MacArthur Agro-ecology Research Center
A division of Archbold Biological Station
300 Buck Island Ranch Road blkball.gif (842 bytes) Lake Placid, Florida 33852 USA
Phone: 863-699-0242 blkball.gif (842 bytes) FAX: 863-699-2217
Email: archbold@archbold-station.org

DeerCD1img0035.jpg (299 bytes) PigsCD2img0037.jpg (450 bytes) RedFoxCD1img0061.jpg (953 bytes)
To-to-bottom: white-tailed deer, feral hogs, red fox

MAMMALS of
BUCK ISLAND RANCH, Lake Placid, Florida:
A checklist

by Michael A. McMillian, 1999
Photos at Buck Island Ranch by Tom Bancroft


MAERC Home | Ranch Herps | Ranch Birds

This checklist includes mammals recorded from Buck Island Ranch, Highlands County, Florida; currently the MacArthur Agro-Ecology Research Center operated by Archbold Biological Station (ABS). A total of 31 species of mammals (24 native and 7 exotic) has been recorded from Buck Island Ranch as of 14 January 1997. Among the native species, the black bear, panther, and fox squirrel occur only rarely or sporadically on the Ranch. Nomenclature to the species level follows Jones et al. (1986) and subspecific terminology follows Hall (1981), exept for changes proposed by more recent studies. An asterisk denotes an exotic species.


Order Marsupialia [= Polyprotodontia] - marsupials

Family Didelphiidae - opossums

  • Virginia opossum  Didelphis virginiana pigra

Order Insectivora - moles and shrews

Family Soricidae - shrews

  • Least Shrew  Cryptotis parva floridana
  • Shorttail Shrew  Blarina carolinensis peninsulae

Family Talpidae - moles

  • Eastern Mole  Scalopus aquaticus australis

Order Chiroptera - bats

  • bat species (needs work)

Order Xenarthra - armadillos, sloths, and anteaters

Family Dasypodidae - armadillos

  • *Nine-banded armadillo  Dasypus novemcinctus mexicanus

 Order Lagomorpha - rabbits, hares, and pikas

Family Leporidae - rabbits and hares

  • Eastern Cottontail  Sylvilagus floridanus floridanus
  • Marsh Rabbit  Sylvilagus palustris paludicola

Order Rodentia - rodents

Family Sciuridae - squirrels

  • Eastern Gray Squirrel  Sciurus carolinensis extimus
  • Fox Squirrel  Sciurus niger shermani

 Family Cricetidae - [= Muridae] - native rats and mice

  • Eastern Harvest Mouse  Reithrodontomys humulis humulis
  • Cotton Mouse  Peromyscus gossypinus palmarius
  • Marsh Rice Rat  Oryzomys palustris natator
  • Hispid Cotton Rat  Sigmadon hispidus floridanus
  • Florida Water Rat  Neofiber alleni nigrescens

Family Muridae - introduced rats and mice

  • *Black Rat  Rattus rattus
  • *House Mouse  Mus musculus 

Order Carnivora - carnivores

Family Canidae - wolves, foxes, dogs, coyote

  • Coyote  Canis latrans
  • Red Fox  Vulpes fulva
  • Gray Fox  Urocyon cinereoargenteus floridanus
  • *Domestic Dog  Canis familiaris

Family Ursidae - bears

  • Black Bear  Ursus americanus floridanus

Family Procyonidae - raccoons, coatis, and allies

  • Raccoon  Procyon lotor elucus

Family Mustelidae - weasels, skunks, otters, and allies

  • River Otter  Lutra canadensis lataxina
  • Eastern Spotted Skunk  Spilogale putorius ambarvalis
  • Striped Skunk  Mephitis mephitis elongata

Family Felidae - cats

  • Florida Panther (Unconfirmed)  Felis concolor coryi
  • Bobcat  Lynx rufus floridanus
  • *House Cat Felis catus

Order Artiodactyla - even-toed ungulates

Family Suidae - swine

  • *Feral hog  Sus scrofa

Family Cervidae - deer, elk, moose, and allies

  • *Elk  Cervus canadensis
  • White-tail Deer  Odocoileus virginianus seminolus (?)

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blkball.gif (842 bytes)McMilliam, Michael A., 17 March 1999.
© Archbold Biological Station,  24 January 2001.
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