Clethrionomys gapperi
Southern Red-backed Vole
(Clethrionomys gapperi) | |
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Range | |
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Taxonomic classification | |
Order: | Rodentia |
Suborder: | Supramyomorpha |
Infraorder: | Myomorphi |
Superfamily: | Muroidea |
Family: | Cricetidae |
Subfamily: | Arvicolinae |
Tribe: | Clethrionomyini |
Genus: | Clethrionomys |
Binomial details | |
Clethrionomys gapperi (Vigors, 1830) |
Description
From Naughton (2012): "Most Southern Red-backed Voles have a silvery underside, greyish-brown sides that have an ocherous or yellowish wash, and a broad band of chestnut-coloured fur along their back from forehead to tail. Their thinly furred tail is weakly bicoloured, dark above and silvery-grey, buff, or slate grey below, usually with a black tip. Ears and eyes are noticeable. A second colour phase is possible in any population; this dark form (melanistic) is sooty black on their back, and their sides are greyish brown. Individuals with the dark pattern are more common in northern and eastern populations."
From Armstrong et al. (2010): "the red-backed vole has a broad, reddish mid-dorsal stripe extending from forehead to tail. The background color is grayish brown. The belly is grayish with the bases of the hairs black. The bicolored tail is relatively long for an arvicoline but does not approach that of the long-tailed vole [Microtus longicaudus]. The ears are short and partly hidden by the body fur."
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 |
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Arizona (White Mountains) | Hoffmeister (1986) | 127–162 (n=18) | 34–47 (n=18) | 18–21 (n=18) | ||
Carolinas, Virginia, Maryland | Webster et al. (1985) | 140–155 | 38–50 | 20–42 | ||
Colorado | Armstrong et al. (2010) | 125–152 | 33–44 | 17–19 | 12–16 | 20–38 |
Minnesota | Hazard (1982) | 114–150 | 30–45 | 17–19.2 | 11.5–17 | 14.8–34.3 |
North Dakota | Seabloom et al. (2020) | 134 | 37 | 18 | 14 | 24 |
Color variation
This section shows some of the color variation present in Clethrionomys gapperi. The location is provided for reference only. The individual shown does not necessarily represent the only color variant within the local population.
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Colorado, Boulder County
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Massachusetts, Worcester County
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Virginia, Giles County
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Washington, Skamania County
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Wisconsin, Lincoln County
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Wisconsin, Lincoln County
Skull
From Armstrong et al. (2010): "The skull resembles that of Microtus, with a blocky shape and prismatic cheekteeth, although the cheekteeth are different in that they are rooted (this showing distinct patterns of wear), not rootless (hence ever-growing) as molars are in voles of the genus Microtus. The lower molars have inner and outer reentrant angles of about the same depth. The angles are generally opposite one another so that they nearly meet in the middle of the tooth. In Microtus and Phenacomys, by contrast, inner and outer reentrant angles of lower molars are notably offset from each other. The palate ends at the level of M3 in a simple transverse shelf with no posterior projection."
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Dorsal view of the skull of Clethrionomys gapperi. -
Lateral view of the skull of Clethrionomys gapperi. Long scale bar is 1 cm; short scale bar is 1 mm. -
Ventral view of the skull of Clethrionomys gapperi. Long scale bar is 1 cm; short scale bar is 1 mm. -
Dorsal view of the lower jaw of Clethrionomys gapperi. Long scale bar is 1 cm; short scale bar is 1 mm. -
Enamel pattern of Clethrionomys gapperi. 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
Armstrong DM, Fitzgerald JP, Meaney CA. 2010. Mammals of Colorado, Second Edition. Denver (CO, USA): University Press of Colorado.
Hazard EB. 1982. The mammals of Minnesota. Minneapolis (MN, USA): University of Minnesota Press.
Hoffmeister DF. 1986. Mammals of Arizona. Tucson (AZ, USA): University of Arizona Press.
Naughton D. 2012. The natural history of Canadian mammals. Toronto (ON, CA): University of Toronto Press.
Seabloom R, Hoganson JW, Jensen WF. 2020. The mammals of North Dakota. Fargo (ND, USA): North Dakota State University Press.
Webster WD, Parnell JF, Biggs WC. 1985. Mammals of the Carolinas, Virginia, and Maryland. Chapel Hill (NC, USA): University of North Carolina Press.