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Rafinesque’s Mammals

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By Eastern Ecological Science Center April 8, 2020

The Challenge: Taxonomic nomenclature relies, in part, upon an accurate taxonomic history in order to establish the correct name for a taxon. Constantine S. Rafinesque (1783–1840), was a knowledgeable North American natural historian who was is responsible for describing and naming such iconic American mammals as the mule deer [Odocoileus hemionus (Rafinesque, 1817)] and the white-footed mouse [Peromyscus leucopus (Rafinesque, 1818)], among others. Yet, many of his names have been lost or forgotten, leaving a gap in our historical perspective of the early development of science in the post-colonial United States. 

The Science: The current project seeks to seek out and accurately document all of the mammalian taxonomic names proposed Rafinesque, many of which appear in extremely obscure journals and other publications. The next step is to evaluate the names in their historical context. Although Rafinesque was a gifted field biologist, he could be extremely credible.  In at least two cases so far documented, he unknowingly described a series of new species based on the fraudulent accounts of others.  

The Future: This project will lead to a comprehensive evaluation of Rafinesque’s mammals that will contribute to our understanding of the accumulation of knowledge about the North American mammal fauna, as well as to the individual organisms themselves.

Below are publications associated with this project.

Pranked by Audubon: Constantine S. Rafinesque's description of John James Audubon's imaginary Kentucky mammals

The North American naturalist Constantine S. Rafinesque spent much of the year 1818 engaged in a solo journey down the Ohio River Valley to explore parts of what was then the western United States. Along the way, he visited a number of fellow naturalists, and he spent more than a week at the Henderson, Kentucky, home of artist and ornithologist John James Audubon. During the succeeding two years,
Authors
Neal Woodman
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Eastern Ecological Science Center

Who invented the mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus)? On the authorship of the fraudulent 1812 journal of Charles Le Raye

The captivity journal of Charles Le Raye was first published in 1812 as a chapter in A topographical description of the state of Ohio, Indiana Territory, and Louisiana, a volume authored anonymously by a late officer in the U. S. Army. Le Raye was purported to be a French Canadian fur trader who, as a captive of the Sioux, had travelled across broad portions of the Missouri and Yellowstone river d
Authors
Neal Woodman
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Eastern Ecological Science Center

Rafinesque’s names for western American mammals, including the earliest scientific name for the coyote (Canis latrans Say, 1822), based on the apocryphal journal of Charles Le Raye

In 1817, the naturalist Constantine S. Rafinesque named nine new species of mammals from the American West, indicating the recently published journal of Charles Le Raye as the primary source for his descriptions. Le Raye was purported to be a French Canadian fur trader who, as a captive of the Sioux, had traveled across broad portions of the Missouri and Yellowstone river drainages a few years bef
Authors
Neal Woodman
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Eastern Ecological Science Center

Shippingport, Kentucky, is the type locality for the white-footed mouse, Peromyscus leucopus (Rafinesque, 1818) (Mammalia: Rodentia: Cricetidae)

The white-footed mouse, Musculus leucopus Rafinesque, 1818 (= Peromyscus leucopus), is a common small mammal that is widespread in the eastern and central United States. Its abundance in many habitats renders it ecologically important, and its status as a reservoir for hantavirus and Lyme disease gives the species medical and economic significance. The recognition of two cytotypes and up to 17 mor
Authors
Neal Woodman
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Eastern Ecological Science Center

The type localities of the mule deer, Odocoileus hemionus (Rafinesque, 1817), and the Kansas white-tailed deer, Odocoileus virginianus macrourus (Rafinesque, 1817), are not where we thought they were

Among the iconic mammals of the North American West is the mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus). This species and a western subspecies of the white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus macrourus) were two of seven mammals originally named and described as new species in 1817 by Constantine S. Rafinesque. Rafinesque never saw the animals that he named. Instead, he followed the then-acceptable practice of
Authors
Neal Woodman
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Eastern Ecological Science Center

The identity of the enigmatic "Black Shrew" (Sorex niger Ord, 1815)

The scientific name Sorex niger Ord, 1815 (Mammalia, Soricidae) was originally applied to a North American species that George Ord called the “Black Shrew.” The origin of the name “Black Shrew,” however, was obscure, and Samuel Rhoads subsequently wrote that the species represented by this name could not be determined. The names Sorex niger Ord and Black Shrew have since been mostly forgotten. Two
Authors
Neal Woodman
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Eastern Ecological Science Center

This shrew is a jumping mouse (Mammalia, Dipodidae): Sorex dichrurus Rafinesque 1833 is a synonym of Zapus hudsonius (Zimmermann 1780)

Constantine S. Rafinesque described Sorex dichrurus as a shrew in 1833, based on a specimen he found in a proprietary museum near Niagara Falls on the New York/Ontario border. The name subsequently has been ignored by the scientific community. By describing this specimen as a shrew and ascribing it to the genus Sorex, Rafinesque clearly indicated that his species should be considered a member of t
Authors
Neal Woodman
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Eastern Ecological Science Center

Below are news stories associated with this project.

The Case of the Naturalist’s Prank

The Case of the Naturalist’s Prank

Featuring fake fishes, made-up mammals, and taxonomic tomfoolery

Read Article
The Case of the Misplaced Deer

The Case of the Misplaced Deer

Featuring misplaced deer, the Lewis & Clark Expedition, and a dishonest fur trader

Read Article

The Challenge: Taxonomic nomenclature relies, in part, upon an accurate taxonomic history in order to establish the correct name for a taxon. Constantine S. Rafinesque (1783–1840), was a knowledgeable North American natural historian who was is responsible for describing and naming such iconic American mammals as the mule deer [Odocoileus hemionus (Rafinesque, 1817)] and the white-footed mouse [Peromyscus leucopus (Rafinesque, 1818)], among others. Yet, many of his names have been lost or forgotten, leaving a gap in our historical perspective of the early development of science in the post-colonial United States. 

The Science: The current project seeks to seek out and accurately document all of the mammalian taxonomic names proposed Rafinesque, many of which appear in extremely obscure journals and other publications. The next step is to evaluate the names in their historical context. Although Rafinesque was a gifted field biologist, he could be extremely credible.  In at least two cases so far documented, he unknowingly described a series of new species based on the fraudulent accounts of others.  

The Future: This project will lead to a comprehensive evaluation of Rafinesque’s mammals that will contribute to our understanding of the accumulation of knowledge about the North American mammal fauna, as well as to the individual organisms themselves.

Below are publications associated with this project.

Pranked by Audubon: Constantine S. Rafinesque's description of John James Audubon's imaginary Kentucky mammals

The North American naturalist Constantine S. Rafinesque spent much of the year 1818 engaged in a solo journey down the Ohio River Valley to explore parts of what was then the western United States. Along the way, he visited a number of fellow naturalists, and he spent more than a week at the Henderson, Kentucky, home of artist and ornithologist John James Audubon. During the succeeding two years,
Authors
Neal Woodman
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Eastern Ecological Science Center

Who invented the mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus)? On the authorship of the fraudulent 1812 journal of Charles Le Raye

The captivity journal of Charles Le Raye was first published in 1812 as a chapter in A topographical description of the state of Ohio, Indiana Territory, and Louisiana, a volume authored anonymously by a late officer in the U. S. Army. Le Raye was purported to be a French Canadian fur trader who, as a captive of the Sioux, had travelled across broad portions of the Missouri and Yellowstone river d
Authors
Neal Woodman
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Eastern Ecological Science Center

Rafinesque’s names for western American mammals, including the earliest scientific name for the coyote (Canis latrans Say, 1822), based on the apocryphal journal of Charles Le Raye

In 1817, the naturalist Constantine S. Rafinesque named nine new species of mammals from the American West, indicating the recently published journal of Charles Le Raye as the primary source for his descriptions. Le Raye was purported to be a French Canadian fur trader who, as a captive of the Sioux, had traveled across broad portions of the Missouri and Yellowstone river drainages a few years bef
Authors
Neal Woodman
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Eastern Ecological Science Center

Shippingport, Kentucky, is the type locality for the white-footed mouse, Peromyscus leucopus (Rafinesque, 1818) (Mammalia: Rodentia: Cricetidae)

The white-footed mouse, Musculus leucopus Rafinesque, 1818 (= Peromyscus leucopus), is a common small mammal that is widespread in the eastern and central United States. Its abundance in many habitats renders it ecologically important, and its status as a reservoir for hantavirus and Lyme disease gives the species medical and economic significance. The recognition of two cytotypes and up to 17 mor
Authors
Neal Woodman
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Eastern Ecological Science Center

The type localities of the mule deer, Odocoileus hemionus (Rafinesque, 1817), and the Kansas white-tailed deer, Odocoileus virginianus macrourus (Rafinesque, 1817), are not where we thought they were

Among the iconic mammals of the North American West is the mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus). This species and a western subspecies of the white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus macrourus) were two of seven mammals originally named and described as new species in 1817 by Constantine S. Rafinesque. Rafinesque never saw the animals that he named. Instead, he followed the then-acceptable practice of
Authors
Neal Woodman
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Eastern Ecological Science Center

The identity of the enigmatic "Black Shrew" (Sorex niger Ord, 1815)

The scientific name Sorex niger Ord, 1815 (Mammalia, Soricidae) was originally applied to a North American species that George Ord called the “Black Shrew.” The origin of the name “Black Shrew,” however, was obscure, and Samuel Rhoads subsequently wrote that the species represented by this name could not be determined. The names Sorex niger Ord and Black Shrew have since been mostly forgotten. Two
Authors
Neal Woodman
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Eastern Ecological Science Center

This shrew is a jumping mouse (Mammalia, Dipodidae): Sorex dichrurus Rafinesque 1833 is a synonym of Zapus hudsonius (Zimmermann 1780)

Constantine S. Rafinesque described Sorex dichrurus as a shrew in 1833, based on a specimen he found in a proprietary museum near Niagara Falls on the New York/Ontario border. The name subsequently has been ignored by the scientific community. By describing this specimen as a shrew and ascribing it to the genus Sorex, Rafinesque clearly indicated that his species should be considered a member of t
Authors
Neal Woodman
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Eastern Ecological Science Center

Below are news stories associated with this project.

The Case of the Naturalist’s Prank

The Case of the Naturalist’s Prank

Featuring fake fishes, made-up mammals, and taxonomic tomfoolery

Read Article
The Case of the Misplaced Deer

The Case of the Misplaced Deer

Featuring misplaced deer, the Lewis & Clark Expedition, and a dishonest fur trader

Read Article
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