Mammalogy practical 3

Scientific name for the North American Porcupine

Erethizon dorsatum

Scientific name for the nutria (coypu)

Myocastor coypus

Scientific name for the American Beaver

Castor canadensis

Scientific name for Ord’s kangaroo rat

Dipodomys ordii

Scientific name for the Great Basin pocket mouse

Perognathus parvus

Scientific name for the Mazama (western) pocket gopher

Thomomys mazama

Scientific name for the Northern pocket gopher

Thomomys talpoides

Scientific name for the mountain beaver

Aplodontia rufa

Scientific name for the hoary marmot

Marmota caligata

Scientific name for the Olympic marmot

Marmota olympus

Scientific name for the yellow-bellied marmot

Marmota flaviventris 

Scientific name for the woodchuck

Marmota monax

Which digit is the grooming claw on a beaver and what is its function?

On the second digit, and it uses it to comb out its fur and maintain waterproofing and insulating qualities. 

Which species have fur lined cheek pouches? What are they for? Do they open into the mouth?

Dipodomys ordii and Perognathus parvus have external fur lined cheek pouches that do not open into the mouth, but aide in transporting food back to their homes.  

What is unique about the teeth/lips of Thomomys? 

Their lips close behind their incisors to prevent dirt from entering their mouth as they dig.

Which species can climb trees?

Marmota monax, woodchuck

Which two species are semi aquatic?

Myocastor coypus (nutria) and Castor canadensis (American beaver)

Why do Aplodontia rufa need to live in areas near water?

They have poor kidney function due to having ancestral kidneys

How can you distinguish between a swimming nutria, beaver, and muskrat?

The beaver shows the entire upper body when swimming, the nutria shows two bumps (head and butt), and the muskrat you can see three bumps (head, butt, tail)

Which species are adapted to not need to drink water?

Dipodomys ordii and Perognathus parvus 

Scientific name for California Ground Squirrel

Spermophilus (citellus) beecheyi

Scientific name for Townsend’s Ground Squirrel

Spermophilus townsendii

Scientific name for Piute (Great Basin) ground squrriel

Spermophilus mollis

Scientific name for Washington ground squirrel

Spermophilus washingtoni

Scientific name for Columbian ground squirrel

Spermophilus columbianus

Scientific name for golden-mantled ground squirrel

Spermophilus lateralis

Scientific name for Cascade golden-mantled ground squirrel

Spermophilus saturatus

Scientific name for the least chipmunk

Tamias (Eutamias) minimus

Scientific name for Townsend’s chipmunk

Tamias townsendii

Scientific name for yellow-pine chipmunk

Tamias amoenus

Scientific name for the red-tailed chipmunk

Tamias ruficaudus

Scientific name for the western gray squirrel

Sciurus griseus

Scientific name for the eastern gray squirrel

Sciurus carolinensis

Scientific name for eastern fox squirrel

Sciurus niger

Scientific name for the red squirrel

Tamiasciurus hudsonicus 

Scientific name for Douglas’s squirrel 

Tamiasciurus douglasii 

Scientific name for the northern flying squirrel

Glaucomys sabrinus 

What is the range of Erethizon dorsatum (North American Porcupine) in North America?

Central to Western USA, all of Canada, Eastern Alaska

What is the habitat for Erethizon dorsatum?

Deciduous and coniferous forests, sometimes brushy ares of acacia along washers in desert. 

What is the diet of Erethizon dorsatum?

Tree buds in spring, leaves and herbaceous plants, in the fall eats acorns, beachnuts, leaves, and apples. 

Distinguishing characteristics of Erethizon dorsatum?

Large and heavy-bodied, Yellowish quills on head, guard hairs conceal quills on back and shoulders, mainly blackish, 4 class on front feet, 5 claws on back, naked and pocked foot soles 

What is the range for Myocastor coypus (nutria, coypu)?

Introduced in southeast and western USA and parts of south Canada. Native to South America. 

What is the habitat for Myocastor coypus?

Freshwater and brackish marshes, shallow stagnant water and dense vegetation

What is the diet of the Myocastor coypus?

Aquatic vegetation, bark, roots, and crops

Distinguishing Characteristics of the Myocastor coypus

Large, dark brown or yellow brown, paler cheeks, grizzled, fur around mouth and nose white, long white whiskers, cylindrical tail and lightly haired, blackish feet and webs between 1-4 digits on back feet. 

What is the range of Castor canadensis (American beaver)?

Alaska throughout all of Canada and USA, except for parts of California, Nevada,and Texas. 

Habitat for Castor canadensis?

Swamps, lakes, rivers, streams, ponds in tundra

Diet of Castor canadensis

Trees, shrubs, roots, leaves, grasses

Distinguishing characteristics of Castor canadensis?

Semiaquatic, fur glossy red-brown, small eyes and ears, tail flat and wide, hind feet webbed, swims with head above water (can see whole body when swimming)

Range for Dipodomys ordii (Ord’s kangaroo rat)

Parts of western and central USA into Mexico

Habitat of Dipodomys ordii

Dry grasslands, desert scrub, pinon juniper, sagebrush, always around sandy soils or sand dunes

Diet of Dipodomys ordii

Seeds, green plant material, insects

Distinguishing characteristics of Dipodomys ordii

Small, highly variable color (back dark gray, yellow, brown, orange), sides paler, belly white, white spots above eyes and below ears, dark upper tail stripes, tail tipped black, tops of hind feet white

Range of Perognathus parvus (Great basin pocket mouse)

Great basin, Eastern USA (Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Utah)

Habitat for Perognathus parvus

Dry sandy regions with sagebrush, grasslands, desert, open woodlands up to 8,000 ft

Diet of Perognathus parvus

Seeds, green vegetation, insects

Distinguishing characteristics of Perognathus parvus

Back gray or gray brown, faint pale orange lateral line, white belly, small pale orange or white spot at base of ear, ear has a lobe, bicolored tail, well haired, moderately tufted

Range of Thomomys mazama

Western Washington and western Oregon, into northwestern California

Habitat of Thomomys mazama

Deep softr volcanic soils of alpine meadows, prairies, and young or open forest stands

Diet of Thomomys mazama

Forbs and grasses

Distinguishing characteristics of Thomomys mazama

medium sized, back chestnut or dull brown, belly buff or pale orange, white patches on chin, and inside cheek pouches, ears large and erect with black patch behind

Range of Thomomys talpoides (Northern Pocket gopher) 

Southern British Columbia, PNW area into upper central USA

Habitat of Thomomys talpoides

deep and soft soil to gravel, prairies, mountain meadows, sagebrush, agricultural fields, disturbed forests.

Diet of Thomomys talpoides

Mostly forbs, green vegetation, also roots

Distinguishing characteristics of Thomomys talpoides

Medium sized; dull brown, gray, orangish, yellow, rusty, whitish belly; small ears with black patch behind, short tail that’s moderately hairy, long dull fur, 3 pectoral mammae

Range for Aplodontia rufa (Mountain beaver/sewellel) 

Western Washington and Oregon, northwestern tip of California, and southwestern tip of B.C.

Habitat of Aplodontia rufa

Moist forests, thickets, clearcuts with dense vegetation, slopes near water (prehistoric kidneys, so they need access to water always)

Diet of Aplodontia rufa

Ferns and herbaceous plants

Distinguishing characteristics of Aplodontia rufa

stocky (like a brick), upperparts dark brown or black, belly gray brown or blackish, white spot at base of ear, small eyes and ears with very short tail 

Range of Marmota caligata (Hoary marmot)

Alaska, western Washington into the panhandle of Idaho

Habitat of Marmota caligata

Alpine and subalpine meadows near rocky outcrops or talus slopes

Diet of Marmota caligata

Leaves and flowers of alpine plants

Distinguishing characteristics of Marmota caligata

Largest marmot; stocky; shoulders, upper back, head, and chest whitish, everything else russet brownish; blackish feet; black on crown, snot and base of whiskers.

Range for Marmota olympus (Olympic marmot)

Olympic peninsula of Washington.

Habitat of Marmota olympus

Alpine and subalpine meadows and talus slopes

Diet of Marmota olympus

Grasses, flowers, and roots

Distinguishing characteristics of Marmota olympus

Large and stocky; brown/blond back; pale and rump and tail; red-brown on sides, belly, head; muzzle white; cheeks and throat grayish; dark brown feet

Range for Marmota flaviventris (Yellow-bellied marmot)

Western USA, mainly around Idaho, Washington, Oregon, Montana, Nevada

Habitat for Marmota flaviventris

Meadows near rocky outcrops, talus slopes, low elevations

Diet of Marmota flaviventris

Grasses, flowers, forbs, seeds, and fruits

Distinguishing characteristics of Marmota flaviventris

Stocky; back grizzled gray brown; underparts yellow orange; top of head brown with pale patches; tail reddish brown to dark brown; front feet red brown; back feet dark brown 

Range for Marmota monax (Woodchuck)

Northeastern USA and Canada but stretches along Canada to Western Canada

Habitat for Marmota monax

Fields, brush at forest edge, grassy bank along roads and highways, dry sloping ground sometimes in heavily wooded areas

Diet for Marmota monax

Green vegetation, crops, on occasion fruit, twigs, and bark

Distinguishing characteristics of Marmota monax

Large and stocky; back grizzled blackish brown and cream; belly rusty brown; top of head dark brown; sides of muzzle whitish; cheeks pale cream; legs blackish; tail black edged with cream; color variable (can be albio or black) 

Range of Spermophilus beecheyi (California ground squirrel)

South central Washington, Western Oregon, California into Baja California.

Habitat of Spermophilus beecheyi

Fields, pastures, agricultural areas, semi arid lands

Diet of Spermophilus beecheyi

Seeds, nuts, fruits, insects, eggs, carrion, crops, garbage

Distinguishing characteristics of Spermophilus beecheyi

Large; upper parts orange-brown speckled with cream; whitish mantle on shoulders; black triangle or diamond from nape to shoulder; upperparts, legs, and feet whitish to pale orange; ears prominent; tail long and bushy with cream and black 

Range for Spermophilus townsendii (Townsend’s ground squirrel)

South/central Washington

Habitat for Spermophilus townsendii

High sagebrush desert and arid farmland

Diet of Spermophilus townsendii

Seeds, green vegetation, animal matter

Distinguishing characteristics of Spermophilus townsendii

Small; short-tailed; upperparts pale gray brown; limbs underparts cream white; small ears; narrow tail that is edged whitish

Range of Spermophilus mollis (Piute/Great Basin ground squirrel)

South central Washington, Nevada, Idaho, Utah

Habitat of Spermophilus mollis

High sagebrush desert and arid farmland

Diet of Spermophilus mollis

Seeds, green vegetation, animal matter (same as townsend’s ground squirrel)

Distinguishing characteristics of Spermophilus mollis

Small; short tailed; upperparts gray brown; limbs; underparts; and lower sides cream white

Range of Spermophilus washingtoni (Washington ground squirrel)

Southeastern Washington and northeastern Oregon

Habitat for Spermophilus washingtoni

Dry grasslands and sagebrush with sandy soils

Diet of Spermophilus washingtoni

Green vegetation, roots, seeds, insects