Microtus henseli

It is placed in the subgenus Tyrrhenicola, alongside its probable ancestor, the early Middle Pleistocene species Microtus (Tyrrhenicola) sondaari, which probably descended from a population of Allophaiomys that arrived in Sardinia between 1.2 million and 0.8 million years ago. The arrival of Microtus (Tyrrhenicola) on Sardinia marks a faunal turnover event from the Early Pleistocene Nesogoral faunal complex and the Middle-Late Pleistocene Microtus (Tyrrhenicola) faunal complex.[1] The oldest dates for M. henseli are over 500,000 years old.[1] The youngest dates for the species are around 1300 BC. It may have become extinct as a result of introductions of invasive species to the islands by humans.[2]

Microtus (Tyrrhenicola) henseli had an estimated body mass of approximately 277 grams (0.611 lb), substantially larger than its mainland ancestors, an example of island gigantism.[3]

During the Middle-Late Pleistocene Corsica and Sardinia had their own highly endemic depauperate terrestrial mammal fauna which besides M. henseli included Tyrrhenian field rat, (Rhagamys orthodon), the Sardinian pika (Prolagus sardus), a shrew (Asoriculus similis), a mole (Talpa tyrrhenica), the Sardinian dhole (Cynotherium sardous), a galictine mustelid (Enhydrictis galictoides), a dwarf mammoth ([[Mammuthus lamarmorai) three species of otter (Algarolutra majori, Sardolutra ichnusae, Megalenhydris barbaricina) and a deer (Praemegaceros cazioti).[1]