Microtus

Microtus is a genus of voles found in North America, Europe and northern Asia. The genus name refers to the small ears of these animals. They are stout rodents with short ears, legs and tails. They eat green vegetation such as grasses and sedges in summer, and grains, seeds, root and bark at other times. The genus is also called "meadow voles".[1]

Microtus skulls (Bailey, 1900)
Microtus skull bases (Bailey, 1900)

Microtus
Temporal range: Late Pliocene - recent
Lusitanian pine vole
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Family: Cricetidae
Subfamily: Arvicolinae
Tribe: Microtini
Genus: Microtus
Schrank, 1798
Subgenera

Blandfordimys
Euarvicola
Hyranicola
 Iberomys
Microtus
Pedomys
Pitymys
Terricola
†Tyrrhenicola

There is some disagreement on the definitive list of species in this genus, and which subgenera are recognized. The American Society of Mammalogists recognizes the following 60 species, with discrepancies as noted:[2]

Subgenus Blanfordimys

Subgenus Euarvicola

Subgenus Hyrcanicola (not recognized by the ASM, listed in subgenus Microtus)

Subgenus Iberomys

Subgenus Microtus

Subgenus Pedomys (not recognized by the ASM, listed in subgenus Pitymys)

Subgenus Pitymys (includes the former subgenus Mynomes)

Subgenus Terricola

The IUCN recognizes these additional species:

  • Bavarian pine vole (Microtus bavaricus) (included in M. multiplex by ASM)
  • Singing vole (Microtus miurus) (IUCN lists this as split from M. gregalis, but the ASM puts that taxa in genus Stenocranius and doesn't list miurus as a synonym.)
  • Elbeyli vole (Microtus elbeyli) (IUCN list this as distinct from M. irani)[12]
  • Qazvin vole (Microtus qazvinensis) (IUCN list this as distinct from M. irani)[13]

There is also at least one known subfossil species known:
Subgenus †Tyrrhenicola

References
  1. "Microtus". ITIS database.
  2. Mammal Diversity Database (2023). "Mammal Diversity Database (Version 1.11) [Data set]". Zenodo. doi:10.5281/zenodo.7830771.
  3. "Microtus lavernedii". ASM Mammal Diversity Database. 1.11. American Society of Mammalogists.
  4. "Microtus rozianus". ASM Mammal Diversity Database. 1.11. American Society of Mammalogists.
  5. "Microtus hartingii". ASM Mammal Diversity Database. 1.11. American Society of Mammalogists.
  6. "Microtus mustersi". ASM Mammal Diversity Database. 1.11. American Society of Mammalogists.
  7. "Microtus obscurus". ASM Mammal Diversity Database. 1.11. American Society of Mammalogists.
  8. "Microtus rossiaemeridionalis". ASM Mammal Diversity Database. 1.11. American Society of Mammalogists.
  9. "Microtus mogollonensis". ASM Mammal Diversity Database. 1.11. American Society of Mammalogists.
  10. "Microtus fingeri". ASM Mammal Diversity Database. 1.11. American Society of Mammalogists.
  11. "Microtus nebrodensis". ASM Mammal Diversity Database. 1.11. American Society of Mammalogists.
  12. Yigit, N.; Kennerley, R. (2019). "Microtus elbeyli". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T112465222A112465231. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-1.RLTS.T112465222A112465231.en. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  13. Kennerley, R. (2016). "Microtus qazvinensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T136565A22350870. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T136565A22350870.en. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
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