Vertebrate Paleobiology

The Vertebrate Paleobiology collections concentrate on Southwestern Pleistocene fossils, primarily from New Mexican cave faunas, although small numbers of other fossils are held.

More than 35,000 lots (over 70,000 individual specimens) are in the computerized catalogue. This catalogue includes specimens for which the Laboratory (LEB) acts as repository, both permanent and temporary. The LEB currently is repository for large numbers of specimens from lands of the Bureau of Land Management, New Mexico State Land Office, and sites under the jurisdiction of the Department of Defense.

The primary focus is upon late Pleistocene Southwestern faunas, although there are some Holocene archaeological holdings and some Tertiary material as well. This emphasis primarily reflects the research interests of the curator, Arthur H. Harris, who has maintained and added to the collections since their initial organization in 1965.

The major components of the Vertebrate Paleobiology collections, and those of special interest, include the following:

• Approximately 8,250 catalogued specimens from Dry Cave, Eddy County, New Mexico (Late Pleistocene). These holdings represent a major faunal assemblage for the southwestern United States and include the holotypes of Corvus neomexicanus, Neotoma findleyi, Neotoma pygmaea, and Aztlanolagus agilis
• About 570 catalogued specimens from Isleta Caves, Bernalillo County, New Mexico (Late Pleistocene/Holocene), including UTEP specimens and those on long-term loan from the Museum of Southwestern Biology, University of New Mexico
• Some 2,000 catalogued specimens from U-Bar Cave, Hidalgo County, New Mexico (Late Pleistocene). These have been excavated by the LEB under permits from the New Mexico State Land Office and are maintained at UTEP for study. The specimens are catalogued under Museum of New Mexico numbers
• About 665 catalogued specimens from Howell's Ridge Cave, Grant County, New Mexico (Late Pleistocene/Holocene)
• The collections of the late Dr. William S. Strain, comprising Late Pliocene and early to mid-Pleistocene fossil material from the Mesilla and Hueco bolsons of Trans-Pecos Texas and south-central New Mexico. A portion of these and subsequent collections has been studied by Vanderhill (J. B. Vanderhill. 1986. Lithostratigraphy, vertebrate paleontology, and magnetostratigraphy in the Mesilla Basin, New Mexico. Ph.D. Dissertation, University of Texas at Austin, 306 pp.).
• Some New Mexico archaeological materials, notably from the Cochiti. Material owned by Picuris Pueblo has been returned for reburial at the Pueblo's request.
• 17,398 specimens and lots from Pendejo Cave, a reputed pre-Clovis archaeological site near Orogrande, New Mexico; this material is under the jurisdiction of the Department of Defense
• 3,145 specimens and lots from Big Manhole Cave. Of these, 322 are mid to late Wisconsin in age and the remainder mid and late Holocene. Specimens were recovered under contract with the Bureau of Land Management.

Checklist of Late Pleistocene (Wisconsin Age) fossil taxa from within about 60 miles of El Paso. Pleistocene Vertebrates of New Mexico and Trans-Pecos Texas. A book-length work based on the LEB collection and the technical literature.