246 EXTINCT AND VANISHING MAMMALS 



the race improcera of the central and southern parts of the 

 peninsula. How far it may have ranged into the adjacent part 

 of Sonora is also unknown, but it may have already become 

 nearly extirpated. 



LOWER CALIFORNIA PUMA 



FELIS CONCOLOR IMPROCERA Phillips 



Felis improcera Phillips, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, vol. 25, p. 85, May 4, 1912 



("Calmalli, Lower California"). 

 FIG.: Phillips, 1912, pi. 5 (skull). 



Little seems to be known of this puma. The adult male 

 upon which the subspecies was founded is small, with a skull 

 of only 150 mm. in basal length, and of a rounder, less elongate 

 form than in neighboring races. The color is "dark fawn," 

 darker along the back, the general hue less reddish than in 

 F. c. azteca. 



This small puma is believed to be characteristic of central 

 and southern Lower California. Calmalli, the type locality, 

 lies in the Vizcaino Desert district, which occupies the middle 

 third of the peninsula and includes the great lava plateau, 

 with scattered mountains, low ridges, and groups of granite 

 mountains. Two remarkable plants are largely characteristic 

 of this region, the "cirio, " which forms polelike forests, and 

 the " elephant wood, " with fantastic massive trunks and small 

 branches. There is abundance also of giant and other cactuses. 

 In this arid region of the Lower Sonoran desert and in the Arid 

 Tropical area of southern Lower California, this little puma is 

 found. Practically nothing is recorded of it. Dr. Phillips be- 

 lieved it "probably a rare animal throughout the entire length 

 of the peninsula, " for he adds that he is informed by W. W. 

 Brown, Jr., that it occurs "even south to the vicinity of Cape 

 St. Lucas. " On account of its restricted habitat and the barren 

 country in which it lives, its numbers can not be large and are 

 not likely to increase. Unless changes come in this habitat, it 

 is likely to remain as it is except as it comes in contact with the 

 scattered ranches and interferes with stock raising. At the 

 present time there is no evidence at hand. 



