Mammals of Texas

David J. Schmidly has studied Texas mammals since 1966 and has written several books about Texas mammals and natural history. He is currently a research professor of biology at the University of New Mexico.Robert D. Bradley is a professor of biological sciences at Texas Tech University, where he is also the director and curator of mammals at the Natural Science Research Laboratory.

• Foreword by Carter Smith, Executive Director, Texas Parks and Wildlife DepartmentPrefaceAcknowledgmentsOverview and Introduction to Texas Mammals Diversity of Land MammalsGeographic Distribution of Land MammalsMammals of the Barrier Islands of TexasMammals in the Coastal Waters and Gulf of MexicoHistorical Changes in the Texas Mammal FaunaTwentieth-Century Landscape and Land Use Changes in Texas: Impact on Wildlife DiversityImpact of Climate ChangeConservation StrategiesHistory of Mammalogy in TexasSpecies Accounts For Texas Mammals Instructions for Interpreting Distribution MapsKey to the Major Groups (Orders) of Mammals in TexasOrder Didelphimorphia-Opossums and Allies Family Didelphidae-OpossumsDidelphis virginiana, Virginia OpossumOrder Sirenia-Manatees and Allies Family Trichechidae-ManateesTrichechus manatus, West Indian ManateeOrder Cingulata-Armadillos and Allies Family Dasypodidae-ArmadillosDasypus novemcinctus, Nine-banded ArmadilloOrder Primates-Primates Family Cercopithecidae-Old World MonkeysMacaca fuscata, Japanese Macaque*Order Lagomorpha-Pikas, Hares, and Rabbits Key to the Hares and Rabbits of TexasFamily Leporidae-Hares and RabbitsLepus californicus, Black-tailed JackrabbitSylvilagus aquaticus, Swamp RabbitSylvilagus audubonii, Desert CottontailSylvilagus floridanus, Eastern CottontailSylvilagus robustus, Davis Mountains CottontailOrder Soricomorpha-Shrews and Moles Key to the Shrews and Moles of TexasFamily Soricidae-ShrewsBlarina carolinensis, Southern Short-tailed ShrewBlarina hylophaga, Elliot’s Short-tailed ShrewCryptotis parva, Least ShrewNotiosorex crawfordi, Crawford’s Desert ShrewFamily Talpidae-MolesScalopus aquaticus, Eastern MoleOrder Chiroptera-Bats Key to the Bats of TexasFamily Molossidae-Free-tailed BatsEumops perotis, Western Bonneted BatNyctinomops femorosaccus, Pocketed Free-tailed BatNyctinomops macrotis, Big Free-tailed BatTadarida brasiliensis, Brazilian Free-tailed BatFamily Mormoopidae-Leaf-chinned BatsMormoops megalophylla, Ghost-faced BatFamily Phyllostomidae-New World Leaf-nosed BatsChoeronycteris mexicana, Mexican Long-tongued BatDiphylla ecaudata, Hairy-legged Vampire BatLeptonycteris nivalis, Mexican Long-nosed BatFamily Vespertilionidae-Vesper BatsAeorestes cinereus, Hoary BatAntrozous pallidus, Pallid BatCorynorhinus rafinesquii, Rafinesque’s Big-eared BatCorynorhinus townsendii, Townsend’s Big-eared BatDasypterus ega, Southern Yellow BatDasypterus intermedius, Northern Yellow BatDasypterus xanthinus, Western Yellow BatEptesicus fuscus, Big Brown BatEuderma maculatum, Spotted BatLasionycteris noctivagans, Silver-haired BatLasiurus blossevillii, Western Red BatLasiurus borealis, Eastern Red BatLasiurus seminolus, Seminole BatMyotis austroriparius, Southeastern MyotisMyotis californicus, California MyotisMyotis ciliolabrum, Western Small-footed MyotisMyotis occultus, Southwestern Little Brown MyotisMyotis septentrionalis, Northern Long-eared MyotisMyotis thysanodes, Fringed MyotisMyotis velifer, Cave MyotisMyotis volans, Long-legged MyotisMyotis yumanensis, Yuma MyotisNycticeius humeralis, Evening BatParastrellus hesperus, American ParastrellePerimyotis subflavus, American PerimyotisOrder Carnivora-Carnivores Key to the Carnivores of TexasFamily Canidae-Dogs, Foxes, and Wolves Canis latrans, CoyoteUrocyon cinereoargenteus, Common Gray FoxVulpes macrotis, Kit FoxVulpes velox, Swift FoxFamily Felidae-Cats Leopardus pardalis, OcelotLynx rufus, BobcatPuma concolor, Mountain LionFamily Mephitidae-SkunksConepatus leuconotus, Hog-nosed SkunkMephitis macroura, Hooded SkunkMephitis mephitis, Striped SkunkSpilogale gracilis, Western Spotted SkunkSpilogale putorius, Eastern Spotted SkunkFamily Mustelidae-Weasels, Otters, and Badgers Lontra canadensis, Northern River OtterMustela frenata, Long-tailed WeaselVison vison, American MinkTaxidea taxus, American BadgerFamily Procyonidae-Raccoons, Ringtails, and CoatisBassariscus astutus, RingtailNasua narica, White-nosed CoatiProcyon lotor, Northern RaccoonFamily Ursidae-Bears Ursus americanus, American Black BearExtinct CarnivoraFamily Canidae-Dogs, Foxes, and WolvesCanis lupus, Gray WolfCanis rufus, Red WolfFamily Felidae-Cats Leopardus wiedii, MargayPanthera onca, JaguarPuma yagouaroundi, JaguarundiFamily Mustelidae-Weasels, Otters, and Badgers Mustela nigripes, Black-footed FerretFamily Ursidae-Bears Ursus arctos, Grizzly or Brown BearFamily Phocidae-Earless Seals Monachus tropicalis, Caribbean Monk SealIntroduced Carnivora Family Canidae-Dogs, Foxes, and Wolves Vulpes vulpes, Red Fox*Family Otariidae-Eared Seals Zalophus californianus, California Sea Lion*Order Artiodactyla-Even-toed Ungulates Key to the Even-Toed Ungulates of TexasFamily Antilocapridae-Pronghorn Antilocapra americana, PronghornFamily Bovidae-Cattle, Antelope, Sheep, Goats, and African Exotics Bos bison, American BisonOvis canadensis, Bighorn SheepFamily Cervidae-Deer and Allies Cervus canadensis, Wapiti or Western ElkOdocoileus hemionus, Mule DeerOdocoileus virginianus, White-tailed DeerFamily Tayassuidae-Peccaries Pecari tajacu, Collared PeccaryIntroduced Artiodactyla Family Bovidae-Cattle, Antelope, Sheep, Goats, and African Exotics Ammotragus lervia, Barbary Sheep or Aoudad*Antilope cervicapra, Blackbuck*Boselaphus tragocamelus, Nilgai*Family Cervidae-Deer and Allies Axis axis, Axis Deer*Cervus nippon, Sika*Dama dama, Fallow Deer*Family Suidae-Pigs Sus scrofa, Feral Hog* (see also Domesticated Mammals)Other Artiodactylids Introduced in Texas Tragelaphus strepsiceros, Greater Kudu*Eudorcas thomsonii, Eastern Thomson’s Gazelle*Hippotragus niger, Sable Antelope*Oryx dammah, Scimitar-horned Oryx*Taurotragus oryx, Common Eland*Cervus elaphus, Eastern Red Deer*Order Cetacea-Whales, Porpoises, and Dolphins Key to the Whales and Dolphins of the Texas CoastSuborder Mysticeti-Baleen Whales Family Balaenidae-Right Whales Eubalaena glacialis, North Atlantic Right WhaleFamily Balaenopteridae-Rorquals or Baleen Whales Balaenoptera acutorostrata, Common Minke WhaleBalaenoptera borealis, Sei WhaleBalaenoptera brydei, Bryde’s WhaleBalaenoptera musculus, Blue WhaleBalaenoptera physalus, Fin WhaleMegaptera novaeangliae, Humpback WhaleSuborder Odontoceti-Toothed Whales Family Delphinidae-Toothed Whales and Dolphins Feresa attenuata, Pygmy Killer WhaleGlobicephala macrorhynchus, Short-finned Pilot WhaleGrampus griseus, Risso’s DolphinLagenodelphis hosei, Fraser’s DolphinOrcinus orca, Killer WhalePeponocephala electra, Melon-headed WhalePseudorca crassidens, False Killer WhaleStenella attenuata, Pantropical Spotted DolphinStenella clymene, Clymene DolphinStenella coeruleoalba, Striped DolphinStenella frontalis, Atlantic Spotted DolphinStenella longirostris, Spinner DolphinSteno bredanensis, Rough-toothed DolphinTursiops truncatus, Common Bottlenose DolphinFamily Kogiidae-Pygmy and Dwarf Sperm Whales Kogia breviceps, Pygmy Sperm WhaleKogia sima, Dwarf Sperm WhaleFamily Physeteridae-Sperm WhalePhyseter macrocephalus, Sperm WhaleFamily Ziphiidae-Beaked Whales Mesoplodon densirostris, Blainville’s Beaked WhaleMesoplodon europaeus, Gervais’s Beaked WhaleZiphius cavirostris, Cuvier’s or Goose-beaked WhaleOrder Rodentia-Rodents Key to the Rodents of TexasFamily Castoridae-Beavers Castor canadensis, American BeaverFamily Cricetidae-New World Mice, Rats, and Voles Baiomys taylori, Northern Pygmy MouseMicrotus mogollonensis, Mogollon VoleMicrotus ochrogaster, Prairie VoleMicrotus pinetorum, Woodland VoleNeotoma floridana, Eastern WoodratNeotoma leucodon, White-toothed WoodratNeotoma mexicana, Mexican WoodratNeotoma micropus, Southern Plains WoodratOchrotomys nuttalli, Golden MouseOndatra zibethicus, Common MuskratOnychomys arenicola, Chihuahuan or Mearns’s Grasshopper MouseOnychomys leucogaster, Northern Grasshopper MouseOryzomys couesi, Coues’s Rice RatOryzomys texensis, Texas Marsh Rice RatPeromyscus attwateri, Texas DeermousePeromyscus boylii, Brush DeermousePeromyscus eremicus, Cactus DeermousePeromyscus gossypinus, Cotton DeermousePeromyscus laceianus, Lacey’s White-ankled DeermousePeromyscus leucopus, White-footed DeermousePeromyscus maniculatus, North American DeermousePeromyscus nasutus, Northern Rock DeermousePeromyscus truei, PiÑon DeermouseReithrodontomys fulvescens, Fulvous Harvest MouseReithrodontomys humulis, Eastern Harvest MouseReithrodontomys megalotis, Western Harvest MouseReithrodontomys montanus, Plains Harvest MouseSigmodon fulviventer, Tawny-bellied Cotton RatSigmodon hispidus, Hispid Cotton RatSigmodon ochrognathus, Yellow-nosed Cotton RatFamily Erethizontidae-New World Porcupines Erethizon dorsatum, North American PorcupineFamily Geomyidae-Pocket Gophers Cratogeomys castanops, Yellow-faced Pocket GopherGeomys arenarius, Desert Pocket GopherGeomys attwateri, Attwater’s Pocket GopherGeomys breviceps, Baird’s Pocket GopherGeomys bursarius, Plains Pocket GopherGeomys jugossicularis, Hall’s Pocket GopherGeomys knoxjonesi, Jones’s Pocket GopherGeomys personatus, Texas Pocket GopherGeomys streckeri, Strecker’s Pocket GopherGeomys texensis, Llano Pocket GopherThomomys bottae, Botta’s Pocket GopherFamily Heteromyidae-Pocket Mice and Kangaroo Rats Chaetodipus eremicus, Chihuahuan Desert Pocket MouseChaetodipus hispidus, Hispid Pocket MouseChaetodipus intermedius, Rock Pocket MouseChaetodipus nelsoni, Nelson’s Pocket MouseDipodomys compactus, Gulf Coast Kangaroo RatDipodomys elator, Texas Kangaroo RatDipodomys merriami, Merriam’s Kangaroo RatDipodomys ordii, Ord’s Kangaroo RatDipodomys spectabilis, Banner-tailed Kangaroo RatLiomys irroratus, Mexican Spiny Pocket MousePerognathus flavescens, Plains Pocket MousePerognathus flavus, Silky Pocket MousePerognathus merriami, Merriam’s Pocket MouseFamily Sciuridae-Squirrels and Allies Ammospermophilus interpres, Texas Antelope SquirrelCynomys ludovicianus, Black-tailed Prairie DogGlaucomys volans, Southern Flying SquirrelIctidomys parvidens, Rio Grande Ground SquirrelIctidomys tridecemlineatus, Thirteen-lined Ground SquirrelOtospermophilus variegatus, Rock SquirrelSciurus carolinensis, Eastern Gray SquirrelSciurus niger, Eastern Fox SquirrelTamias canipes, Gray-footed ChipmunkXerospermophilus spilosoma, Spotted Ground SquirrelIntroduced Rodentia Family Echimyidae-Spiny Rats and Nutria Myocastor coypus, Nutria*Family Muridae-Old World Mice and Rats Mus musculus, House Mouse*Rattus norvegicus, Norway or Brown Rat*Rattus rattus, Black Rat*Family Sciuridae-Squirrels and AlliesMarmota monax, Woodchuck*Domesticated Mammals Order Carnivora-Carnivores Family Canidae-Dogs, Foxes, and Wolves Canis familiaris, Domestic Dog*Family Felidae-Cats Felis catus, Domestic Cat*Order Perissodactyla-Odd-toed Ungulates Family Equidae-Feral Horses and Asses Equus asinus, Feral Ass or Burro*Equus caballus, Feral Horse*Equus caballus x Equus asinus, Mule*Order Artiodactyla-Even-toed Ungulates Family Bovidae-Cattle, Antelope, Sheep, Goats, and African Exotics Bos taurus, Domestic Cattle*Capra hircus, Domestic Goat*Ovis aries, Domestic Sheep*Family Suidae-Pigs Sus scrofa, Feral Hog*Appendix 1. The Measurement SystemAppendix 2. Observation and Collection of MammalsAppendix 3. Selected References on Mammals from Texas and Adjoining StatesAppendix 4. Scientific NamesAppendix 5. Mammalian Species: Accounts Available for Texas MammalsAppendix 6. Standard Measurements of Study SpecimensAppendix 7. Basis for Distribution of SpeciesGlossaryIndex to Scientific and Common Names