An Annotated Check List of the Mammals of Michoacán, México

In the spring of 1943 a small, diverse team of biologists, ethnologists and local guides set out across Michoacán’s forests, lakes and farms, driven by a Mexican government program that encouraged native peoples to document their natural heritage. Their trek takes listeners from the quiet cottages beside Lake Pátzcuaro to the bustling streets of Tacámbaro and the pepper‑speckled fields near Zamora, painting a vivid picture of the region’s varied habitats and the people who welcomed the scientists into their world.

Against the dramatic backdrop of the newly erupting Paricutín volcano, the researchers gathered some 650 mammal specimens, each carefully recorded and later deposited at major university museums. The resulting annotated checklist blends meticulous field notes with observations of how ash and volcanic activity began to affect wildlife, offering a rare glimpse into mid‑century scientific adventure and the early efforts to map Mexico’s rich mammalian diversity.