Otospermophilus variegatus (Erxleben, 1777)

Álvarez-Córdova, Fernando & Fernández, Jesús A., 2021, Medium-sized and large mammals of the pine-oak forests and grasslands of the Rancho Experimental Teseachi in Chihuahua, Mexico, Check List 17 (2), pp. 669-681 : 676

Otospermophilus variegatus (Erxleben, 1777)

Rock Squirrel

Figure 2C

Material examined. MEXICO – Chihuahua • 8; Municipality of Namiquipa ; 28°46′42″N, 107°27′45″W; eleva- tion 2,170 m a.s.l.; 18 June 2018; obs. F. Álvarez-Córdova • 27; Municipality of Namiquipa ; 28°47′18″N, 107°28′ 36″W; elevation 2,121 m a.s.l.; 24 July 2018; obs. F. Álvarez-Córdova • 119; Municipality of Namiquipa ; 28°47′49″N, 107°29′02″W; elevation 2,107 m a.s.l.; 1, 6, 10-12, 14 October 2018; obs. F. Álvarez-Córdova • 74; 28°52’49″N, 107°27’08″W; elevation 1,876 m a.s.l.; 12, 18 August 2018, 28 October 2018; obs. F. Álvarez-Córdova; UACH-CF-5873-6100.

Identification. This is the only species of Otospermophilus Brandt, 1844 known for Chihuahua. Otospermophilus variegatus is a medium-sized squirrel, with a mottled, grayish-brown coat and a well-marked, lightcolored ring around each eye. This species has a long, hairy tail ( Oaks et al. 1987; Phuong et al. 2014).

Distribution. Central, southwestern USA, through most of northern and central Mexico to the TMVB ( Oaks et al. 1987). Recorded habitats in Chihuahua are quebradas, si- erras, valleys, and arid lands.

Remarks. Ten sciurids have been recorded in Chihuahua ( López-González and García-Mendoza 2012). Of these, six species are present in the Sierra Madre Occidental. Otospermophilus variegatus is frequently seen in rocky habitats.

Order Carnivora

Family Felidae

Lynx rufus (Schreber, 1777)

Bobcat

Figure 2D

Material examined. MEXICO – Chihuahua • 6; Municipality of Namiquipa ; 28°46′32″N, 107°27′33″W; eleva- tion 2,191 m a.s.l.; 18 May 2018; obs. F. Álvarez-Córdova • 3; Municipality of Namiquipa ; 28°47′01″N, 107°28′12″W ;

elevation 2,138 m a.s.l.; 26 October 2019; obs. F. Álvarez- Córdova • 8; Municipality of Namiquipa ; 28°47′18″N, 107°28′36″W; elevation 2,121 m a.s.l.; 26 January 2019; obs. F. Álvarez-Córdova; UACH-CF-6101-6118 .

Identification. This is the only species of the genus in Mexico. It is a medium-sized cat, with a short tail and red or grayish dorsal pelage. The underparts are white with black spots. Ears have pointed tufts, and the hair on sides of head are long ( Larivière and Walton 1997; Loveless et al. 2016).

Distribution. Southern Canada, USA, through most of northern and central Mexico to the TMVB ( Larivière and Walton 1997). Recorded habitats in Chihuahua are quebradas, sierras, and valleys.

Remarks. This species is a common felid inhabiting most of the state ( López-González and García-Mendoza 2012), even in urban and semi-urban areas. However, it is rarely observed in the sierras because of its habits.