Western North American Naturalist

Article Title

Range expansion of the collared peccary in New Mexico: potential for interactions between historically separate subspecies

Authors

Louis J. Lamit, New Mexico State University, Las CrucesFollow
Marguerite N. Hendrie, Pinnacle Mapping Technologies, Inc., Flagstaff, Arizona

Abstract

The collared peccary (Tayassu tajacu) is undergoing range expansion in the southwestern United States. Here we report sightings of the collared peccary from locations outside the known ranges of either of the subspecies, T. t. sonoriensis and T. t. angulatus, in south central New Mexico. Sightings include multiple individuals of different ages. This indicates that the collared peccary is expanding into previously unoccupied areas between the documented ranges of the 2 subspecies. We suggest that the possibility of gene flow between the 2 historically separate subspecies may have important evolutionary consequences.

Recommended Citation

Lamit, Louis J. and Hendrie, Marguerite N. (2009) "Range expansion of the collared peccary in New Mexico: potential for interactions between historically separate subspecies," Western North American Naturalist: Vol. 69: No. 2, Article 15.
Available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/wnan/vol69/iss2/15