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Alexandromys oeconomus

From WhiskerWiki

Root Vole
(Alexandromys oeconomus)
Range
Taxonomic classification
Order:Rodentia
Suborder:Supramyomorpha
Infraorder:Myomorphi
Superfamily:Muroidea
Family:Cricetidae
Subfamily:Arvicolinae
Tribe:Microtini
Genus:Alexandromys
Subgenus:Oecomicrotus
Binomial details
Alexandromys oeconomus (Pallas, 1776)

Alexandromys includes the former species Microtus oeconomus based on analyses of mitochondrial DNA gene sequences (cytb + CO1) by Liu et al. (2017).

Description

From Naughton (2012): "Body fur is golden brown, which is darker to rusty brown on the back and more golden or greyish on the sides and rump. Sometimes, especially in winter pelage, the sides are so light that the back fur stands out as a darker band. Belly fur is greyish white often with a buffy wash. Juveniles are darker overall. Ears are rounded and barely show above the long pelage. The short tail is strongly bicoloured; dark grey above and greyish white below. Feet are greyish brown. [Root voles] experience two moults annually, one in spring and the other in autumn. The winter coat is long and silky and frequently lighter than the summer pelage. Feet in the winter pelage are edged with long, stiff, silvery hairs."

External measurements

Length measurements are in millimeters (mm) and weight measurements are in grams (g), unless stated otherwise. If available, the sample size (n=) is provided. If a range is not provided and n= is not given, then the listed measurement represents an average.

Part of range Reference Total length Tail length Hindfoot length Ear length Mass
Canada Naughton (2012) 130–187 26–47 16–23 10–18 20–69


Variation

This section shows some of the color variation present in Alexandromys oeconomus. The location is provided for reference only. The individual shown does not necessarily represent the only color variant within the local population.

Skull

  • Dorsal view of the skull of Alexandromys oeconomus.
  • Ventral view of the skull of Alexandromys oeconomus.
  • Lower jaw of Alexandromys oeconomus.
  • Enamel pattern of Alexandromys oeconomus. The left pair are the upper molars (top to bottom are M1, M2, M3) and right pair are the lower molars (top to bottom are m1, m2, m3).

References

Liu S, Jin W, Liu Y, Murphy RW, Lv B, Hao H, Liao R, Sun Z, Tang M, Chen W, Fu J. 2017. Taxonomic position of Chinese voles of the tribe Arvicolini and the description of 2 new species from Xizang, China. Journal of Mammalogy 98(1);166-182. https://doi.org/10.1093/jmammal/gyw170.

Naughton D. 2012. The natural history of Canadian mammals. Toronto (ON, CA): University of Toronto Press.

Pallas PS. 1776. Reise durch verschiedene Provinzen des Russischen Reichs. Volume 3. Kayserlichen Academie der Wissenschaften, Saint Petersburg, 760pp.

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