Texas Aquatic Plant Management Society Newsletter On the Water
The Aquatic Mammals of SE Texas
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Transcript of The Aquatic Mammals of SE Texas
The Aquatic Mammals of SE Texas
Most mammal study is INDIRECT STUDY –
• Tracks tell us how they move, where they go.
• Scat tells us what they eat.
• Nests, burrows, etc. tell us where they find shelter.
• Skulls, etc. reveal their adaptations for their particular niche.
What does this have to do with Aquatic Science at KCHS?
• The entire “Lago de Collins” is the work of two species of mammals:
• Homo sapiens dug it. • Castor canadensis maintains it. • ALL other aquatic lifeforms have benefited
from the work of these two. • All area mammals are attracted to “Lago
de Collins” for the food, water, & shelter it offers.
Order Didelphimorphia
The New World Marsupials
Virginia Opossum Didelphis virginiana
Order Insectivora
The Shrews & Moles
Southern Short-tailed ShrewBlarina carolinensis
The only North American mammal with a poisonous bite!
Least Shrew Cryptotis parva
Order Lagomorpha
The Rabbits & Hares
Swamp RabbitSylvilagus aquaticus
Order Rodentia
Mice, Rats, Squirrels, & Beaver
Golden Mouse Ochrotomys nuttalli
Cotton MousePeromyscus gossypinus
Eastern Harvest MouseReithrodontomys humulis
Hispid Cotton RatSigmodon hispidus
Rice RatOryzomys palustris
MuskratOndatra zibethicus
NutriaMyocastor coypus
NON - NATIVE
American BeaverCastor canadensis
Order Chiroptera
The Bats
Big Brown BatEptesicus fuscus
Evening BatNycticeius humeralis
Mexican Free-tailed BatTadarida brasiliensis
Rafinesque's Big-eared Bat Plecotus rafinesquii
Eastern PipistrellePipistrellus subflavus
Seminole Bat Lasiurus seminolus
Northern Yellow Bat Lasiurus intermedius
Hoary Bat Lasiurus cinereus
Red Bat Lasiurus borealis
Silver-haired Bat Lasionycteris noctivagans
Order Carnivora
Dogs, Cats, Weasels, & Bears
(oh my!)
Long-tailed Weasel Mustela frenata
Front: 1" x 1"Hind: 1/2" x 1 1/2"
Mink Mustela vison
Striped Skunk Mephitis mephitis
Eastern Spotted Skunk Spilogale putorius
Northern River Otter Lutra canadensis
Raccoon Procyon lotor
Louisiana Black Bear Ursus americanus louisiana
5 in. L X 5 in. W
7 in L X 5 in. W
Bobcat Lynx rufus
Red Wolf Canis rufusEXTIRPATED
Coyote Canis latrans
Gray Fox Urocyon cinereoargenteus
Red Fox Vulpes vulpes
Order Artiodactyla
The Even-toed Grazers
Feral Pig Sus scrofaNON-NATIVE
White-tailed Deer Odocoileus virginianus
Aquatic Science Mammal Assignments
1. Pick 10 mammals from those lectured on yesterday. Categorize each of these mammals according to their diet – Carnivore, Herbivore, Insectivore or Omnivore.
2. Pick 10 mammals from those lectured on yesterday. Construct a food web, showing how these mammals fit in the ecosystem. You may use other organisms (plants, invertebrates, amphibians, fishes, etc.) to fill out your web. Remember – Arrows point to the EATERS.