Fauna
The animal life is a typical Chihuahuan Desert and desert grassland fauna. Desert invertebrates are abundant, especially insects and spiders. However, only ants, aquatic macroarthropods, and scorpions have been surveyed to any great extent. Squaw Spring is an especially interesting site because of the community of aquatic insects living there. Several species of dragonflies reproduce in the spring's water and fly throughout Indio Ranch in search of flying insects, their primary food source. Also notable is the enormous number of Yellow Paper Wasps. Although not necessarily aggressive, they can be quite bothersome to researchers and students alike. This species richness will increase as future studies will include the river.
To date, a total of 26 mammal species have been recorded on Indio Ranch. Large mammals include Mule Deer, Collared Peccary, Mountain Lion, Ringtails, Coyotes, and Gray Foxes. Smaller mammals, like rodents and rabbits, are common, and recently a Desert Shrew was found in a pitfall trap near the ranch house. Bats are plentiful and are frequently found roosting in many of the caves and abandoned mine shafts that are found on Indio Ranch. Pallid Bats consistently use the ranch house during summer months for night roosts—as many as 30 at one time have been observed. Birds are less well known, and most recent reports have listed 143 species of an expected list of at least 200 resident and migrant forms.
Reptiles are also abundant throughout the Station, with several species of lizards and three species of rattlesnakes being frequently encountered. Thirty-six species of reptiles have thus far been recorded. The Texas Lyre Snake, a state-protected species, lives in higher elevations of Indio Ranch, and recent searches have revealed populations of Gray-banded Kingsnakes and Short-lined Skinks, the latter being a new county record for Texas.
Because of the dry environment, few amphibians occur in most areas of the Station, although Red-spotted Toads are commonly observed in the rocky arroyos, especially during the summer rainy season. Five species of amphibians have been found to date. More amphibians, especially spadefoot toads and Tiger Salamanders, will probably be found as additional areas of Indio Ranch are surveyed. The greatest challenge to conducting field work on Indio Ranch is the system of rugged and continually eroding dirt roads. Much of the Station has road access, but the need to maintain them is ongoing, especially after violent summer rainstorms which tend to wash out the roads that pass through many arroyos.
Vertebrates of The Indio Mountains Research Station
CLASS AMPHIBIA
ANURA
Family Bufonidae
Anaxyrus cognatus (Great-Plains Toad)
Anaxyrus debilis (Green Toad)
Anaxyrus punctatus (Red-spotted Toad)
Anaxyrus speciosus (Texas Toad)
Family Microhylidae
Gastrophryne olivacea (Great Plains Narrowmouth Toad)
Family Scaphiopodidae
Scaphiopus couchii (Couch's Spadefoot)
CHELONIA
Family Emydidae
Terrapene ornata (Ornate Box Turtle)
Family Kinosternidae
Kinosternon flavescens (Yellow Mud Turtle)
REPTILIA
LACERTILIA
Family Crotaphytidae
Crotaphytus collaris (Eastern Collared Lizard)
Family Gekkonidae
Coleonyx brevis (Texas Banded Gecko)
Family Phrynosomatidae
Cophosaurus texanus (Greater Earless Lizard)
Phrynosoma modestum (Round-tailed Horned Lizard)
Sceloporus poinsettii (Crevice Spiny Lizard)
Sceloporus cowelsi (Southern Plateau Lizard)
Urosaurus ornatus (Tree Lizard)
Uta stansburiana (Side-blotched Lizard)
Family Scincidae
Plestiodon obsoletus (Great Plains Skink)
Plestiodon tetragrammus brevilineatus (Four-lined Skink)
Family Teiidae
Aspidoscelis exsanguis (Chihuahuan Spotted Whiptail)
Aspidoscelis inornata (Little Striped Whiptail)
Aspidoscelis tesselata (Checkered Whiptail)
Aspidoscelis marmorata (Marbled Whiptail)
SERPENTES
Family Colubridae
Arizona elegans (Glossy Snake)
Bogertophis subocularis (Trans-Pecos Rat Snake)
Gyalopion canum (Western Hook-nosed Snake)
Lampropeltis alterna (Gray-banded Kingsnake)
Masticophis flagellum (Coachwhip Snake)
Masticophis taeniatus (Whipsnake)
Pituophis catenifer (Gopher Snake)
Rhinocheilus lecontei (Long-nosed Snake)
Salvadora deserticola (Big Bend Patchnose Snake)
Salvadora grahamiae (Mountain Patchnose Snake)
Sonora semiannulata (Ground Snake)
Tantilla hobartsmithi (Southwestern Black-headed Snake)
Tantilla nigriceps (Plains Black-headed Snake)
Trimorphodon vilkinsonii (Chihuahuan Desert Lyre Snake)
Family Crotalidae
Crotalus atrox (Western Diamond-back Rattlesnake)
Crotalus lepidus (Rock Rattlesnake)
Crotalus molossus (Black-tailed Rattlesnake)
Dipsadidae
Diadophis punctatus (Ring-neck Snake)
Hypsiglena torquata (Chihuahuan Night Snake)
Family Leptotyphlopidae
Rena humilis (Western Blind Snake)
Natricidae
Thamnophis cyrtopsis (Blackneck Garter Snake)
AVES
Annotations: (90) indicates presence on bird transect, April 1990 UTEP Field Biology class (dates in 91) indicate new birds seen Mar-Apr 1991 UTEP Field Biology Class (92MR) indicate birds studied during UTEP Field Biology class of 7-8 March 92 (92MY) indicate birds recorded by Terry Hibbits during Texas Herpetological Society Field Trip of 2-3 May 92; 95(MR) and 95(AP) are birds seen on UTEP Field Biology trip of 30 March-3 April 1995; 95MY = 19-21 May 1995 UTEP herpetology field trip). Other miscellaneous sighting are listed by date of first record.
ANSERIFORMES
Family Anseridae
Anas crecca - Green-winged Teal (16 Mar 91)
Anas diazi - Mexican Duck
Anas strepera - Gadwall (5 Apr 91)
APODIFORMES
Family Apodidae
Aeronautes saxatalis - White-throated Swift (92MY)
Family Trochilidae
Archilochus alexandri - Black-chinned Hummingbird (90,92MY,95MY)
CAPRIMULGIFORMES
Family Caprimulgidae
Chordeiles acutipennis - Lesser Nighthawk
Chordeiles minor - Common Nighthawk (95MY)
Phalaenoptilus nuttallii - Common Poorwill (92MY)
CHARADRIIFORMES
Family Charadriidae
Charadrius vociferus - Killdeer (92MY)
Family Scolopacidae
Gallinago gallilnago - Common Snipe (92MY)
Tringa solitaria - Solitary Sandpiper (5 Apr 91)
CICONIIFORMES
Family Ardeidae
Ardea herodias - Great Blue Heron
Egretta thula - Snowy Egret
Nycticorax nycticorax - Black-crowned Night Heron
COLUMBIFORMES
Family Columbidae
Columbina inca - Inca Dove
Zenaida asiatica - White-winged Dove (92MY.95MY)
Zenaida macroura - Mourning Dove (92MY,95MY)
CUCULIFORMES
Family Cuculidae
Geococcyx californianus - Greater Roadrunner (92MY)
FALCONIFORMES
Family Cathartidae
Carhartes aura - Turkey Vulture (92MY,95MR,95MY)
Family Accipitridae
Aquila chrysaetos - Golden Eagle
Buteo jamaicensis - Red-tailed Hawk (92MY,95MR)
Buteo swainsoni - Swainson's Hawk
Circus cyaneus - Nothern Harrier (Mar 91)
Pandion haliaetus - Osprey (Apr 06)
Family Falconidae
Falco sparverius - American Kestrel (92MY)
GALLIFORMES
Family Odontophoridae
Callipepla gambelii - Gambel's Quail
Callipepla squamata - Scaled Quail (92MY,95AP)
GRUIFORMES
Family Rallidae
Fulica americana - American Coot
PASSERIFORMES
Family Alaudidae
Eremophila alpestris - Horned Lark
Family Corvidae
Corvus cryptoleucus - Chihuahuan Raven (92MY)
Family Bombycillidae
Bombycilla cedrorum - Cedar Waxwing (95MR)
Family Fringillidae
Aimophila cassinii - Cassin's sparrow
Aimophila ruficeps - Rufous Crowned Sparrow (90,92MR,MY)
Amphispiza bilineata - Black-Throated Sparrow (90,92MR,MY,95MR,95MY)
Calamosiza melanocorys - Lark Bunting (90)
Cardinalis sinuatus - Pyrrhuloxia (90,92MY,95MY)
Carpodacus mexicanus - House Finch (90,92MR,MY,95MR,95MY)
Guiraca caerulea - Blue Grosbeak (95MY)
Junco hyemalis - Dark-eyed junco
Passerina versicolor - Varied Bunting (95MY)
Pipilo chlorurus - Green-tailed Towhee (92MY)
Pipilo erythrophthalmus - Rufous-Sided Towhee (90)
Pipilo fuscus - Brown (Canyon) Towhee (95MR,95MY)
Spizella atrogularis - Black-Chinned Sparrow (92MR)
Spizella breweri - Brewer's Sparrow (Apr 91, 92MR,95MR)
Spizella passerina - Chipping Sparrow (92MR,MY)
Zonotrichia leucophrys - White-crowned Sparrow (92MR,95MY)
Family Hirundinidae
Hirundo pyrrhonota - Cliff Swallow
Hirundo rustica - Barn Swallow (95MY)
Family Icteridae
Agelaius phoeniceus - Red-winged blackbird
Euphagus cyanocephalus - Brewer's blackbird (92MY,95MR,95MY)
Icterus parisorum - Scott's Oriole (90, 91,92MY,95MR,95MY)
Molothrus ater - Brown-headed cowbird (92MY,95MY)
Sturnella neglecta - Western Meadowlark
Xanthocephalus xanthophalus - Yellow-headed Blackbird
Family Laniidae
Lanius ludovicianus - Loggerhead Shrike (90, 92MR)
Family Mimidae
Mimus polyglottos - Northern Mockingbird (90,92MY,95MY)
Toxostoma dorsale - Crissal Thrasher (90,92MR,MY,95MY)
Toxostoma curvirostre - Curved-billed Thrasher
Family Motacillidae
Anthus rubescens - American Pipit (4 Apr 91)
Family Muscicapidae
Catharus guttatus (?) - Hermit Thrush (95MY, possib.).
Polioptila caerulea - Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (3 Apr 91)
Polioptila melanura - Black-tailed Gnatcatcher (90, 92MR,95MR,95MY)
Family Parulidae
Auriparus flaviceps - Verdin (90,95MR,95MY)
Dendroica coronata - Yellow-rumped Warbler (95MY)
Geothlypis trichas - Common yellowthroat
Oporornis tolmiei - MacGillivray's Warbler (95MY)
Vermivora virginiae(?) - Virginia Warbler (95MY, possib.)
Wilsonia pusilla - Wilson's Warbler (92MY)
Family Ptilogonatidae
Phainopepla melanoxantha - Phainopepla (92MY,95MY)
Family Thraupidae
Piranga ludoviciana - Western Tanager (95MY)
Piranga rubra - Summer Tanager (95MY)
Family Troglodytidae
Campylorhynchus brunneicapillum - Cactus Wren (90,92MY,95MR,95MY)
Catherpes mexicanus - Canyon Wren
Salpinctes obsoletus - Rock Wren (90,92MR,MY)
Thryomanes bewickii - Bewick's Wren (90,92MR)
Family Tyrannidae
Contopus borealis - Olive-sided Flycatcher (95MY)
Myiarchus cinerascens - Ash-Throated Flycatcher (90,92MY,95MY)
Sayornis saya - Say's Phoebe (90,95MY)
Tyrannus verticalis - Western Kingbird (92MR,MY)
Family Vireonidae
Vireo vicinior - Gray Vireo (95MR)
Vireo solitarius - Solitary Vireo
PICIFORMES
Family Picidae
Colaptes cafer - Red-shafted Flicker
Picoides villosus - Ladderbacked Woodpecker
STRIGIFORMES
Family Strigidae
Athene cunicularia - Burrowing Owl
Bubo virginianus - Great Horned Owl
CLASS MAMMALIA
DIDELPHIMORPHIA
Didelphidae
Didelphis virginiana (Virginia Opossum)
SORICOMORPHA
Family Soricidae
Notiosorex crawfordi (Desert Shrew)
CHIROPTERA
Family Molossidae
Tadarida brasiliensis (Brazilian Free-tailed Bat)
Family Vespertilionidae
Antrozous pallidus (Pallid Bat)
Corynorhinus townsendii (Townsend's Big-eared Bat)
Myotis californicus (California Myotis)
Myotis thysanodes (Fringe-tailed Myotis)
Parastrellus hesperus (Western Pipistrelle)
LAGOMORPHA
Family Leporidae
Sylvilagus audubonii (Desert Cottontail Rabbit)
Lepus californicus (Black-tailed Jackrabbit)
RODENTIA
Family Geomyidae
Thomomys bottae (Botta's Pocket Gopher)
Family Heteromyidae
Dipodomys merriami (Merriam's Kangaroo Rat)
Chaetodipus intermedius (Rock Pocket Mouse)
Family Cricetidae
Neotoma leucodon (White-throated Wood Rat)
Peromyscus eremicus (Cactus Mouse)
Peromyscus maniculatus (White-footed Mouse)
Reithrodontomys megalotis (Western Harvest Mouse)
Sigmodon hispidus (Hispid Cotton Rat)
Family Sciuridae
Ammospermophilus interpres (Texas Antelope Squirrel)
Otospermophilus variegatus (Rock Squirrel)
CARNIVORA
Family Canidae
Urocyon cinereoargenteus (Gray Fox)
Vulpes macrotis (Kit Fox)
Family Procyonidae
Bassariscus astutus (Ringtail)
Family Mephitidae
Spilogale gracilis (Western Spotted Skunk)
Mustelidae
Taxidea taxus (American Badger)
Family Felidae
Puma concolor (Mountain Lion, Cougar)
Lynx rufus (Bobcat)
ARTIODACTYLA
Family Cervidae
Odocoileus hemionus (Mule Deer)
Family Tayassuidae
Pecari tajacu (Collared Peccary)
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