jefferson 1991b) †Capromeryx furcifer—Diminutive Pronghorns (Jefferson 1991b: cf. gen.) Cf. Capromeryx sp.

†Hemiauchenia macrocephala—Big-headed Llama (Jefferson 1991b) Literature. Jefferson 1991a; Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 18 Feb 2014

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Luz Foundation, Daggett San Bernardino Co.

Age. Wisconsin/Holocene (Jefferson 1991a). For purposes here, it is assumed that the Wisconsin portion is Late Wisconsin. Fauna. Sceloporus sp.—Spiny Lizards (Jefferson 1991a) Xantusia vigilis—Desert Night Lizard (Jefferson 1991a; cf.) Chaetodipus/Perognathus sp>—Spiny or Silky Pocket Mice (Jefferson 1991b) Perognathus sp.

Dipodomys sp.—Kangaroo Rats (Jefferson 1991b) Thomomys bottae—Botta's Pocket Gopher (Jefferson 1991b) Microtus californicus—California Vole (Jefferson 1991b: cf.) Neotoma sp.—Woodrats (Jefferson 1991b) Peromyscus sp.—Deer Mice (Jefferson 1991b) Sylvilagus sp.—Cottontails (Jefferson 1991b) Notiosorex crawfordi—Crawford's Gray Shrew (Jefferson 1991b) Literature. Jefferson 1991a; Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 28 Feb 2014

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Luz Solar Trough Site, Daggett San Bernardino Co.

Age. Late Wisconsin/Holocene, with a radiocarbon date of 10,910 ± 425 (Jefferson 1991a). Fauna. Dipsosaurus dorsalis—Desert Iguana (Jefferson 1991a) Sauromalus ater—Common Chuckwalla (Jefferson 1991a) Sauromalus obesus

Phrynosoma platyrhinos—Desert Horned Lizard (Jefferson 1991a) Sceloporus sp.—Spiny Lizards (Jefferson 1991a) Aspidoscelis sp.—Whiptails (Jefferson 1991a) Cnemidophorus sp.

Lichanura trivirgata—Rosy Boa (Jefferson 1991a) Ammospermophilus leucurus—White-tailed Antelope Squirrel (Jefferson 1991b) Xerospermophilus mohavensis—Mohave Ground Squirrel (Jefferson 1991b) Spermophilus mohavensis

Xerospermophilus tereticaudus—Round-tailed Ground Squirrel(Jefferson 1991b) Spermophilus tereticaudus

Chaetodipus/Perognathus sp.—Spiny or Silky Pocket Mice (Jefferson 1991b) Perognathus sp.

Dipodomys sp.—Kangaroo rats( Jefferson 1991b) Thomomys bottae—Botta's Pocket Gopher (Jefferson 1991b) Microtus californicus—California Vole (Jefferson 1991b: cf.) Neotoma lepida—Desert Woodrat (Jefferson 1991b) Peromyscus sp.—Deer Mice (Jefferson 1991b) Lepus californicus—Black-tailed Jack Rabbit (Jefferson 1991b: cf.) Sylvilagus sp.—Cottontails (Jefferson 1991b) Vulpes macrotis—Kit Fox (Jefferson 1991b: cf.) †Equus occidentalis—Western Horse (Jefferson 1991b: cf.) Literature. Jefferson 1991a; Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 28 Feb 2014

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Mankin, Ranchita Cattle Co. CA: San Luis Obispo Co.

Age. Rancholabrean (Jefferson 1991b). Fauna. †Mammuthus sp.—Mammoths (Jefferson 1991b) Literature. Jefferson 1991b; Jefferson et al. 1992.

Last Update: 4 Feb 2014

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Maricopa CA: Kern Co.

Age. Late Wisconsin, with a radiocarbon date of 13,860 BP (Jefferson 1991a). Jefferson (1991a) states that in part is early Holocene. Fauna.

Chelonia Gopherus sp.

Reptilia Elgaria multicarinatus—Southern Alligator Lizard (Jefferson 1991a) Gerrhonotus multicarinatus

Phrynosoma coronatum—Coast Horned Lizard (Jefferson 1991a) Uta stansburiana—Side-blotched Lizard (Jefferson 1991a) Plestiodon skiltonianus—Western Skink (Jefferson 1991a) Eumeces skiltonianus

Aspidoscelis tigris—Western Whiptail Lizard Cnemidophorus tigris

Aves Anas crecca—Green-winged Teal (Jefferson 1991a) Anas platyrhynchos—Mallard (Jefferson 1991a) Anas strepera—Gadwall (Jefferson 1991a) †Meleagris californicus—California Turkey (Jefferson 1991a) †Ciconia maltha—La Brea Stork (Jefferson 1991a) Nycticorax nycticorax—Black-crowned Night-heron (Jefferson 1991a) †Teratornis merriami—Merriam's Teratorn (Jefferson 1991a) Gymnogyps californianus—California

Geococcyx californianus—Greater Roadrunner (Jefferson 1991a) Tyto alba—Barn Owl (Jefferson 1991a) Asio otus—Long-eared Owl (Jefferson 1991a) Athene cunicularia—Burrowing Owl (Jefferson 1991a) Bubo virginianus—Great Horned Owl (Jefferson 1991a) Otus kennicotti—Western Screech Owl (Jefferson 1991a) Falco sparverius—American Kestrel (Jefferson 1991a) Caracara cheriway—Caracara (Jefferson 1991a)

Condor (Jefferson 1991a)

Polyborus plancus

Aphelocoma californica—Western Scrubjay (Jefferson 1991a) Accipiter cooperii—Cooper's Hawk Corvus corax—Common Raven (Jefferson 1991a) (Jefferson 1991a) Aquila chrysaetos—Golden Eagle Turdus migratorius—American Robin (Jefferson 1991a) (Jefferson 1991a) Buteo jamaicensis—Red-tailed Hawk Toxostoma redivivum—California (Jefferson 1991a) Thrasher (Jefferson 1991a) Buteo swainsoni—Swainson's Hawk Bombycilla cedrorum—Cedar Waxwing (Jefferson 1991a) (Jefferson 1991a) Buteogallus fragilis—Fragile Eagle Agelaius sp.—Blackbirds (Jefferson (Jefferson 1991a) 1991a) Haliaeetus leucocephalus—Bald Eagle Zonotrichia leucophrys—White-crowned (Jefferson 1991a) Sparrow (Jefferson 1991a) †Neogyps errans—Errant Eagle Sturnella neglecta—Western Meadow (Jefferson 1991a) †Spizaetus grinnelli—Grinnell's Crested Lark (Jefferson 1991a) Cardinalis cardinalis—Northern Cardinal Eagle (Jefferson 1991a) (Jefferson 1991a) Grus canadensis—Sandhill Crane Pheucticus melanocephalus—Black(Jefferson 1991a) headed Grosbeak (Jefferson 1991a) Fulica americana—American Coot (Jefferson 1991a) Charadrius vociferus—Killdeer (Jefferson 1991a) Calidris alpina—Dunlin (Jefferson 1991a) Larus canus—Mew Gull (Jefferson 1991a) Gymnogyps amplus

Mammalia Mammut sp.—Mastodont (Jefferson 1991b) Dipodomys agilis—Agile Kangaroo Rat (Jefferson 1991b) Perognathus californicus—California Pocket Mouse (Jefferson 1991b) Thomomys bottae—Botta's Pocket Gopher (Jefferson 1991b) Microtus sp.—Voles (Jefferson 1991b) †Peromyscus imperfectus—Imperfect Mouse (Jefferson 1991b)

Canis latrans—Coyote (Jefferson 1991b) Canis lupus—Gray Wolf (Jefferson 1991b) Urocyon cinereoargenteus—Gray Fox (Jefferson 1991b) Vulpes macrotis—Kit Fox (Jefferson 1991b) Arctodus simus—Giant Short-faced Bear (Jefferson 1991b) Ursus arctos—Brown Bear (Jefferson 1991b)

Reithrodontomys megalotis—Western Harvest Mouse (Jefferson 1991b) Lepus californicus—Black-tailed Jackrabbit (Jefferson 1991b) Sylvilagus audubonii—Desert Cottontail (Jefferson 1991b) Felis/Panthera sp. (large)—Large Cat (Jefferson 1991b) Panthera atrox—American Lion (Jefferson 1991b) Smilodon fatalis—Sabertooth (Jefferson 1991b) Canis dirus—Dire Wolf (Jefferson 1991b)

Taxidea taxus—American Badger (Jefferson 1991b) Eguus sp.—Horses (Jefferson 1991b) Camelops sp.—American Camels (Jefferson 1991b) Hemiauchenia sp.—American Llamas (Jefferson 1991b) Antilocapra americana—Pronghorn (Jefferson 1991b) Capromeryx furcifer—Matthew's Pronghorn (Jefferson 1991b) Capromeryx minor(Jefferson 1991b)

Bison antiguus—Ancient Bison (Jefferson 1991b: cf.)

Literature. Jefferson 1991a; Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 12 Jan 2014

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McKittrick CA: Kern Co.

Age. Mid/Late Wisconsin. The various localities in the vicinity of McKittrick apparently vary in age from mid Wisconsin to Holocene (FoxDobbs et al. 2014). 14C dates are summarized in Fox-Dobbs et al. (2014). As near as seen from published data, most of the vertebrate material is Mid or Late Wisconsin in age. A radiocarbon date of 38,000 ± 2,500 yr BP (Jefferson 1991a) has been considered questionable, and (Jefferson 1991a, 1991b) does not list vertebrate material from that site. A date on Hemiauchenia is 26,850 ± 590, but specific locality data were not given (Fox-Dobbs et al. 2014). Fox-Dobbs et al. noted that some upper levels include Holocene fauna and that much of the cervid material is from upper levels and likely late Pleistocene or early Holocene. Fox-Dobbs et al. reported three new dates on faunal elements (Panthera atrox, Arctodus simus, and Cervus elaphus), ranging from 15,290 ± 510 to 11,040 ± 310. For purposes here, the fauna is considered as Mid and Late Wisconsin with the caveat that a few taxa may be Holocene. General Description. Fossils were recovered from several asphalt deposits near the city of McKittrick (Jefferson 1991b). Fox-Dobbs et al. (2014) summarized the history of faunal recovery from the McKittrick area. Fauna. Chelonia Actinemys pallida—Southern Western Pond Turtle (Jefferson 1991a) Clemmys marmorata

Gopherus agassizii—Desert Tortoise (Jefferson 1991a) Reptilia Gambelia wislizenii—Long-nosed Leopard Lizard (Jefferson 1991a) Sceloporus occidentalis—Western Fence Lizard (Jefferson 1991a) Plestiodon gilberti—Gilbert's Skink (Jefferson 1991a) Eumeces gilberti

Lampropeltis getula—Common Kingsnake (Jefferson 1991a) Lampropeltis getulus

Crotalus oreganus—Western Rattlesnake (Jefferson 1991a) Crotalus viridis

Aves

Buteo jamaicensis—Red-tailed Hawk (Jefferson 1991a) †Anabernicula gracilenta—Graceful Buteo regalis—Ferruginous Hawk Pygmy Goose (Jefferson 1991a) (Jefferson 1991a) Anas acuta—Northern Pintail Buteo swainsoni—Swainson's Hawk (Jefferson 1991a) (Jefferson 1991a) Anas americana—American Wigeon †Buteogallus fragilis—Fragile Black-hawk (Jefferson 1991a) (Jefferson 1991a) Anas clypeata—Northern Shoveler Circus cyaneus—Northern Harrier (Jefferson 1991a) (Jefferson 1991a) Anas crecca—Green-winged Teal Haliaeetus leucocephalus—Bald Eagle (Jefferson 1991a) (Jefferson 1991a) Anas cyanoptera—Cinnamon Teal †Neogyps errans—Errant Eagle (Jefferson (Jefferson 1991a) 1991a) Anas platyrhynchos—Mallard †Neophrontops americanus—American (Jefferson 1991a) Neophrontops— (Jefferson 1991a) Anas strepera—Gadwall (Jefferson †Spizaetus grinnelli—Grinnel's Hawk1991a) eagle (Jefferson 1991a) Aythya affinis—Lesser Scaup Fulica americana—American Coot (Jefferson 1991a: ?) (Jefferson 1991a) Aythya americana—Redhead Rallus limicola—Virginia Rail (Jefferson (Jefferson 1991a) 1991a) Aythya valisineria—Canvasback Recurvirostra americana—American (Jefferson 1991a) Avocet (Jefferson 1991a) Branta canadensis—Canada Goose Charadrius montanus—Mountain Plover (Jefferson 1991a) (Jefferson 1991a) Bucephala albeola—Bufflehead Charadrius vociferus—Killdeer (Jefferson (Jefferson 1991a) 1991a) Cygnus columbianus—Tundra Swan Numenius americanus—Long-billed (Jefferson 1991a) Curlew (Jefferson 1991a) Oxyura jamaicensis—Ruddy Duck Numenius phaeopus—Whimbrel (Jefferson 1991a) Callipepla californica—California Quail (Jefferson 1991a) Calidris alpina—Dunlin (Jefferson 1991a) (Jefferson 1991a) Limnodromus griseus—Short-billed Podilymbus podiceps—Pied-billed Dowitcher (Jefferson 1991a) Grebe (Jefferson 1991a) Tringa melanoleuca—Greater Yellowlegs †Ciconia maltha—La Brea Stork (Jefferson 1991a) (Jefferson 1991a) Zenaida macroura—Mourning Dove Ardea alba—Great Egret (Jefferson (Jefferson 1991a)

1991a)

Geococcyx californianus—Greater Roadrunner (Jefferson 1991a) Ardea herodias—Great Blue Heron Tyto alba—Barn Owl (Jefferson 1991a) (Jefferson 1991a) Asio flammeus—Short-eared Owl Butorides striata—Striated Heron (Jefferson 1991a) (Jefferson 1991a) Athene cunicularia—Burrowing Owl Egretta caerulea—Little Blue Heron (Jefferson 1991a) (Jefferson 1991a) Nycticorax nycticorax—Black-crowned Bubo virginianus—Great Horned Owl (Jefferson 1991a) Night-heron (Jefferson 1991a) Otus kennicotti—Western Screech Owl Plegadis chihi—White-faced Ibis (Jefferson 1991a) (Jefferson 1991a) Colaptes auratus—Northern Flicker Ajaia ajaja (Jefferson 1991a) †Teratornis merriami—Merriam's Caracara cheriway—Crested Caracara Teratorn— (Jefferson 1991a) (Jefferson 1991a) Cathartes aura—Turkey Vulture Polyborus plancus (Jefferson 1991a) Falco columbarius—Merlin (Jefferson †Coragyps occidentalis—Western 1991a) Black Vulture (Jefferson 1991a) Falco mexicanus—Prairie Falcon Gymnogyps californianus—California (Jefferson 1991a) Condor (Jefferson 1991a) Falco peregrinus—Peregrine Falcon Gymnogyps amplus (see G. (Jefferson 1991a) californianus account for usage) Falco rusticolus—Gyrfalcon (Jefferson Accipiter cooperii—Cooper's Hawk 1991a) (Jefferson 1991a) †Amplibuteo woodwardi—Woodward's Falco sparverius—American Kestral (Jefferson 1991a) Eagle (Jefferson 1991a) Corvus corax—Common Raven (Jefferson Aquila chrysaetos—Golden Eagle 1991a) (Jefferson 1991a) Petrochelidon pyrrhonota—Cliff Swallow (Jefferson 1991a) Casmerodius albus

Hirundo pyrrhonota

Mammalia

†Mammuthus columbi—Columbian Mammoth (Schultz 1937) Parelephas columbi

Mammut americanum—American Mastodont (Schultz 1937) Mastodon raki

†Megalonyx sp.—Megalonyx Ground Sloths (Schultz 1937: ?)

†Panthera atrox—American Lion (FoxDobbs et al. 2014) Puma concolor—Mountain Lion (Schultz 1937) Felis daggetti

†Smilodon fatalis—Sabertooth (Schultz 1937) Smilodon californicus (Schultz

†Paramylodon harlani—Harlan's Ground Sloth (Schultz 1937) Ammospermophilus nelsoni—San Joaquin Antelope Squirrel (Schultz 1937: cf.) Otospermophilus beecheyi—California Ground Squirrel (Schultz 1937: cf.) Otospermophilus grammurus. Although O. grammurus generally is considered a synonym of O. variegatus, it here is assumed that the species currently in the geographic range that includes McKittrick is meant. Jefferson (1991b) lists as S. cf. beecheyi.

Dipodomys ingens—Giant Kangaroo Rat (Schultz 1937: cf.) Perognathus inornatus—San Joaquin Pocket Mouse (Schultz 1937: cf.) Thomomys bottae—Botta's Pocket Gopher (Schultz 1937) Microtus californicus—California Vole (Schultz 1937) Neotoma lepida—Desert Woodrat (Schultz 1937) Onychomys sp.—Grasshopper Mice (Schultz 1937: ?) Peromyscus californicus—California Mouse (Schultz 1937: cf.) Reithrodontomys sp.—Harvest Mice (Schultz 1937: ?) Lepus californicus—Black-tailed Jackrabbit (Schultz 1937) Sylvilagus audubonii—Desert Cottontail (Schultz 1937) Sylvilagus bachmani—Brush Rabbit (Schultz 1937) Sorex sp.—Pygmy Shrew (Jefferson 1991b) Microsorex sp.

Sorex ornatus—Ornate Shrew (Schultz 1937: cf.) Sorex trowbridgii—Trowbridge's Shrew (Jefferson 1991b: cf.) Antrozous pallidus—Pallid Bat (Schultz

1937)

†Canis dirus—Dire Wolf (Schultz 1937) Aenocyon dirus

Canis latrans—Coyote (Schultz 1937) Canis lupus—Gray Wolf (Jefferson 1991b) Vulpes macrotis—Kit Fox (Schultz 1937) †Arctodus simus—Giant Short-faced Bear (Fox-Dobbs et al. 2014) Tremactotherium simum

Ursus arctos—Brown Bear (Schultz 1937) Ursus optimus

Mustela frenata—Long-tailed Weasel (Schultz 1937) Taxidea taxus—American Badger (Schultz 1937) Mephitis mephitis—Striped Skunk (Schultz 1937) Spilogale gracilis—Western Spotted Skunk (Schultz 1937) Spilogale phenax

†Equus occidentalis—Western Horse (Schultz 1937) †Platygonus compressus—Flat-headed Peccary (Schultz 1937: cf.) †Camelops hesternus—Yesterday's Camel (Schultz 1937) †Hemiauchenia macrocephala—Bigheaded Llama (Schultz 1937) Tanupolama stevensi

Cervus elaphus—Elk (Fox-Dobbs et al. 2014) Odocoileus sp.—Deer (Schultz 1937) Antilocapra americana—Pronghorn (Schultz 1937) †Capromeryx furcifer—Matthew's Pronghorn (Schultz 1937) Capromeryx minor

Bison antiquus—Ancient Bison (Schultz 1937) †Euceratherium collinum—Shrub Oxen (Jefferson 1991b: cf.)

1937) Lynx rufus—Bobcat (Schultz 1937) Lynx rufa (Schultz 1937)

Literature. Fox-Dobbs et al. 2014; Jefferson 1991a; Jefferson 1991b; Schultz 1937.

Last Update: 9 Jun 2014

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Mescal Cave, Mescal Range CA: San Bernardino Co.

Age. Rancholabrean (Jefferson 1991a). Fauna. Gopherus agassizii—Agassiz's Desert Tortoise (Jefferson 1991a) Crotaphytus sp.—Collared Lizards (Jefferson 1991a) Sceloporus occidentalis—Western Fence Lizard (Jefferson 1991a) Aspidoscelis tigris—Western Whiptail (Jefferson 1991a: cf.) Cnemidophorus cf. C. tigris

Crotalus oreganus—Western Rattlesnake (Jefferson 1991a) Crotalus viridis

Callospermophilus lateralis—Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel (Jefferson 1991b) Spermophilus lateralis

Marmota flaviventris—Yellow-bellied Marmot (Jefferson 1991b: cf.) Chaetodipus/Perognathus sp.—Spiny or Silky Pocket Mice (Jefferson 1991b) Perognathus sp.

Microtus sp.—Voles (Jefferson 1991b) Neotoma cinerea—Bushy-tailed Woodrat (Jefferson 1991b: cf.) Ochotona princeps—American Pika (Jefferson 1991b) Spilogale sp.—Spotted Skunks (Jefferson 1991b) Bassariscus astutus—Ringtail (Jefferson 1991b) †Equus sp.—Horses (Jefferson 1991b) Literature. Jefferson 1991a; Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 18 Feb 2014

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Midway Drive-in, Point Loma, San Diego CA: San Diego Co.

Age. Rancholabrean (Jefferson 1991b). Fauna. †Equus sp.—Large Horses (Jefferson 1991b) Literature. Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 2 Feb 2014

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Mitchell Caverns, Providence Mountains San Bernardino Co.

Age. Rancholabrean/?Early Holocene (Jefferson 1991a). Fauna. Gopherus agassizii—Agassiz's Desert Tortoise (Jefferson 1991a: cf.) Fulica sp.—Coots (Jefferson 1991a) Geococcyx californianus—Greater Roadrunner (Jefferson 1991a) Bubo virginianus—Great Horned Owl (Jefferson 1991a) Corvus corax—Common Raven (Jefferson 1991a) Nothrotheriops sp.—Nothrotheriops Ground Sloths (Jefferson 1991b) Marmota flaviventris—Yellow-bellied Marmot (Jefferson 1991b: ?) Spermophile—Spermophiles (Jefferson 1991b) Spermophilus

Dipodomys merriami—Merriam's Kangaroo Rat (Jefferson 1991b: aff.) Neotoma lepida—Desert Woodrat (Jefferson 1991b: cf.) Peromyscus sp.—Deer Mouse (Jefferson 1991b) Lepus californicus—Black-tailed Jack Rabbit (Jefferson 1991b) Sylvilagus audubonii—Desert Cottontail (Jefferson 1991b: cf.) Felis sp.—Cats (Jefferson 1991b) Lynx rufus—Bobcat (Jefferson 1991b) Urocyon sp.—Gray Fox (Jefferson 1991b: ? gen.) Bassariscus astutus—Ringtail (Jefferson 1991b) †Equus sp.—Horses (Jefferson 1991b) †Camelops sp.—American Camels (Jefferson 1991b) Ovis canadensis—Bighorn Sheep (Jefferson 1991b: cf.) Literature. Jefferson 1991a; Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 18 Feb 2014

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Mojave River Bluffs, east of Yermo San Bernardino Co.

Age. Wisconsin (Jefferson 1991a). Fauna. Gila sp.—Chubs (Jefferson 1991a) †Equus sp. (small)—Small Horses (Jefferson 1991b) Literature. Jefferson 1991a; Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 18 Feb 2014

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Moorepark Ventura Co.

Age. Rancholabrean. Fauna. †Equus sp.—Horses (Jefferson 1991b) Literature. Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 20 Feb 2014

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Morena Boulevard, Mission Bay, San Diego CA: San Diego Co.

Age. Rancholabrean (Jefferson 1991b). Fauna. Chaetodipus/Perognathus sp.—Spiny or Silky Pocket Mice (Jefferson 1991b) Thomomys sp.—Western Pocket Gophers (Jefferson 1991b) Neotoma sp.—Wood Rats (Jefferson 1991b) Peromyscus sp.—White-footed Mice (Jefferson 1991b) Literature. Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 2 Feb 2014

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Morongo Grade, Morongo Valley San Bernardino Co.

Age. ?Rancholabrean (Jefferson 1991b). Fauna. †Equus sp.—Horses (Jefferson 1991b) Literature. Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 18 Feb 2014

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Mount Signal Gravel Pit Imperial Co.

Age. Rancholabrean (Jefferson 1991b). Fauna. †Equus sp.—Horses (Jefferson 1991b) Literature. Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 20 Feb 2014

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National City CA: San Diego Co.

Age. Rancholabrean. Fauna. †Tapirus californicus—California Tapir (Jefferson 1991b: cf.) Literature. Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 2 Feb 2014

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Naval Fuel Reserve Quarry, Harbor City CA: Los Angeles Co.

Age. Sangamon (Jefferson 1991a). Fauna. Actinemys sp.—Pond Turtles (Jefferson 1991a) Clemmys sp.

Phalacrocorax sp.—Cormorants (Jefferson 1991a) Pelecanus sp.—Pelicans (Jefferson 1991a: ? gen.) Dipodomys sp.—Kangaroo Rats (Jefferson 1991b) Thomomys sp.—Western Pocket Gophers (Jefferson 1991b) Neotoma sp.—Woodrats (Jefferson 1991b) Lepus californicus—Black-tailed Jackrabbit (Jefferson 1991b) Sylvilagus sp.—Cottontails (Jefferson 1991b) Felis sp. (small)—Small Cats (Jefferson 1991b) †Eguus sp.—Horses (Jefferson 1991b) Odocoileus sp.—Deer (Jefferson 1991b) Bison sp. (small)—Small Bison (Jefferson 1991b) Literature. Jefferson 1991a; Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 17 Jan 2014

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Naval Housing Unit, Harbor City CA: Los Angeles Co.

Age. Sangamon (Jefferson 1991a). Fauna. Gila orcutti—Arroyo Chub (Jefferson 1991a) Gasterosteus aculeatus—Three-spined Stickleback (Jefferson 1991a) Leptocottus armatus—Pacific Staghorn Sculpin (Jefferson 1991a) Taricha torosa—California Newt (Jefferson 1991a: cf.) Anaxyrus sp.—Nearctic Toads (Jefferson 1991a) Bufo sp.

Rana sp.—North American True Frogs (Jefferson 1991a: cf. gen.) Actinemys pallida—Southern Western Pond Turtle (Jefferson 1991a) Clemmys marmorata

Elgaria sp.—Alligator Lizards (Jefferson 1991a) Gerrhonotus sp.

Branta canadensis—Canadian Goose (Jefferson 1991a) Bucephala albeola—Bufflehead (Jefferson 1991a) Chen caerulescens—Snow Goose (Jefferson 1991a) †Paramylodon harlani—Harlan's Ground Sloth Glossotherium harlani

Chaetodipus formosus—Long-tailed Pocket Mouse (Jefferson 1991b: cf.) Perognathus formosus

Dipodomys agilis—Agile Kangaroo Rat (Jefferson 1991b: cf.) Thomomys bottae—Botta's Pocket Gopher (Jefferson 1991b) Microtus californicus—California Vole (Jefferson 1991b) Peromyscus californicus/eremicus—California or Cactus Mouse (Jefferson 1991b) Sylvilagus sp.—Cottontails (Jefferson 1991b) Notiosorex crawfordi—Desert Shrew (Jefferson 1991b)

New fossil species have been described since Jefferson (1991b), with none of the Pleistocene fossils examined by Carraway (2010) identified as N. crawfordi; Californian specimens were not examined.

Eguus sp.—Horses (Jefferson 1991b) Camelops sp.—American Camels (Jefferson 1991b) Bison sp.—Bison (Jefferson 1991b) Literature. Jefferson 1991a; Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 17 Jan 2014

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Newberry Cave San Bernardino Co.

Age. Late Wisconsin/Holocene. There is a radiocarbon date of 11,600 ± 500 (Jefferson 1991b). Fauna. Gopherus agassizii—Agassiz's Desert Tortoise (Jefferson 1991a) Sauromalus ater—Common Chuckwalla (Jefferson 1991a) Sauromalus obesus

Crotalus sp.—Rattlesnakes (Jefferson 1991a) Gymnogyps californianus—California Condor (Jefferson 1991a) Buteo jamaicensis—Red-tailed Hawk (Jefferson 1991a) Fulica americana—American Coot (Jefferson 1991a) Bubo virginianus—Great Horned Owl (Jefferson 1991a) †Nothrotheriops shastensis—Shasta Ground Sloth (Jefferson 1991b) Ammospermophilus leucurus—White-tailed Antelope Squirrel (Jefferson 1991b) Marmota flaviventris—Yellow-bellied Marmot (Jefferson 1991b) Spermophile—Spermophiles (Jefferson 1991b) Spermophilus spp.

Dipodomys sp.—Kangaroo Rat (Jefferson 1991b) Thomomys bottae—Botta's Pocket Gopher (Jefferson 1991b) Microtus californicus—California Vole (Jefferson 1991b) Neotoma lepida—Desert Woodrat (Jefferson 1991b) Lepus californicus—Black-tailed Jack Rabbit (Jefferson 1991b) Sylvilagus audubonii—Desert Cottontail (Jefferson 1991b) Puma concolor—Mountain Lion (Jefferson 1991b) Felis concolor (Jefferson 1991b)

Canis latrans—Coyote (Jefferson 1991b) Urocyon cinereoargenteus—Gray Fox (Jefferson 1991b) Taxidea taxus—American Badger (Jefferson 1991b) Equus caballus—Domestic Horse (Jefferson 1991b) Ovis canadensis—Bighorn Sheep (Jefferson 1991b) Literature. Jefferson 1991a; Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 5 Feb 2014

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Newport Bay Mesa, Newport Beach California: Orange County

Age. Sangamon (Jefferson 1991a). Fauna. Amphibia Aneides lugubris—Arboreal Salamander (Jefferson 1991a) Taricha sp.—Western Newt (Jefferson 1991a: cf. gen.) Pseudacris regilla—Pacific Treefrog (Jefferson 1991a) Hyla regilla

Anaxyrus boreas—Western Toad (Jefferson 1991a) Bufo boreas.

Rana aurora—Red-legged Frog (Jefferson 1991a) Chelonia Chelonia mydas—Green Sea Turtle (Jefferson 1991a) Reptilia

Lampropeltis getula—Common Kingsnake (Jefferson 1991a) Masticophis flagellum—Coachwhip (Jefferson 1991a)

Crotalus oreganus—Western Rattlesnake (Jefferson 1991a) Crotalus viridis

Thamnophis sp.—Garter Snakes (Jefferson 1991a)

Aves

Aythya affinis—Lesser Scaup (Jefferson Corvus sp.—Ravens and Crows 1991a: cf.) (Jefferson 1991a) Callipepla sp.—Callipepla Quail Agelaius sp.—Blackbirds (Jefferson

(Jefferson 1991a) Accipiter sp.—Accipiter Hawks (Jefferson 1991a)

1991a)

Mammalia

†Mammut americanum—American Mastodont (Jefferson 1991b) †Megalonyx jeffersonii—Jefferson's Ground Sloth (Jefferson 1991b: cf.) †Nothrotheriops shastensis—Shasta Ground Sloth (Jefferson 1991b) Otospermophilus beecheyi—California Ground Squirrel (Jefferson 1991b: cf.) Spermophilus beecheyi

Chaetodipus californicus—California Pocket Mouse (Jefferson 1991b) Perognathus californicus

Dipodomys agilis—Agile Kangaroo Rat (Jefferson 1991b: cf.) Thomomys bottae—Botta's Pocket Gopher (Jefferson 1991b) Microtus californicus—California Vole (Jefferson 1991b: cf.) Neotoma fuscipes—Dusky-footed Woodrat (Jefferson 1991b) Peromyscus crinitus—Canyon Mouse (Jefferson 1991b: cf.) Peromyscus maniculatus—Deer Mouse (Jefferson 1991b) Reithrodontomys megalotis—Western Harvest Mouse (Jefferson 1991b)

Sylvilagus audubonii—Desert Cottontail (Jefferson 1991b: cf.) Sylvilagus bachmani—Brush Rabbit (Jefferson 1991b) Notiosorex crawfordi—Desert Shrew (Jefferson 1991b) Sorex ornatus—Ornate Shrew (Jefferson 1991b) Scapanus latimanus—Broad-footed Mole (Jefferson 1991b) Antrozous pallidus—Pallid Bat (Jefferson 1991b) †Canis dirus—Dire Wolf (Jefferson 1991b: cf.) Spilogale sp.—Spotted Skunks (Jefferson 1991b: cf. gen.) †Equus sp. (large-size)—Large Horses (Jefferson 1991b) †Equus sp. (small-size)—Small Horses (Jefferson 1991b) †Tapirus californicus—California Tapir (Jefferson 1991b: cf.) †Tapirus merriami—Merriam's Tapir (Jefferson 1991b) †Camelops sp.—American Camels (Jefferson 1991b) †Hemiauchenia sp.—American Llamas (Jefferson 1991b) Odocoileus hemionus—Mule Deer (Jefferson 1991b: cf.) Antilocapra americana—Pronghorn (Jefferson 1991b) †Bison antiquus—Ancient Bison (Jefferson 1991b: cf.) †Bison latifrons—Giant Bison (Jefferson 1991b: cf.)

Literature. Jefferson 1991a; Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 29 Jan 2014

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Newport Beach CA: Orange Co.

Age. Sangamon (Jefferson 1991b). Fauna. †Tapirus merriami—Merriam's Tapir (Jefferson 1991b) Literature. Jefferson 1991b; Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 23 Jan 2014

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Nipomo CA: San Luis Obispo Co.

Age. Rancholabrean (Jefferson 1991b). Fauna. †Mammuthus sp.—Mammoths (Jefferson 1991b) Literature. Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 4 Feb 2014

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Oceanside CA: San Diego Co.

Age. Rancholabrean (Jefferson 1991b). Fauna. Bison sp.—Bison (Jefferson 1991b) Literature. Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 2 Feb 2014

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Oceanview High School, Seal Beach CA: Orange Co.

Age. Rancholabrean (Jefferson 1991b). Fauna. Odocoileus sp.—Deer (Jefferson 1991b) Literature. Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 23 Jan 2014

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Old Spring, Needles San Bernardino Co.

Age. Rancholabrean (Jefferson 1991b). Fauna. †Equus sp.—Horses (Jefferson 1991b) †Camelops sp.—American Camels (Jefferson 1991b) Literature. Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 19 Feb 2014

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Oso Creek, Mission Viejo CA: Orange Co.

Age. Rancholabrean (Jefferson 1991b). Fauna. †Equus sp.—Horses (Jefferson 1991b) Literature. Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 23 Jan 2014

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Pala CA: San Diego Co.

Age. ?Rancholabrean (Jefferson 1991b). Fauna. †Equus sp.—Horses (Jefferson 1991b: cf.) Literature. Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 2 Feb 2014

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Pecho Creek CA: San Luis Obispo Co.

Age. Sangamon (based on dates from Jefferson et al. 1992). Fauna. †Paramylodon harlani—Harlan's Ground Sloth (Jefferson 1991b) Glossotherium harlani

†Equus sp.—Horses (Jefferson 1991b: ? gen.) †Camelops hesternus—Yesterday's Camel (Jefferson 1991b: cf.) Literature. Jefferson 1991b; Jefferson et al. 1992.

Last Update: 4 Feb 2014

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Pendleton (Camp Pendleton) CA: San Diego Co.

Age. Rancholabrean (Jefferson 1991b). Fauna. †Mammuthus sp.—Mammoths (Jefferson 1991b) Literature. Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 2 Feb 2014

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Pierpoint Bay, Ventura Ventura Co.

Age. Rancholabrean. Fauna. †Equus sp.—Horses (Jefferson 1991b) Bison sp.—Bison (Jefferson 1991b: cf. gen.) Literature. Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 20 Feb 2014

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Pinto Basin, Joshua Tree National Monument CA: Riverside Co. Age. Early? Rancholabrean (Jefferson 1991c). Fauna. †Equus sp. (large)—Large Horses (Jefferson 1991c) †Equus conversidens—Mexican Horse (Jefferson 1991c: cf.) †Camelops sp.—American Camels (Jefferson 1991b) †Hemiauchenia sp.—American Llamas (Jefferson 1991b) Ovis sp.—Bighorn Sheep (Jefferson 1991c). Literature. Jefferson 1991b; Jefferson 1991c.

Last Update: 3 Jun 2014

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Piute Valley CA: San Bernardino Co.

Age. Rancholabrean (Jefferson 1991b). Description. Piute Valley Lacustrine Sediments numbers 1-6, southwest of Searchlight, Nevada (Jefferson 1991b). Fauna. Urocitellus townsendii—Townsend's Ground Squirrel (Jefferson 1991b) Spermophilus townsendii

Dipodomys sp.—Kangaroo Rats (Jefferson 1991b) Thomomys sp.—Western Pocket Gophers (Jefferson 1991b) Microtus californicus—California Vole (Jefferson 1991b: cf.) Neotoma sp.—Woodrats (Jefferson 1991b) Lepus sp. (large)—Large Jack Rabbit (Jefferson 1991b) Lepus sp. (small)—Small Jack Rabbit (Jefferson 1991b) Sylvilagus sp.—Cottontails (Jefferson 1991b) †Panthera atrox—American Lion (Jefferson 1991b) †Equus conversidens—Mexican Horse (Jefferson 1991b: cf.) †Camelops sp.—American Camels (Jefferson 1991b) †Bison antiquus—Ancient Bison (Jefferson 1991b: cf.) †Bison latifrons—Giant Bison (Jefferson 1991b: cf.) Literature. Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 19 Feb 2014

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Point Sal CA: Santa Barbara Co.

Age. Rancholabrean (Jefferson 1991b). Fauna. †Mammut sp.—Mastodonts (Jefferson 1991b) †Paramylodon harlani—Harlan's Ground Sloth (Jefferson 1991b: cf.) Glossotherium harlani

†Equus sp.—Horses (Jefferson 1991b) Literature. Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 6 Feb 2014

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Rabbit Springs San Bernardino Co.

Age. Rancholabrean (Jefferson 1991b). Description. Lucerne Dry Lake (Jefferson 1991b). Fauna. †Equus sp.—Horses (Jefferson 1991b: cf.) Literature. Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 19 Feb 2014

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Rancho La Brea California: Los Angeles County

Age. Mid and Late Wisconsin (Holocene material also has been recovered, but is not addressed here). Stock and Harris (1992), utilizing data from Marcus and Berger [1984]) give average ages of the various pits of interest: Pit Number

Average Fossil Age

81

11,000

61/67

12,000

9 (upper)

13,500

3 (upper)

14,000

13

15,000

3 (lower)

20,000

2051

21,000

16

23,000

4

24,500

60

26,000

91

29,500

77

31,000

9 (lower)

38,000

General Description (Stock and Harris 1992). Rancho la Brea is located within the city of Los Angeles. Hydrocarbons from pre-Pleistocene sediments rose into the Pleistocene sediments, forming pools of asphalt as the more volatile elements evaporated. Pools of viscus liquid asphalt formed natural traps. The large number of carnivores represented in the fossil deposits suggest that trapped animals attracted predators and scavengers that, in turn, also became trapped. As of 1992, more than 2,000,000 bones, along with numerous remains of insect, mollusks, and plants, have been recovered. Excavations continue to the present. Woodard and Marcus (1973) note that asphaltic activity was sporadic within pits rather than continuous. They also stressed that fluvial sedimentation was ongoing during the time span involved and played a part in movement and concentration of bones. Fauna. Osteichthyes

Onchorhynchus mykiss—Rainbow Trout (Swift 1989) Gila orcutti—Arroyo Chub (Swift 1989) Gasterosteus aculeatus—Three-spined Stickleback (Swift 1989) Amphibia Aneides lugubris—Arboreal Salamander (Stock and Harris 1992) Anaxyrus boreas—Western Toad (Brattstrom 1953; Tihen 1962)

Camp (1917) described a new fossil species, Bufo nestor, from Rancho la Brea. Tihen (1962) considered this to be a synonym of Bufo boreas. The genus Bufo has since been restricted to the eastern hemisphere (Frost et al. 2006), with the next available name being Anaxyrus.

Anaxyrus microscaphus—Arizona Toad (Stock and Harris 1992) Bufo microscaphus

Hyla sp.—Treefrogs (Brattstrom 1953) Rana aurora—Northern Red-legged Frog (Brattstrom 1953) Chelonia Actinemys pallida—Southern Western Pond Turtle (Brattstrom 1953) Clemmys marmorata

†Hesperotestudo sp.—Hesperotestudo Tortoises ( Natural History Museum, Los Angeles County: ?, visited 27 Nov 2013) Geochelone ?

Reptilia Although the list of lizards given below follows the earlier literature, Bell and Dundas (1993) are skeptical at the identification levels given. They specifically clump the phrynosomatid taxa as "Sceloporine, gen. and sp. indet.", the teiid taxon (Aspidoscelis tigris in the list below) as only identifiable at the generic level (and that based in part on geography), and the skink to genus only.

Elgaria multicarinatus—Southern Alligator Lizard (Brattstrom 1953) Gerrhonotus multicarinatus

Phrynosoma blainvillii—Blainville's Horned Lizard (Brattstrom 1953) Phrynosoma coronatum

Sceloporus magister—Desert Spiny Lizard (Brattstrom 1953) Sceloporus occidentalis—Western Fence Lizard(Brattstrom 1953) Uta stansburiana—Side-blotched Lizard (Brattstrom 1953) Plestiodon skiltonianus—Western Skink (Brattstrom 1953) Eumeces

Aspidoscelis tigris—Western

Arizona elegans—Glossy Snake (LaDuke 1991) Coluber constrictor—Eastern Racer (LaDuke 1991) Lampropeltis getula—Common Kingsnake (LaDuke 1991) Lampropeltis getulus

Masticophis lateralis—Striped Racer (LaDuke 1991) Pituophis catenifer—Gophersnake (LaDuke 1991) Pituophis melanoleucus

Rhinocheilus lecontei—Long-nosed Snake (LaDuke 1991) Tantilla sp.—Black-headed Snakes (LaDuke 1991)[pit 91]

Crotalus oreganus—Western Rattlesnake (LaDuke 1991) Diadophis punctatus—Ring-necked Snake (LaDuke 1991) Hypsiglena ochrorhyncha—Coast Nightsnake (LaDuke 1991)

Whiptail(Brattstrom 1953) Cnemidophorus tigris

Xantusia vigilis—Desert Night Lizard (Brattstrom 1953) Disallowed Heche (1956) noted that no species of the genus Xantusia had the tooth characteristics described by Brattstrom and that the specimen turns out to belong to a different family.

Hypsiglena torquata of LaDuke (1991). Mulcahy (2008) split H. torquata into several species, including H. ochrorhyncha, indicated as occurring currently in southwestern California. This taxonomy is not recognized by all. The assumption here is that the fossil form is the same as that now in the region.

Thamnophis Gartersnake Thamnophis Gartersnake

couchii complex—Sierra complex (LaDuke 1991) sirtalis—Common (LaDuke 1991)

Aves

†Anabernicula gracilenta—Graceful Pygmy Goose (Stock and Harris 1992) Anas clypeata—Northern Shoveler (Stock and Harris 1992) Anas crecca—Green-winged Teal (Stock and Harris 1992) Anas cyanoptera—Cinnamon Teal (Stock and Harris 1992: ?) Anas platyrhynchos—Mallard (Stock and Harris 1992) Anas strepera—Gadwall (Stock and Harris 1992) Anser albifrons—Greater Whitefronted Goose (Stock and Harris 1992) Aythya valisineria—Canvasback (Stock and Harris 1992) Branta bernicla—Brant (Stock and Harris 1992: cf.) Branta canadensis—Canada Goose (Stock and Harris 1992)

Zenaida macroura—Mourning Dove (Stock and Harris 1992) Geococcyx californianus—Greater Roadrunner (Stock and Harris 1992) Tyto alba—Barn Owl (Stock and Harris 1992) Aegolius acadicus—Northern Sawwhet Owl (Stock and Harris 1992) Asio flammeus—Short-eared Owl (Stock and Harris 1992) †Asphaltoglaux cecileae—Asphalt Miniature Owl (Campbell and Bocheński 2013) Athene cunicularia—(Burrowing Owl (Stock and Harris 1992) Bubo virginianus—Great Horned Owl (Stock and Harris 1992) Glaucidium gnoma—Northern PygmyOwl (Stock and Harris 1992) †Glaucidium kurochkini—Kurochkin's Pygmy Owl (Campbell and Bocheñski

Chen caerulescens—Snow Goose (Stock and Harris 1992) Chen rossii—Ross's Goose (Stock and Harris 1992) Cygnus columbianus—(Tundra Swan) (Stock and Harris 1992) Callipepla californica—California Quail (Stock and Harris 1992) Meleagris californica—California Turkey (Bocheński and Campbell 2006) Podiceps sp.—Grebes (Stock and Harris 1992) Podilymbus podiceps—Pied-billed Grebe (Stock and Harris 1992) †Ciconia maltha—La Brea Stork (Stock and Harris 1992) †Mycteria wetmorei—Wetmore's Wood Stork (Stock and Harris 1992) Phalacrocorax sp.—Cormorants (Stock and Harris 1992) Ardea alba—Great Egret (Stock and Harris 1992) Casmarodius albus

Ardea herodias—Great Blue Heron (Stock and Harris 1992) Botaurus lentiginosus—American Bittern (Stock and Harris 1992) Butorides striata—Striated Heron (Stock and Harris 1992) Egretta caerulea—Little Blue Heron (Stock and Harris 1992) Egretta thula—Snowy Egret (Stock and Harris 1992) Nycticorax nycticorax—Black-crowned Night-Heron (Stock and Harris 1992) Platalea ajaja—Roseate Spoonbill (Stock and Harris 1992) Plegadis chihi—White-faced Ibis (Stock and Harris 1992) Ajaia ajaja

†Cathartornis gracilis—Slender Teratorn (Stock and Harris 1992) †Teratornis merriami—Merriam's

2013) Megascops asio—Eastern Screech-Owl (Stock and Harris 1992) Otus asio

†Oraristrix brea—Tar-pit Owl (Campbell and Bocheński 2010) Phalaenoptilus nuttallii—Common Poorwill (Stock and Harris 1992) Colaptes auratus—Northern Flicker (Stock and Harris 1992) Colaptes auratus cafer

Dryocopus pileatus—Pileated Woodpecker (Stock and Harris 1992) Melanerpes lewisi—(Lewis's Woodpecker (Stock and Harris 1992) Picoides sp.—Picoides Woodpeckers (Stock and Harris 1992) Sphyrapicus sp.—Sapsuckers (Stock and Harris 1992) Caracara cheriway—Crested Caracara (Stock and Harris 1992) Polyborus plancus

Falco columbarius—Merlin (Stock and Harris 1992) Falco mexicanus—Prairie Falcon (Stock and Harris 1992) Falco peregrinus—Peregrine Falcon (Stock and Harris 1992) Falco sparverius—American Kestrel (Stock and Harris 1992) Tyrannus vociferans—Cassin's Kingbird (Stock and Harris 1992) Lanius ludovicianus—Loggerhead Shrike (Stock and Harris 1992) Aphelocoma californica—Western Scrub-Jay (Stock and Harris 1992) Aphelocoma coerulescens, Aphelocoma coerulescens californica—

Corvus brachyrhynchos—American Crow (Stock and Harris 1992) Corvus caurinus—Northwestern Crow (Stock and Harris 1992) Corvus corax—Common Raven (Stock

Teratorn (L. Miller 1909) †Breagyps clarki—Clark's Condor (Stock and Harris 1992) †Coragyps occidentalis—Western Black Vulture (Stock and Harris 1992) Cathartes aura—Turkey Vulture (Stock and Harris 1992) Gymnogyps californianus—California Condor (Stock and Harris 1992) Gymnogyps amplus (see G. californianus for usage)

Accipiter gentilis—Northern Goshawk (Stock and Harris 1992) A. striatus—Sharp-shinned Hawk (Stock and Harris 1992) A. cooperii—Cooper's Hawk (Stock and Harris 1992) Aquila chrysaetos—Golden Eagle (Stock and Harris 1992) †Amplibuteo woodwardi— (Stock and Harris 1992) Buteo jamaicensis—Red-tailed Hawk (Stock and Harris 1992) Buteo lagopus—Rough-legged Hawk (Stock and Harris 1992) Buteo regalis—Ferruginous Hawk (Stock and Harris 1992) Buteo swainsoni—Swainson's Hawk (Stock and Harris 1992) †Buteogallus daggetti—Daggett's Eagle (Stock and Harris 1992) Wetmoregyps daggetti

†Buteogallus fragilis—Fragile Blackhawk (Stock and Harris 1992) Circus cyaneus—Northern Harrier, (Stock and Harris 1992) Elanus caeruleus—Black-winged Kite (Stock and Harris 1992) Haliaeetus leucocephalus—Bald Eagle (Stock and Harris 1992) †Neogyps errans—Errant Eagle (Stock and Harris 1992) †Neophrontops americanus—American Neophrontops (Stock and Harris

and Harris 1992) Corvus cryptoleucus—Chihuahuan Raven (Stock and Harris 1992) Cyanocitta stelleri—Steller's Jay (Stock and Harris 1992) Nucifraga columbiana—Clark's Nutcracker (Stock and Harris 1992) Pica nuttalli—Yellow-billed Magpie (Stock and Harris 1992) Ermophila alpestris—Horned Lark (Stock and Harris 1992) Poecile gambeli—Mountain Chickadee (Stock and Harris 1992) Parus sp. cf. P. gambeli

Sialia mexicana—Western Bluebird (Stock and Harris 1992: cf.) Turdus migratorius—American Robin (Stock and Harris 1992) Oreoscoptes montanus—Sage Thrasher (Stock and Harris 1992) Toxostoma redivivum—California Thrasher (Stock and Harris 1992) Bombycilla cedrorum—Cedar Waxwing (Stock and Harris 1992) Amphispiza bilineata—Black-throated Sparrow (Stock and Harris 1992) Artemisiospiza belli/nevadensis—Bell's Sparrow or Sagebrush Sparrow (Stock and Harris 1992) Amphispiza belli

Chondestes grammacus—Lark Sparrow (Stock and Harris 1992) Melospiza melodia—Song Sparrow (Stock and Harris 1992) Melozone fuscus—Canyon Towhee (Stock and Harris 1992) Pipilo fuscus

Passerella iliaca—Fox Sparrow (Stock and Harris 1992) Pipilo maculatus—Spotted Towhee (Stock and Harris 1992) Pipilo erythrophthalmus; P. erythrophthalmus has been split into eastern and western

1992) †Spizaetus grinnelli—Grinnell's Hawkeagle (Stock and Harris 1992) Grus americana—Whooping Crane (Stock and Harris 1992) Grus canadensis—Sandhill Crane (Stock and Harris 1992) †Grus pagei—Page's Crane (Campbell 1995) Fulica americana—American Coot (Stock and Harris 1992) Recurvirostra americana—American Avocet (Stock and Harris 1992) Charadrius semipalmatus— Semipalmated Plover (Stock and Harris 1992) Catoptrophorus semipalmatus

Charadrius vociferus—Killdeer (Stock and Harris 1992) Pluvialis squatarola—Black-bellied Plover (Stock and Harris 1992) Calidris alba—Sanderling (Stock and Harris 1992) Calidris alpina—Dunlin (Stock and Harris 1992) Tringa melanoleuca— Greater Yellowlegs (Stock and Harris 1992) Numenius americanus—Long-billed Curlew (Stock and Harris 1992) Numenius phaeopus—Whimbrel (Stock and Harris 1992) Gallinago delicata—Wilson's Snipe (Stock and Harris 1992) Gallinago gallinago delicata

Limnodromus griseus—Short-billed Dowitcher (Stock and Harris 1992) Limosa fedoa—Marbled Godwit (Stock and Harris 1992) Phalaropus fulicarius—Red Phalarope (Stock and Harris 1992) Ectopistes migratorius—Passenger Pigeon (Stock and Harris 1992) Patagioenas fasciata—Band-tailed

species. Presumably the Rancho La Brea species is P. maculatus.

†Pipilo angelensis—Los Angeles Towhee (Stock and Harris 1992) Pooecetes gramineus—Vesper Sparrow (Stock and Harris 1992) Spizella passerina—Chipping Sparrow (Stock and Harris 1992) Spizella sp.—Spizella Sparrows (Stock and Harris 1992) Zonotrichia leucophrys—Whitecrowned Sparrow (Stock and Harris 1992) Pheucticus melanocephalus—Blackheaded Grosbeak (Stock and Harris 1992) Agelaius phoeniceus—Red-winged Blackbird (Stock and Harris 1992: cf.) †Euphagus magnirostris— (Stock and Harris 1992) Icterus spp.—Blackbirds (Stock and Harris 1992) Molothrus ater—Brown-headed Cowbird (Stock and Harris 1992) †Pandanaris convexa— (Stock and Harris 1992) Sturnella neglecta—Western Meadowlark (Stock and Harris 1992) Xanthocephalus sp.—Yellow-headed Blackbirds (Stock and Harris 1992) Coccothraustes vespertinus—Evening Grosbeak (Stock and Harris 1992) Spinus pinus—Pine Siskin (Stock and Harris 1992) Carduelis pinus

Spinus tristis—American Goldfinch (Stock and Harris 1992) Carduelis tristis

Pigeon (Stock and Harris 1992) Columba fasciata

Mammalia

†Mammuthus columbi—Columbian Mammoth (Stock and Harris 1992) †Mammut americanum—American Mastodont (Stock and Harris 1992) †Megalonyx jeffersonii—Jefferson's Ground Sloth (Stock and Harris 1992) †Nothrotheriops shastensis—Shasta Ground Sloth (Stock and Harris 1992) †Paramylodon harlani—Harlan's Ground Sloth (Stock and Harris 1992) Glossotherium harlani

Otospermophilus beecheyi—California Ground Squirrel (Stock and Harris 1992) Spermophilus (Otospermophilus) beecheyi

Tamias merriami—Merriam's Chipmunk (Whistler 1989: cf.) Dipodomys agilis—Agile Kangaroo Rat (Stock and Harris 1992) Chaetodipus californicus—California Pocket Mouse Perognathus californicus

Thomomys bottae—Botta's Pocket Gopher (Stock and Harris 1992) Microtus californicus—California Vole (Stock and Harris 1992) Neotoma fuscipes—Dusky-footed Woodrat (Stock and Harris 1992) Onychomys torridus—Desert Grasshopper Mouse (Stock and Harris 1992) †Peromyscus imperfectus—Imperfect Mouse (Dice 1925) Reithrodontomys megalotis—Western Harvest Mouse (Stock and Harris 1992) Lepus californicus—Black-tailed

Puma concolor—Mountain Lion (Stock and Harris 1992) Felis concolor

Lynx rufus—Bobcat (Stock and Harris 1992) †Smilodon fatalis—Sabertooth Also listed: Smilodon fatalis brevipes

†Canis dirus—Dire Wolf (Stock and Harris 1992) Canis familiaris—Domestic Dog (Stock and Harris 1992) It's assumed here that this record is Holocene and is not treated further.

Canis latrans—Coyote (Stock and Harris 1992) Canis lupus—Gray Wolf (Stock and Harris 1992) Urocyon cinereoargenteus—Gray Fox (Stock and Harris 1992) †Arctodus simus—Giant Short-faced Bear (Stock and Harris 1992) Ursus americanus—American Black Bear (Stock and Harris 1992) Mustela frenata—Long-tailed Weasel (Stock and Harris 1992) Taxidea taxus—American Badger (Stock and Harris 1992) Mephitis mephitis—Striped Skunk (Stock and Harris 1992) Spilogale gracilis—Western Spotted Skunk (Stock and Harris 1992) Spilogale putorius

Bassariscus astutus—Ringtail (Akersten et al. 1979)[Pit A] (Stock and Harris 1992) Procyon lotor—Raccoon (Akersten et al. 1979)[Pit 91] (Stock and Harris

Jackrabbit (Stock and Harris 1992) Sylvilagus audubonii—Desert Cottontail (Stock and Harris 1992) Sylvilagus bachmani—Brush Rabbit (Stock and Harris 1992) Sorex ornatus—Ornate Shrew (Stock and Harris 1992) Notiosorex crawfordi—Desert Shrew (Stock and Harris 1992) Scapanus latimanus—Broad-footed Mole (Akersten et al. 1979)[Pit 91] (Stock and Harris 1992) Antrozous pallidus—Pallid Bat (Stock and Harris 1992) Lasiurus cinereus—Hoary Bat (Akersten et al. 1979)[Pit 91] (Stock and Harris 1992) Felis sp. (small)—Small Cat (Stock and Harris 1992) †Homotherium serum—Scimitar Cat (Stock and Harris 1992) †Panthera atrox—American Lion (Stock and Harris 1992) Panthera onca—Jaguar (Stock and Harris 1992)

1992) †Equus conversidens—Mexican Horse (Stock and Harris 1992) †Equus occidentalis—Western Horse (Stock and Harris 1992: cf.) †Tapirus californicus—California Tapir (Stock and Harris 1992) †Platygonus compressus—Flat-headed Peccary (Stock and Harris 1992: cf.) †Camelops hesternus—Yesterday's Camel (Stock and Harris 1992) †Hemiauchenia macrocephala—Bigheaded Llama (Stock and Harris 1992) Odocoileus hemionus—Mule Deer (Stock and Harris 1992: cf.) Antilocapra americana—Pronghorn (Stock and Harris 1992) †Capromeryx furcifer—Matthew's Pronghorn Capromeryx minor

†Bison antiquus—Ancient Bison (Stock and Harris 1992) †Bison latifrons—Giant Bison (Stock and Harris 1992) †Euceratherium collinum—Brush Ox (Stock and Harris 1992: cf.)

Literature Akersten et al. 1979; Bell and Dundas 1993; Bocheński and Campbell 2006; Brattstrom 1953;Camp 1917; Campbell 1995; Campbell and Bocheński 2010; Campbell and Bocheński 2013; Hecht 1956; Howard 1933; LaDuke 1991; L. Miller 1909; Mulcahy 2008; Stock and Harris 1992; Swift 1989; Tihen 1962; Whistler 1989; Woodard and Marcus 1973.

Last Update: 19 Jun 2014

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Red Tail Peak Midden, Whipple Mountains CA: San Bernardino Co.

Age. Late Wisconsin. Radiocarbon dates are 13,810 ± 270, 11,520 ± 160, 10,030 ± 160 (Jefferson 1991b). Synonyms. Redtail Peak Midden. Description. Woodrat midden (Jefferson 1991b). Fauna. Anaxyrus punctatus—Red-spotted Toad (Jefferson 1991a) Bufo punctatus

Lampropeltis getula—Common Kingsnake (Jefferson 1991a) Hypsiglena chlorophaea—Desert Night Snake (Jefferson 1991a)

Hypsiglena torquata. With the recognition of several species within the earlier named species Hypsiglena torquata, it becomes difficult to know what taxon is represented. My placement of this taxon in H. chlorophaea is strictly on present day distribution.

Dipodomys sp.—Kangaroo Rats (Jefferson 1991b) Neotoma sp.—Woodrats (Jefferson 1991b) Peromyscus sp.—Deer Mice (Jefferson 1991b) Lepus sp.—Jack Rabbits (Jefferson 1991b) Literature. Jefferson 1991a; Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 19 Feb 2014

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Riverside CA: Riverside Co.

Age. Pleistocene. Fauna. †Mammuthus sp.—Mammoths (Jefferson 1991b) Literature. Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 25 Jan 2014

Main Menu   Sites Various sites in Riverside County are listed by Jefferson (1991a, 1991b), but cannot be located by me with assuredness. The dot symbol (red with a black center) for these sites is placed in the approximate center of the county.

Bedford Properties CA: Riverside Co. Age. ?Rancholabrean (Jefferson 1991a). Fauna. Gila sp.—Chubs (Jefferson 1991a) Gasterosteus aculeatus—Three-spined Stickleback (Jefferson 1991a) Anaxyrus sp.—True Toads (Jefferson 1991a) Bufo sp.

Rana sp.—Brown Frogs (Jefferson 1991a) Uta stansburiana—Side-blotched Lizard (Jefferson 1991a: ? gen. et sp.) Plestiodon sp.— Skinks (Jefferson 1991a) Eumeces sp.

Lampropeltis sp.—Kingsnakes (Jefferson 1991a: ? gen. et sp.) †Mammuthus sp.—Mammoths (Jefferson 1991b) †Mammut americanum—American Mastodont (Jefferson 1991b) Chaetodipus/Perognathus sp.—Spiny or Silky pocket mice (Jefferson 1991b) Perognathus sp. At the time of listing, both genera were included within the genus Perognathus.

Dipodomys sp.—Kangaroo Rats (Jefferson 1991b) Thomomys bottae—Botta's Pocket Gopher (Jefferson 1991b) Microtus californicus—California Vole (Jefferson 1991b) Neotoma sp.—Packrats (Jefferson 1991b) Peromyscus sp.—White-footed Mice (Jefferson 1991b) Reithrodontomys sp.—Harvest Mice (Jefferson 1991b) Sylvilagus audubonii—Desert Cottontail (Jefferson 1991b: cf.) Vulpes sp.—Red Foxes (Jefferson 1991b: cf. gen.) †Camelops sp.—American Camels Literature. Jefferson 1991a; Jefferson 1991b.

Costain Homes CA: Riverside Co. Age. Rancholabrean (Jefferson 1991b).

Fauna. Thomomys sp.—Western Pocket Gophers (Jefferson 1991b) Literature. Jefferson 1991b.

Rancho California CA: Riverside Co. Included here are five sites, presumably all within a restricted area: Corporate Park V, Margarita Village, Mesa Homes Tract, Santa Gertrudis Creek (possibly equal to Corporate Park V), and Warmington Homes Tracts (Jefferson 1991b). Age. Late Irvingtonian or early Rancholabrean (Jefferson 1991b). Fauna. †Mammuthus sp.—Mammoths (Jefferson 1991b: ?) †Equus sp.—Large Horses (Jefferson 1991b) †Tapirus sp.—Tapirs (Jefferson 1991b) †Camelops sp.–American Camels (Jefferson 1991b) †Hemiauchenia macrocephala—Big-headed Llama (Jefferson 1991b: cf. gen. et sp.) Bison sp.—Bison (Jefferson 1991b)

Last Update: 29 Jan 2014

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Rubidoux, Santa Ana River CA: Riverside Co.

Age. Rancholabrean (Jefferson 1991b). Fauna. †Mammuthus sp.—Mammoths (Jefferson 1991b) †Mammut sp.—Mastodonts (Jefferson 1991b) †Paramylodon harlani—Harlan's Ground Sloth (Jefferson 1991b) Glossotherium harlani

†Equus sp.—Horses (Jefferson 1991b) Literature. Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 25 Jan 2014

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Salinas River Sand Site CA: San Luis Obispo Co.

Age. Rancholabrean (Jefferson et al. 1992). Fauna. †Mammuthus sp.—Mammoths (Jefferson 1991b) Literature. Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 5 Feb 2014

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Salt Creek, California CA: Orange Co.

Age. Rancholabrean (Jefferson 1991b). Discussion. Two sites along Salt Creek are included (the Laguna Niguel and San Joaquin Hills of Jefferson 1991b). Fauna. †Mammuthus columbi—Columbian Mammoth (Jefferson 1991b: cf.) †Mammut sp.—Mastodonts (Jefferson 1991b) †Paramylodon harlani—Harlan's Ground Sloth (Jefferson 1991b: cf.) Glossotherium harlani

†Equus sp.—Large Horse (Jefferson 1991b) †Tapirus sp.—Tapir (Jefferson 1991b: ?) Literature. Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 23 Jan 2014

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Saltmarsh, Danby Lake San Bernardino Co.

Age. Rancholabrean (Jefferson 1991b). Description. Saltmarsh, Danby Lake, east of Amboy (Jefferson 1991b). Fauna. Dipodomys deserti—Desert Kangaroo Rat (Jefferson 1991b) Dipodomys merriami—Merriam's Kangaroo Rat (Jefferson 1991b) Lepus sp.—Jack Rabbit (Jefferson 1991b) †Equus sp. (small)—Small Horses (Jefferson 1991b) †Camelops sp.—American Camels (Jefferson 1991b) Literature. Jefferson 1991a; Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 19 Feb 2014

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Salton City South Imperial Co.

Age. Rancholabrean (Jefferson 1991b). Fauna. †Nothrotheriops sp.—Nothrotheriops Ground Sloths (Jefferson 1991b) Literature. Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 20 Feb 2014

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Salt Springs San Bernardino Co.

Age. Rancholabrean (Jefferson 1991b). Description. Salt Springs, southern Death Valley (Jefferson 1991a). Fauna. Actinemys sp.—Pond Turtles (Jefferson 1991a) Clemmys

Anas platyrhynchos—Mallard (Jefferson 1991a) Aythya valisineria—Canvasback (Jefferson 1991a) Phalacrocorax auritus—Double-crested Cormorant (Jefferson 1991a) Fulica americana—American Coot (Jefferson 1991a: cf.) †Mammuthus sp.—Mammoths (Jefferson 1991b) Literature. Jefferson 1991a; Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 19 Feb 2014

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San Buenaventura Ventura Co.

Age. Rancholabrean. Description. Apparently San Buenaventura is equivalent to Ventura. Several sites within Ventura are included here. Fauna. †Mammuthus sp.—Mammoths (Jefferson 1991b) †Mammut sp.—Mastodonts (Jefferson 1991b) †Equus occidentalis—Western Horse (Jefferson 1991b) †Camelops sp.—American Camels (Jefferson 1991b) Literature. Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 21 Feb 2014

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San Clemente CA: Orange Co.

Age. Rancholabrean (Jefferson 1991b). Fauna. †Mammuthus sp.—Mammoths (Jefferson 1991b) †Paramylodon sp.—Paramylodon Ground Sloths (Jefferson 1991b) Glossotherium sp

†Equus sp.—Horses (Jefferson 1991b) †Camelops sp.—American Camels (Jefferson 1991b) Literature. Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 23 Jan 2014

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Sands Lacustrine Sediments San Bernardino Co.

Age. Rancholabrean (Jefferson 1991b). Description. Devil's Playground, south of Baker (Jefferson 1991b). Fauna. †Mammuthus sp.—Mammoths (Jefferson 1991b) †Equus sp. (large)—Large Horses (Jefferson 1991b) †Equus sp. (small)—Small Horses (Jefferson 1991b) †Camelops sp.—American Camels (Jefferson 1991b) Literature. Jefferson 1991a; Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 19 Feb 2014

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San Felipe Hills Imperial Co.

Age. ?Irvingtonian/Early Rancholabrean (Jefferson 1991b). Fauna. †Equus sp.—Horses (Jefferson 1991b) †Camelops sp.—American Camels (Jefferson 1991b) Literature. Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 20 Feb 2014

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San Miguel CA: San Luis Obispo Co.

Age. Rancholabrean (Jefferson et al. 1991b). Description. The site is located in the Salinas River Valley north of Paso Robles (Jefferson et al. 1992). Fauna. †Mammuthus sp.—Mammoths (Jefferson 1991b) Literature. Jefferson 1991b; Jefferson et al. 1992.

Last Update: 5 Feb 2014

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San Miguel Island CA: Santa Barbara Co.

Age. Mid/Late Wisconsin, 14C 32,143 ± 787 to 11,890 ± 95 yr BP (Jefferson 1991b). There are a number of Pleistocene sites on the island, including the lower levels of Daisy Cave; they have been lumped together in this account. Fauna. Reptilia Elgaria multicarinata—(Guthrie 1993) Crotalus oreganus—Western Rattlesnake (Guthrie 1993) Crotalus viridis cf. helleri

Aves

Anser albifrons—Greater White-fronted Goose (Guthrie 1998) Branta canadensis—Canadian Goose (Guthrie 1998) Chen caerulescens—Snow Goose (Guthrie 1998) †Chendytes lawi—Law's Flightless Goose (Guthrie 1998) Melanitta perspicillata—Surf Scoter (Guthrie 1998) Melanitta fusca—White-winged Scoter (Guthrie 1998) Mergus serrator—Red-breasted Merganser (Guthrie 1998) Gavia immer—Common Loon (Guthrie 1998) Gavia pacifica—Pacific Loon (Guthrie 1998) Aechmophorus sp.—Western Grebe

Cepphus columba—Pigeon Guillemot (Guthrie 1998) Cerorhinca sp.—Undescribed Auklet (Guthrie 1998) Fratercula cirrhata—Tufted Puffin (Guthrie 1998) †Fratercula dowi—Dow's Puffin (Guthrie et al. 2000) Ptychoramphus aleuticus—Cassin's Auklet (Guthrie 1998) Synthliboramphus antiquus—Ancient Murrelet (Guthrie 1998) Synthliboramphus hypoleucus— Guadalupe Murrelet (Guthrie 1998) Uria aalge—Common Murre (Guthrie 1998) Chroicocephalus philadelphia— Bonaparte's Gull (Guthrie 1998) Larus philadelphia

(Guthrie 1998) Podiceps auritus—Horned Grebe (Guthrie 1998) Podiceps nigricollis—Eared Grebe (Guthrie 1998) Phoebastria albatrus—Short-tailed Albatross (Guthrie 1998) Diomedea albatrus

Larus canus or L. delawarensis—Mew Gull (cf.) or Ring-billed Gull (Guthrie 1998) Larus californicus—(Guthrie 1998) Larus sp. (large)—Large Gull (Guthrie 1998) Rissa tridactyla—Red-legged Kittiwake (Guthrie 1998) Tyto alba—Barn Owl (Guthrie 1998) Athene cunicularia—Burrowing Owl (Guthrie 1998) †Asio priscus—Ancient Owl (Campbell 2013) Caracara cheriway—Northern Caracara (Guthrie 1998)

Fulmarus glacialis—Northern Fulmar (Guthrie 1998) Puffinus griseus—Sooty Shearwater (Guthrie 1998) Puffinus opisthomelas—Black-vented Shearwater (Guthrie 1998) Puffinus tenuirostris—Short-tailed Polyborus plancus Shearwater (Guthrie 1998) Oceanodroma homochroa—Ashy Storm- Falco peregrinus—Peregrine Falcon Petrel (Guthrie 1998) (Guthrie 1998) Phalacrocorax pelagicus—Pelagic Falco sparverius—American Kestrel Cormorant (Guthrie 1998) (Guthrie 1998) Phalacrocorax penicillatus—Brandt's Corvus corax—Common Raven (Guthrie Cormorant (Guthrie 1998) 1998) Pelecanus occidentalis—Brown Pelican Eremophila alpestris—Horned Lark (Guthrie 1998) (Guthrie 1998) Ardea herodias—Great Blue Heron Melospiza melodia—Song Sparrow (Guthrie 1998) (Guthrie 1998) Plegadis chihi—White-faced Ibis Zonotrichia leucophrys —White-crowned (Guthrie 1998) Sparrow (Guthrie 1998) Gymnogyps californianus—California Condor (Guthrie 1998) Mammalia Buteo jamaicensis—Red-tailed Hawk (Guthrie 1998) †Mammuthus exilis—Channel Island Haliaeetus leucocephalus—Bald Eagle Mammoth (Jefferson 1991b) (Guthrie 1998) †Microtus miguelensis—San Miguel Vole Haematopus bachmani—Black (Guthrie 1998) Oystercatcher (Guthrie 1998) †Peromyscus nesodytes—Giant Deer Charadrius sp.—Plovers (Guthrie 1998) Mouse (Guthrie 1993) Arenaria melanocephala—Black †Desmodus stocki—Stock's Vampire Bat Turnstone (Guthrie 1998) (Guthrie 1998) Calidris alba—Sanderling (Guthrie 1998) Urocyon littoralis—Island Fox (Guthrie Calidris canutus—Red Knot (Guthrie 1991) 1998: cf.) Enhydra lutris—Sea Otter (Guthrie Limosa fedoa—Marbled Godwit (Guthrie 1993) 1998)

Numenius phaeopus—Whimbrel (Guthrie 1998) Phalaropus fulicarius—Red Phalarope (Guthrie 1998)

†Equus sp.—Horses (Jefferson 1991b)

Literature. Campbell 2013; Guthrie 1993, 1998; Guthrie et al. 2000; Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 10 Feb 2014

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San Nicolas Island Ventura Co.

Age. Rancholabrean (Jefferson 1991b). Fauna. †Mammuthus sp.—Mammoths (Jefferson 1991b) Literature. Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 22 Feb 2014

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San Nicolas Island 1 Ventura Co.

Age. Rancholabrean. Fauna. †Chendytes milleri—Miller's Flightless Goose (Jefferson 1991a) Literature. Jefferson 1991a; Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 21 Feb 2014

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San Pedro Lumber Company CA: Los Angles Co. This site may be the same as the San Pedro Lumber Yard site; see the remarks for that site. Age. Sangamon (Jefferson 1991b). Fauna. Gasterosteus aculeatus—Three-spined Stickleback (Jefferson 1991a) Anaxyrus sp.—Nearctic Toads (Jefferson 1991a) Bufo sp.

Rana sp.—Brown Frogs (Jefferson 1991a: cf. gen.) Taricha sp.—Western Newts (Jefferson 1991a) Actinemys sp.—Pond Turtles (Jefferson 1991a) Clemmys sp.

Lampropeltis getula—Common Kingsnake (Jefferson 1991a) Lampropeltis getulus

Pituophis catenifer—Gopher Snake (Jefferson 1991a) Pituophis melanoleucus catenifer

Crotalus oreganus viridis—Western Rattlesnake (Jefferson 1991a) Crotalus viridis

Anas americanus—American Wigeon (Jefferson 1991a) Anas clypeata—Northern Shoveler (Jefferson 1991a) Anas crecca—Green-winged Teal (Jefferson 1991a) Anas platyrhynchos—Mallard (Jefferson 1991a) Anser albifrons—Greater White-fronted Goose (Jefferson 1991a) Branta bernicla—Brant (Jefferson 1991a: ?) Branta canadensis—Canadian Goose (Jefferson 1991a) Bucephala albeola—Bufflehead (Jefferson 1991a) †Chendytes lawi—Law's Flightless Sea Duck (Jefferson 1991a) Melanitta fusca—Velvet Scoter (Jefferson 1991a) Melanitta perspicillata—Surf Scoter (Jefferson 1991a) Callipepla californica—California Quail (Jefferson 1991a) Gavia immer—Great Northern Loon (Jefferson 1991a) Gavia pacifica—Pacific Loon (Jefferson 1991a) Aechmophorus occidentalis—Western Grebe (Jefferson 1991a) Podiceps auritus—Horned Grebe (Jefferson 1991a: ?) Podiceps nigricollis—Eared Grebe (Jefferson 1991a) Diomedea sp.—Albatrosses (Jefferson 1991a)

This presumably could either be Diomedea or Phoebastria, the genus Diomedea having been split into these two genera since the original report.

Phoebastria albatrus—Short-tailed Albatross (Jefferson 1991a) Diomedea albatrus

Phoebastria nigripes—Black-footed Albatross (Jefferson 1991a) Diomedea nigripes

Fulmarus glacialis—Northern Fulmar (Jefferson 1991a) Puffinus griseus—Sooty Shearwater (Jefferson 1991a) Puffinus opisthomelas—Black-vented Shearwater (Jefferson 1991a) Phalacrocorax auritus—Double-crested Cormorant (Jefferson 1991a) Phalacrocorax penicillatus—Brandt's Cormorant (Jefferson 1991a) Cathartes aura—Turkey Vulture (Jefferson 1991a) Coragyps sp.—Black Vultures (Jefferson 1991a) Haliaeetus leucocephalus—Bald Eagle (Jefferson 1991a) Fulica americana—American Coot (Jefferson 1991a) Limosa fedoa—Marbled Godwit (Jefferson 1991a: ?) Tringa sp.—Sandpipers (Jefferson 1991a) Ptychoramphus aleuticus—Cassin's Auklet (Jefferson 1991a) Synthliboramphus antiquus—Ancient Murrelet (Jefferson 1991a) Larus glaucescens—(Glaucous-winged Gull (Jefferson 1991a) Falco sparverius—American Kestrel (Jefferson 1991a) Sturnella neglecta—Western Meadowlark (Jefferson 1991a) Mammuthus sp.—Mammoths (Jefferson 1991b) Nothrotheriops shastensis—Shasta Ground Sloth (Jefferson 1991b: cf.) Megalonyx sp.—Megalonyx Ground Sloths (Jefferson 1991b) Otospermophilus beecheyi—California Ground Squirrel (Jefferson 1991b) Spermophilus beecheyi

Thomomys bottae—Botta's Pocket Gopher (Jefferson 1991b) Microtus californicus—California Vole (Jefferson 1991b: cf.) Neotoma fuscipes—Dusty-footed Woodrat (Jefferson 1991b: cf.) Lepus sp.—Jackrabbits (Jefferson 1991b) Sylvilagus bachmani—Brush Rabbit (Jefferson 1991b: cf.) Panthera atrox—American Lion (Jefferson 1991b: cf.) Puma concolor—Mountain Lion (Jefferson 1991b: cf.) Felis cf. concolor

Smilodon fatalis—Sabertooth (Jefferson 1991b) Canis dirus—Dire Wolf (Jefferson 1991b: ?) Zalophus californicus—California Sea Lion (Jefferson 1991b) Enhydra lutris—Sea Otter (Jefferson 1991b) †Eguus sp.—Horses (Jefferson 1991b) Camelops sp.—American Camels (Jefferson 1991b) Odocoileus hemionus—Mule Deer (Jefferson 1991b) Capromeryx sp.—Diminutive Pronghorns (Jefferson 1991b: cf.) Bison sp.—Bison (Jefferson 1991b) Bison latifrons—Giant Bison (Jefferson 1991b: cf.) Literature. Jefferson 1991a; Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 16 Jan 2014

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San Pedro Lumber Yard CA: Los Angles Co.

Age. Rancholabrean (Jefferson 1991a). This may be the same site as the San Pedro Lumber Company, but this is uncertain; Jefferson gives the age for this site as Rancholabrean and from the San Pedro Sand, whereas the Lumber Company site is given as Sangamon and from the Palos Verdes Sand (Jefferson 1991b). Jefferson (1991a, 1991b) is followed here in presenting these as separate sites. Fauna. Anas crecca—Green-winged Teal (Jefferson 1991a) Anas cyanoptera—Cinnamon Teal (Jefferson 1991a) Anas platyrhynchos—Mallard (Jefferson 1991a) Anser albifrons—Greater White-fronted Goose (Jefferson 1991a) Branta canadensis—Canadian Goose (Jefferson 1991a) †Chendytes lawi—Law's Flightless Sea Duck (Jefferson 1991a) Melanitta perspicillata—Surf Scoter (Jefferson 1991a) Callipepla californica—California Quail (Jefferson 1991a) Gavia immer—Great Northern Loon (Jefferson 1991a: ?) Gavia sp.—Loons (Jefferson 1991a) Aechmophorus occidentalis—Western Grebe (Jefferson 1991a) Diomedea sp.—Albatrosses (Jefferson 1991a)

This presumably could either be Diomedea or Phoebastria, the genus Diomedea having been split into these two genera since the original report.

Fulmarus glacialis—Northern Fulmar (Jefferson 1991a) Puffinus griseus—Sooty Shearwater (Jefferson 1991a) Puffinus opisthomelas—Black-vented Shearwater (Jefferson 1991a) Phalacrocorax penicillatus—Brandt's Cormorant (Jefferson 1991a: ?) Cathartes aura—Turkey Vulture (Jefferson 1991a) Haliaeetus leucocephalus—Bald Eagle (Jefferson 1991a) Synthliboramphus antiquus—Ancient Murrelet (Jefferson 1991a) Larus glaucescens—(Glaucous-winged Gull (Jefferson 1991a) Sturnella neglecta—Western Meadowlark (Jefferson 1991a) Mammuthus sp.—Mammoths (Jefferson 1991b) Megalonyx sp.—Megalonyx Ground Sloths (Jefferson 1991b) †Smilodon sp.—Sabertooth (Jefferson 1991b: ? gen.) Felis sp.—Cats (Jefferson 1991b) Eguus sp.—Horses (Jefferson 1991b)

Bison sp.—Bison (Jefferson 1991b) Literature. Jefferson 1991a; Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 14 Jan 2014

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San Timoteo Badlands CA: Riverside Co.

The San Timoteo Badlands include several sites of differing ages: Late Blancan: Jack Rabbit Trail; Irvingtonian: El Casco and Shutt Ranch, San Timoteo Fm. (Albright 2000). Albright also listed a specimen of Mammuthus not included in those faunas, with an age of 0.78-0.99 mya. A portion of the Jack Rabbit Trail deposits (Mt. Eden Fm.) is older than Pleistocene; only the Late Blancan Pleistocene portion (2.5-2.3 my) is reported here (Albright 2000). The Casco fauna is estimated as at about 1.3-1.4 ma, and the Shutt Ranch at about 0.99-0.78 (Albright 2000). Taxa identified only by a generic name and a letter (e.g., Perognathus sp. A) are listed here by generic name only. Albright (2000) describes several such taxa in considerable detail. Faunas. Jack Rabbit Trail, Late Blancan Chaetodipus/Perognathus spp.—Spiny or Silky Pocket Mice (Albright 2000) Perognathus

Dipodomys spp.—Kangaroo Rats (Albright 2000) †Thomomys gidleyi—Gidley's Pocket Gopher (Albright 2000) †Mimomys (Ophiomys) sp.—Water Voles (Albright 2000) †Neotoma fossilis—Fossil Wood Rat (Albright 2000) †Peromyscus complexus—Complex Deer Mouse (Albright 2000) †Peromyscus hagermanensis—Hagerman Deer Mouse (Albright 2000: cf.) †Peromyscus maximus—Large Deer Mouse (Albright 2000) Reithrodontomys sp.—Harvest Mice (Albright 2000) †Sigmodon minor—Dwarf Cotton Rat (Albright 2000) †Hypolagus edensis—Eden Rabbit (Albright 2000) †Sylvilagus hibbardi—Hibbard's Cottontail (Albright 2000) †Sorex leahyi—Leahy's Shrew (Albright 2000) †Erethizon cascoensis—Casco Porcupine (Albright 2000: ?) †Equus idahoensis—Idaho Horse (Albright 2000) El Casco, Early Irvingtonian

†Megalonyx sp.—Megalonyx Ground Sloths (Albright 2000) Chaetodipus/Perognathus sp.—Spiny or Silky Pocket Mice (Albright 2000) Perognathus

Dipodomys sp.—Kangaroo Rats (Albright 2000) †Thomomys sp.—Western Pocket Gophers (Albright 2000) Microtus sp.—Voles (Albright 2000) †Mictomys kansasensis—Kansan Mictomys (Albright 2000) †Ondatra idahoensis—Idaho Muskrat (Albright 2000) Neotoma sp.—Woodrats (Albright 2000) †Erethizon cascoensis—Casco Porcupine (Albright 2000) †Canis edwardii—Edward's Wolf (Albright 2000) †Tapirus merriami—Merriam's Tapir (Albright 2000) †Equus bautistensis—Bautista Horse (Albright 2000) †Equus francescana—Francescana Horse (Albright 2000) †Odocoileus hemionus—Mule Deer (Frick 1937) Mammoth Locality, Irvingtonian Mammuthus imperator—Imperial Mammoth (Albright 2000: ?) Shutt Ranch, Irvingtonian Microtus californicus—Calafornia Vole (Albright 2000) Neotoma fuscipes—Dusky-footed Woodrat (Albright 2000: nr.) Sorex sp.—Long-tailed Voles (Albright 2000) Literature: Albright 2000; Frick 1937.

Last Update: 13 Apr 2014

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Santa Barbara Island Ventura Co.

Age. Sangamon (Lipps et al. 1968). Discussion. Jefferson 1991a) lists Mancalla cf. californiensis as Rancholabrean. I am unable at this time to determine whether this record actually falls into the time span treated here or not, so am noting the record only as a discussion item. Fauna. Haliaeetus leucocephalus—Bald Eagle (Lipps et al. 1968: cf.) Zalophus sp.—Sea Lions (Lipps et al. 1968) Literature. Lipps et al. 1968; Jefferson 1991a.

Last Update: 11 Feb 2014

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Santa Paula Ventura Co.

Age. Rancholabrean (Jefferson 1991b). Fauna. †Equus occidentalis—Western Horse (Jefferson 1991b) Literature. Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 6 Mar 2014

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Schuiling Cave San Bernardino Co.

Age. Late Wisconsin/Holocene; there is a radiocarbon date of 12,500 ± 150 (Jefferson 1991b). Description. Schuiling Cave is located about 2 miles southeast of Newberry, is about 18 feet wide, 13 feet in horizontal depth, and 7 feet in height (Downs et al. 1959). Fauna. Gopherus agassizii—Agassiz's Desert Tortoise (Jefferson 1991a) Sauromalus ater—Common Chuckwalla (Jefferson 1991a) Sauromalus obesus

Crotalus atrox—Western Diamondback Rattlesnake (Jefferson 1991a: cf.) Anas americanus—American Widgeon (Jefferson 1991a: cf.) Anas crecca—Green-winged Teal (Jefferson 1991a: cf.) Anas platyrhynchos—Mallard (Jefferson 1991a: cf.) Aythya americana—Redhead (Jefferson 1991a: cf.) Oxyura jamaicensis—Ruddy Duck (Jefferson 1991a) Gymnogyps californianus—California Condor (Jefferson 1991a) Gymnogyps amplus

Aquila chrysaetos—Golden Eagle (Jefferson 1991a) Buteo jamaicensis—Red-tailed Hawk (Jefferson 1991a) Fulica americana—American Coot (Jefferson 1991a) Recurvirostra americana—Avocet (Jefferson 1991a) Zenaida macroura—Mourning Dove (Jefferson 1991a) Bubo virginianus—Great Horned Owl (Jefferson 1991a) Megascops kennicottii—Western Screech Owl (Jefferson 1991a) Otus asio

Colaptes auratus—Northern Flicker (Jefferson 1991a) Corvus corax—Common Raven (Jefferson 1991a) Homo sapiens—Human (Jefferson 1991b) Spermophile—Spermophiles (Jefferson 1991b) Spermophilus sp.

Chaetodipus/Perognathus sp.—Spiny or Silky Pocket Mice (Jefferson 1991b) Perognathus sp.

Dipodomys sp.—Kangaroo Rats (Jefferson 1991b) Thomomys sp.—Western Pocket Gophers (Jefferson 1991b) Neotoma sp.—Woodrats (Jefferson 1991b)

Lepus sp.—Jack Rabbits (Jefferson 1991b) Sylvilagus sp.—Cottontails (Jefferson 1991b) Puma concolor—Mountain Lion (Jefferson 1991b: cf.) Felis cf. F. concolor

Lynx sp.—Bobcat (Jefferson 1991b) Canis lupus—Gray Wolf (Jefferson 1991b: cf.) Urocyon sp.—Gray Foxes (Jefferson 1991b) Taxidea taxus—American Badger (Jefferson 1991b: cf.) Procyon sp.—Raccoons (Jefferson 1991b) Eguus sp. (large)—Large Horses (Jefferson 1991b) Eguus sp. (small)—Small Horses (Jefferson 1991b) Camelops hesternus—Yesterday's Camel (Jefferson 1991b: ? gen.) Hemiauchenia sp.—American Llama (Jefferson 1991b) Capromeryx furcifer—Matthew's Pronghorn (Jefferson 1991b) Capromeryx minor

Ovis sp.—Sheep (Jefferson 1991b) Literature. Downs et al. 1959; Jefferson 1991a; Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 6 Mar 2014

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Seal Beach CA: Orange Co.

Age. Rancholabrean (Jefferson 1991b). Discussion. Includes Seal Beach Offshore and Seal Beach near 15th Street of Jefferson (1991b). Fauna. †Mammuthus columbi—Columbian Mammoth (Jefferson 1991b: cf.) †Bison latifrons—Giant Bison (Jefferson 1991b: cf.) Literature. Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 23 Jan 2014

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Shea Homes, Laguna Niguel CA: Orange Co.

Age. Rancholabrean (Jefferson 1991b). Fauna. †Equus sp.—Large Horses (Jefferson 1991b) Odocoileus hemionus—Mule Deer (Jefferson 1991b) Literature. Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 23 Jan 2014

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Silver Lake San Bernardino Co.

Age. Rancholabrean (Jefferson 1991b). Description. Silver Lake, north of Baker (Jefferson 1991b). Fauna. Gila bicolor—Tui Chub (Jefferson 1991a) Dipodomys sp.—Kangaroo Rats (Jefferson 1991b) Lepus sp.—Jack Rabbits (Jefferson 1991b) Sylvilagus sp.—Cottontails (Jefferson 1991b) Literature. Jefferson 1991a; Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 19 Feb 2014

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Siphon 11 Imperial Co.

Age. Rancholabrean (Jefferson 1991b). Description: Siphon 11, no. 3, East Mesa (Jefferson 1991b). Fauna. Chaetodipus/Perognathus sp.—Spiny or Silky Pocket Mice (Jefferson 1991b) Perognathus sp.

Dipodomys deserti—Desert Kangaroo Rat (Jefferson 1991b) Peromyscus sp.—Deer Mice (Jefferson 1991b) †Camelops hesternus—Yesterday's Camel (Jefferson 1991b) Literature. Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 20 Feb 2014

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Solano Beach CA: San Diego Co.

Age. Rancholabrean (Jefferson 1991b). Fauna. †Mammuthus sp.—Mammoths (Jefferson 1991b) †Mammut americanum—American Mastodont (Jefferson 1991b) Literature. Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 2 Feb 2014

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Solar One Generating Station San Bernardino Co.

Age. Late Wisconsin/Holocene (Jefferson 1991b). Description. Solar One Generating Station, Daggett (Jefferson 1991b). Fauna. Gopherus agassizii—Agassiz's Desert Tortoise (Jefferson 1991a) Elgaria sp.—Alligator Lizards (Jefferson 1991a) Gerrhonotus

Dipsosaurus dorsalis—Desert Iguana (Jefferson 1991a) Sauromalus aters—Common Chuckwalla (Jefferson 1991a) Sauromalus obesus

Crotaphytus sp.—Collared Lizards (Jefferson 1991a) Phrynosoma platyrhinos—Desert Horned Lizard (Jefferson 1991a) Uta stansburiana—Side-blotched Lizard (Jefferson 1991a) Aspidoscelis sp.—Whiptail (Jefferson 1991a) Cnemidophorus

†Mammuthus sp.—Mammoths (Jefferson 1991b) Homo sapiens— (Jefferson 1991b) Ammospermophilus leucurus—White-tailed Antelope Squirrel (Jefferson 1991b) Xerospermophilus tereticaudus—Round-tailed Ground Squirrel (Jefferson 1991b) Spermophilus tereticaudus

Chaetodipus/Perognathus sp.—Spiny or Silky Pocket Mice (Jefferson 1991b) Perognathus sp.

Dipodomys sp.—Kangaroo Rats (Jefferson 1991b) Thomomys bottae—Botta's Pocket Gopher (Jefferson 1991b) Neotoma lepida—Desert Woodrat (Jefferson 1991b) Lepus californicus—Black-tailed Jack Rabbit (Jefferson 1991b: cf.) Sylvilagus sp.—Cottontails (Jefferson 1991b) †Eguus occidentalis—Western Horse (Jefferson 1991b: cf.) †Camelops hesternus—Yesterday's Camel (Jefferson 1991b: cf.) Literature. Jefferson 1991a; Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 19 Feb 2014

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Stevens Lake San Bernardino Co.

Age. Early Wisconsin (Jefferson 1991b). Description. East of Yermo (Jefferson 1991b). Fauna. Actinemys pallida—Southern Western Pond Turtle (Jefferson 1991a) Clemmys marmorata

†Mammuthus sp.—Mammoths (Jefferson 1991b) †Eguus conversidens—Mexican Horse (Jefferson 1991b) †Camelops sp.—American Camel (Jefferson 1991b) Literature. Jefferson 1991a; Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 9 Jun 2014

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Sulphur Creek Reservoir CA: Orange Co.

Age. Rancholabrean (Jefferson 1991b). Fauna. Bison sp.—Bison (Jefferson 1991b) Literature. Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 23 Jan 2014

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Sunset Beach CA: Orange Co.

Age. Rancholabrean (Jefferson 1991b). Fauna. † Camelops hesternus—Yesterday's Camel (Jefferson 1991b) Literature. Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 23 Jan 2014

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Surprise Springs San Bernardino Co.

Age. Rancholabrean (Jefferson 1991b). Description. Surprise Springs, Dead Man Lake, north of Twentynine Palms (Jefferson 1991b). Jefferson (1991b) lists as Suprise Springs; this is assumed to be a typographical error. Fauna. †Eguus sp.—Horses (Jefferson 1991b) †Camelops sp.—American Camel (Jefferson 1991b) †Hemiauchenia sp.—American Llama (Jefferson 1991b) Bison sp.—Bison (Jefferson 1991b) Literature. Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 19 Feb 2014

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Tecopa Lake Beds CA: Inyo Co.

Age. Late Blancan. Most of the fossils were found somewhat below the Huckleberry Ridge Tuff, dated at 2.1 mya (Woodburne and Whistler 2005). General Description. Lake and lake-marginal deposits of Lake Tecopa (Woodburne and Whistler 2005). I have followed Whistler and Webb (2005) in being more conservative in identifications than were Woodburne and Whistler (1995). This is the type locality for Capricamelus gettyi Whistler and Webb 2005. Fauna. Phoenicopterus sp.—Flamingo (Woodburne and Whistler 1991: ? gen.) †Mammuthus sp.—Mammoths (Woodburne and Whistler 1991: cf. gen.) †Otospermophilus bensoni—Benson Ground Squirrel (Woodburne and Whistler 1991: cf.) Spermophilus cf. S. bensoni

Dipodomys spp.—Kangaroo Rats (two new species) (Woodburne and Whistler 1991) Neotoma sp.—Woodrats (Woodburne and Whistler 1991) Peromyscus sp.—Deer Mouse (Woodburne and Whistler 1991) †Repomys sp.—Repomys Mice (Woodburne and Whistler 1991: "appears to be more Neotoma-like") Sigmodon sp.—Cotton Rats (Woodburne and Whistler 1991) †Hypolagus limnetus—Hagerman Rabbit (Woodburne and Whistler 1991: cf.) Notiosorex sp.—Gray Shrew (Whistler and Webb 2005) Sorex sp.—Long-tailed Shrews (Whistler and Webb 2005) Vulpes sp.—Red Foxes (Woodburne and Whistler 1991: ? gen.) †Equus sp. (small)—Small Horse (Woodburne and Whistler 1991: cf. gen.) †Equus sp. (large)—Large Horse (Woodburne and Whistler 1991: cf. gen.) †Capricamelus gettyi—Getty's Goatlike Camel (Whistler and Webb 2005) †Camelops sp.—American Camels (Woodburne and Whistler 1991: cf. gen.) †Hemiauchenia spp.—American Llamas (2 species) (Woodburne and Whistler 1991: cf. gen.) †Titanotylopus sp.—Giant Camel (Woodburne and Whistler 1991: cf. gen.) Literature. Woodburne and Whistler 1991; Whistler and Webb 2005.

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Thorn San Bernardino Co.

Age. Late Irvingtonian/Early Rancholabrean (Jefferson 1991b). Description. Thorn, Victorville. Fauna. †Mammuthus sp.—Mammoths (Jefferson 1991b) Dipodomys sp.—Kangaroo Rats (Jefferson 1991b) †Eguus sp.—Horses (Jefferson 1991b) †Camelops sp.—American Camel (Jefferson 1991b) †Hemiauchenia sp.—American Llama (Jefferson 1991b) Literature. Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 19 Feb 2014

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Tonner Canyon San Bernardino Co.

Age. Rancholabrean (Jefferson 1991b). Description. Tonner Canyon, Chino Hills. Fauna. †Bison antiquus—Ancient Bison (Jefferson 1991b: cf.) Literature. Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 19 Feb 2014

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Tijuana River Valley CA: San Diego Co.

Age. Rancholabrean (Jefferson 1991b). Fauna. †Mammuthus sp.—Mammoths (Jefferson 1991b) †Mammut sp.—Mastodonts (Jefferson 1991b) Literature. Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 3 Feb 2014

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Torrey Pines Beach State Park CA: San Diego Co.

Age. Rancholabrean (Jefferson 1991b). Discussion. Possibly Holocene (Jefferson 1991b). Fauna. †Equus sp.—Horses (Jefferson 1991b) Literature. Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 3 Feb 2014

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Tunnel Ridge Midden CA: San Bernardino Co.

Age. Late Wisconsin, with radiocarbon dates of 12,670 ± 260 and 10,330 ± 300 yr BP (Jefferson 1991b). Description. Woodrat midden, Whipple Mountains. Fauna. Anaxyrus punctatus—Red-spotted Toad (Jefferson 1991a) Bufo punctatus

Aspidoscelis tigris—Western Whiptail (Jefferson 1991a) Cnemidophorus tigris

Chionactis occipitalis—Western Shovel-nosed Snake (Jefferson 1991a) Rhinocheilus lecontei—Long-nosed Snake (Jefferson 1991a) Crotalus atrox—Diamondback Rattlesnake (Jefferson 1991a) Dipodomys sp.—Kangaroo Rats (Jefferson 1991b) Sylvilagus sp.—Cottontails (Jefferson 1991b) Literature. Jefferson 1991a; Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 19 Feb 2014

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Turner Springs San Bernardino Co.

Age. Late Irvingtonian/Early Rancholabrean (Jefferson 1991b). Description. Turner Springs, Victorville. Fauna. Lepus sp.—Jack Rabbits (Jefferson 1991b) Literature. Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 20 Feb 2014

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United Energy Solar Ponds San Bernardino Co.

Age. Rancholabrean (Jefferson 1991b). Description. United Energy Solar Ponds, Daggett. Fauna. †Equus conversidens—Mexican Horse (Jefferson 1991b: cf.) Literature. Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 20 Feb 2014

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Viscaino Point, San Nicolas Island 1 Ventura Co.

Age. Wisconsin (Jefferson 1991a). Fauna. Ptychoramphus aleuticus—Cassin's Auklet (Jefferson 1991a) Synthliboramphus craveri—Craveri’s Murrelet (Jefferson 1991a) Literature. Jefferson 1991a.

Last Update: 21 Feb 2014

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Vallecito Creek, Anza Borrego Desert CA: San Diego Co.

Age. Rancholabrean (Jefferson 1991b). Fauna. †Mammuthus sp.—Mammoths (Jefferson 1991b) †Nothrotheriops shastensis—Shasta Ground Sloth (McDonald and Jefferson 2008). Literature. Jefferson 1991b; McDonald and Jefferson 2008.

Last Update: 26 Apr 2014

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Valley Wells CA: San Bernardino Co.

Age. Late Wisconsin (Springer et al. 2011). Description. The deposits were originally described as lacustrine sediments (Reynolds et al. 1991a), but later work indicates that the deposits were a result of ground water discharge (high levels of ground water intersecting the terrane surface [Springer et al. 2011]). Fauna. Anaxyrus sp.—American True Toads (Springer et al. 2011: cf.) cf. Bufo sp.

Hyla sp.—Treefrogs (Springer et al. 2011) †Mammuthus columbi—Columbian Mammoth (Reynolds et al. 1991) Dipodomys sp.—Kangaroo Rats (Springer et al. 2011) Thomomys sp.—Western Pocket Gophers (Springer et al. 2011: cf. gen.) Peromyscus sp.—Deer Mice (Springer et al. 2011) Neotoma sp.—Wood Rats (Springer et al. 2011) Lepus sp.—Jack Rabbits (Reynolds et al. 1991) Canis latrans—Coyote (Reynolds et al. 1991: cf.) †Equus sp.—Horses (Springer et al. 2011)

Given as Equus cf. conversidens by Reynolds et al. (1991), but has been shown to not have a diagnostic character of E. conversidens (Springer et al. 2011).

†Camelops sp.—American Camels (Reynolds et al. 1991) †Hemiauchenia sp.—American Llamas (Reynolds et al. 1991) Literature. Reynolds et al. 1991; Springer et al. 2011.

Last Update: 25 May 2014

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Village Drive San Bernardino Co.

Age. Late Irvingtonian/Early Rancholabrean (Jefferson 1991b). Description. Village Drive, Victorville (Jefferson 1991b). Fauna. †Mammuthus sp.—Mammoths (Jefferson 1991b) †Equus sp.—Mexican Horse (Jefferson 1991b) Literature. Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 20 Feb 2014

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West Coyote Oil Field, Fullerton CA: Orange Co. Age. Rancholabrean (Jefferson 1991a). Fauna. †Chendytes sp.—Flightless Sea Ducks (Jefferson 1991a). Literature. Jefferson 1991a; Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 19 Jan 2014

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West End, San Nicolas Island Ventura Co.

Age. Mid Wisconsin (Jefferson 1991a). Fauna. Fratercula sp.—Puffins (Jefferson 1991a) Literature. Jefferson 1991a.

Last Update: 21 Feb 2014

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Whipple Mountains Midden San Bernardino Co.

Age. Late Wisconsin/Holocene, with 14C dates 10,430 ± 170 and 9,980 ± 180 yr BP (Jefferson 1991a). Description. Whipple Mountains, woodrat midden (Jefferson 1991a). Fauna. †Hypsiglena chlorophaea—Desert Nightsnake (Jefferson 1991a)

Hypsiglena torquata. The species has been split into several species; it's assigned here to H. chlorophaea solely on the basis of present distribution.

Chaetodipus/Perognathus—Spiny or Silky Pocket Mice (Jefferson 1991b) Perognathus sp.

Peromyscus sp.—Deer Mice (Jefferson 1991b) Literature. Jefferson 1991a; Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 20 Feb 2014

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Zuma Creek, Point Dune CA: Los Angeles Co.

Age. Wisconsin (Jefferson 1991a). Fauna. Actinemys sp.—Pond Turtles (Jefferson 1991a) Clemmys sp.

Aythya affinis—Lesser Scaup (Jefferson 1991a) Aythya americana—Redhead (Jefferson 1991a) Aythya marila—Greater Scaup (Jefferson 1991a) Bucephala albeola—Bufflehead (Jefferson 1991a) †Chendytes sp.—Flightless Sea Ducks (Jefferson 1991a) Melanitta perspicillata—Surf Scoter (Jefferson 1991a) Oxyura jamaicensisRuddy Duck (Jefferson 1991a) Callipepla californica—California Quail (Jefferson 1991a) Meleagris californica—California Turkey (Jefferson 1991a) Gavia stellata—Red-throated Loon (Jefferson 1991a) Podiceps nigricollis—Eared Grebe (Jefferson 1991a) Podiceps caspius [sic!]

Fulmarus glacialis—Northern Fulmar (Jefferson 1991a) Puffinus griseus—Sooty Shearwater (Jefferson 1991a) Puffinus opisthomelas—Black-vented Shearwater (Jefferson 1991a) Phalacrocorax penicillatus—Brandt's Cormorant (Jefferson 1991a) Fulica americana—American Coot (Jefferson 1991a) Synthliboramphus antiquus—Ancient Murrelet (Jefferson 1991a) Uria aalge—Common Murre (Howard 1936) Larus canus—Mew Gull (Jefferson 1991a) Larus occidentalis—Western Gull (Jefferson 1991a) Corvus corax—Common Raven (Jefferson 1991a) Scapanus sp.—Western Moles (Jefferson 1991b) Eguus sp.—Horses (Jefferson 1991b) †Tapirus californicus—California Tapir (Jefferson 1991b: cf.) Odocoileus sp.—Deer (Jefferson 1991b) Literature. Jefferson 1991a; Jefferson 1991b.

Last Update: 18 Jan 2014

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New Mexico Map General Description. Map of New Mexico showing counties. Numbers indicate the number of Pleistocene sites per county as of this date (includes as single sites related sites treated as single faunas; e.g., La Union). Sites appear to be scattered roughly at random except counties containing Rio Grande valley fill and cave-rich Eddy County. The central-east and northeast counties appear to be somewhat under represented, however. In terms of number of taxa, Eddy, Hidalgo, and Bernalillo counties lead the pack, thanks to cave faunas.

Last Update: 27 Mar 2013

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Abiquiu NM: Rio Arriba Co. 1830 m.

Age. Late Rancholabrean (Morgan and Lucas 2005). General Description. Abiquiu Dam on Rio Chama, about 10 km northwest of Abiquiu (Morgan and Lucas 2005). Discussion. Fossils encountered during "massive valley-floor excavations for a dam on the Chama River immediately above Abiquiu" (Simpson 1963:583). Stratigraphic occurrences and associations of the materials are unknown (Simpson 1963). Fauna †Mammuthus sp.—Mammoth †Bison antiquus—Ancient Bison †Euceratherium collinum—Shrub-ox Literature. Morgan and Lucas 2005; Simpson 1963.

Last Update: 4 Oct 2008

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Aden Fumarole NM: Doña Ana Co.: Ca. 32° 4' 9" N, 107° 3' 23" W, Ca. 1354 m.

Age. Late Wisconsin. Dates on sloth dung (11,140 ± 200, Y-1163B) and hide (9,840 ± 160, Y-1163A) were reported by Simons and Alexander (1964). Y-1163A was thought to be affected by preservatives (Long and Martin 1974), accounting for the date later than that of Y-1163B. Holocene material also has been recovered (see below). General Description. Lull (1929) described the fumarole from information supplied by Chester R. Longwell of Yale, who visited the site in August of 1928. The east side of Aden Crater has a narrow opening that seems to form a natural entrance into the crater itself. However, the opening into the fumarole lies across this pathway, forming a pitfall trap. The opening has a maximum diameter of 8 feet. The pit, nearly vertical in its upper portions, is over 100 feet deep. Discussion. The Shasta Ground Sloth (Nothrotheriops shastensis), for which this site is famous, apparently was recovered from the fumarole in 1927 or 1928, with Yale receiving a letter and photos from Ewing Waterhouse of El Paso on 25 February 1928. Fig. 1. Google Earth view of the Aden Fumarole and Khulo sites. The

North is to the top.

irregular, darker formations that make up most of the view are the Afton and Aden lava flows.

The sloth was found in a chamber about 100 vertical feet below the entrance, "almost completely buried in the dry, loose guano" (Lull 1929:3). On the other hand, skeletons of coyotes and a bobcat were on the surface of the guano and were presumed to be recent. Thus the non-sloth material probably is Holocene, at least in part. Several El Pasoans retrieved further material, most likely Holocene, in the last half of the 20th Century; this material is curated in the UTEP collections.

Fig. 2. Opening of the Aden Crater Fumarole. Photograph courtesy of Angela Chávez. Eames (1930) reported on the makeup of a coprolite associated with the sloth. Fauna. Buteo—Hawk (Probably Holocene) †Nothrotheriops shastensis—Shasta Ground Sloth Lepus—Jackrabbit (Probably Holocene) Lynx rufus—Bobcat (Probably Holocene) Canis latrans—Coyote (Probably Holocene) Ursus americanus—Black Bear (Pleistocene or Holocene) Odocoileus hemionus—Mule Deer (Probably Holocene) Literature. Eames, 1930; Long and Martin 1974; Long et al. 1974; Lull 1929; Simons and Alexander 1964.

Last Update: 18 Mar 2010

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Adobe Ranch NM: Doña Ana Co.

Synonym: Mesilla Basin Fauna C. Vanderhill (1986) named three superposed faunas within the Mesilla Basin: Mesilla Basin Fauna A, Mesilla Basin Fauna B, and Mesilla Basin Fauna C. Morgan (2008) pointed out that three faunas differentiated only by a letter produced confusion, and he renamed them respectively: Anapra (Early Late Blancan, 2.2-3.0 Mya), La Union (Latest Blancan, 1.8-2.2 Mya), and Adobe Ranch (Early Irvingtonian, 1.0-1.8 Mya). Age. Early Irvingtonian, 1.8-1.0 Mya. General Description. The Rio Grande Valley is incised into the relatively flat plain (the La Mesa Surface) west of the valley. Sediments are uncovered in a number of places along the western valley slopes. The Adobe Ranch Fauna is the uppermost of three superposed faunas. It lies within the Camp Rice Formation in strata bracketed by pumice beds 40Ar/ 39Ar dated at 1.32 Ma and 1.59 Ma (Morgan 2008). Fauna. Gopherus sp.—Gopherus Tortoise (Morgan and Lucas 2003) Hesperotestudo sp.—Hesperotestudo Tortoise (Morgan and Lucas 2003) †Cuvieronius tropicus—Cuvier's Gomphothere (Morgan and Lucas 2003) †Mammuthus meridionalis—Southern Mammoth (Morgan and Lucas 2003: cf.) †Glyptotherium arizonae—Arizona Glyptodont (Morgan and Lucas 2003) †Megalonyx wheatleyi—Wheatley's Ground Sloth (Morgan and Lucas 2003) †Castor canadensis—American Beaver (Morgan and Lucas 2003) †Lynx rufus—Bobcat (Morgan and Lucas 2003) †Canis armbrusteri—Armbruster's Wolf (Morgan and Lucas 2003) †Canis sp. (Small)—Coyote-like Canid (Morgan and Lucas 2003) †Equus sp. (Large)—Large Horse (Morgan and Lucas 2003) †Equus calobatus—Stilt-legged Horse (Morgan and Lucas 2003: cf.) †Equus scotti—Scott's Horse (Morgan and Lucas 2003) †Equus large sp.—Large horse (Morgan and Lucas 2003) †Navahoceros lascrucensis—Las Cruces Mountain Deer (Morgan and Lucas 2003) †Odocoileus sp.—Deer (Morgan and Lucas 2003) †Camelops hesternus—Yesterday's Camel (Morgan and Lucas 2003: cf.) Literature. Morgan 2008; Morgan and Lucas 2003, 2005; Vanderhill 1986.

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Agua Fria NM: Santa Fe Co.

Age. Rancholabrean (Morgan and Lucas 2005). General Description. North bank of Santa Fe River near Agua Fria (Morgan and Lucas 2005). Discussion. Soil zone, 70 cm below present land surface (Morgan and Lucas 2005). Fauna. Bison sp.—Bison Literature. Morgan and Lucas 2005.

Last Update: 4 Oct 2008

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Agua Negra NM: Guadalupe Co.: 34°52'N, 104°41'W, 1426 m

Age. Pleistocene. General Description. Agua Negra Ranch, eastern branch of small arroyo that flows north into Rio Agua Negra, about 9 km south of Santa Rosa (Morgan and Lucas 2005). Fauna. †Equus niobrarensis—Niobrara Horse Literature. Morgan and Lucas 2005.

Last Update: 4 Oct 2008

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Alamogordo Creek NM: Guadalupe Co.: 34°52'N, 104°41'W, 1433 m

Age. Pleistocene. General Description. Alamogordo Creek, about 50 km southeast of Santa Rosa (Morgan and Lucas 2005). Fauna. †Proboscidea—Proboscideans Literature. Morgan and Lucas 2005.

Last Update: 4 Oct 2008

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Albuquerque NM: Bernalillo Co.

Age. Pleistocene (Brodkorb 1964) General Description. None given. Discussion. Brodkorb (1964) listed the Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus) as from the Pleistocene of Albuquerque with no further details. Fauna. Coragyps atratus—Black Vulture Literature. Brodkorb 1964.

Last Update: 4 Oct 2008

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Albuquerque Gravel Pits NM: Bernalillo Co.

Age. Early Rancholabrean. Suggested to be older than 156 ka and less than 300 ka (Morgan and Lucas 2005) General Description. Following Morgan and Lucas (2005), several localities within Albuquerque are combined. These are Albuquerque Gravel Products quarry, Springer's gravel pit, Universal Constructor's gravel pit, Saco gravel pit, Edith Bluff site, Hoffmantown gravel pit, and Embudo Arroyo. The fossils are from the Edith Formation. Discussion. Earlier papers concerned with these sites are Lucas and Logan (1984), Lucas et al. (1988), and Morgan and Lucas (2000). Fauna. †Mammut americanum—American Mastodont †Mammuthus columbi—Columbian Mammoth †Paramylodon harlani—Harlan's Ground Sloth †Arctodus simus—Giant Short-faced Bear †Equus niobrarensis—Niobrara Horse †Camelops hesternus—Yesterday's Camel †Hemiauchenia macrocephala—Big-headed Llama Odocoileus sp.—Deer Bison sp.—Bison) Literature. Lucas and Logan 1984; Lucas et al. 1988; Morgan and Lucas 2000; Morgan and Lucas 2005.

Last Update: 4 Oct 2008

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Algerita Blossom Cave NM: Eddy Co., approximately 1280 m.

Age. Late Wisconsin. Estimation of age is based on faunal considerations. General Description. This cave opens to the surface by a fissure, with the present opening excavated by speleologists. It lies between McKittrick and Dry caves. The bone area lies a few meters north of the excavated entrance. Discussion. The fossil material was received from the Carlsbad Bureau of Land Management Office in part; the rest was excavated or screened from surface spoil deposited by the speleologists' excavation by Harris. All material is held by UTEP. Fauna. Reptilia Phrynosoma hernandesi—Short-horned Lizard Crotalus sp.—Rattlesnakes Aves Tympanuchus pallidicinctus—Lesser Prairie-Chicken Mammalia †Nothrotheriops shastensis. Shasta Ground Sloth. Ictidomys/Xerospermophilus sp.—Ictidomys/Xerospermophilus Ground Squirrels Dipodomys merriami/ordii—Merriam's or Ord's Kangaroo Rat Dipodomys spectabilis—Banner-tailed Kangaroo Rat Perognathus (Perognathus)—sp. Silky Pocket Mice Cratogeomys castanops—Yellow-faced Pocket Gopher Thomomys bottae—Botta's Pocket Gopher Thomomys talpoides—Northern Pocket Gopher Lemmiscus curtatus—Sagebrush Vole Microtus longicaudus—Long-tailed Vole Microtus mogollonensis—Mogollon Vole Microtus ochrogaster—Prairie Vole Microtus pennsylvanicus—Meadow Vole

Neotoma leucodon—White-toothed Woodrat Neotoma cinerea—Bushy-tailed Woodrat Neotoma floridana—Eastern Woodrat Peromyscus sp.—Deer Mice Reithrodontomys sp.—Harvest Mice Sigmodon sp.—Cotton Rats Lepus californicus—Black-Tailed Jackrabbit (cf.) Lepus townsendii—White-tailed Jackrabbit (cf.) Sylvilagus audubonii—Desert Cottontail Sylvilagus nuttallii—Mountain Cottontail Notiosorex crawfordi—Desert Shrew Sorex sp.—Long-tailed Shrews Myotis—Mouse-eared Bats (cf.) Lynx rufus—Bobcat Puma concolor—Cougar (UTEP: cf.) Canis latrans—Coyote Vulpes velox—Swift Fox Mephitis mephitis—Striped Skunk †Equus conversidens—Mexican Horse †Hemiauchenia macrocephala—Big-headed Llama Antilocapra americana—Pronghorn (cf. gen. et sp.) †Capromeryx sp.—Miniature Pronghorns Emendations: 24 Dec 2010: "Sylvilagus floridanus—Eastern Cottontail (cf.)" removed from list. Literature. Harris 1993c.

Last Update: 24 Dec 2010

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Alkali Flat NM: Doña Ana Co., 32°56'N, 106°31'W, 1195 m

Age. Rancholabrean (Morgan and Lucas 2005). General Description. Alkali Flat, White Sands Missile Range (Morgan and Lucas 2005). Discussion. Eleven sites are bundled as the Lake Otero fauna by Morgan and Lucas (2005). The fauna includes that from two sites grouped as the Alkali Flat site, plus nine grouped as the Alkali Spring site (Morgan and Lucas 2005). Morgan and Lucas point out that most of the sites were along the western shoreline of the Pleistocene lake and within 5 km of the San Andres Mountains foothills. Presence of abundant frogs and of muskrat indicate the likelihood of permanent water (Morgan and Lucas 2005). Although Morgan and Lucas (2005:202) take the presence of Microtus as indicating "mesic, forested habitats...", the presence of lakeside sedge beds and similar vegetation apparently is sufficient to support M. pennsylvanicus. Fauna. Lithobates sp.—Leopard Frogs Colubridae—Colubrid Snakes Sauria—Lizards Aves—Birds †Mammuthus columbi—Columbian Mammoth Sciuridae—Squirrels Microtus pennsylvanicus—Voles (Morgan and Lucas 2005) Ondatra zibethicus—Common Muskrat Peromyscus sp.—White-footed Mice Sylvilagus audubonii—Desert Cottontail (cf.) †Equus sp.—Horse †Camelidae—Camels Literature. Lucas et al. 2002b; Morgan and Lucas 2002, 2005.

Last Update: 23 Jan 2013

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Alkali Spring NM: Sierra Co.

Age. Rancholabrean (Morgan and Lucas 2005). General Description. A cluster of nine sites in the Otero Formation, Alkali Spring, about 8-10 km east of Strawberry Peak, White Sands Missile Range (Morgan and Lucas 2005). Discussion. These sites form part of the Lake Otero fauna of Morgan and Lucas (2005). For discussion of that fauna, see the Alkali Flat account. Fauna. †Mammuthus columbi—Columbian Mammoth †Equus niobrarensis—Niobrara Horse †Camelops hesternus—Yesterday's Camel Literature. Morgan and Lucas 2002; Morgan and Lucas 2005.

Last Update: 4 Oct 2008

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Ancha NM: Santa Fe Co.

Age. Late Blancan (Morgan and Lucas 2003). General Description. About 2 km west of Turquoise Hill (Morgan and Lucas 2003). Fauna. Cynomys sp.—Prairie Dogs (Morgan and Lucas 2003) A mandible closely resembles C. hibbardi

Literature. Morgan and Lucas 2003.

Last Update: 21 Jan 2013

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Anderson Basin/Circus Basin/Elephant Tusk Basin NM: Roosevelt Co. ca. 1214 m.

Age. Late Wisconsin with one probable early Holocene taxon. General Description. "Blowout" areas along Blackwater Draw that expose Pleistocene sediments. These three sites have been consolidated since they are close geographically and appear to have the same stratigraphic relationships, appearing in a stratum correlated with the gray sand of nearby Blackwater Loc. No. 1 (Morgan and Lucas 2005). Morgan and Lucas, however, treat the Anderson Basin fauna as a unit, but Circus Basin and Elephant Tusk Basin separately. Discussion. Johnson (1987) notes that Milstead (1967) reports the Ornate Box Turtle (Terrapene ornata) from Anderson Basin No. 1 as Wisconsin; however, she notes that it's from the diatomite unit which is Early Holocene. This presumably is the specimen reported by Lundelius (1972), citing Stock and Bode (1937). Fauna Terrapene ornata—Ornate Box Turtle (Probably Holocene; see discussion) Mammuthus columbi—Columbian Mammoth Mephitis mephitis—Striped Skunk Equus niobrarensis—Niobrara Horse Camelops hesternus—Yesterday's Camel Bison antiquus—Ancient Bison Literature. Harris 1985a; Hester 1972; Johnson 1987; Lucas and Effinger 1991; Lundelius 1972; Milstead 1967; Morgan and Lucas 2005; Stock and Bode 1936; Wendorf and Hester 1975.

Last Update: 4 Oct 2008

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Animal Fair, Hampton Court, Charlies Parlor, NW Talus Slope (Dry Cave) NM: Eddy Co. 1280 m.

Age. There is a 14C date 15,030 ± 210 (I-6201) on bone collagen from Charlies Parlor at a level slightly above the point at which the wall of the fissure blocks further flow into Animal Fair. This date may be (as so often is the case with bone dates) somewhat too young (Harris (1989) estimated Animal Fair grids A and B, Levels 1 - 4, represented full-glacial conditions of about 18,000-20,000 BP on the basis of relationship to the Charlies Parlor date and faunal characteristics. Deposits to north and at greater depths are older, probably approaching or in the mid-Wisconsin at oldest deposits (lower levels of Grid F). General Description. Includes all areas placed under UTEP Loc. 22: Animal Fair, Charlies Parlor, Hampton Court, and NW Talus Slope. The only date available is that mentioned above from lower part of Charlies Parlor (just above level of A8 L1) Discussion. The Animal Fair Room site was originally gridded with 3 2 -ft grids, A through F from south to north and 1 to 8 (later 9 or 10 at the south end) from east to west. Grids were excavated in 10-cm levels. Animal Fair deposits spilled from the vertical Entrance Fissure, with some water deposition at lower levels (apparent in lower levels of grids farthest from the fissure). Some additional collections were made later without reference to the grid system. Harris (1993a) described the stratification of Animal Fair as revealed in the D grid. Sterile cave debris was followed by silty clays (Stratum 4) deposited some 6 m east of the source fissure. Stratum 3 consists of gravelly, fossiliferous fill near the fissure with sandy silt to the east; over much of the area of contact, the line of demarcation is sharp, and the sandy silt is believed to have resulted from fines washed from the gravelly areas during deposition. Stratum 2 consists of gravelly matrix with large rocks near the fissure , but grades into a dark brown silty clay to the east; megafaunal remains are common. Faunal analysis indicates the transition from Stratum 3 to 2 occurred at the changeover from mid-Wisconsin to lateWisconsin climatic conditions. Stratum 1 consists of light, powdery sediments, some of which, in the eastern part of the sediments, have filled desiccation cracks into Stratum 2 and, occasionally, into the upper parts of Stratum 3. Charlies Parlor lies in the Entrance Fissure itself, and was originally accessed by a tunnel dug from Animal Room. The upper deposits share some individuals with UTEP 31 (e.g., bones of what almost certainly is one individual of Equus occidentalis occur in both); Animal Fair Room lies east of the fissure and Hampton Court to the west (the fissure is the source of the material in both cases. At one time during excavation, a short tunnel connected Animal Fair and Hampton Court, but was little used because of the danger of collapse. Most material from Hampton Court appears to be the equivalent of the older, northern portion of Animal Fair. Applegarth (1979) looked extensively at amphibian and reptile remains from grids A7 and A8, but also noted in passing several taxa from other parts of the grid; the latter are noted with a parenthetical grid row (e.g., "F"); all other records of Applegarth are from the full-glacial A7 and A8. Noting that the younger (A Grid) herpetofauna was quite different from the older material (F Grid), Applegarth (1979: 34) contrasted samples from those grids: A sample from the A end (A8L2) is 22% amphibian by weight (11 g versus 39 g of reptile) and a sample from the other end (F2L5) is only 12% amphibian (4¼ g versus 31 g). The sample from the A end includes 16 items of Pseudacris but only one of small Plestiodon and two of Crotaphytus collaris. In contrast, the sample from the F end of the grid apparently contains no Pseudacris but does contain 18+ items of small Plestiodon, 140+ items of Crotaphytus (most appear identifiable to C. collaris), and 12+ items of Callisaurus [Cophosaurus] (several maxillae and a quadrate seem to represent C. maculatus [Holbrookia maculata]). Callisaurus is not represented in the samples

from the A end of the grid. The A Grid, then, obviously records a cooler, more mesic herpetofauna than that of the older deposits, which I interpret as Mid-Wisconsin in age. The sequence from more to less glacial climate also can be seen in the mammalian fauna (Fig. 1).

Fig. 1. Percentages of selected mammalian taxa calculated for each of the 15 excavation levels of Grid D7. Note that percentage scales vary among taxa. MAMM. NISP, number of identified mammalian specimens. After Harris (1993a). Figure 1 shows the relative frequencies of 17 mammalian taxa in a 1.5-m mid to late Wisconsin section from Animal Fair (Harris 1993a). Taxa typical of cooler and moister conditions are on the left and those more typical of warmer and drier conditions to the right. The lower levels appear to indicate semi-arid, relatively warm grasslands or grassy woodlands that are replaced up-section by cool, relatively dense vegetation that included sagebrush, grasses, and mixed coniferous forest elements. Fauna. The list of taxa in the table below is of all taxa recognized from UTEP Loc. 22. Taxon accounts give further information as to chronologic distribution. Osteichthyes Osteichthyes—Bony Fishes Amphibia Ambystoma mavortium—Barred Tiger Salamander Scaphiopus couchii—Couch's Spadefoot ("F") Spea bombifrons—Plains Spadefoot ("D") Spea multiplicata—New Mexico Spadefoot Anaxyrus cognatus—Great Plains Toad Anaxyrus woodhousii—Woodhouse's Toad Pseudacris triseriata—Western Chorus Frog Lithobates pipiens—Northern Leopard Frog Reptilia Crotaphytus collaris—Eastern Collared Lizard Holbrookia maculata—Lesser Earless Lizard ("F")

Phrynosoma hernandesi—Mountain Short-horned Lizard Sceloporus cowlesi—Southern Plateau Lizard Plestiodon multivirgatus—Many-lined Skink Salvadora sp.—Patchnose Snakes (cf.) Thamnophis sp.—Garter Snakes Crotalus sp.—Rattlesnakes Aves Anas cyanoptera—Cinnamon Teal (?) Teratornis merriami—Merriam's Teratorn REJECTED †Coragyps occidentalis—Western Vulture Tympanuchus pallidicinctus—Lesser Prairie-Chicken Accipiter cooperi—Cooper's Hawk Aquila chrysaetos—Golden Eagle Buteo jamaicensis—Red-tailed Hawk (cf.) Buteogallus anthracinus—Common Black Hawk (?) Circus cyaneus—Northern Harrier Caracara cheriway—Crested Caracara Falco mexicanus—Prairie Falcon Falco sparverius—American Kestrel Fulica americana—American Coot Limnodromus scolopaceus—Long-billed Dowitcher Numenius americanus—Long-billed Curlew Tringa melanoleuca—Greater Yellowlegs Tringa semipalmata—Willet (?) Zenaida macroura—Mourning Dove Asio flammeus—Short-eared Owl (cf. gen. et sp.) Bubo virginianus—Great Horned Owl Megascops/Otus —Screech/Flammulated Owls (?) Colaptes auratus—Northern Flicker Petrochelidon fulva/pyrrhonota—Cliff/Cave Swallow (cf.) Corvus corax—Common Raven Pica hudsonia—Black-billed Magpie Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus—Yellow-headed Blackbird Mammalia Nothrotheriops shastensis—Shasta Ground Sloth Cynomys gunnisoni—Gunnison's Prairie Dog Ictidomys tridecemlineatus—Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrel Marmota flaviventris—Yellow-bellied Marmot Urocitellus elegans—Wyoming Ground Squirrel Dipodomys ordii—Ord's Kangaroo Rat (cf.) Dipodomys spectabilis—Banner-tailed Kangaroo Rat Perognathus (Perognathus) sp.—Silky Pocket Mice Perognathus Species A—Unidentified Pocket Mouse Cratogeomys castanops—Yellow-faced Pocket Gopher Thomomys bottae—Botta's Pocket Gopher Thomomys talpoides—Northern Pocket Gopher Lemmiscus curtatus—Sagebrush Vole Microtus longicaudus—Long-tailed Vole Microtus mogollonensis—Mogollon Vole Microtus ochrogaster—Prairie Vole Microtus pennsylvanicus—Meadow Vole Ondatra zibethicus—Common Muskrat Neotoma cinerea—Bushy-tailed Woodrat Neotoma goldmani—Goldman's Woodrat (?) Neotoma leucodon—White-toothed Woodrat Neotoma mexicana—Mexican Woodrat Onychomys leucogaster—Northern Grasshopper Mouse Peromyscus boylii—Brush Mouse (cf.) Peromyscus leucopus—White-footed Mouse Reithrodontomys—Harvest Mice

Erethizon dorsata—American Porcupine Lepus californicus—Black-tailed Jackrabbit Lepus townsendii—White-tailed Jackrabbit Sylvilagus audubonii—Desert Cottontail Sylvilagus nuttallii—Mountain Cottontail Cryptotis parva—Least Shrew Sorex merriami—Merriam's Shrew Sorex neomexicanus—New Mexican Shrew Sorex preblei—Preble's Shrew Corynorhinus townsendii—Townsend's Big-eared Bat Eptesicus fuscus—Big Brown Bat Myotis californicus/ciliolabrum—California Myotis/Western Small-footed Myotis Myotis velifer— Cave Myotis Lynx rufus—Bobcat Puma concolor—Mountain Lion (cf.) Canis latrans—Coyote Canis lupus—Gray Wolf (cf.) Vulpes macrotis—Kit Fox Vulpes velox—Swift Fox Ursus sp.—Bear (cf.) Mustela frenata—Long-tailed Weasel Mephitis mephitis—Striped Skunk Spilogale sp.—Spotted Skunk Bassariscus astutus—Ringtail †Equus conversidens—Western Horse †Equus scotti—Scott's Horse †Equus occidentalis—Western Horse (cf.) (This volume) †Camelops—American Camel (cf.) †Hemiauchenia macrocephala—Big-headed Llama Odocoileus hemionus—Mule Deer (cf.) Antilocapra americana—Pronghorn †Capromeryx—Miniature Pronghorns †Stockoceros conklingi—Conkling's Pronghorn Ovis canadensis—Bighorn Sheep Literature. Applegarth, 1979; Buckley 1973; Harris 1977, 1985a, 1989, 1993a; Harris and Mundel 1974; Harris and Porter 1980; Magish and Harris 1976.

Last Update: 6 Aug 2013

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Anthony Gap Cave TX: El Paso Co.: 31° 59.89 N, 106° 30.61 W, 5052 ft.

Age. Rancholabrean, possibly some Holocene. No dates are available, but presence of Aztlanolagus agilis and Neotoma ? goldmani suggests that the mid or early Wisconsin is represented by at least those sites within the cave that have those taxa. Smartt (1977:11) commented that site 29-D "seems to represent either a Recent assemblage or an interpluvial fauna." Others were hypothesized by him to represent a late Pleistocene pluvial period. General Description. Franklin Mts., ca. 6 mi E Anthony, ca. 1540 m. The cave is about 10 km east of the present course of the Rio Grande and currently is located in the Franklin Mountain State Park. Although published as Anthony Cave, the original and more appropriate name is Anthony Gap Cave, Anthony Gap being the pass between the Franklin Mountains and the North Franklin Mountains. There has been some confusion as to whether the fossil cave and Anthony Gap Cave are one and the same; it now appears that they are.

Discussion. This is a small limestone cave, badly vandalized, with a vertical entrance about 1 m square on a south-facing slope of a small limestone ridge (Smartt 1977). The entrance, at no more than 15 m from the top of the ridge has an inconsequential drainage area. The entrance probably was blocked by fill inside the entrance until tunneled through at some unknown time by unknown people. Faunal remains were found scattered at various locations within the 90 m or so of cave passage and probably originated from fissures that intersected the surface at various times.

The current vegetation (Smartt and Harris 1979) is Chihuahuan desertscrub, with Creosotebush (Larrea tridentata), White-thorn (Acacia constricta), Ocotillo (Fouquieria splendens), and Mormon Tea (Ephedra trifurca). The nearby, more mesic canyon bottoms support sumacs (Rhus choriophylla, R. aromatica), Silktassel (Garrya wrightii), oaks (Quercus), and Mountain Mahogany (Cercocarpus montanus). Smartt and Harris (1979) reported the recovery of a spruce (Picea) needle from deposits below a thin layer of flowstone. Accompanying fauna included Meadow Vole (Microtus pennsylvanicus), Montane Vole (M. montanus), and Merriam's Shrew (Sorex merriami). Fig. 1. Entrance to Anthony Gap Cave and view upslope, showing the rather limited watershed available for washing in of faunal remains. The skyline is the approximate crest of the ridge. Desert vegetation visible includes Creosotebush (foreground), Lechuguilla, Ocotillo, and Torrey Yucca. Seven areas were sampled (Smartt 1977), including spoil presumably resulting from the original digging out of the entrance. Smartt and Harris (1979) hypothesized that the recovered fossils indicated a late Pleistocene pluvial period characterized by a good cover of grasses and montane conifers. Metcalf (1971) studied gastropods from nearby Pleistocene slope deposits and concluded that they likely indicated a mesic flora including Gambel Oak, pine, and fir. Presence or absence of Microtus montanus critical here. Invertebrate fauna includes the snail Gastrocopta procera (Smartt 1977). Smartt (1977) listed some taxa from the presumed pluvial sites, but did not indicate the specific sites from which they were recovered other than to note that all sites except D included Microtus. Taxa mentioned by him are noted in the UTEP collections.

Fig. 2. Google Earth image showing the position of Anthony Gap Cave, north to the top. Anthony Gap, with NM highway 404, runs east and west at the top of the photograph. The gravel road and trail leading to the cave runs from upper left to center. The faint lavender horizontal line crossing the trail marks the New Mexico/Texas state line.

Fauna Corridor just S large chamber Equus—Horses Site 1 Microtus montanus—Montane Vole Microtus pennsylvanicus—Meadow Vole Neotoma cinerea—Bushy-tailed Woodrat Neotoma leucodon—White-toothed Woodrat Aztlanolagus agilis—Aztlán Rabbit Sylvilagus audubonii—Desert Cottontail Sylvilagus nuttallii—Mountain Cottontail Notiosorex dalquesti—Dalquest's Shrew (Carraway 2010) Canis latrans—Coyote (cf.) Bassariscus astutus—Ringtail Site 1, Level 1 Tamias sp.—Chipmunk Neotoma cinerea—Bushy-tailed Woodrat Neotoma goldmani—Goldman's Woodrat (?) Neotoma leucodon—White-toothed Woodrat Aztlanolagus agilis—Aztlán Rabbit Lepus—Jackrabbits

Site 2 Microtus mogollonensis—Mogollon Vole Microtus montanus—Montane Vole Site 2 + 3 Neotoma cinerea—Bushy-tailed Woodrat Thomomys bottae—Botta's Pocket Gopher Sorex neomexicanus—New Mexican Shrew (cf.) Lynx rufus—Bobcat Equus—Horses Site 4 (=D) Neotoma goldmani —Goldman's Woodrat (?) Aztlanolagus agilis—Aztlán Rabbit Site 4 Level 1 Sauria. Lizards Peromyscus—White-footed Mice Urocyon cinereoargenteus—Gray Fox A/1 Microtus mogollonensis—Mogollon Vole Microtus montanus—Montane Vole B/1 Microtus mogollonensis—Mogollon Vole Microtus montanus—Montane Vole Neotoma cinerea—Bushy-tailed Woodrat Neotoma leucodon—White-toothed Woodrat Notiosorex dalquesti—Dalquest's Shrew (Carraway 2010) C/1 Microtus montanus—Montane Vole Neotoma leucodon—White-toothed Woodrat Sorex merriami—Merriam's Shrew D/1 Microtus—Voles E/1 Microtus mogollonensis—Mogollon Vole F/1 Microtus—Voles

G/1 Microtus —Voles Literature. Carraway 2010; Harris 1984b, 1985a; Metcalf 1971; Smartt 1972, Smartt 1977; Smartt and Harris 1979.

Last Update: 18 Jul 2010

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Apache Spring NM: Mora Co., 36°05'N, 104°44'W, 1966 m.

Age. Pleistocene (Morgan and Lucas 2005). General Description. Apache Spring, southwest wall of Apache Canyon, about 9 km northwest of Wagon Mound (Morgan and Lucas 2005). Discussion. Fossils found in peaty sediments. Fauna. Proboscidea—Elephants and relatives Literature. Morgan and Lucas 2005.

Last Update: 4 Oct 2008

Main Menu   Sites Archuleta Creek, Colfax County, New Mexico 36.9° N, 104.0° W

General Description. Archuleta Creek (tributary of the Dry Cimarron River), about 4 miles from the classic Folsom Site (Meltzer et al. 2004). Discussion. Found in a deep undercut of the south bank ca. 4 m below the surface. Vertebrae lying on the upper surface of an apparent Pleistocene gravel layer. Age. 10.190 ± 30 radiocarbon years BP (Meltzer et al. 2004). Fauna. †Bison antiquus—Ancient Bison (Meltzer et al. 2004) Literature. Meltzer et al. 2004.

Last Update: 23 Apr 2011

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Arroyo del Coyote NM: Bernalillo Co., NM

Age. Late Wisconsin/Holocene. Radiocarbon date of 10,340 yr BP (Morgan and Lucas 2005). General Description. Organic-rich pond deposits on Kirkland Air Force Base (Morgan and Lucas 2005). Discussion. The radiocarbon date suggests this may be post-Rancholabrean (Morgan and Lucas 2005). Fauna. Microtus sp.—Vole Literature. Morgan and Lucas 2005.

Last Update: 4 Oct 2008

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Arroyo de las Tinajas, 1 NM: Socorro Co., NM: 1695 m

Age. Wisconsin, >38,000 ka. General Description. Woodrat midden, southwestern exposure, Sevilleta LTER. Discussion. Collected by Julio Betancourt. Deposited at UTEP. Fauna. Sceloporus cowlesi—Southern Plateau Lizard Neotoma sp.—Woodrat

Last Update: 28 Dec 2009

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Arroyo de las Tinajas, 7A NM: Socorro Co., NM

Age. Late Wisconsin, minimum date: 11,520. General Description. Woodrat midden, northern exposure, Sevilleta LTER. Discussion. Collected by Julio Betancourt. Deposited at UTEP. Fauna. Ambystoma mavortium—Barred Tiger Salamander Lithobates sp.—Leopard Frog Group Microtus mogollonensis—Mogollon Vole Microtus pennsylvanicus—Meadow Vole Peromyscus sp.—Deer Mouse Sylvilagus sp.—Cottontail

Last Update: 3 May 2009

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Arroyo de las Tinajas 7B NM: Socorro Co., NM

Age. Late Wisconsin, 11,220 ± 125. General Description. Woodrat midden, northern exposure, Sevilleta LTER. Discussion. Collected by Julio Betancourt. Deposited at UTEP. Fauna. Reithrodontomys sp.—Harvest Mouse Sylvilagus sp.—Cottontail

Last Update: 19 Dec 2008

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Arroyo de las Tinajas 7D NM: Socorro Co.: 34°5'22"N 106°45'10"W; 1658 m.

Age. Late Wisconsin, 10,040 ± 110. General Description. Woodrat midden, northern exposure, Sevilleta LTER. Discussion. Collected by Julio Betancourt. Deposited at UTEP. Fauna. Peromyscus sp.

Last Update: 23 Dec 2008

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Atlatl Cave NM: San Juan Co. 1910 m

Age. Bulk of fauna ca. 4,855±70 (DIC-591) (Gillespie, pers. commun.), but woodrat middens within the shelter are dated at as 5,550±130 (A-2115), 9,460±160 (A-2116), 10,030±150 (A-2123), 10,500±250 (A-2411), 10,600±200 (A-2139) (Betancourt and Van Devender 1981). Lemmiscus suggested as earlier than rest of fauna (Gillespie, pers. commun. 1981). General Description. Atlatl Cave is located on the north wall of Chaco Canyon. Discussion. The faunal elements listed here are, according to Gillespie (1985), early Holocene (Lemmiscus curtatus) and middle Holocene (Sigmodon hispidus and Microtus ochrogaster). The presence of Sagebrush Vole may indicate that it was able to hang on south of its present range until middle Holocene climatic change extirpated it. Sigmodon hispidus and Microtus ochrogaster are covered here because they are of interest in terms of biogeography and how relatively moderate climatic changes may allow notable geographic range changes. The Hispid Cotton Rat currently occurs at some distance to the south and east, and the Prairie Vole reaches west only into northeastern New Mexico in our area. Neither makes it even close to the San Juan Basin nor, in northern New Mexico, close to the continental divide that, today, is inhospitable habitat for these rodents. Their presence, along with the occurrences in the middle and late Holocene of the Yellowfaced Pocket Gopher (Lyman 1983), suggest that warm grasslands allowed these taxa to pass over the continental divide. Once west of the divide, a wide area of lowland habitat would have been available. Fauna. Lemmiscus curtatus—Sagebrush Vole Microtus ochrogaster—Prairie Vole Sigmodon hispidus—Hispid Cotton Rat Literature. Betancourt and Van Devender 1981; Gillespie 1985; Lyman 1983.

Last Update: 4 Oct 2008

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Badlands Ranch NM: Quay Co., 35°06'N, 103°30'W, 1235 m.

Age. Rancholabrean (Morgan and Lucas 2005). General Description. About 3 km east of Barranca Creek and 15 km southeast of Tucumcari (Morgan and Lucas 2005). Discussion. A stream-laid sand unit about 1 m thick (Morgan and Lucas 2005). Fauna. †Mammuthus sp.—Mammoths †Paramylodon harlani—Harlan's Ground Sloth †Equus conversidens—Mexican Horse †Camelops hesternus—Yesterday's Camel (?) †Bison sp.—Bison Literature. Morgan and Lucas 2005.

Last Update: 4 Oct 2008

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Balcony on Lost Valley, Dry Cave: UTEP Loc. 2 NM: Eddy Co.: 1280 m.

Age. Early/Mid Wisconsin. A 14C date of 25,160 ± 1730 (TX-1775) on bone carbonates likely is too young. General Description. A level in Dry Cave intermediate between UTEP Loc. 1 (Above Lost Valley) and the floor of Lost Valley (UTEP Loc. 17). The passageway opens into the side of the Lost Valley Sink and also connects, down slope, with the Sabertooth Camel Maze locality (UTEP 5). Discussion. The faunas from this and associated sites of Dry Cave have taxa elsewise unrepresented in our region, leading (together with the unreliability of bone carbonate dates) to the suspicion that these faunas are earlier than other cave faunas in the southern part of our region. An alternative explanation may be that mid-Wisconsin faunas, as is the case with those of the late Wisconsin, may differ significantly from those west of the Guadalupe Mountains. Fauna. †Coragyps occidentalis—Western Vulture (Harris 1993c) Lepus californicus—Black-tailed Jackrabbit (Harris 1993c) Sylvilagus sp.—Cottontails (UTEP) Myotis sp.—Myotis Bats (UTEP) Urocyon—Gray Foxes (Harris 1993c: cf.) Literature. Harris, 1993c.

Last Update: 26 Dec 2008

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Balcony Room NM: Eddy Co., 1280 m.

Age. Late Wisconsin. General Description. A Dry Cave site (UTEP 12). The site consists of deposits on floor of Balcony Room. Sources are Bison Sink (via UTEP 54), the modern entrance, and possibly Animal Fair (UTEP 22). Most material except on surface and, possibly, under entrance tunnel overhang, are late Wisconsin. Harris (1993b) estimated that the third 10-cm level was roughly about 12,000 radiocarbon years old. Discussion. There are several possible sources

for the fossil material (Fig. 1). Undoubtedly, material from the now-closed Bison Sink forms the bulk of the fill. However, some material potentially is from the Entrance passage and from the Animal Fair site. Some fresh plant material occurred below the lip of the Entrance passage, apparently carried in by storm waters; it seems unlikely that much generally heavier faunal material would have been washed in. However, it is quite likely that animals lost or incautious would fall into the sink on occasion. The Animal Fair fissure openings are distant enough from Balcony Room that only the smallest and lightest of faunal material is likely to have washed from that area. Fig. 1. Sketch of the vertical relationships of several sites in the vicinity of the nowclosed Bison Sink. Adapted from Harris (1970).

Locality 54 consists of material deposited from Bison Sink and has a 14C date on bone collagen of 10,730 ± 150 (I-6200). Except for possible late material entering from the entrance area, the bulk of the material in Balcony Room originated from Bison Sink and must be older than that date. Faunalistically, UTEP 54 is latest Pleistocene. In general, the fauna is a good late Wisconsin assortment. However, it's not clear whether late Pleistocene warming is indicated in the uppermost levels or whether presence of such warm-climate taxa as Sigmodon hispidus, a whiptail lizard (Aspidoscelis), and a small kangaroo rat is indicative of intermixed Holocene elements. A relatively heavy concentration of bones in the uppermost levels suggests a decreased rate of sedimentation with a nearly stable surface adding Holocene elements to those of the latest Wisconsin. Thus the tentatively identified Eastern Cottontail rabbit may be from a Holocene westward movement of eastern prairie species similar to that interpreted from Holocene material in the Isleta Caves. Some insight into the late Wisconsin environment is given by the proportions of various kinds of voles. Five species are present in the site, with 148 specimens identified to the species level. Percentages of the identified species are as follows: Mogollon Vole (Microtus mogollonensis), 43%; Sagebrush Vole (Lemmiscus curtatus), 37%; Meadow Vole (Microtus pennsylvanicus), 13%; Prairie Vole (Microtus ochrognathus), 5%; and Long-tailed Vole (Microtus longicaudus), 2%. The Mogollon Vole today inhabits the grassy understory of relatively arid woodland and open coniferous forest, while the Sagebrush Vole commonly lives in Big Sagebrush-Grassland habitat. It seems likely that the deeper soils of interfluves supported the latter, while valley slopes and thinner soils supported habitat for the Mogollon Vole. In the Southwest, Meadow Voles tend to inhabit sedge beds and other relatively thick streamside cover, suggesting sufficient moisture to maintain such an environment in nearby minor drainageways. The Prairie Vole, living up to its name, likely inhabited areas of purer grassland, rather than the shrub-grassland of the Sagebrush Vole. The Long-tailed Vole demands a somewhat more mesic environment than the other upland voles, possibly living on cool north-facing slopes or perhaps more likely representing raptor prey from the Guadalupe Highlands to the west. The Long-tailed Vole was more common in Dry Cave's Locality 6 (14%), with a date of 14,470, and in the Dry Cave Locality 22's near-full-glacial deposits earlier than 15 ka (14%), indicating a nearer source than that of the Balcony Room fauna. Fig. 2. South end of Trench I, Balcony Room. Left to right: Charlie Berg, Patricia Hurley, and Howard McDonald. Photograph taken in June 1970 by A. H. Harris. Fauna. Osteichthyes Osteichthyes—Bony Fishes Amphibia Ambystoma mavortium—Barred

Tiger Salamander Spea bombifrons—Plains Spadefoot Holman (1970) identified two ilia and one sacro-urostyle to this species; Applegarth (1979) indicated they were identifiable only to genus (before the split of Scaphiopus into Scaphiopus and Spea).

Anaxyrus punctatus—Red-spotted Toad Pseudacris triseriata—Midland Chorus Frog Reptilia Crotaphytus collaris—Eastern Collared Lizard Phrynosoma hernandesi—Mountain Horned Lizard Sceloporus cowlesi—Southern Plateau Lizard Aspidoscelis sp.—Whiptail Lizards

Presence is based on a single specimen from the uppermost level and likely is Holocene.

Crotalus atrox—Western Diamondback Rattlesnake

Identification was by J. Alan Holman, based on a right articular. Crotalus vertebrae are virtually ubiquitous in the deposits.

Thamnophis sp.—Garter Snakes Aves Anas sp.—Ducks Cathartes aura—Turkey Vulture

The single specimen (an ulna) was found on the surface of a ledge and probably is Holocene.

Coragyps occidentalis—Western Vulture Aquila chrysaetos—Golden Eagle Caracara cheriway—Crested Caracara Asio flammeus—Short-eared Owl Colaptes auratus—Northern Flicker Eremophila alpestris—Horned Lark Corvus corax—Common Raven Sialia sp.—Bluebirds ? Vireonidae—Vireos Quiscalus—Grackles Mammalia

Marmota flaviventris—Yellow-bellied Marmot Ictidomys tridecemlineatus—Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrel (cf.) Urocitellus elegans—Wyoming Ground Squirrel Xerospermophilus spilosoma—Spotted Ground Squirrel (cf.) Chaetodipus hispidus—Hispid Pocket Mouse Dipodomys merriami/ordii—Merriam's or Ord's Kangaroo Rat

Two specimens of a kangaroo rat smaller than D. spectabilis were recovered from level 2 of the excavations and are judged as likely Holocene.

Dipodomys spectabilis—Banner-tailed Kangaroo Rat Cratogeomys castanops—Yellow-faced Pocket Gopher Thomomys bottae—Botta's Pocket Gopher Thomomys talpoides—Northern Pocket Gopher Lemmiscus curtatus—Sagebrush Vole Microtus longicaudus—Long-tailed Vole Microtus mogollonensis—Mogollon Vole Microtus ochrogaster—Prairie Vole Microtus pennsylvanicus—Meadow Vole Neotoma cinerea—Bushy-tailed Woodrat Neotoma leucodon—White-toothed Woodrat Neotoma mexicana—Mexican Woodrat Neotoma micropus—Southern Plains Woodrat Onychomys leucogaster—Northern Grasshopper Mouse Peromyscus maniculatus—Deer Mouse Reithrodontomys sp.—Harvest Mice Sigmodon hispidus—Hispid Cotton Rat Erethizon dorsata—American Porcupine Lepus townsendii—White-tailed Jackrabbit (cf.) Sylvilagus audubonii—Desert Cottontail Sylvilagus floridanus—Eastern Cottontail (cf.) Sylvilagus nuttallii—Mountain Cottontail Cryptotis parva—Least Shrew Notiosorex dalquesti—Dalquest's Shrew (Carraway 2010) Sorex merriami—Merriam's Shrew Sorex neomexicanus—New Mexico Shrew Eptesicus fuscus—Big Brown Bat Lasiurus sp.—Lasiurine Bats Myotis velifer—Cave Myotis Corynorhinus sp.—Big-eared Bats Tadarida brasiliensis—Mexican Free-tailed Bat Lynx rufus—Bobcat Canis sp.—Wolves (cf.) Identification is based on an exoccipital.

Vulpes velox—Swift Fox Ursus—Bears (?) Mustela erminea—Ermine Mephitis mephitis—Striped Skunk †Equus conversidens—Mexican Horse †Equus niobrarensis—Niobrara Horse †Equus occidentalis—Western Horse (?) †Equus francisci—Stilt-legged Horse †Stockoceros conklingi—Conkling's Pronghorn

Harris (1993c) reported as Cf. Capromeryx.

Bison sp.—Bison Literature. Carraway 2010; Harris 1970a; Harris 1993b, 1993c; Holman 1970.

Last Update: 22 Apr 2013

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Baldy Peak Cave NM: Luna Co.: 0.5 mi SE top Baldy Peak, Florida Mts., E edge SE ¼ Sec 36, T25S, R8W; 1950 m

Age. Presumed to be Rancholabrean and some of the fauna clearly is, but some may be Holocene. General Description. A small, mostly vertical, opening into limestone. It has been mined, with a spoil pile near the entrance. Fossils were retrieved from the spoil and from thin fill left along the bottom of the vertical crevice. The site was discovered by UTEP botanist, Richard Worthington. Discussion. The presence of the Common Muskrat is especially interesting since it indicates the presence of permanent water nearby. The only likely candidate is the Mimbres River, now a southward-draining ephemeral waterway running parallel to the Florida Mountains. Fauna Marmota flaviventris—Yellow-bellied Marmot Tamias cinereicollis—Gray-collared Chipmunk (?) Thomomys bottae—Botta's Pocket Gopher Microtus mogollonensis—Mogollon Vole Ondatra zibethicus—Common Muskrat Neotoma albigula—White-throated Woodrat (cf.) Neotoma cinerea—Bushy-tailed Woodrat Neotoma mexicana—Mexican Woodrat Lepus sp.—Jackrabbits Sylvilagus audubonii/floridanus—Desert or Eastern Cottontail Notiosorex dalquesti—Dalquest's Shrew (Carraway 2010) Sorex monticolus—Montane Shrew Mephitis mephitis—Striped Skunk Bassariscus astutus—Ringtail Odocoileus sp.—Deer Withdrawn: Microtus montanus—Montane Vole (?) Literature. Carraway 2010; Harris 1985a, 1993c.

Last Update: 30 Oct 2011

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Bat Cave NM: Catron Co.: 33°46'30"N, 108°l2'42"W: 2134 m.

Age. Late Wisconsin/Holocene. >11,000 BP to present. General Description. Cave at the southeastern edge of the San Agustín Plains. The cave apparently is wave-cut, lying a short distance above the third of six fossil beach lines of Pleistocene Lake San Agustín. Discussion. The cave produced a long sequence of corn evolution as well as other archaeological information (Dick 1965). Most of the fauna (Scarbrough 1986; not given here) is either Holocene or not clearly Pleistocene and was excavated by W. H. Wills (1988). A radiocarbon date of 10,410 ± 110 (A-3728) was obtained from Stratum 4, top of level 17, and a date of 11,370 ± 310 from Stratum 7, level 23 (Scarbrough 1986). Stratum 4, level 17, is arbitrarily chosen as the division between Pleistocene and Holocene, and only taxa from this level or deeper are listed below. All taxa listed are from Scarbrough (1986). Fauna. Amphibia Ambystoma mavortium—Barred Tiger Salamander Ambystoma sp.

Reptilia Phrynosoma sp.—Horned Lizards Aves Anas sp.—Dabbling Ducks Mammalia Tamias minimus—Least Chipmunk. Chaetodipus/Perognathus sp.—Pocket Mice Thomomys bottae—Botta's Pocket Gopher Microtus pennsylvanicus—Meadow Vole Microtus mogollonensis—Mogollon Vole Neotoma sp.—Woodrats

Peromyscus sp.—Deer Mice Sorex monticolus—Montane Shrew Literature. Dick 1965; Scarbrough 1986; Wills 1988.

Last Update: 10 Feb 2013

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Beyond Bison Chamber, Dry Cave NM: Eddy Co.: 1280 m.

Age. Late Wisconsin/Holocene. General Description. Corridors and small rooms farther within Dry Cave than Boulder Room and Bison Chamber (Harris 1970). There is little fill, seldom surpassing a depth of 2 cm, and seemingly primarily autochthonous. The fossil material occurred on the surface and immediately beneath. With no real stratigraphic depth, there likely is Holocene as well as Pleistocene material on the surface. Discussion. Unlike many of the Dry Cave sites, there is no apparent influx of material from the surface. The fossil material is thus presumed to have resulted from animals lost or inhabiting the cave along with material dragged in by predators and scavengers. Several taxa recorded in the literature (Harris 1993c) do not inspire confidence in terms of identification; these are rejected, at least until further study. Re-examination of the antilocaprid material has allowed it to be tentatively assigned to Stockoceros rather than Antilocapra. Fauna. Reptilia Phrynosoma hernandesi—Mountain Short-horned Lizard (Harris 1993c) Crotalus sp.—Rattlesnakes (Harris 1993c) Mammalia Dipodomys spectabilis—Banner-tailed Kangaroo Rat (Harris 1993c) Chaetodipus hispidus—Hispid Pocket Mouse (Harris 1993c) Perognathus sp.—Silky Pocket Mouse (Harris 1993c) Geomyidae—Pocket Gophers (UTEP) Microtus mogollonensis—Mogollon Vole (Harris 1993c) Neotoma leucodon—White-tooth Woodrat (Harris 1993c) Peromyscus sp.—White-footed Mice (UTEP) Identification Withdrawn Sigmodon sp.—Cotton Rat UTEP) Lepus sp.—Jackrabbits (Harris 1993c) Sylvilagus—Cottontails (Harris 1993c) Notiosorex harrisi—Harris' Shrew (Carraway 2010) †Myotis rectidentis—Straight-toothed Myotis (Harris 1993c: cf.)

Myotis velifer—Cave Myotis (Harris 1993c) Equus scotti (Harris 1993c: cf.; UTEP) Harris 1993c as E. niobrarensis

Stockoceros—Stock's Pronghorn (UTEP: cf.) Rejected. Peromyscus leucopus—White-footed Mouse (Harris 1993c) Peromyscus maniculatus—Deer Mouse (Harris 1993c: cf.) Peromyscus pectoralis—White-ankled Mouse (Harris 1993c: ?) Antilocapra americana—Pronghorn (Harris 1993c) Literature. Carraway 2010; Harris 1970, 1993c; Holman 1970.

Last Update: 30 Jan 2013

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Big Bear NM: Roosevelt Co.: 34°16'N, 103°24'W

Age. Pre-late Wisconsin and late Wisconsin (Morgan and Lucas 2005). General Description. Also known in the literature as the Arctodus Site. Blackwater Draw, 6 km southwest of Blackwater Draw Loc. No. 1 and 8 km northwest of Portales (Morgan and Lucas 2005). Fauna. Late Rancholabrean, pre-late Wisconsin †Mammuthus sp.—Mammoths †Arctodus simus—Giant Short-faced Bear †Camelidae—Camels Late Wisconsin †Mammuthus columbi—Columbian Mammoth †Bison antiquus—Ancient Bison Literature. Morgan and Lucas 2005.

Last Update: 5 Oct 2008

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Big Manhole Cave NM: Eddy Co.: NW¼ SW¼ SE¼ SEC 22, T24S, R24E; ca. 1280 m.

Age. Mid/Late Wisconsin. Tom Safford, (personal oral communication), said a date from the 4-m depth of the Clay Shaft is 20,000 BP; that 24,900 BP at 5 m. His personal opinion is that the bottom at 6 m probably is about 30,000 BP. General Description. North of Carlsbad Caverns National Park boundary and less than 1220 m from Lechuguilla Cave. The entrance is a small opening near top center of large chamber. There is a 19-m drop to floor, where there is a chamber ca. 30 m in diameter. The

floor slopes to near the edge of the dome on one side (collapse feature); otherwise fairly flat. Fig. 1. Entrance to Big Manhole Cave. The protective gate has been constructed by the Bureau of Land Management. Photograph by Lauri L. Lear.

Discussion. Cavers during Spring 1989 were digging near one wall at the lowest area of the "flat" floor, having reached about 8-9 m in clay. They encountered bones from ca. 6-9 m. Some charcoal associated was associated. Jim Goodbar (Carlsbad BLM) brought the bones to Harris on 15 June 1989 and the material is curated at UTEP. The site was visited on 25 Mar 1993 by myself and Lauri Lear, accompanied by Jim Goodbar et al. The bones mentioned above came from the so-called Clay Shaft; this also was sampled extensively by Tom Safford. There are small bones and snails visible. Two other tests had been made by spelunkers: on talus (quickly abandoned) and the Breakdown Shaft. They also did extensive tunneling from the bottom of the Clay Shaft, including into a dry, fairly non-cemented area where there was a trove of mustelid skulls and other fossils.

A Bison second phalanx shows signs of having been through the digestive system of a large carnivore (Fig. 2). Fig. 2. Two views of a Bison second phalanx (UTEP 120-6; width approximately 42 mm) showing the effects of having passed through the digestive system of what must have been a large carnivore. Edges of the distal articular surfaces also show rodent tooth marks made after deposition. Harris and Lear excavated a pit in Holocene sediments under contract with the BLM; this Holocene material is not recorded here, but was published in 2007 (Lear and Harris 2007). Fauna Aves Tympanuchus pallidicinctus—Lesser Prairie-chicken Callipepla sp.—Crested Quail (?) Mammalia Marmota flaviventris—Yellow-bellied Marmot Tamias sp.—Chipmunk Thomomys bottae—Botta's Pocket Gopher Lemmiscus curtatus—Sagebrush Vole Microtus mogollonensis—Mogollon Vole Neotoma cinerea—Bushy-tailed Woodrat Neotoma leucodon—White-tooth Woodrat Neotoma micropus—Southern Plains Woodrat Onychomys leucogaster—Northern Grasshopper Mouse Peromyscus sp.—White-footed Mice Erethizon dorsata—American Porcupine Lepus californicus—Black-tailed Jackrabbit Sylvilagus audubonii—Desert Cottontail Sylvilagus nuttallii—Mountain Cottontail Notiosorex dalquesti—Dalquest's Shrew (Carraway 2010) Sorex merriami—Merriam's Shrew Sorex nanus—Dwarf Shrew

Sorex neomexicanus—New Mexican Shrew Myotis sp.—Myotis Bats Lynx rufus—Bobcat Canis latrans—Coyote Vulpes velox—Swift Fox Mustela frenata—Long-tailed Weasel Mustela nigripes—Black-footed Ferret Taxidea taxus—American Badger Mephitis mephitis—Striped Skunk Spilogale gracilis/putorius—Spotted Skunk Bassariscus astutus—Ringtail †Equus conversidens—Mexican Horse †Equus scotti—Scott's Horse †Camelops sp—American Camel †Hemiauchenia macrocephala—Big-headed Llama †Navahoceros fricki—Mountain Deer (? gen. et. sp.) Odocoileus sp.—Deer †Stockoceros conklingi —Conkling's Pronghorn †Capromeryx furcifer—Matthew's Pronghorn Bison sp.—Bison Literature. Carraway 2010; Lear and Harris 2007.

Last Update: 6 Aug 2013

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Bison Chamber, Dry Cave NM: Eddy Co.: 1280 m.

Age. Between 14,470 and 10,730 RCBP on basis of stratigraphic relationships with radiocarbon-dated sites (UTEP 54, UTEP 6). General Description. UTEP Loc. 4. Deposits at the base of a debris slope from Bison Sink; below Boulder Room. Test Trench II (TT II), in the debris slope farther north on a balcony of Balcony Room, originally was considered part of this site, but later split off and given a new site number (UTEP 54). A diagram showing relationships of sites is available at the Balcony Room site account. Discussion. Not surprisingly, listings obfuscate matters of importance. In the case of the horned lizards, the Texas Horned Lizard is a warm climate animal, while the livebearing Mountain Short-horned Lizard survives in cooler temperatures. The former is represented in the fauna by 1 element; the latter, by 45. In general, the fauna represents a late Wisconsin fauna in which most taxa are representative of cooler, moister conditions than occur about the cave today, but with a few representatives of a warmer climate appearing. A few indications of an eastern influence also appear (Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrel, Prairie Vole), a tendency that sharpens somewhat a bit later. Fauna. Amphibia Ambystoma mavortium—Barred Tiger Salamander Spea bombifrons—Plains Spadefoot Spea multiplicatus—Mexican Spadefoot Anaxyrus woodhousii woodhousii—Woodhouse's Toad Lithobates blairi/pipiens—Leopard Frogs Reptilia Crotaphytus collaris—Eastern Collared Lizard Phrynosoma cornutum—Texas Horned Lizard Phrynosoma hernandesi—Mountain Short-horned Lizard Sceloporus cowlesi—Southern Plateau Lizard Pantherophis emoryi—Great Plains Rat Snake Salvadora sp.—Patchnose Snakes Thamnophis proximus—Western Ribbon Snake

Crotalus atrox—Western Diamondback Rattlesnake Aves Eremophila alpestris—Horned Lark Sialia—Blue Birds Calamospiza melanocorys—Lark Bunting Icteridae—Blackbirds Carpodacus sp.—Purple Finches Mammalia Ictidomys tridecemlineatus—Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrel Dipodomys spectabilis—Banner-tailed Kangaroo Rat Perognathus sp.—Silky Pocket Mice Thomomys bottae—Botta's Pocket Gopher Thomomys talpoides—Northern Pocket Gopher (cf.) Lemmiscus curtatus—Sagebrush Vole Microtus mogollonensis—Mogollon Vole Microtus ochrogaster—Prairie Vole Neotoma cinerea—Bushy-tailed Woodrat Neotoma micropus—Southern Plains Woodrat (?) Peromyscus leucopus—White-footed Mouse Peromyscus maniculatus— Deer Mouse Peromyscus truei—Pinyon Mouse (cf.) Reithrodontomys sp.—Harvest Mice Lepus sp.—Jackrabbits Sylvilagus nuttallii—Mountain Cottontail Notiosorex dalquesti—Dalquest's Shrew (Carraway 2010) Sorex merriami—Merriam's Shrew Eptesicus fuscus—Big Brown Bat Myotis lucifugus—Little Brown Bat †Myotis rectidentis—Straight-toothed Myotis (cf.) Myotis velifer—Cave Myotis Corynorhinus sp.—Big-eared Bats Vulpes velox—Swift Fox (cf.) Equus conversidens—Mexican Horse (cf.) Equus scotti—Scott's Horse Hemiauchenia macrocephala—Big-headed Llama Antilocapra americana—Pronghorn Bison antiquus—Ancient Bison (cf.) Rejected: Peromyscus crinitus—Canyon Mouse Literature. Applegarth 1979; Carraway 2010; Harris 1970a, 1985a; Harris and Porter 1980; Holman 1970.

Last Update: 6 Aug 2013

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Black River NM: Eddy Co.

Age. Rancholabrean. General Description. Black River, northeast of Whites City. Fauna. Bison sp.—Bison Literature. Harris 1993c.

Last Update: 5 Oct 2008

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Black Rock NM: McKinley Co.: 35°06'N, 108°47'W; 1960 m.

Age. Rancholabrean (Morgan and Lucas 2005). General Description. Fossil were recovered during excavations for the Black Rock Dam, about 0.5 km north of Black Rock on the Zuni Reservation (Morgan and Lucas 2005) Discussion. This is the type locality of Liops zuniensis Gidley 1906 (= Bootherium bombifrons). Morgan and Lucas (2005) report a K/Ar date of 164±35 ka on the basalt underlying the fossiliferous sediments, thus setting a maximum age. Fauna Castor canadensis—American Beaver †Bootherium bombifrons—Woodland Musk Ox †Mammuthus columbi—Columbian Mammoth †Equus sp.—Horse †Camelidae—Camel Bison sp.—Bison Literature. J. A. Allen 1913; Gidley 1906; Harris 1985a; Hay 1924; McDonald and Ray 1989; Morgan and Lucas 2005.

Last Update: 5 Oct 2008

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Blackwater Draw Fauna NM: Roosevelt Co.

Age. Late Wisconsin; ca. 13-11 kya (Haynes 1995). Haynes (1964) gave the Brown Sand Wedge portion as 11,170 ± 360 BP (A-481). General Description. The site consists of Wisconsin-age sediments laid down in a springfed pond. Gravel-pit operations brought attention to the fossil deposits, and the finding of an association between early man and mammoth has resulted in major studies of the site. A summary of work at Blackwater Loc. No. 1 is in Hester (1972). Discussion. The early hunters have become known as Clovis, after the nearby town of Clovis, New Mexico. The fossil fauna has been summarized in the literature largely as from two units: Gray Sand (Lundelius 1972) and Brown Sand Wedge (Slaughter 1975). The Gray Sand is the earliest unit of pond sediments. Hester (1972) cited Haynes as believing it is full pluvial, between 13,000 and 25,000 BP. The average thickness is about 3 ft. Deposits suggest a time of ample and steady water supply. It appears that the Clovis artifacts recovered from the Gray Sand are intrusive, having been deposited on the surface of the sediment. Lundelius (1972) cited Haynes and Agogino (1966) as confirming a springhead origin for the gray sand. Lundelius (1972) cited earlier work on the gray sand by Stock and Bode (1937), who reported most of the species. The list given here of that portion of the fauna that comes from the Gray Sand is from Lundelius (1972). However, the specimen of the large tortoise, cf. Hesperotestudo, was thought by Lundelius to have been reworked from older deposits and is not cited here. Slaughter (1975) noted that the geographic range of the Eastern Box Turtle today (all subspecies) is within the >30" precipitation area. He also noted that the closest related subspecies today (Terrapene carolina major, of the Gulf Coast) is in an area with more than 300 frost-free days. He attributes presence of Dasypus bellus as indicating more moisture and "winters no more severe and probably somewhat milder" than today. He also noted (presumably after Mohlhenrich [1961]) that the Hispid Cotton Rat's northern limit conforms to a line of average January temperature of 35° F. Microtus pennsylvanicus at its southern limits is north of areas with normal daily maxima of 90° F and normal average July temperatures not exceeding 82° F. Slaughter (1975) showed a figure with current ranges of the Meadow Vole and Masked Shrew in relation to temperature (with an approximate southern boundary formed by an isotherm of >60 days with temperatures higher than 60° F; the area to north has a July normal maximum daily temperatures