Biogeography of Arkansas Mammals with Notes on Species of Questionable Status

摘要

Seventy-one native or re-introduced species of mammals were analyzed with respect to their geographical distributions and relationships to the four broad physiographical regions of Arkansas. Mammalian diversity in the Ozark Mountains, Ouachita Mountains/Arkansas River Valley, Gulf Coastal Plain, and Mississippi Alluvial Plain/Crowley's Ridge was not area dependent. The majority of mammalian species (44) occurs statewide with the greatest diversity in the interior highland regions. The Ozark Mountains contain the most species endemic to an area. Thirteen species which are of questionable status in Arkansas are discussed. The presence of the plains pocket gopher (Geomys bursarius), a second species of pocket gopher in Arkansas, is noted. New distributional maps for the desert shrew (Notiosorex crawfordi) and small-footed bat (Myotis leibii) are presented.