We report the contents of 138 badger stomachs collected in central Switzerland between 1973 and 1982. Fifty-three stomachs were classified as * empty' (ie containing less than 20 ml of material). The contents of the remaining 85 stomachs were analysed in terms of the volume of material in each of eight categories : voles, slugs, earthworms, wasps, cherries, plums, maize, and Other*. The main conclusions are :1) There were no sex differences either in the total volume of stomach contents, in the proportion of stomachs classified as * empty', or in the relative importance of different prey types.2) Earthworms (Lumbricus sp.) were the most important prey type overall, accounting for 25 % by volume of total stomach contents and occurring in 54 % of stomachs. Wasps, cherries, plums and maize each contributed between 10 and 20 % of total contents ; slugs and voles were less important prey.3) Earthworms were eaten frequently but were not usually present in large volumes in any one stomach. Wasps, cherries, plums and maize, by contrast, were eaten infrequently but in large volumes ; and sometimes they were the only prey eaten in a single night. 4) A variety of foods which were present in the environment and which are known to be eaten by badgers elsewhere (eg. acorns, apples, wheat) did not appear in the stomach contents.5) It is misleading to characterise badgers either as food specialists or as generalists. Consumption of any one food in any one night depends on a variety of factors, including availability of that food, availability of alternatives, intrinsic taste preferences and previous experience.Zusammenfassung. -Von 135 in den Jahren 1973-1982 gesammelten Dachsen wurde der Mageninhalt untersucht. Bei 53 fanden sich 20 ml oder weniger absiebbaren Inhalts ; sie wurden als « leer » nicht weiter analysiert. Der Inhalt der übrigen 85 wurde den folgenden Nahrungskategorien zugeordnet : Wühlmäuse, Nacktschnecken, Regenwürmer, Wespen, Kirschen, Zwetschgen/Pflaumen, « übriges ». Folgende Schlüsse werden gezogen :l. Beide Geschlechter haben sich gleichermassen ernährt (keine Unterschiede im Gesamtvolumen, in der Anzahl « leerer » Mägen und der Häufigkeit des Vorkommens der einzelnen Nahrungskategorien). Mammalia, t. 51, n° 4, 1987. Brought to you by | New York University Bobst Library Technical Servi Authenticated Download Date | 6/29/15 9:51 PM 560 MAMMALIA 2. Regenwürmer (Lumbricus sp.) bilden die Hauptnahrung (25 % des Gesamtvolumens, in 54 % der Mägen vorhanden). Wespen, Kirschen, Zwetschgen/Pflaumen und Mais machten je zwischen 10 und 20 % des Volumens aus. Wühlmäusen und Schnecken kam untergeordnete Bedeutung zu. 3. Regenwürmer wurden häufig gefressen, waren aber relativ selten die dominierende Beute. Wespen, Kirschen, Zwetschgen/Pflaumen und Mais dagegen wurden selten (entsprechend ihrem zeitlich begrenzten Angebot) gefressen, dann aber jeweils in grosser Menge, oft als einzige Nahrungskategorie pro Nacht. 4. Die Ausnutzung des durch den Menschen direkt (z.B. Mais, Kirschen) oder indirekt (z.B. Wühlmäuse, Regenwü...

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Cambarus (Jugicambarus) dubius Faxon, 1884 is a polychromatic montane burrowing crayfish with a long, turbulent taxonomic history since its original description by Walter Faxon in 1884. Over the years, many distinct color phases have been identified, with the majority of these being confined to a specific geographic or physiographic region in the central and southern Appalachians. Previous investigations of this species (e.g., Dewees 1972) were unable to discover consistent morphological differences among the various groups, and thus were unable to clarify what has long been considered a species complex. Due to lingering taxonomic issues, we herein re-describe, delimit and restrict the concept of C. dubius. We also describe a new species, Cambarus (Jugicambarus) pauleyi, from the same complex, which can be identified through the use of geographic distribution, coloration, and distinct morphological characters. Cambarus dubius sensu stricto, as defined here, is restricted to the "typical form" which has an overall orang-ish color pattern on the dorsal and lateral sides, with cream ventrally. The distribution of C. dubius s.s. is limited to the central and northern portions of the Allegheny Mountains and high elevations of the Appalachian Plateau in central West Virginia, western Maryland, and southcentral Pennsylvania. In contrast, C. pauleyi is endemic to high elevation wetlands (>700 m) in the Meadow and Greenbrier River basins in Greenbrier and Monroe counties, West Virginia. Cambarus pauleyi can be differentiated from C. dubius s.s. by 1) its blue dorsal coloration compared to the orange coloration of C. dubius s.s., 2) its large (palm depth/(palm length) ratio, and 3) its smaller (rostral width)/(rostral length) ratio. Cambarus pauleyi can be separated from other peripatric populations of C. dubius sensu lato that occur in the Meadow and Greenbrier River drainage by its 1) blue coloration compared to the orange and black coloration of the latter, 2) the smaller (palm depth)/(palm length) ratio in C. pauleyi, and 3) the deeply excavated rostrum of C. dubius compared to the moderately excavated rostrum of C. pauleyi. Cambarus pauleyi can be easily differentiated from both taxa by the presence of two subpalmer tubercles. Both C. dubius s.s and peripatric C. dubius lack subpalmer tubercles. Cambarus pauleyi has an extremely narrow geographic distribution and has possibly experienced a significant range reduction due to the conversion of wetlands into pastures, and should be considered "Endangered" according to American Fisheries Society listing criteria (Taylor et al. 2007).

A new species of burrowing crayfish, Cambarus (Jugicambarus) adustus, is described from Lewis County in northeastern Kentucky, USA. The new species is most similar morphologically to C. dubius. Cambarus adustus coloration differs from C. dubius by lacking red, orange and blue hues, and instead is brown over the entire body surface. Morphological differences between C. dubius and C. adustus exist in the form I male gonopod, with C. adustus possessing a caudal knob, while C. dubius does not. In addition, the lateral carapace of C. adustus is distinctly tuberculate, whereas in C. dubius the carapace lacks extensive tuberculation. Cambarus (J.) adustus appears to have an extremely small geographic range (~19.5 km2), and as such we suggest its consideration for both state and federal levels of protection.