The Tiburón Island mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus sheldoni) or Sheldon's mule deer, is a subspecies of the mule deer (Ococoileus hemionus) that is native to Tiburón Island, Sonora, Mexico.[1][2][3]
| Tiburón Island mule deer | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Artiodactyla |
| Family: | Cervidae |
| Subfamily: | Capreolinae |
| Genus: | Odocoileus |
| Species: | |
| Subspecies: | O. h. sheldoni
|
| Trinomial name | |
| Odocoileus hemionus sheldoni Goldman, 1939
| |
Anatomy
editThe Tiburón Island mule deer differs from mainland populations by its variation in color, size, and dental measurements. Other changes may or may not be evident on the subspecies.[1]
Distribution and habitat
editThe Tiburón Island mule deer is native to Tiburón Island, Sonora, Mexico, where it lives in entirely semi-arid to arid zones. Its range is within the Islas del Golfo de California Biosphere Reserve, which covers over 200 islands off the coast of western Mexico.[1]
Classification and conservation
editThe Tiburón Island mule deer is also called the "Tiburon Island mule deer" in most English speaking countries, for the acute accent is not needed.[2][3] It is still undecided if the Tiburón Island mule deer is a valid subspecies or not, for it may be a synonym of either the burro mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus eremicus), or the peninsular mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus peninsulae).[1]
The Tiburón Island mule deer is listed as "Vulnerable" by many sources, for its natural range is being threatened by feral dogs, coyotes, and poaching. The mule deer population on the island was at 869 in 1980, and 650 in 1993, showing its gradual decline over the years.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e Alminas, Heffelfinger, Statham, Latch (March 23, 2021). "Phylogeography of Cedros and Tiburón Island Mule Deer in North America's Desert Southwes". Oxford Academic. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ a b "Tiburon Island Mule Deer (Subspecies Odocoileus hemionus sheldoni)". iNaturalist Canada. Retrieved 2023-05-14.
- ^ a b "Odocoileus hemionus sheldoni Goldman, 1939". ITIS - Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved May 13, 2023.