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

The collared peccary (Tayassu tajacu) is undergoing range expansion in the sonthwestern 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.