Howell's Ridge Cave

Howell's Ridge Cave UTEP 32

NM: Grant Co.: NW 1/4 SW 1/4 SEC. 32, T27S, R16W. 1675 m

General Description.—Vertical chimney in U-Bar Limestone; northern exposure. Howells Ridge Cave is located in the Little Hatchet Mountains in southern Grant County, New Mexico.

Comments.—Herp specimens at UTEP not yet checked against publications. Note transposition of the 13,000-year date— is correct?

Age.—Wisconsin/Holocene (Harris 1985). Depth 40-50, 2470 ± 120, A-1574; 70-80, 3330 ± 170, A-1354; 70-90, 3910 ± 80, A-1619; 110-120, 6700 ± 325, A-1429 + A-1430; 140-150, 930 ± 140, A-1659; 150-160, 1170 ± 140, A-1658; 150-160, 4690 ± 800, A-1575; <134, 13,640 ± 220, A-1557. Emslie 1987: on unspecified condor bone reported by Van Devender and Worthington (1977), 13,460±220 (AA-1557).

Publications.—(Emslie 1987); Harris, 1977b, 1985; Howard 1962, 1964, 1968; Rea 1980; Smartt 1977; Van Devender and Worthington, 1977.

Fauna.—

AVES

• Anabernicula gracilenta "sp. only", Howard, 1964; Howard, 1964, 1971; Brodkorb 1964
• Anas acuta tent Howard, 1962; Brodkorb 1964
• Anas crecca carolinensis tent Howard, 1962; Brodkorb 1964
• Aythya tent americana tent Howard, 1962; Brodkorb 1964
• Aythya tent collaris/affinis tent Howard, 1962;Brodkorb 1964
• Coragyps occidentalis Howard, 1962, 1968; Brodkorb 1964
• Gymnogyps californianus amplus Howard, 1962, 1971; Brodkorb 1964
• Aquila chrysaetos Howard, 1962
• Spizaetus willetti Howard, 1962; Brodkorb 1964
• Buteo jamaicensis prob Howard, 1962
• Falco mexicanus Howard, 1962
• Meleagris crassipes Howard, 1962, tent assigned to M. gallopavo Brodkorb 1964 as M. gallopavo
• Centrocercus urophasianus Howard, 1962; Brodkorb 1964
• Oreortyx tent picta tent Howard, 1962; Brodkorb 1964
• Numenius americanus Howard, 1962; Brodkorb 1967
• Zenaida macroura
• Tyto alba Howard, 1962; Brodkorb 1971
• Bubo virginianus Howard, 1962; Brodkorb 1971
• Asio otus (Asio wilsonianus—, 1962); Brodkorb 1
• Corvus corax Howard, 1962

• Cryptotis parva Smartt 1977
• Notiosorex crawfordi Smartt 1977
• Sylvilagus sp. Smartt 1977
• Lepus townsendii UTEP
• Spermophilus sp. Smartt 1977
• Cynomys ludovicianus
• Thomomys bottae
• Perognathus sp. (large)
• Perognathus sp. (small)
• Dipodomys spectabilis
• Dipodomys sp. (small)
• Reithrodontomys sp. Smartt 1977
• Sigmodon sp.
• Neotoma sp.
• Microtus mexicanus Smartt 1977
• Microtus pennsylvanicus
• Microtus montanus Smartt 1977
• Microtus ochrogaster
• Vulpes or Urocyon
• Ursus americanus Smartt 1977
• Spilogale putorius
• Horse Howard, 1962
• Camel Howard, 1962

Last Update: 7 September 1998.