San Josecito Cave
San Josecito Cave
MÉXICO: NUEVO LEÓN. 2250 M.
General Description.—Arroyo-Cabrales and E. Johnson (2003): 1 km SSW Ejido de San Josecito and 8 km SW de Aramberri, 23° 57' 21" N, 99° 54' 45" W. The three natural entrances now open descend 12 to 30 m to the main chamber or to a tunnel leading to the chamber. A shaft some 30 m deep had been dug by local inhabitants in search of buried treasure.
Examination of the pit indicated some 30 m of fossiliferous deposits below the levels actually excavated.
Steadman et al. (1994) report that Stock's excavations went to an average depth of 12 m below the original surface and resulted in the recovery of about 100,000 bones. New
excavations (1988-1990) were in three units designated 533N 297E, 534N 197E, and 542N 196E. The first two are equivalent to the lowest levels excavated by Stock's crew; the third to the original
surface to 0.23 m.
Age.—Arroyo-Cabrales et al. (1995) report five radiocarbon dates ranging from 44,640 to 27,970. Steadman et al. (1994) that those dates refer to the first two grids
noted above and that unit 542N 196E is latest Pleistocene (most likely between 11,000 and 27,000 BP).
Comments.—The current environment (Cushing, 1945) is mountainous country that supports a forest cover of pine and oak in this vicinity. Type Locality of Sylvilagus leonensis Cushing 1945. Cushing (1945) remarks on the absence of Lepus despite the large number of rabbit bones in the deposits. Type locality of Phrynosoma josecitensis Brattstrom 1955. Type locality of Corynorhinus tetralophodon Handley 1955. Type locality of Meleagris crassipes Miller 1940.
Publications.—Arroyo-Cabrales 1991; *Arroyo-Cabrales and Johnson 2003; Arroyo-Cabrales et al. 1989; Arroyo-Cabrales et al. 1993; Arroyo-Cabrales et al. 1995; Brodkorb
1963, 1964, 1967, 1971; *Cushing 1945; Findley (1953); Handley 1955; Harris 1985; (*Harris 1990); (Harris and Crews 1983); Howard 1940, 1968, 1971, Jakway 1958, Jones 1958, Kurtén 1973, (Kurtén 1975); Kurtén and Anderson 1980, L. Miller 1933, 1940, 1943; Nowak 1979, Olsen 1984; Rea 1980; Russell 1960, 1968; Silva-Barcenas 1969; Steadman et al. 1994; Stock 1943, 1948, 1950, 1953; White 1970;
Fauna.—
REPTILIA
- Phrynosoma josecitensis Brattstrom 1955; Arroyo-Cabrales and Johnson 2003.
- Phrynosoma orbiculare Brattstrom 1955.
AVES
- Nycticorax nycticorax Brodkorb 1963;
- Cf. Histrionicus
- Gymnogyps californianus amplus Brodkorb 1964;
- Coragyps occidentalis Brodkorb 1964; Howard, 1968 (Coragyps occidentalis mexicanus). Steadman et al. (1994) and Arroyo-Cabrales and Johnson (2003) treat as Coragyps
atratus.
- Teratornis merriami Brodkorb 1964;
- Elanus caeruleus Brodkorb 1964;
- Parabuteo unicinctus Brodkorb 1964;
- Aquila chrysaetos Brodkorb 1964;
- Spizaetus grinnelli Brodkorb 1964;
- Wetmoregyps daggetti Brodkorb 1964;
- Neogyps errans Brodkorb 1964;
- Neophrontops americanus Brodkorb 1964;
- Circus cyaneus Brodkorb 1964;
- Caracara plancus prelutosus Brodkorb 1964; Howard 1940. Treated as Caracara plancus by Steadman et al. (1994) and Arroyo-Cabrales and Johnson (2003).
- Falco mexicanus Brodkorb 1964;
- Falco sparverius Brodkorb 1964;
- Cyrtonyx montezumae Brodkorb 1964;
- ? Dendrortyx Jakway 1958
- Meleagris crassipes Arroyo-Cabrales and Johnson 2003; Brodkorb 1964; Miller 1940; Rea 1980; Steadman et al. 1994.
- Fulica americana Brodkorb 1967;
- Rallus natator (as Epirallus natator) Brodkorb 1967. Steadman et al. (1994) treat as Rallus elegans/longirostris.
- Numenius victima Brodkorb 1967; Olsen 1984. Steadman et al. (1994) and Arroyo-Cabrales and Johnson (2003) treat as Numenius cf. americanus.
- Burhinus sp. Howard, 1971;
- Columba fasciata Brodkorb 1971;
- Zenaida macroura Brodkorb 1971;
- Rhynchopsitta pachyrhyncha Brodkorb 1971.
- Rhynchopsitta phillipsi Arroyo-Cabrales and Johnson 2003. As Rhynchopsitta cf. R. terrisi Steadman et al. 1994.
- Geococcyx californianus conklingi Brodkorb 1971; Harris 1985;
- Tyto alba Brodkorb 1971;
- Otus asio Jakway 1958; (not listed by Brodkorb l97l)
- Otus flammeolus Brodkorb 1971;
- Otus trichopsis Brodkorb 1971;
- Bubo virginianus Brodkorb 1971;
- Bubo sp.
- Glaucidium ? gnoma Brodkorb 1971;
- Strix occidentalis Brodkorb 1971;
- Aegolius acadicus not listed by Brodkorb 1971— Miller 1933;
- Asio otus Brodkorb 1971;
- Ciccaba virgata Brodkorb 1971;
- Phalaenoptilus nuttalli Brodkorb 1971;
- Colaptes auratus Brodkorb 1971;
- Corvus corax L. Miller 1943; Jakway 1958;
MAMMALIA
- Sorex cinereus Harris 1985; Jakway 1958;
- Sorex saussurei Harris 1985; Jakway 1958; Kurtén and Anderson 1980
- Cryptotis mexicana Harris 1985; Jakway 1958; Kurtén and Anderson 1980
- Plecotus tetralophodon *Handley 1955 (as Corynorhinus tetralophodon); Harris 1985; Jakway l958; Kurtén and Anderson 1980. Treated as Corynorhinus townsendii by
Arroyo-Cabrales and Johnson 2003.
- Lasiurus cinereus Harris 1985; *Jones 1958; Kurtén and Anderson 1980
- Eptesicus fuscus Harris 1985; *Jones 1958 (as Eptesicus cf. grandis);
- Leptonycteris nivalis (check if current name is sanborni) Harris l985; *Jones 1958; Kurtén and Anderson 1980
- Desmodus stocki Harris 1985; *Jones 1958; Kurtén and Anderson 1980; Arroyo-Cabrales and Johnson 2003;
- Nothrotheriops shastensis Harris 1985; Kurten and Anderson 1980;
- Sylvilagus leonensis Harris 1985; Jakway 1958; Kurtén and Anderson 1980; Arroyo-Cabrales and Johnson 2003.
- Sylvilagus sp. Harris 1985; Jakway 1958;
- Sciurus ? alleni Harris 1985; Jakway 1958; Kurtén and Anderson 1980;
- Marmota sp. Harris 1985; Jakway 1958; Kurtén and Anderson 1980;
- Spermophilus cf. spilosoma Harris 1985; Jakway 1958; Kurtén and Anderson 1980;
- Thomomys umbrinus Russell 1960; Kurtén and Anderson 1980;
- Cratogeomys castanops Harris 1985; Jakway 1958; Kurtén and Anderson 1980; Russell 1960;
- Pappogeomys sp. Harris 1985; Jakway 1958; Russell 1960;
- Orthogeomys (Heterogeomys) onerosus Harris 1985; Jakway 1958; Kurtén and Anderson 1980; Russell 1960 (as Heterogeomys onerosus), 1968;
- Liomys irroratus Harris 1985; Jakway 1958; Kurtén and Anderson 1980;
- Peromyscus boylii Harris 1985; Jakway 1958; Kurtén and Anderson 1980;
- Sigmodon hispidus Harris 1985; Jakway 1958;
- Reithrodontomys megalotis Harris 1985; Jakway 1958; Kurtén and Anderson 1980;
- Neotoma albigula Harris 1985; Jakway 1958; Kurtén and Anderson 1980;
- Synaptomys cooperi Harris 1985; Jakway 1958; Kurtén and Anderson 1980;
- Microtus mexicanus Harris 1985; Jakway 1958; Kurten and Anderson 1980;
- ? Coendou Harris 1985; White 1970;
- Canis lupus Harris 1985; Nowak 1979;
- Canis latrans Harris 1985; Kurtén and Anderson 1980;
- Canis dirus Harris 1985; Jakway 1958; Kurtén and Anderson 1980;
- Cuon alpinus Harris 1985; Kurtén and Anderson 1980;
- Tremarctos mexicanus Stock 1950. Tremarctos floridanus Kurten 1966, Kurtén and Anderson 1980; Jakway 1958; Arroyo-Cabrales and Johnson 2003.
- Ursus americanus Kurtén 1966, Jakway 1958;
- Bassariscus astutus Hall, 1960 (as Bassariscus sonoitensis); Harris 1990; Kurtén and Anderson 1980;
- Mustela frenata Harris 1985; Kurtén and Anderson 1980 (M. reliquus as syn.). Arroyo-Cabrales and Johnson 2003 treat as Mustela reliquus
- Conepatus prob. mesoleucus Harris 1985; Kurtén and Anderson 1980
- Mephitis macroura Harris 1985; Jakway 1958;
- Spilogale putorius leucoparia Harris 1985;
- Taxidea taxus Harris 1985;
- Felis concolor Harris 1985; Kurtén 1973; Kurtén and Anderson 1980;
- Felis yagouaroundi Harris 1985; Kurtén and Anderson 1980;
- Panthera leo atrox Harris 1985; é;
- Panthera onca Harris 1985; Kurtén 1973; Kurtén and Anderson 1980;
- Smilodon fatalis Harris 1985; Kurtén 1973;
- Lynx rufus Harris 1985; Kurtén 1973;
- Equus conversidens leoni Stock 1953; Equus conversidens Harris 1985; Jakway 1958. Equus alaskae Arroyo-Cabrales and Johnson 2003.
- Camelidae Harris 1985; Jakway 1958;
- Navahoceros fricki Harris 1985; Kurtén 1975; Kurtén and Anderson 1980
- Stockoceros conklingi Harris 1985; Kurtén and Anderson 1980
- [Preptoceros sp. Jakway 1958]
- Euceratherim collinum Harris 1985;
- Oreamnos harringtoni Harris 1985; Kurtén and Anderson 1980 (O. nr. harrington according to Harington 1971)
Last Update: 17 Jan 2007