1. 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.

2. 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.

3. Order Didelphimorphia The New World Marsupials

4. Virginia Opossum Didelphis virginiana

6. Order Insectivora The Shrews & Moles

7. Southern Short-tailed Shrew Blarina carolinensis The only North American mammal with a poisonous bite!

8. Least Shrew Cryptotis parva

10. Order Lagomorpha The Rabbits & Hares

11. Swamp Rabbit Sylvilagus aquaticus

12. Order Rodentia Mice, Rats, Squirrels, & Beaver

13. Golden Mouse Ochrotomys nuttalli

14. Cotton Mouse Peromyscus gossypinus

16. Eastern Harvest Mouse Reithrodontomys humulis

17. Hispid Cotton Rat Sigmodon hispidus

18. Rice Rat Oryzomys palustris

20. Muskrat Ondatra zibethicus

21. Nutria Myocastor coypus NON - NATIVE

22. American Beaver Castor canadensis

23. Order Chiroptera The Bats

24. Big Brown Bat Eptesicus fuscus

25. Evening Bat Nycticeius humeralis

26. Mexican Free-tailed Bat Tadarida brasiliensis

27. Rafinesque's Big-eared Bat Plecotus rafinesquii

28. Eastern Pipistrelle Pipistrellus subflavus

29. Seminole Bat Lasiurus seminolus

30. Northern Yellow Bat Lasiurus intermedius

31. Hoary Bat Lasiurus cinereus

32. Red Bat Lasiurus borealis

33. Silver-haired Bat Lasionycteris noctivagans

35. Order Carnivora Dogs, Cats, Weasels, & Bears (oh my!)

36. Long-tailed Weasel Mustela frenata Front: 1" x 1" Hind: 1/2" x 1 1/2"

37. Mink Mustela vison

38. Striped Skunk Mephitis mephitis

39. Eastern Spotted Skunk Spilogale putorius

40. Northern River Otter Lutra canadensis

41. Raccoon Procyon lotor

42. Louisiana Black Bear Ursus americanus louisiana 5 in. L X 5 in. W 7 in L X 5 in. W

43. Bobcat Lynx rufus

44. Red Wolf Canis rufus EXTIRPATED

45. Coyote Canis latrans

46. Gray Fox Urocyon cinereoargenteus

47. Red Fox Vulpes vulpes

48. Order Artiodactyla The Even-toed Grazers

49. Feral Pig Sus scrofa NON-NATIVE

50. White-tailed Deer Odocoileus virginianus

51. 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.