Mammals of Colorado

637 Pages·2011·156.658 MB·English

by  Armstrong, David;Fitzgerald, James;Meaney, Carron

MaMMals
of colorado
S e c o n d e d i t i o n

MaMMals
of colorado
S e c o n d e d i t i o n
David M. Armstrong, James P. Fitzgerald, and Carron A. Meaney
Denver Museum of Nature & Science and University Press of Colorado
© 2011 by the Denver Museum of Nature & Science
Published by the University Press of Colorado
5589 Arapahoe Avenue, Suite 206C
Boulder, Colorado 80303
All rights reserved
Printed in the United States of America
The University Press of Colorado is a proud member of
the Association of American University Presses.
The University Press of Colorado is a cooperative publishing enterprise supported,
in part, by Adams State College, Colorado State University, Fort Lewis College, Mesa
State College, Metropolitan State College of Denver, Regis University, University of
Colorado, University of Northern Colorado, and Western State College of Colorado.
The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of the
American National Standard for Information Sciences—Permanence of Paper for
Printed Library Materials. ANSI Z39.48-1992
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Armstrong, David Michael, 1944–
Mammals of Colorado / David M. Armstrong, James P. Fitzgerald, and Carron A.
Meaney. — 2nd ed.
p. cm.
Rev. ed. of: Mammals of Colorado / James P. Fitzgerald, Carron A. Meany, David
M. Armstrong. 1994.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-1-60732-047-0 (hardcover : alk. paper) — ISBN 978-1-60732-048-7 (e-book)
I. Fitzgerald, James P., 1940- II. Meaney, Carron A., 1950– III. Fitzgerald, James P.,
1940– Mammals of Colorado. IV. Title.
QL719.C6F58 2011
599.09788—dc22
2011006206
Design by Daniel Pratt
20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Contents

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