Bird and Mammal Collections

The collections of avian and mammalian material at UTEP comprise about 1725 and 8400 prepared specimens, respectively. All collection data are computerized, and the mammal collection meets the minimum standards suggested by the American Society of Mammalogists. Arthur H. Harris has been in charge of these collections since 1965, except for a 7-year period (1977-83) in which Richard A. Smartt served as curator. More recently, Scott Cutler has been very active with the avian collection.

Since their initial organization, the primary emphasis in building the higher vertebrate holdings has been in the acquisition of skeletal material, rather than more traditional skin-skull/study skin specimens. As a result, significant collections of post-cranial osteological material have accrued. Overall composition by type of specimen preparation is approximately as follows: Mammals: Study skins with skulls and postcranial skeletons, 60%; skeletons only, 17%; skulls only, 7%; skins and skulls only, 4%; skins only, 2%; partial skeletons, 2%; others (principally alcoholics), 1%; Birds: Complete skeletons, 54%; study skins with postcranial skeletons, 23%; skins only, 16%; others (principally partial skeletons), 7%.

Geographic coverage of the mammalian material is largely restricted to the southwestern United States and is especially thorough for southern New Mexico and the El Paso vicinity. The actual breakdown of the mammal collection composition is New Mexico, 45%; Texas, 30%; other U. S., 21%; México, 2%; other world, or unknown, 2%. The avian material with reliable locality data is mostly from the United States (79%), but there is also a significant component of exotic or native taxa with inadequate collection data.

Checklists of El Paso Region birds and mammals are available.

Last Update: 3 July 1999.