SYSTEMATIC LIST OF THE FUR ANIMALS 

 OF LOUISIANA 



In our modern system of classification and scientific naming of our 

 wild life the lowest forms are placed first in a systematic list. When the 

 scientific name of an animal is written the genus and species name is 

 used, as Didelphis virginiana, which is bestowed on the common opossum 

 of the eastern United States. But as there are other forms of this mammal 

 the species is split and those that differ slightly are called subspecies and 

 our very common gulf opossum falls in this class and as a subspecies of the 

 Virginia animal it has been named Didelphis virginana pig) a. Therefore, 

 when there are subspecies it is necessary to repeat the species name of the 

 typical animal and the first-named opossum becomes Didelphis virginiana 

 virginiana. Frequently scientific names are abbreviated, as D. v. virginiana. 

 Scientific usage prescribes that the name of the original describe! - of the 

 form appears, but when the author's name is set in parentheses it indicates 

 that the scientific name as first set down has been changed because of a rule 

 of priority or some other law observed by naturalists. 



Although measurements today are usually made by the metric system, 

 those in the following list appear in inches, and tenths of inches, as it is 

 believed that readers of this bulletin will more readily comprehend the 

 sizes, for most of us are accustomed to thinking in inches and not in milli- 

 meters. To convert millimeters into inches: 25 mm. equal 1 inch. Total 

 length means the distance, in a straight line, from the tip of the nose to 

 the tip o the tail, but must not include the hair of the tai . The length of 

 the tail vertebrate should be taken from the root of the tail to the fleshy 

 tip of the tail. An accurate method of securing the tail measurement is to 

 bend the tail upwards at right angles from the back and measure from the 

 base to the last bit of skin on the tail. The length of the hind foot should 

 be taken from the edge of the neel to the tip of the longest claiv. In taking 

 this measurement the foot is extended and kept flat, so that the curva- 

 ture of the toes is straightened out. These are the methods recommended 

 by H. E. Anthony in his recent field book of North American mammals. 



For the purposes of identification it should be remembered that mam- 

 mals vary in size, in color, and in the measurements or proportions of 

 parts, and that the lengths given are average measurements of the different 

 species. There is always a wide variation in the color of a coat of a mam- 

 mal and frequently pure white, or albino, specimens are seen, and the black 

 or melanistic, phase is infrequently found. 



The following descriptions and scientific determinations, and ranges 

 are set down with the knowledge that our Louisiana mammals, particularly 

 our far animals, have not received the scientific attention they deserve. 



OPOSSUMS 



Common, or Virginia Opcssum. Didelphis virginiana virginiana Kerr. 



Measurements.— Total length, 33 inches; tail vertebrate, 12.5 inches; 

 hind foot, 3 inches. 



R an g e . — From the Great Lakes southward to Oklahoma, northern Texas, 

 and nearly to the Gulf Coast ; east to the lower Hudson valley and 

 Long Island. This is the common opossum found in Louisiana 

 away from the Gulf Coast marshes and swamps. 



inscription. — The pelage is composed of very long guard hairs and 

 short, soft underfur. The guard hairs are a mixture of white and 

 black, the white hairs very long and exceeding the black in length. 



