Vertebrate Inventory of Richland Creek Wildlife Management Area in Eastern Texas

528 The Southwestern Naturalist vol. 49, no. 4

STANGL, F. B., AND W. W. DALQUEST. 1990. Status of CATRON COUNTY: S. U. Canyon, 5 mi S, 3 mi W the javelina, Tayassu tajacu, in north-central Texas Reserve (MSB 25146); Blue Range Wilderness Area, and southern Oklahoma. Texas Journal of Sci- Apache National Forest, junction W Fork Pueblo ence 42:305–306. Creek and Pueblo Creek, W. S. Mountain Trail 43 STANGL, F. B., W. W. DALQUEST, AND S. KUHN. 1993. (MSB 89025). CIBOLA COUNTY: El Malpais National Mammals from the Beach Mountains of Culber- Conservation Area, 200 yards N entrance La Ventana son County, Trans-Pecos Texas. Texas Journal of Natural Arch, Highway 117, mile marker 39 Science 45:87–96. (NMMNH 3859). EDDY COUNTY: 6.2 mi S Hope THEIMER,T.C.,AND P. K EIM. 1994. Geographic pat- (MSB 86326); Carlsbad Caverns National Park, 0.33 terns of mitochondrial-DNA variation in collared mi W, 0.32 mi N Whites City (MSB 66727); 2 mi S peccaries. Journal of Mammalogy 75:121–128. El Paso Gap (NMMNH 4006). GRANT COUNTY: Gila ZERVANOS, S. M. 2002. Renal structure adaptations River at mouth of Nichols Canyon (MSB 89185). HI- among three species of peccary. Southwestern DALGO COUNTY: Animas Mountains, Indian Creek Naturalist 47:527–531. Mill, T33S R18W Sec. 8 (MSB 46381); Animas Moun- tains, Joyce Mill, T33S R18W Sec. 22, 5,025 feet el- Submitted 15 May 2003. Accepted 30 January 2004. Associate Editor was Cody W. Edwards. evation (MSB 49695); NM 338, 7 mi S Interstate Highway 10 (MSB 71340); Gray Ranch, 31Њ38.71ЈN, Њ Ј APPENDIX I Localities and catalog numbers of ad- 108 50.95 W (MSB 85584); 5.6 miles S Animas on ditional voucher specimens in the Museum of South- NM 338, 4,500 feet elevation (MSB 85585). MCKIN- western Biology (MSB) and the New Mexico Muse- LEY COUNTY: Zuni Indian Reservation, T10N R18W um of Natural History (NMMNH) shown in Fig. 1. Sec. 12, 1,951 feet elevation (MSB 124035).

VERTEBRATE INVENTORY OF RICHLAND CREEK WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA IN EASTERN TEXAS

WADE A. RYBERG,LEE A. FITZGERALD,RODNEY L. HONEYCUTT,JAMES C. CATHEY,* AND TOBY J. HIBBITTS

Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences, Texas A&M University, 2258 TAMUS, College Station, TX 77843-2258 (WAR, LAF, RLH, TJH) Texas Agricultural Experiment Station-Uvalde, 1619 Garner Field Road, Uvalde, TX 78801 (JCC) Present address of WAR: Department of Biology, Washington University in St. Louis, Campus Box 1137, One Brookings Drive, St. Louis, MO 63130-489 Present address of TJH: Communication and Behaviour Research Group, School of Animal, Plant, and Environmental Sciences, University of Witwaterstrand, Private Bag 3, WITS 2050, South Africa *Correspondent: [email protected]

ABSTRACT Terrestrial habitats of Richland Creek Wildlife Management Area, Texas, were sur- veyed for vertebrate diversity in 1998 and 1999. During the 2-year sampling period, 10 species of amphibians, 20 species of reptiles, and 23 species of mammals were collected or observed. These actions represent an effort of Texas Parks and Wildlife to inventory the fauna of state-owned property. This information will begin to form a baseline to assess future management decisions.

RESUMEN Llevamos a cabo un inventario de los vertebrados en ha´bitats terrestres del Richland Creek Wildlife Management Area, Texas, durante 1998 y 1999. Durante los dos anõs del periodo de muestreo, observamos o colectamos 10 especies de anfibios, 20 especies de reptiles, y 23 especies de mamı´feros. Estas acciones representan un esfuerzo de Texas Parks and Wildlife para hacer un inventario de la fauna en las propiedades del estado. Esta informacioń sera´ la base para evaluar futuras decisions de manejo de recursos naturales. December 2004 Notes 529

The ecological, economic, and esthetic val- line information on fishes (Gelwick et al., ues of biodiversity are recognized widely (Wil- 2000), amphibians, reptiles, and mammals at son, 1992; Meffe and Carroll, 1997), and man- Richland Creek WMA and to establish a foun- aging for biological diversity is a priority for dation for future management decisions allow- state and federal natural resource and wildlife ing for long-term monitoring of biodiversity. agencies. One key threat to regional biodiver- Established in 1987, Richland Creek WMA sity relates to trends in land-use practices that (ca. 5,583 ha) is located 58 km southeast of can result in fragmented habitat, thus increas- Corsicana, Texas, between Richland-Chambers ing the probability that some components of Reservoir and the Trinity River in Freestone biodiversity will experience local extirpation in and Navarro counties. This property, com- these habitat patches. Although national parks, prised of 2 management units separated by national wildlife refuges, and state and local U.S. Highway 287, is situated in an ecotone management units represent important means separating the Post Oak Savannah and Black- of protecting biodiversity, such areas are effec- land Prairie ecological regions, and a large tively ‘‘land-bridge islands’’ subject to in- portion of the area lies within the Trinity River creased rates of local extinction relative to the and Richland Creek floodplains (Gelwick et area of the reserve and degree of isolation al., 2000). The combined average rainfall for (Newmark, 1995). For large mammals in many Freestone and Navarro counties is about 97 national parks in the western United States, cm/y. The average low temperature is 2ЊCin there is an apparent increase in extinction that January, while the average high temperature is fits the expectations of ‘‘land-bridge islands’’ 35ЊC in July (Department of the Army, Corps (Newmark, 1995). Like many western states, of Engineers, 1982). Soils on Richland Creek Texas is experiencing increased fragmentation WMA consist of periodically flooded Trinity of natural areas as land-use trends change, and and Kaufman clays, with occasional lenses of the rate at which wildlife habitat fragmentation Lamar Clay Loam or Silawa Fine Sandy Loam is occurring relates to changes in land owner- (Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers, ship resulting in more people owning smaller 1982). The property varies from fairly well properties (Wilkins et al., 2003). Unlike many drained uplands and transition zones to large western states, land ownership in Texas is pri- bottomland areas subject to periodic and pro- marily under private control, with considerably longed flooding. less acreage managed by local, state, and fed- Virtually all woodlands on Richland Creek eral agencies. WMA are bottomland forests characterized by As a result of private land ownership, one of regrowth cedar elm (Ulmus crassifolia), sugar- the most effective means for offsetting the neg- berry (Celtis laevigata), green ash (Fraxinus ative effects of fragmentation and the resulting pennsylvanica), boxelder (Acer negundo), and loss of biodiversity in Texas is the retention black willow (Salix nigra). Occasional pockets and protection of the network of Wildlife Man- of bur oak (Quercus macrocarpa), Shumard oak agement Areas (WMAs) created by Texas Parks (Q. shumardii), overcup oak (Q. lyrata), water and Wildlife (TPW). Conceptually, these oak (Q. nigra), willow oak (Q. phellos), post oak WMAs are maintained for research and for (Q. stellata), and native pecan (Carya illinoensis) outdoor activities including hunting, fishing, occur on the area. Understory vegetation is di- and non-consumptive uses. In recent years, verse, including hawthorn (Crataegus), honey TPW has emphasized the management of all locust (Gleditsia tricanthos), soapberry (Sapindus biodiversity, both game and nongame species. saponaria), cat briar (Smilax bona-nox), swamp As a result of both this new mission and the privet (Forrestiera acuminata), and dense vines ever-increasing rate at which wildlife habitat of poison ivy (Rhus toxocodendron), rattan (Ber- and biodiversity is being lost, it is imperative chemia scanders), Virginia creeper (Parthenocis- that all WMAs be inventoried for their com- sus quinquefolia), and trumpet creeper (Bigno- ponents of biodiversity. Such baseline infor- nia radicans). mation is absolutely essential for long-term We conducted surveys for terrestrial verte- monitoring of changes in biodiversity in re- brates on both management units from March sponse to trends in land use and development. 1998 to August 1999, following procedures out- The purpose of this study was to gather base- lined by TPW (Simpson et al., 1996) and 530 The Southwestern Naturalist vol. 49, no. 4 adapted for specific habitats in the Richland on 1 permanent transect of 10 Tomahawk live Creek WMA. Amphibians and reptiles were traps spaced 30 m apart and baited with sampled primarily from May through August canned cat food. Additional carnivore traps using time-constrained searches (0900 to 1200 were set opportunistically where carnivore ac- h and 1600 to 1900 h), timed nocturnal road tivity was judged to be high. Incidental obser- searches (2000 to 2400 h), baited hoop nets, vations of mammals were noted, especially dur- minnow traps, and Y-shaped drift-fence arrays. ing nocturnal road searches. Time-constrained searches consisting of Voucher specimens, morphological data, groups of 4 to 12 observers actively searching supporting genetic materials, and associated for amphibians and reptiles (herps) were con- ecological and locality data were deposited in ducted daily during sampling periods of 3 to 4 the Texas Cooperative Wildlife Collection, De- d throughout the months listed in Table 1. partment of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences, at Data were grouped by month (some months Texas A&M University. containing multiple sampling periods) and ex- All combined methods of sampling amphib- pressed as number of herp captures per per- ians and reptiles resulted in 533 captures of 10 son-minute to standardize information on species of amphibians and 20 species of rep- numbers of individuals of different species tiles (Table 1; Crother et al., 2003). Based on found within a site. We conducted timed noc- published distributional information and turnal road searches by automobile 1 to 2 county records, at least 33 additional amphib- times per sampling period at approximately ian and reptile species are expected to occur the same time each night along the same on the property (Dixon, 2000). Time-con- route. Road driving data were expressed as the strained searches and night driving together number of herps observed per minute. We accounted for 465 (87.3%) of the total cap- used hoop nets baited with carp (Cyprinella car- tures. Time-constrained searches and inciden- pio) to trap aquatic turtles in ponds and res- tal captures yielded the most species-rich sam- ervoirs during 1 sampling period in June 1998. ples, with 20 and 18 species sampled, respec- Watersnakes (Nerodia), cottonmouths (Agkistro- tively (Table 2). The timber rattlesnake (Cro- don piscivorus), and Graham’s crayfish snakes talus horridus), the only Federal Category 2 and (Regina grahamii) were trapped using Gee Min- state-threatened species verified on Richland now Traps (Forestry Suppliers, Inc., Jackson, Creek WMA, was collected using both of these Mississippi) placed along shorelines of flooded methods. pastures during 1 sampling period in June For amphibians and reptiles, nocturnal road 1998 and another in August 1999. Nine Y- searches provided the highest capture rate (1 shaped drift-fence arrays were constructed with capture per 3.5 min) among the active sam- a single pitfall trap in the center and funnel pling methods, and hoop nets provided the traps at the ends of the fences. This design, highest capture rate (1 capture per 1.1 trap modified from that of Heyer et al. (1994), al- nights) among passive sampling methods (Ta- lowed us to avoid the problems associated with ble 2). Thirty-four animals representing 18 spe- flooding of buckets in lowland habitats. Sites cies were observed incidentally (Table 2); 3 of along habitat edges were selected for drift these species were not found with the stan- fence construction to maximize species rich- dardized methods outlined by Simpson et al. ness in our sampling effort. Drift-fence arrays (1996). were run 2 to 3 nights per sampling period. Although 30 species of amphibians and rep- We expressed turtle trap, minnow trap, and tiles were captured, 77% of the specimens rep- pitfall array capture data as captures per trap- resented only 5 species (Table 1). The north- night. ern cricket frog (Acris crepitans), green treefrog Small mammals were captured using Sher- (Hyla cinerea), and southern leopard frog man live traps. Seven transects consisted of (Rana sphenocephala) exhibited the highest rel- lines with 50 traps spaced at 6.1-m intervals ative abundance, followed by the diamond- baited with birdseed and peanut butter. We did backed watersnake (N. rhombifer) and the cot- not use peanut butter during times of intense tonmouth (A. piscivorus). The false map turtle activity of imported red fire ants (Solenopsis in- (Graptemys pseudogeographica), snapping turtle victa). Medium-sized mammals were trapped (Chelydra serpentina), eastern box turtle (Terra- December 2004 Notes 531 3.4 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.2 0.2 0.2 4.7 0.6 2.8 0.8 0.6 2.4 2.4 0.8 8.3 0.2 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.8 0.9 0.4 1.5 0.6 14.1 23.1 18.7 12.8 1 2 3 1 1 1 3 4 3 4 1 2 2 2 4 5 2 8 3 18 75 11 15 13 13 44 68 123 100 533 3 1 1 2 43 33 17 40 31.5 168 14 24 2 8 1 2 2 49 28 23.1 123 1999 3 3 1 1 0.2 82720 1 1 4 1 1 2 11 13 15 11 76 14.3 8 1 11 3.2 1 1 1 1 1 11 17 April June July August Total % 4 8 7 8 2 1 4 11 8.3 1 1 1 1 44 25 1 8 1.5 1 1 2 2 5 3 1 1 6 3 1 1 1 12 10 69 12.9 17 1998 6 533 7 5.1 2 6 11 27 1 1 0.2 March May June August September Species 1—Amphibian and reptile species captured by month for Richland Creek Wildlife Management Area, Texas, during 1998 and 1999. ABLE Ambystoma texanum Acris crepitans Bufo nebulifer Bufo woodhousii Gastrophryne carolinensis Hyla cinerea Hyla versicolor Pseudacris clarkii Rana catesbeiana Rana sphenocephala Apalone spinifera Chelydra serpentina Graptemys pseudogeographica Terrapene carolina Trachemys scripta Anolis carolinensis Eumeces fasciatus Scincella lateralis Agkistrodon contortrix Agkistrodon piscivorus Coluber constrictor Crotalus horridus Elaphe obsoleta Masticophis flagellum Nerodia erythrogaster Nerodia fasciata Nerodia rhombifer Regina grahamii Storeria dekayi Thamnophis proximus T Caudata Anura Testudines Squamata (lizards) Squamata (snakes) Amphibia Reptilia Total % 532 The Southwestern Naturalist vol. 49, no. 4

pene carolina), eastern racer (Coluber constrictor), 7 3 9 4 4 small-mouthed salamander (Ambystoma texan- 18 20 11 um), and spotted chorus frog (Pseudacris clar- Species richness kii) were observed only once during the survey. The single small-mouthed salamander was collected after heavy rains, and the only spotted chorus frog was found calling in early spring. Spotted chorus frogs breed in early spring, so it was not surprising that the species went largely undetected during primarily summer Individual

capture rate surveys. Because this type of seasonal variation 1/20.8 trap nights 1/7.5 trap nights 1/13.8 trap nights — 1/27.5 minutes 1/3.5 minutes 1/1.1 trap nights 1/7.5 trap nights often inﬂuences amphibian and reptile capture, long-term biodiversity surveys during spring, summer, and fall are necessary to de- termine total species richness. 8 8 Using standardized methods, 11 species of 15 34 11 188 141 324 mammals were collected (Table 3; Baker et al., captured

Individuals 2003), and 12 additional species were observed during nocturnal road surveys. Based on published distributional information, at least 30 additional species are expected to occur on the property (Schmidly, 1983; Davis and Schmidly, 1994). Small-mammal and carnivore sampling yielded capture rates of 1 individual per 20.8 trap nights and 1 individual per 7.5 trap nights, 3,908 trap nights 60 trap nights 207 trap nights — 64.5 hours 18.8 hours 12 trap nights 60 trap nights respectively (Table 2). Nocturnal road surveys revealed the presence of the northern raccoon (Procyon lotor), eastern cottontail (Sylvilagus ﬂor- idanus), swamp rabbit (S. aquaticus), white- tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), and feral 12) 17) 7)

ϭ pig (Sus scrofa). Other mammals observed were ϭ n ϭ the nine-banded armadillo (Dasypus novemcinc- n n

1) tus), eastern gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis),

ϭ eastern fox squirrel (S. niger), American beaver n 15) (Castor canadensis), nutria (Myocastor coypus), ϭ 6)

n northern river otter (Lontra canadensis), coyote ϭ

9) (Canis latrans), and evening bat (Nycticeius hu- n

ϭ meralis). Roberts et al. (1997) collected speci- n mens on Richland Creek WMA that represented county records for the nine-banded armadillo, eastern red bat (Lasiurus borealis), even- Arrays ( Hoop nets ( Minnow traps ( Nocturnal road searches ( Incidental capture/viewing Carnivore transect ( ing bat, marsh rice rat (Oryzomys palustris), and fulvous harvest mouse (Reithrodontomys fulvescens). Of these, the eastern red bat was not de- tected in our investigation. Rodent diversity varied little across seasons, whereas rodent abundance varied tremendous- ly among species and to a lesser extent among seasons (Table 3). Of the 188 rodents collect- Taxa Sampling method Duration 2—Summary of vertebrate sampling success for Richland Creek Wildlife Management Area, Texas, during 1998 and 1999. ed, 141 (75%) represented 3 species: hispid cotton rat (Sigmodon hispidus), fulvous harvest ABLE

T mouse, and deer mouse (Peromyscus manicula- Mammals Small-mammal transects ( Amphibians and reptiles Time-constrained searches ( tus). The marsh rice rat, white-footed mouse December 2004 Notes 533

TABLE 3—Mammal species captured by month for Richland Creek Wildlife Management Area, Texas, during 1998 and 1999.

1998 1999 Septem- Febru- Taxa March April June ber ary June August Total % Insectivora Cryptotis parva 1 1 0.5 Rodentia Baiomys taylori 2 5 6 13 6.6 Neotoma ﬂoridana 1 1 0.5 Oryzomys palustris 3 8 2 2 4 19 9.6 Peromyscus leucopus 2 2 1 4 1 2 2 14 7.1 P. maniculatus 5 2 3 12 1 4 27 13.7 Reithrodontomys fulvescens 7 20 2 3 4 1 3 40 20.3 Sigmodon hispidus 6 11 9 24 2 7 15 74 37.6 Carnivora Mephitis mephitis 1 1 0.5 Procyon lotor 1 1 0.5 Marsupialia Didelphis virginiana 3 3 6 3.0 Total 17 46 23 44 26 13 28 197 % 8.6 23.4 11.7 22.3 13.2 6.6 14.2

(Peromyscus leucopus), and northern pygmy merous to name, for unflagging help with field- mouse (Baiomys taylori) were less abundant, work. We are grateful to J. Thorne and J. Gunnels and the eastern woodrat (Neotoma floridana) for providing logistical support, and Texas Parks and was collected only once. The slight variation in Wildlife for providing funding and collecting per- mits for this study. We thank M. Mieres for translat- rodent abundance across seasons might be re- ing the abstract and D. Foley, H. Haucke, and T. J. lated to regular flooding or mowing in areas LaDuc for providing constructive criticism of this surrounding the small-mammal transects. manuscript. Land-use practices have drastically altered the landscape in eastern Texas, and the WMAs LITERATURE CITED established by TPW provide islands of protected habitat surrounded by land modified for BAKER, R. J., L. C. BRADLEY,R.D.BRADLEY,J.W.DRA- commercial, agricultural, and residential use. GOO,M.D.ENGSTROM,R.S.HOFFMAN,C.A. The baseline information on existing verte- JONES,F.REID,D.W.RICE, AND C. JONES. 2003. brate biodiversity, the documentation of habi- Revised checklist of North American mammals tat types and voucher specimens, and the es- north of Mexico, 2003. Occasional Papers, Mu- tablishment of permanent monitoring sites will seum of Texas Tech University 229:1–23. CROTHER, B. I., J. BOUNDY,J.A.CAMPBELL,K.DE allow continued assessment of changes in bio- QUIEROZ,D.FROST,D.M.GREEN,R.HIGHTON,J. diversity in response to management and land- B. IVERSON,R.W.MCDIARMID,P.A.MEYLAN,T.W. use practices. This checklist and on-going mon- REEDER,M.E.SEIDEL,J.W.SITES,JR., S. G. TILLEY, itoring systems will enhance future manage- AND D. B. WAKE. 2003. Scientific and standard En- ment plans devised to conserve regional bio- glish names of amphibians and reptiles of North diversity. America north of Mexico: update. Herpetologi- cal Review 34:196–203. We thank J. Anderson, K. Banks, C. Collins, M. DAVIS, W. B., AND D. J. SCHMIDLY. 1994. The mam- Goldstein, J. Hamilton, T. L. Hibbitts, R. Hibbitts, D. mals of Texas. Texas Parks and Wildlife Press, Jepsen, E. Malonsen, A. Moreno, and other under- Austin. graduate and graduate student volunteers, too nu- DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY,CORPS OF ENGINEERS. 534 The Southwestern Naturalist vol. 49, no. 4

1982. Richland Creek Reservoir: a ﬁnal environ- small mammals in Texas. Occasional Papers, Mu- mental impact statement. Department of the seum of Texas Tech University 172:1–7. Army, Corps of Engineers, Austin, Texas. SCHMIDLY, D. J. 1983. Texas mammals east of the Bal- DIXON, J. R. 2000. Amphibians and reptiles of Texas. cones Fault zone. Texas A&M University Press, Texas A&M University Press, College Station. College Station. GELWICK, F. P., B. D. HEALY,N.J.DICTSON, AND J. C. SIMPSON, B., D. FRELS,T.LAWYER,T.MERENDINO,E. CATHEY. 2000. Fishes of the Richland Creek Wild- MEYERS,D.RUTHVEN,S.SOROLA, AND M. WAGNER. life Management Area of east Texas. Texas Jour- 1996. Baseline inventory and monitoring proce- nal of Science 52:313–318. dures on Texas Parks and Wildlife Department HEYER, W. R., M. A. DONNELLY,R.W.MCDIARMID,L. lands. Texas Parks and Wildlife Press, Austin. A. HAYEK, AND M. S. FOSTER. 1994. Measuring and WILKINS, N., A. HAYS,D.KUBENKA,D.STEINBACH,W. monitoring biological diversity: standard meth- GRANT,E.GONZALEZ,M.KJELLAND, AND J. SHACK- ods for amphibians. Smithsonian Institution ELFORD. 2003. Texas rural lands: trends and con- Press, Washington, D.C. servation implications for the 21st century. Texas MEFFE,G.K.,AND C. R. CARROLL. 1997. Principles of Cooperative Extension, Texas A&M University, conservation biology, second edition. Sinauer As- Technical Report B-6134:1–26. sociates Inc., Sunderland, Massachusetts. WILSON, E. O. 1992. The diversity of life. Belknap NEWMARK, W. D. 1995. Extinction of mammal pop- Press of Harvard University Press, Cambridge, ulations in western North American national Massachusetts. parks. Conservation Biology 9:512–526. ROBERTS, H. R., T. W. JOLLEY,L.L.PEPPERS,J.C. CATHEY,R.MARTINEZ,J.A.PEPPERS,A.L.BATES, Submitted 27 May 2003. Accepted 15 March 2004. AND R. D. BRADLEY. 1997. Noteworthy records of Associate Editor was Cheri A. Jones.

ADDITIONS TO THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL FAUNA OF THE FORMER CHINATOWN SECTION OF EL PASO, TEXAS

ARTHUR H. HARRIS*

Laboratory for Environmental Biology, Centennial Museum, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX 79968 *Correspondent: [email protected]

ABSTRACT Additions to the archaeological fauna recovered from the former Chinatown section in El Paso, Texas (late 1800s), include lizard, ringtail, dog, killdeer, domestic goose, badger, domestic cat, jackrabbit, and cottontail. The latter 5 species likely were used for food. Two species of turtles used as food also are discussed.

RESUMEN Las adiciones a la fauna arqueolo´gica recuperadas en la anterior seccioń de China- town en El Paso, Texas (a finales de 1800), incluyen la lagartija, el cacomixtle, el perro, el tildıó, el ganso dome´stico, el tejoń, el gato dome´stico, la liebre, y el conejito. Las u´ltimas cinco especies probablemente fueron usadas como alimento. Tambień se discuten dos especies de tortugas usadas como alimento.

The Southern Paciﬁc Railroad reached El Chinese settlements. Eventually, however, the Paso, Texas, early in 1881, and in 1883, with El Paso colony made contact with Paciﬁc Coast completion of railroad-connected employ- centers for traditional supplies and established ment, Chinese laborers were laid off and traditional social relationships within the com- stranded in El Paso. This initiated the forma- munity. By about 1915, Chinatown as a distinct tion of a Chinatown section. For some years, entity was gone (Staski, 1985). there apparently was little contact with other In the early 1980s, the Cultural Resources December 2004 Notes 535

TABLE 1—Distribution of selected taxa within the Cortez archaeological site, El Paso, Texas. Numbers refer to the number of identiﬁed specimens, with the minimum number of individuals given in parentheses (calculated per level). Only levels pertinent to this study are shown.

Feature 15 (7 levels) Trench Trench Taxon 2 10 345691416 Chrysemys/Trachemys 2 13 (2) 33 (3) 17 (2) Trionyx spiniferus 14 (1) 4 (1) 14 (2) 31 (1) 5 (1) Sauria 2 (1) 1 (1) Goose (?Anser) 2 (1) 3 (1) Charadrius vociferus 2 (1) Canis familiaris 1 (1) Bassariscus astutus 14 (1) Taxidea taxus 1 (1) Felis domesticus 1 (1) 2 (1) Lepus cf. californicus 2 (1) Sylvilagus audubonii 5 (2) cf. Sylvilagus 2 (1)

Management Division of New Mexico State material is of domestic forms and is similar to University, under contract with the city of El that noted by McEwan; it is not addressed fur- Paso, conducted archaeological excavations at ther here. the Cortez Parking Lot Site. The location in Most of the faunal sample examined by the downtown El Paso lies within the northeastern students came from Feature 15 (Table 1). The part of the old Chinatown area (Staski, 1985). lower parts of this feature represented a privy The recovered archaeological material is de- filled with trash. The uppermost levels were posited in the Centennial Museum collections concentrations of trash above the privy fill and at the University of Texas at El Paso. thought to be overflow from the same deposit; The faunal remains from portions of a sin- however, portions might be a continuation of gle, huge trash pit (Feature 3-3/14-14) were Feature 3-3/14-14 (Staski, 1985). Dates likely analyzed by McEwan (1985) and, until the cur- are from late in the 1800s rather than repre- rent study, represented the only bioarchaeo- senting earliest inhabitation (Staski, 1985). logical information available. She reported a The remainder of the faunal material (77 of total of some 22 taxa, ranging from a cricetine 1,060 items) was recovered from the upper- rodent to turtles to bear (Ursus); the primary most level of test trenches 2 and 10. These food base, as determined by estimated bio- trenches were excavated by heavy equipment mass, consisted of pork (25.3%), beef (70.7%), in 1984 to aid in the research design for the fish (8.6%; many of them marine and appar- 1985 excavations. Artifacts and faunal remains ently shipped from the Pacific Coast), and do- were recovered when seen and by a random, mestic birds: chicken (2.4%), duck (0.6%), one-shovel-full, screened sample from each ap- and turkey (0.1%). proximately 12 cubic feet of fill. The material Much of the faunal material that was exca- from test trench 2 (29 elements) likely is from vated in 1984 and 1985 remains unstudied. In an extension of the feature investigated by 2000, a small proportion of the unstudied fau- McEwan (1985). nal remains was identified by students as part Preliminary identifications were made by of the requirements for a University of Texas class members and were later checked by the at El Paso course in bioarchaeology. Several of author. Items were identified by direct com- the taxa identified were not reported by Mc- parison with faunal materials in the Laboratory Ewan (1985). The purpose of this note is to for Environmental Biology (LEB) collections at record and comment on those taxa and to ex- the University of Texas at El Paso. The identi- pand on the few comments by McEwan (1985) fied faunal materials are deposited under 711 regarding the turtle remains. The bulk of the catalogue numbers in the LEB Paleobiology 536 The Southwestern Naturalist vol. 49, no. 4

FIG.1 Dorsal (bottom) and ventral views of the domestic cat scapula from archaeological sample, El Paso, Texas. Cuts shaping the recovered piece are clearly visible, as are cuts on the ventral surface. December 2004 Notes 537 collection under site number 278, cross-refer- joint end cut away; in the other, the distal end enced to Centennial Museum numbers. was severed from the shaft by a slanting cut. Two groups of turtles were well represented, Seven elements were identified as cottontail and a number of elements of both showed rabbit and presumably represent the only local butchering cuts. The Emydidae is represented species, the desert cottontail (Sylvilagus audu- by individuals within the Chrysemys/Trachemys bonii). The proximal and distal ends of a right complex, most likely Chrysemys picta (painted tibiofibula had been severed, and a proximal turtle), Trachemys gaigeae (Big Bend slider), or left tibiofibula had been cut from the diaphy- both. The rear margin of the carapace, said to sis. The left radius and ulna from the same in- allow differentiation between these 2 species dividual had the distal ends cut away by a sin- (Degenhardt et al., 1996), is not represented gle action. in the material. The Trionychidae is represent- Although remains of the larger animals re- ed by numerous elements of Trionyx spiniferus, covered, such as pigs, often display saw-marks the spiny softshell turtle. Although McEwan or suggest utilization of a cleaver-like utensil or (1985) reported the presence of Chrysemys/ hatchet, observed butchering marks on the Pseudemys and Trionyx, numbers of remains in taxa treated here are primarily suggestive of the present sample differ strongly from those knife use. within her sample of 6,704 items: 72 emydids Utilization of the domestic forms reported is in this study compared to 28, and 136 Trionyx not surprising and would be expected among compared to 20. Chinese and non-Chinese alike. Likewise, lago- An unidentified medium-sized lizard is rep- morphs, easily obtained locally, might well resented by a humerus, femur, and innomi- have been used by both. A few Trionyx frag- nate. Recovered from 2 adjacent levels, likely 1 ments have been recovered from the nearby, individual is represented. post-railroad Kohlberg Parking Lot archaeo- Although the Anseriformes (waterfowl) was logical site, indicating use by other ethnic well represented by ducks of the genus Anas in groups (McEwan, 1984). However, use of bad- the sample reported by McEwan (1985), she ger and domestic cat as food items suggests ei- did not record geese. I identified 5 goose ele- ther cultural differences or desperation. ments, tentatively assigned to Anser; 3 display Turtles could have been collected from rel- butchering marks. The proximal half of a right atively nearby. The Rio Grande is less than 1.7 humerus and the distal quarter of a left hu- miles distant from the site (Staski, 1985), and merus were identified as killdeer (Charadrius an acequia approached to about one-quarter vociferus). Neither shows signs of human usage. mile or closer (Staski, 1984). Differences in One astragalus of a domestic dog was iden- numbers from the McEwan (1985) sample tified. The nature of preservation suggests it most likely are accidents of deposition. Most had been scavenged and passed through the remains from the current study are from up- digestive tract of another animal. Thirteen el- per portions of Feature 15 parts that likely ements of a ringtail (Bassariscus astutus) are are contemporaneous with 3-3/14-14 and present in the sample. Although epiphyses are might be an extension of those deposits (Stas- missing, M1 and M2 are erupted, suggesting ki, 1985). near-adult status. There is no indication of hu- The recovery of a number of ringtail bones man or carnivore usage. The proximal end of from a single individual, with both body and the ulna of a badger (Taxidea taxus) has the tip head elements represented, suggests a burial of the olecranon process severed and a medial or discard of an entire individual as a unit rath- cut into the bone at the semi-lunar notch; the er than utilization for food. Likewise, there is bone is broken off at the level of this cut. The no evidence to suggest skinning for the pelt. domestic cat is represented by a skull and low- Its presence suggests activity ranging into the er jaws, part of a cervical vertebra, and the an- Franklin Mountains north of the site, because teroventral portion of a butchered right scap- the location of the site on the Rio Grande ula (Fig. 1). floodplain is not ringtail habitat. Possession as Distal ends of 2 left femora are from a large a pet, such as occasionally occurs today, is a lagomorph, presumably the black-tailed jack- possibility for its presence. rabbit (Lepus californicus). One femur has the Badgers are wide ranging in the area, 538 The Southwestern Naturalist vol. 49, no. 4 though presumably not apt to wander into ur- State University, University Museum Occasional ban situations. Butchering marks indicate use Papers, Number 12:271–301. for food, because neither cut would be neces- MCEWAN, B. G. 1985. Appendix B: faunal analysis. In: Staski, E. Beneath the border city, volume 2: sary for skinning. Cats presumably ranged free- the overseas Chinese in El Paso. New Mexico ly within the town and were there for the tak- State University, University Museum Occasional ing. Papers, Number 13:262–283. STASKI, E. 1984. Beneath the border city: urban ar- chaeology in downtown El Paso. New Mexico LITERATURE CITED State University, University Museum Occasional Papers, Number 12:i–xiii, 1–355. DENGENHARDT, W. G., C. W. PAINTER, AND A. H. STASKI, E. 1985. Beneath the border city, volume 2: PRICE. 1996. Amphibians and reptiles of New the overseas Chinese in El Paso. New Mexico Mexico. University of New Mexico Press, Albu- State University, University Museum Occasional querque. Papers, Number 13:i–xii, 1–302. MCEWAN, B. G. 1984. Appendix C: faunal analysis. In: Staski, E. Beneath the border city: urban ar- Submitted 1 November 2002. Accepted 28 February 2004. chaeology in downtown El Paso. New Mexico Associate Editor was Cheri A. Jones.