Texas Almanac, 1947-1948 Page: 188
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188 TEXAS ALMANAC.-1947-1948.
(Urocyon cinereoargenteus floridanus) is
found in East Texas. In West Texas is found
the texensis form. A few swift or kit fox
(Vulpes velox) are found in high plains re-
gion. The desert fox (Vulpes macrotis neo-
mexicanus) is found in Trans-Pecos region.
Fox hunts are held as annual observances in
several counties, notably in Shelby, where the
hunt is in the Sabine National Forest, and in
Montgomery and Brown Counties.
The Virginia opossum (Didelphis virgini-
ana) is found in Middle and Northern Texas,
the Florida opossum (Didelphis v. pigra) is
found in the coastal belt, and Texas opossum
(Didelphis mesamericana texensis) is found
in Southern and Southwestern Texas. One
species of raccoon (Procyon lotor) is found
along streams throughout a great part of
Texas except along the Rio Grande. The
Texas raccoon (Procyon lotor fuscipes,
Mearns) is abundant in the region of the Rio
Grande and south into Mexico. The Mexican
badger (Taxidea taxus berlandieri) is found
throughout Western Texas. The civet cat
(Bassariscus astutus flavus) is also known as
the ring-tailed cat. The name civet cat is fre-
quently erroneously applied to the spotted
skunk. It is found generally except east of
Trinity and on the open plains of West Texas.
There are three species of muskrat in Tex-
as, the Louisiana muskrat (Ondatra obscura),
which is found in Southeast Texas near Beau-
mont and where it is now being commercially
produced on muskrat farms; the Pecos River
muskrat (Ondatra zibethica ripensis) of West-
ern Texas, and the Great Plains muskrat
(Ondatra zibethica cinnamonia) of the Pan-
handle region.
Two species of beaver are found in Texas,
the broad-tailed beaver (Castor canadensis
frondator) ranging along the Rio Grande and
Devil's River and the Texas beaver (Castor
canadensis texensis), which was once widely
distributed throughout the state, but which
now is rare except in a few localities, notably
on the Llano River and in Polk County.
The otter (Lutra canadensis) is found in
Eastern Texas where water is plentiful, their
number being small.
There are eight species of skunks in Texas,
including the Louisiana skunk (Mephitis
mesomelas), which is found in Eastern Tex-
as; the long-tailed Texas skunk -(Mephitis
mesomelas varians), which ranges widely
through Southern and Western Texas, the
hog-nosed skunk (Conepatus mesoleucus
mearnsi), which is found throughout the
same reglon,\especially in the Pecos Valley
and Trans-Pecos mountains; the swamp or
white-backed skunk (Conepatus mesoleucus
telmalestes) of the heavily wooded country
of Southeast Texas, another form of white-
backed skunk (Conepatus leuconotus texen-
sis), which is found In South Texas and the
Rio Grande Valley; the prairie spotted skunk
(Spilogale interreupta) in North and North-
western Texas; the Gulf spotted skunk (Spi-
logale Indianola) in the coastal belt, and the
Rio Grande spotted skunk (Spilogale leuco-
paria), which is found along the Rio Grande
from Eagle Pass westward.
The mink (Leutreola lutreocephala) is found
in the eastern half of Texas, especially in the
wooded regions.Wolves,
The gray wolf (Canis grisesus), also called
lobo and loafer whlf, was formerly abundant
throughout western part of state; few exist
at present. The Texas red wolf (Canis rufus)
is found in South and Central Texas as far
north as Young County; occasionally in East
Texas. The Florida wolf (Canis floridanus)
is known locally as timber wolf. Found
throughout wooded sections of East and East
Central Texas. There are four species of the
coyote, the Texas coyote (Canis nebracencis
texensis) of Central and Southwest Texas;
the small-tooth coyote (Canis microdon) of
Central and South Texas extending to the
Rio Grande, the Mearns coyote (Canis mearn-
si) of Southwest Texas, and the plains coyote
of the high plains, which seems not to be
definitely identified.
Cats.
The Jaguar (Fells onca hernandezi, Gray)
was formerly found occasionally along the
border and in Southwest Texas. None killed
in recent years; exists in numbers in Mexico.
The cougar (Fells hippolestes aztecus, Mer-
riam), which is also known as mountain lion,
panther, Mexican cougar, etc., is found occa-
sionally in the broken country of the Edwards
Plateau and in the Trans-Pecos Mountains.
The former panther of the East Texas for-
ests, which was closely related, is extinct.
The ocelot (Fells pardalis griffithi, Fisher),
also known as the leopard cat, is found usual-
ly along the border. Formerly ranged
throughout East Texas, but is rare in that
region. The jaguarondi (Fells jaguarondi,
Fisher) is found occasionally along the Rio
Grande, living in the more densely covered
territory. The Texas lynx or bobcat (Lynx
rufus texensis) is found in wooded territory
in East, South and Southwest Texas. Most
plentiful in the Big Thicket of Liberty and
Hardin Counties. The plateau wildcat (Lynx
balleyi) is found on plains and in mountain
regions of West Texas. The feral housecat
has become a destroyer of game in many
parts of Texas, a circumstance that has arisen
from inhumane dumping of unwanted pets.
Predators were caught by government
agents in 1946 as follows- Coyotes, 24,192;
other wolves, 650; bobcats, 2,076; mountain
lions, 14; bear, 1.
Other Wild Mammals.
Among the odd creatures of Texas fauna is
the armadillo (Spanish diminutive for "ar-
mored one") (genus, Tolypeutes) which car-
ries a shell of glossy plate for its-protection
Interesting also has been its migration from
its original Texas habitat along the border
eastward and northward to the Sabine and
the Red There has been limited commerciali-
zation of the armadillo shell in the manufac-
ture of curios, notably at Comfort, Texas.
Another interesting animal is the javelin or
Javelina, the Texas peccary (Tayassu angula-
tum), a scrappy little animal which does not,
however, quite live up to his reputation in the
tall tales of the borderland. The prairie dog
(genus, Cynomys) and a burrowing rodent not
a dog) is no longer a familiar scene in West
Texas Because of its habit of living in vil-
lages and destroying grass over wide areas it
has largely been eradicated from the area
where it once existed by the millions. Several909 ELM UE A T TCentral
DALLAS CHAS. OTTNc. 9054
Master Locksmiths
Established 1876
SAFES, VAULTS;, LOCKS, KEYS-SAFES REPAIRED, TRADED
State-wide Service
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Texas Almanac, 1947-1948, book, 1947; Dallas, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth117136/m1/190/: accessed March 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.