Conkling Cavern UTEP 90

NM: Doña Ana Co.: 1399 m

General Description.—Vertical section (from museum model) shown in Conkling (1932). He mentions that the cavern was filled completely to within about 8 ft. "from the chimney-like neck at the entrance." "Examination of the cave deposit indicates that some of the material is of the nature of wind-blown dune sand redeposited in old river beds." In his list, he has fresh water shells and some plant material (root of Algaroba or Mesquite tree; plant leaves; branch Sotol Plant).

The cave site is near the eastern side of Bishop's Cap; Shelter Cave is high on the western side.

Age.—Howard and Miller (1933) point out the difficulty of trying to tell what is Pleistocene and what is not. Conclude that Conkling Cavern older than Shelter Cave and that at least material below the water-lain stratum is Pleistocene, and that in all probability some of the Shelter Cave deposits are Pleistocene.

Comments.—In comparing Conkling Cavern and Shelter Cave, note that in CC, great numbers of Coragyps occidentalis (47 specimens according to Conkling 1932) are present while Cathartes aura is scarce (one specimen according to Conkling 1932), while the first is absent and the second abundant in SC. Note that Conkling's identifications are based on lists supplied by Stock for mammals and Howard for birds— both were very preliminary and shouldn't be taken too seriously.

Publications.—*(Brattstom 1964); Bryan 1929; (*Conkling 1932); Harris 1985; Howard 1968; Howard and Miller 1933; Nowak 1979; Rea 1980; Smartt 1977; Stewart 1951; Stock 1936; Van Devender et al. 1976.

Fauna.—

• Branta canadensis Brodkorb 1964
• Cathartes aura Brodkorb 1964
• Coragyps occidentalis Howard, 1968,1971; Brodkorb 1964
• Gymnogyps californianus prob amplus Howard, 1971; Brodkorb 1964 as G. c.
• Buteo jamaicensis (check) not in Brodkorb 1964
• Buteo swainsoni Brodkorb 1964
• Haliaeetus leucocephalus Brodkorb 1964
• Aquila chrysaetos Brodkorb 1964
• Caracara prelutosa Howard 1971; Brodkorb 1964
• Falco sparverius Brodkorb 1964
• Centrocercus urophasianus Brodkorb 1964
• Lophortyx sp. Brodkorb 1964 (as 1. ? gambeli )
• Meleagris gallopavo Brodkorb 1964; Rea 1980
• Geococcyx californianus conklingi [as Geococcyx conklingi Howard 1931a, 1971; Brodkorb 1971]
• Tyto alba
• Speotyto cunicularia Brodkorb 1971
• Asio otus Brodkorb 1964
• Colaptes auratus Brodkorb 1964
• Eremophila alpestris Howard and Miller 1933
• Corvus corax Howard and Miller 1933
• Gymnorhynus cyanocephalus Howard and Miller 1933
• Turdus migratorius Howard and Miller 1933
• Sialia sp.
• Agelaius ? phoeniceus Howard and Miller 1933
• Carpodacus mexicanus Howard and Miller 1933
• Pipilo erythrophthalmus Howard and Miller 1933
• Homo sapiens
• ? Mylodon sp. (I doubt)
• ? Megalonyx sp. (I doubt)
• Nothrotheriops sp.
• Lepus sp.
• Sylvilagus cf auduboni
• Sylvilagus nuttallii/floridanus
• Spermophilus sp.
• Tamias cf cinereicollis
• Cynomys cf. ludovicianus
• Dipodomys sp.
• Thomomys bottae
• Geomys sp.
• Microtus mexicanus Smartt 1977
• Peromyscus sp.
• Canis dirus Nowak 1979
• Canis latrans
• Vulpes velox
• Urocyon sp.
• Bassariscus sp.
• Ursus americanus/Arctodus
• Mustela sp.
• Spilogale putorius
• Mephitis mephitis
• Taxidea sp.
• Felis concolor
• Lynx cf rufus
• Equus sp.
• Hemiauchenia sp.
• Camelops sp.
• Antilocapra sp.
• Stockoceros sp. [as Tetrameryx Brattstrom 1964]
• Capromeryx sp. (check)
• Bison sp.

Last Update: 10 Mar 2008