Tundra vole

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Tundra vole
VOLE, TUNDRA (microtus oeconomus) (9-4-08) gambell, ak -2 (2834490753).jpg
Tundra vole in Alaska
Conservation status

Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification edit
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Family: Cricetidae
Subfamily: Arvicolinae
Genus: Microtus
Subgenus: Alexandromys
Species:
M. oeconomus
Binomial name
Microtus oeconomus
(Pallas, 1776)
Microtus oeconomus map.svg

The tundra vole (Microtus oeconomus) or root vole is a medium-sized vole found in Northern and Central Europe, Asia, and northwestern North America, including Alaska and northwestern Canada. In the western part of the Netherlands, the tundra vole is a relict from the ice age and has developed to the subspecies Microtus oeconomus arenicola.

Description[]

It has short ears and a short tail. Its fur is yellowish brown with paler sides and white underparts. They are about 18 cm (7.1 in) long with a 4 cm (1.6 in) tail and weigh about 50 grams (1.8 oz).

Habitat[]

is found in damp tundra or moist meadows, usually near water.

Behaviour and diet[]

It makes runways through the surface growth in warm weather and tunnels through the snow in winter. It feeds on grasses, sedges and seeds. It is active year-round. It also digs burrows where it stores seeds and roots, especially licorice root, for the winter. The species epithet oeconomus refers to this "economical" behaviour.

Breeding[]

Female voles have three to six litters of three to 9 young in a shallow burrow. The vole population in a given area can vary greatly from year to year.

Subspecies[]

There are several subspecies of tundra vole.[1][2]

  • M. o. amakensis - Amak Island tundra vole - Alaska, United States
  • M. o. arenicola - Dutch tundra vole - Netherlands
  • M. o. elymocetes - Montague Island tundra vole - Alaska, United States
  • M. o. finmarchicus - Norwegian tundra vole - Norway
  • M. o. innuitus - St. Lawrence Island tundra vole - Alaska, United States
  • M. o. medius - Norwegian tundra vole - Norway
  • M. o. mehelyi - Central European tundra vole - Austria, Hungary and Slovakia
  • M. o. oeconomus
  • M. o. popofensis - Shumagin Islands tundra vole - Alaska, United States
  • M. o. punakensis - Punuk Islands tundra vole - Alaska, United States
  • M. o. sitkensis - Alexander Archipelago tundra vole - Alaska, United States
  • M. o. unalascensis - Unalaska tundra vole - Alaska, United States

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b Linzey, A.V.; Shar, S.; Lkhagvasuren, D.; Juškaitis, R.; Sheftel, B.; Meinig, H.; Amori, G. & Henttonen, H. (2008). "Microtus oeconomus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2008. Retrieved 4 February 2010.
  2. ^ Witte van den Bosch, R. and Bekker, D. (2009). Verdwijnt de oer-Hollandse lemming? Geschiedenis en toekomst van de noordse woelmuis. Zoogdier 20-4: p.p 3-7. (in Dutch)
  • Musser, G. G. and M. D. Carleton. 2005. Superfamily Muroidea. pp. 894–1531 in Mammal Species of the World a Taxonomic and Geographic Reference. D. E. Wilson and D. M. Reeder eds. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore.
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