Frank Hanna Jr. 1951

Student field notes from zoology classes in 1951

UNIVERSITY OF UTAH ——_ @-—-——— Report Cover Subject of Report_C@TALOGUE -- ITINERARY -- ACCOUNT OF SPECIES Course Vertebrate Zoology 131 « Submitted by Frank HANNA Jr. Date 1 June 1951 -=} MAMMALOGY Hy a PN : 5 \ N athe Ty H ni ae i SRN Ryd) YSb ReaD EN ; ee ; HT ed RSA nA i BA RS A ie “ah ay > yi o we RR ISHES F) A) r Bees Voy NOWe Sissi Bion (Oe) PRR oRHNe cS Noche) AY Reet mM SARA TN Bey i ce Ane an i FIELD RCT EBCOE My ROR, Dae any (okrheny Jone TG oe Pa ON i, ant WAC Sie bith sj BBMeve Nae i Bhs POSURE Ba IEEE Frank HANNA JR. ne As a ie eeeee ny HAAN Sete PAROS es PN: S rtRY ma Se et eid } Sy y EI) i Bey The ah) ‘ HyROE FIELD NOTEBOOK Frank HANNA Jr, CATALOGUE tJ R. Selander 1951 ‘10 mi, W Salt Lake City, 4300 ft., Salt Lake Co, Utah 1 April 1951 1 © Otocoris alpestris 30.5 ems. R.M. Hansen 1951 4 mi, N Mona, 5100 ft., Juab Co., Utah 7 April 1951 & Peromyscus maniculatus 154-64-18-16 Frank Hanna vr, 1951 : 15 mi, NW Salt Lake City, 4300 ft., DevislCo, ,Utah 25 April 1951 Water Snake Water Snake University of Utah Campus, Salt Lake City 5100 @t., 8 May 1951 Salt Lake Co., Utah @ Gitellus armatus 520-80—44@ 11 b mi, W Salt Lake City Airport 4300 ft., Salt 5 9 May 1951 Lake Co., Utah G@Microtus montanus 140-35-17-13 Ekkers Ranch, Robbers Roost 25 mi, E Hanksville, 6000 ft., Wayne Co., Utah 18 May 1951 éPeromyscus maniculatus 170-65-20-15 @Perognathus parvus 160-90-21-6 19 May 1951 oéPero 10 thus rvus 160-85-20-6 LPerognathus 155-86-21-7 . SQnychomys leucogaster 142-42-21-17 / CATALOGUE Frank HANNA Jr. J. Bushmen "19651 25 mi. EB Hanksville, 6000 ft., Wayne Go., Ut. Bkkers Ranch, Robbers Roost 19 May 1951 \zZonotrichia lousophrys Testes 6 mm Peyanosephalus Je Bames L961 26 mis E Hanksville, 6000 Pte, Wayne Coe, Ekkerg Ranch, Robbers Roost Ute 20 May 1961 14 Pe Hanna dre 1951 PMeotoma lepide 266~-110-28-28 165 mi. NW Salt Lake City, 4300 ft., Davis Co., Ute Farmington Bay Refuge 23 May 1951 ue 155-40=22~13 Quin Po 4 Fe ah ane % SENT GAS SS int rented STS Ye ¢ , Sa aay yi Ay ay ae Seah SE RECA EASES ASRS We as i; 4 itn es Aces STE 5 : : ITINERARY Frank HANNA Jr, R. Sélander 1951 1 April 10 mi, W Salt ‘Lake City, 4300 Phas Salt Lake CO., Utah Greasewood RM. Hansen 1951 7 April Fe Hanna 1951 25 April 4 mi, N Mona, 5100 ft., Juab Co., Utah Jr, 15 mi, NW Salt Lake City, 4300 ft., Davis Co,, Utah Motored north atiinorthwest of Salt Lake City on Highway 91 to Farmington Bay Refuge, Dr, William H, Behle instructor and leader of field trip in Zoology 38, Obtained six (6) water snakes and one Blue Racer, 2 or 3 frog s, Observed over 30 species of water aid shor e birds, Ecological niche primarilg swampy marshes with cattails and marsh Srass,. 8 April University of Utah Campus, Salt Lake City, 5100 ft., Salt Lake Co., Utah Obtained one (1) specimen Citellus armetus in alfalfa field, Three (3) traps set near holes located in pile of railroad ties used for a small ranp, 9 May 6 mi. W Salt Lake City Airport, 4300 ft., Salt Lake Co., Utah, Dr. William H, Behle and class in Vert, Zoo. 38 motorei west from Salt Lake City on Highway 40 to study and observe Microtus montanus, Area Was Swampy and a marsh within 50 ft., of area studied, 7 18 May Vegetation primarily Salt Grass. specimen Microtus montanus Caught by hand, 25 mi, E Hanksville, 6090 Pte» Robbers Roost, Ekkers Ranch Wayne Co. One Utah Dr. Stephen D, DURRANT and Class in Mammalogy Vert. Zoo, 131 motored to Ekkers Ranch, Robbers Roost from Salt Lake City, VIA Provo, Springville, Price, Greenriver, Utah and south from Greenriver Utah on Highway 24 about 40 miles and then East and South East to Ekkers Ranch at Robbers Roost, on a field trip for the purpose of obtaining Mammal specimens, Some 103 Mammals were collected and skinned out of approximately 500 mice and rat traps set, Type of vegetation consisted of Frank HANNA Jr, Bouteloua gracilis (gramme grass), Hilaria jamesii (wily grass), Oryzopsis hymenoides (Rice grass), Ephedra vvudis, Kphedra trifurca, Coleogyne rane rosissimum (black bush), Yuecea harrimoniae, Quercus undulatus (live oak), Artemisia tridentata (big sage), Rhus trilobate (squaw bush), Symphoriearpos bekeri (service berry), Berberis fremontii (Fremont Barberry), Juniperus utahensis, Pinus monfiliag’goil exceptionally sandy (reddish in color) at an elevation of about Gooo feet, Precipitation very low, probably about 10 to 15 inches per annum, Very dry environment, with scattered springs quite far apart which trickle small amounts of water, —— this resource probably equal its weight in S01, Several specimens of birds were obtained and collected by Mr, Bushman, 19 May Same as of and including information under date of 16 May 1951. 20 May Returned to Salt Lake City, Utah, 23 May 15 mi. NW Salt Lake City, 4300 ft., Davis Co., Utah. Dr. William H. Behle and class in Vert. Zoo, 38 motored to Farmington Bay Refuge. By a Special Permit, Dr. Behle was given permission to shoot and obtain specimens of Larus californicus (California Gull) for scientific purposes to obtain data to determine maturity of Larus californigus. Twenty eight (28) specimens were obtained of which seven (7) were banded gulls, All specimens were sexed and in my estimation the Larus californicus becomes a mature adult at about four (4) years of age, though it appears that at the age of three (3) he is capable of reproduction and probably by the end of the third year the males are capable of copulation for producing gnd fertilizing eggs and _ at the end of the third year the femals are fertile and capable of nesting to produce offspring. 5o between the end of the third and year and the begining of the fourth year of life the Larus californieus is capable of reproduction. On returning and while still within the refuge @ weasel was seen on the road carrying a Microtus montanus, The weasel was brown in color and an Due to attempt was made to capture the weasel. tall grass and numerous holes along the water edge and dike, the weasel eluded our party; however, Microtus montanus was retrived. ge ACCOUNT OF SPECIES 1951 Frank HANNA dre 3 4a fslliees Wishes % Frank F ~~ td NNA dr, sons THE ACCOUNT OF SPECT R. Selander 1951 1 April Otocoris alpestris 10 mi. W Salt Lake City, 4300 ft., Salt Lal © CO., la Se ee SSS een ate Se STE i = - R. Selander specimen # 1, Utah information unknown. THE ACCOUNT OF SPECIES Frank HANNA Jr, Peromyscus maniculatus R,M, Hansen 1951 7 April 4 mi, N Mona, 5100 ft., Juab Co., Utah Specimen # 2 collected by RM, Hansen, other ee . SS information unknown, + a1 , RTleggeeesey eneneaa eM eltaeSue pa aaep hes: + seeeas PEOITES Frank HANNA Jr, Watersnake FP. Hanna 1951 25 April 15 mi, NW Gelt Lake City, 4300 ft,, Davis Co,, Specimens *¢ 3 @7 4. These specimens were Gapiured alive and taken to the labs, where we preserved them in formalin solution for future study, Utah, : ks THE ACCOUNT OF SPECIES J T Gitellus armatus a FP. Hanna dr. Tan Univ, Utah Campus, Salt Lake City, 5100 ft., 1951 Salt Lake Cg., Utah & May ae REISE SR Single specimen #5 was taken by number O trap Bn ef mp Reese Frank HANNA Jr. | on Univ, of Utah Campus near the Bookstore, in the field of alfalfa, Gitellus armatus is primarily a mountain type of Ground Squirrel, and since the elevation ié4 5100 feet and his entire range that of Montana, is ma Wyoming, eastern Idaho and eastern-northern Uteh including the Wasatch range is found on the western slopes of the Wasatch Range, This specimen a male, was the only Citellus ae armatus observed within this particular area and pile of railroad ties used for a ramp. . Seldom dees this mammal venture forth on a cloudy or rainy dey. Once the sun rises or Shines he is uaually ovt of his den and assumes an erect position, and when doing so, appears to have a sort of ‘pot gut’, hence he is known commonly as the 'pot gut' Ground Squirrel, When I skinned this animal, he was covered with fleas and lice, He was not fat, though well nourished and skinning was easy until around the skull where the skin seemed exe ceptionally difficult to remove, The fur Was sleek and fine to the touch, “Se CCOUNT OF SPECIES Frank HANNA Jr, Microtus montanus F, Hanne Jr, 1951 9 May 6 mi, W Salt Lake City Airport, 4300 a Salt Lake Co., Utah Specimen #6 caught by hand on a Vert. Zoo, 38 field trip, The Species Microtus montanus is probably the most ubiquitous meadow mouse known, A very. prolific breeder, breeding as mayy as siz G times a year, Its range is throughout the United States and does not hibernate, Part~ icularly adapted to the Transition Zone, Feeds upon roets and young shoots of alfalfa grains and grasses, and can become epidemic and wipe out fields ofthe above named crops, It is preyed upon by Owls and Hawks and many of the Carnivorous animals, One can easily locate the presence of Microtus montanus or most of the Microtus by surveying a grassy area which is in a damp environmentor near a swamp or marsh and note & series of runways which are on the surface, These runways are formed by constant use of Microtus over this same area, Microtus also has a series of underground burrows where nests are built and the young are born. These underground burrows also serve as storage warehouses for food, Small ‘hay piles! of shoots of grass or other green vegetation is taken underground where it is probably laid to cure and retain the lucious and tender leaves which serve for a rainy day. During the warm days of summer it can be assumed that the majority of their time is spent on the surface due to the lack of any extensive underground tunnels, Since they do not hibernate in the winter time, they do live on the surface much of the time in search of food and will eat anything green and will attack trees and injure the trees to a point where they will eventually die. Also, Microtus is quite destructive to hey stacks of farmers and ranches when in seareh of green food. Are especially fond of alfalfa and can easily be destroyed by strychnine poisoned bits of alfalfa scattered in those areas where Microtus lives during the winter months, - 6 = THE ACCOUNT OF SPECIES Peromyscus Fs Frank HANNA Jr, maniculatu Hanna drs 1951 18 May 25 mi, E Hanksville 6000 ft., Wayne Co,., Utah Ekkers Ranch, Robbers Roost Under this genus fall the White-footea Mice, 60 named because of the distinctive white feet and underparts; are generally distributed geographical over the entire United States, and even parts of Canada, In Utah there are st the present time four (4) described subspecies; mamely P.m, inclarus, P.m, rufinus, P.m, asgoodi, and P,m, soncriensis; and are quite common everywhere within their general areas, The ecological niche wherein specimen ¢ 7 was found is described in the vegetation listed in the ITINERARY, Due to the desert environment of this particular area one would not expect to find these White-footed Mice in abundance as was 6videnced by the trappinse results of the Mammalogy exnéd&étion, The fate of most of these small mammals is a source of food supply for Hawks, Owls and oneakes, - 7 - THE ACCOUNT OF SPECIES Perorna F, Hanna Jr. 1951 18 & 19 May & FYank HANNA Jr, parvus bs 25 mi, HE Hanksville, 6000 ft., Wayne Co, Utah Ekkers Ranch, Robbers Roost |. Specimens #8,9 &10 were obtained on Mammalogy Class expedition of May 17, 18, 19 & 20 May 1951. . Perognathus parvus heretofore unknown ‘inthis area because of not having been trapped was found in considerable number when the terrain and ecological niche of the area is considered, Peroensethus which has numerous subspecies is.@,ember of the pocket m@use family, quite abundant throughout the Western and Southwestern parts of the United States, Is Perognathus is characterized by its cheek pouches which are external and fur-lined3 tail fairly longs; end in general a very small mouse, The upper parts of this animal are e& a mixture of olive-gray, pale slaty buff sprinkled with bits of black and a rather pale but distinctive lateral buff dewarking the upper parts from the whitish underparts, This wammal as all small rodents serves as food for predators, though it is a nocturnal rodent and confines most of its activities to the dark hours of the night, Considering the ecological factors (sce itinerary) one will question the survival of these animals due to the desert conditions and lack of vegetative matter, I've found these animals usuelly in the small communities of Artemisia tridentata and Coleogyne ranrosissimum, where not only will they have food but @ mound of sand (blown around these plants) to build their home, - 8 = THE ACCOUNT OF SPECIES Frank HANNA Jr, Onychomys Leucozaster F, Hanna 1951 19 May 25 til, E Hanksville, 6000 ft., Wayne Co., Utah Ekkers Ranch, Robbers Roos’. One (1) of four (6) specimens trapped in this area - specimen #1]. Onychomys leucogaster commonly refered to and known as the Grasshopper Mouse because of ©. its insectivorous diet (grasshoppers, crickets & etc.). This is a sturdy and museularly built little mammal with a short, thick and tapering tail. A bigelgred animal with white underparts and grayishsupper pelage, this apecies as other Species of Onychomys is confined pricipally to the Western part of North America, the eastern limitations seem to follow the western moraines of the continental glaciers which existed auri ne the ice age, Due to the ecological factors in this area +t was @ somewhat surprise to find Onychonys in this type of environment, ' The usual predators of small mammals finds Onychomys part of thelr diet; however, Onychomys is nocturnal in habit, i zZonotria te,aa e we oad Jushman 1951 19 May m Es ely yr me 2? re o he ie i me a # i Rhy 3 PY tavilie, 6000 ft., i ers Ranch, eimen att 12 ‘Ob ' fms re & Foost z WA 5 ty a y 5 ee eaehen . 4 .\ S \ p i x SX * PRES iy THE Hi 5 & b) rey : hed A rie Ve "YT 7 Th FeissiJUN 4 Hh UJ Lae Mei) My kt y x 4 5 Kupharcus syanoc phalus 35 es Bushman H whet 1951 AI i A 'Y 4 tf ey yee) | AN } AND) ae RES . } 7 4 Ra} Ran et or ” . 5 19 Mey Pay Hi y fi i pay " <0 i a ( yh H | 5 ss aa vi} ; iy i) osK yy ’ a A! \ WIE in 7 nS 2 Bet Be j Se bai Gre i Be ‘ i LU ef iy i" ee Wi wy ‘ HU Ree oo a i A ie ts Wi)i 5 by “9 iD Vi ya oe) 4 A i wi f aie Pal aN oe) aA é tf) # af a ret 7, § iN Heys i H Ny i G ea 4 i j f H i F fi he Oe f ion 7 p My y ry a é p p , eee i) ee qi i mi, v9 kkers 5 Hankeville, 6000 ft., Wayne : Bead mel ' es. neh, Robbers 713 Coe, Utah oe itu THe Js EAMES “we1951 Mey ACCOUNT OF SPECIES Frank HANNA Jr Neotoma 25 mi. EB Hanksville, 6000 ft., Wayne coe, Utah Ekkers Ranch, Robbers Roost Specimen # 14 F. Hanna dr. Neotoma lepida has an extensive range in the state of Utah. Found in all parts of the state except the Southeast corner, east of the Colorado River which is inhabited by Neotoma mexicana inopinata, and east of the @reen River and the Northeast corner of the state where it is as yet une knowne However, Neotoma cinera orolestes is in the very Northeast corner and Neotoma cinerea macrodon ig in the area south of Vernal, Utah and east of the Green River. Neotoma lepida was expected to be found in the area of Robbers: Roost, and according to the number of trappings collected, Neotoma represented approximately 20 per cent of the Rodents. Hence, in comparison to the small memmals in the area, it is one of the more abundant. There are numerous structures of mounds off debris found in this area which is characteristic of Heotoma. Since these animals pack anything they can carry that is laying on the ground; continue to heap this debris over their ‘home’. This is one way to be able to recognise the pesence of Neotoma. Are fond of glittering objects and are very easy to trap, and many were caught in just ordinary mouse trapse As most desert forms of small mammals these rats are nocturnal in habit though often are active during the day. Are herbivorous in diet primarily on grasses and other green vegetation. The Neotoma lepida species is confined to the Upper Sonoran Sone and its range is not too great; Northern Arizona, Northwestern New Mexico, most of Utah, and Eastern Nevada. Neotoma lepida is victim to the usual predators, Hawks, Owls, Snakesgand other animals of the Carnivorous typee OF F. Hanna dre 1961 23 May 15 mie NW Salt Lake Cit » 4500 ft., Ravis Coe, Utah Farmington Bay Refuge FP. Hanne Jr. Specimen # 16