Mammals from Tamaulipas, Mexico

In this concise but richly detailed study, the author surveys the mammalian fauna of Tamaulipas, a Mexican state that stretches from temperate highlands into the tropical lowlands. By examining a modest but carefully gathered collection taken along the Pan‑American Highway in 1949‑1950, the work offers a snapshot of a region where scientific knowledge has long lagged behind neighboring areas. The narrative walks listeners through the varied habitats—from humid slopes of the Sierra Madre Oriental to the dry corridors surrounding Ciudad Victoria—while explaining how each specimen was captured and catalogued.

Among the most striking findings are several tropical species reaching farther north than previously recorded, such as the four‑eyed opossum and the red‑bellied squirrel. The author also describes the discovery of vampire bats roosting in two local caves, noting the specific trapping techniques and elevations involved. These observations not only broaden our understanding of species distributions at the edge of the Nearctic and Neotropical zones but also lay the groundwork for future, more extensive surveys of the area’s wildlife.