Mammals of the Grand Mesa, ColoradoAnderson, Sydney
Science
Mammals of the Grand Mesa, Colorado
Anderson, Sydney
Mammals -- Colorado
=_Eutamias minimus consobrinus_= (J. A. Allen).--The 63 specimens of
the Least Chipmunk (59770-59824, 60105-60108, 70024-70025, and nos.
5194 and 5196 in Univ. of Colorado Museum) were taken at localities 2,
3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 10, 13, and 15. The reproductive condition at time of
death had been noted for 20 females obtained from June 17 to July 2 at
elevations from 9500 to 10,400 feet. Eleven of these had no embryos,
but six have mammae that are still prominent on the dried skins and may
have had litters prior to their capture. Nine females contained
embryos, numbering 3 in two specimens, 5 in four specimens, 6 in two
specimens, and 7 in one specimen.
=_Eutamias quadrivittatus hopiensis_= Merriam.--Four specimens of the
Colorado Chipmunk were obtained by D. A. Sutton at locality 2, at 6800,
6900, 7175, and 8050 feet elevation. All are males taken on May 13 and
14, 1949; the specimens bear numbers 5197, 5198, 5199, and 5201 in the
collection of the University of Colorado Museum.
=_Thomomys talpoides fossor_= J. A. Allen.--The 27 specimens of the
Northern Pocket Gopher (59840-59849, 70086-70102) were trapped at
localities 3, 6, 7, 10, 11, and 13. The eight skins from locality 7
differ from those from the other localities on the Mesa in being
uniformly duller in color dorsally. No significant difference in size
or cranial characters was observed. Specimens assigned to _T. t.
fossor_, in the collection of the Museum of Natural History, from other
localities in Colorado differ in color from any of the specimens from
the Grand Mesa. Until larger numbers of _Thomomys talpoides_ from other
localities in Colorado and from the type locality of _T. t. fossor_,
stated to be at Florida, in southern Colorado, have been studied, the
specimens from the Grand Mesa seem best referred to _T. t. fossor_.
Three females from localities 7, 10, and 11 contained embryos (2, 4,
and 5 in number), and seven other females from localities 6 and 7 show
distinct mammae on the dried skins or were recorded by the collectors
as lactating.
=_Castor canadensis concisor_= Warren and Hall.--Dams constructed by
beavers were seen at locality 4 on June 23, 1954. No specimen was
taken.
=_Peromyscus maniculatus rufinus_= (Merriam).--The 36 specimens of the
Deer Mouse (59921-59956) are from seven localities (3, 4, 6, 10, 12,
14, and 15). The mice vary considerably in color; most of them are like
mice of the highlands of Colorado and unlike the paler mice inhabiting
the lower areas immediately to the west of the Grand Mesa. Young
individuals trapped on June 20, 21, and 22 and judged to range from a
month through two months in age, and females containing embryos, attest
to a somewhat protracted breeding season on the Grand Mesa.
=_Neotoma cinerea arizonae_= Merriam.--Two immature Bushy-tailed Wood
Rats (60000-60001) were obtained at locality 3 on July 3.
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