Distribution and natural history of Nelson's pocket mouse (Chaetodipus nelsoni) in the Guadalupe Mountains in southeastern New Mexico

Related Titles

Series: Occasional papers / Museum of Texas Tech University, number 332

By

Geluso, Kenneth N. , author

Geluso, Keith , author
Texas Tech University. Museum,
Texas Tech University. Natural Science Research Laboratory.

Type

Book

Material

Published material

Publication info

Lubbock, TX, Museum of Texas Tech University, [2015]

Notes

Title from caption.

"Texas Tech University, Natural Science Research Laboratory."

"9 July 2015."

The northern distributional limit of Nelson's Pocket Mouse (Chaetodipus nelsoni) in North America occurs in the Guadalupe Mountains of southeastern New Mexico, where the species previously was known only from two localized areas in Carlsbad Caverns National Park. The first records were from the early 1950s near the large opening to Carlsbad Cavern, close to the upper edge of the eastern escarpment of the mountain range, and more recent records (1973-2003) were reported from a 2.9-km stretch of escarpment ca. 13.5-16.4 km southwest of the cavern. In 2013, we conducted a survey for C. nelsoni along the face of the eastern escarpment in New Mexico. Herein, we report on eight new localities of occurrence and summarize the natural history of C. nelsoni at its northernmost limit. Our modest range extensions north and south of former records demonstrate a distribution spanning 48.5 km along the escarpment. New localities of occurrence likely represent previously undocumented areas where the species has always occurred in the mountain range. In the Guadalupe Mountains, Nelson's Pocket Mice occurred at elevations of 1,055-1,500 m on south-facing and southeast-facing slopes, with inclines of 18.5-29.0Îç (33.5-55.4%). Slopes contained characteristic vegetation of the Chihuahuan Desert and abundant amounts of exposed rock. At this northern part of its distribution, C. nelsoni was active throughout the year and on nights of new and full moons. Reproductive information in the Guadalupe Mountains still is limited for both males (scrotal testes March-August) and females (lactation in May). On slopes of the escarpment, C. nelsoni was most often associated with Lacey's White-ankled Deermouse (Peromyscus laceianus). The population of C. nelsoni in the Guadalupe Mountains appears geographically isolated from more southerly populations in Texas. Nelson's Pocket Mice have inhabited these mountains for at least 60 years (1952-2013), and at one location for at least 40 years (1973-2013). A

Subjects

Guadalupe Mountains (N.M. and Tex.) , New Mexico , Pocket mice

Call Number

AS36 .T4955 no.332

Language

English

Identifiers

OCLC: 936119033
Wikidata: https://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q109807396