Vertebrate (Inventory)/other

From LagWiki

The other field of the Vertebrate section should be used to record any vertebrate items for which no other specific field exists on the form.

When listing a station in the other field, a description of the item should be included alongside the station.

Contents 1 Amphibians 1.1 Salamanders 1.2 Frogs 2 Bat mummies 3 Bat stains 4 Example 5 See also

Amphibians

Though reptiles have their own field on the form, amphibians do not and should be recorded as "other".

Salamanders

Salamanders are often found in caves but are rare in the Guadalupes and no true cave adapted species are known there, yet; but, there are a few caves where salamanders can be found in the Guads.

Frogs

Frogs found in caves are usually in damp locations and usually near an entrance of some kind with good access to food as they are not usually cave adapted.

Bat mummies

Bat mummies are the dehydrated remains of bats with skin intact. There is no separate field on the form for bat mummies so they should be inventoried as other. Bat mummies can be found on the floor or even still clinging to a wall or speleothem. Bat mummies are sometimes found covered with a growth which is usually a greenish color but could be several other colors making them hard to identify as bats. The color from this growth may remain long after the mummy is dehydrated.

Bat stains

A common sign left by bats are stains on the ceiling indicating that bats used that location for roosting. These stains are from the oils and dirt left by the bats. Claw marks on soft formations are more rarely observed and have their own inventory field. An accumulation of guano may be present below a location with bat stains.

Example

other: FF16 (Bat mummy)

See also

• Bat
• Bat Guano
• Bat Bones
• Bat Scratches
• Reptiles

Vertebrate (Inventory)/other is a part of the cave inventory project.