Montane vole
| Montane Vole | |
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| Species: | M. montanus
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| Binomial name | |
| Microtus montanus (Peale, 1848)
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The Montane Vole (Microtus montanus) is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae. It is found in the western United States and British Columbia in Canada.[1]
Description
Montane voles are medium-sized voles, with a total length of 14 to 22 cm (5.5 to 8.7 in), including the 2 to 7 cm (0.79 to 2.76 in) tail. Adults typically weigh anything from 37 to 85 grams (1.3 to 3.0 oz), with males being slightly larger than females, but the actual weight varies considerably with age, geography, and subspecies. The upper body is covered with fur of a dark brownish shade, again with some variation between individuals. The fur is paler on the flanks, and fades to grey or white on the underparts. The tail exhibits the same color variation, with the fur being dark brown to almost black on the upper surface and grey or white below.[2]
Montane voles possess scent glands on the hips, near the anus, and on the male genitalia. These glands increase in size in response to testosterone, and are therefore particularly large in adult males.[3] At least some of these glands produce unique fatty acid esters, that may function in species recognition.[4] Females have four pairs of teats, running from the chest to the groin.[2]
Distribution and habitat
Montane voles are found in mountainous and other high elevation terrain in the western United States and Canada. Within this region they are generally found in drier climates than other species of vole, and in areas more dominated by grassland than by shrubs.[5][2] Typical habitats include alpine meadows and grassy areas near streams or lakes; they are also often found in cropland or pasture.[1]
At least fourteen subspecies of montane vole are recognized:[2]
- M. m. montanus - eastern California and southern Oregon
- M. m. arizonensis - eastern Arizona and western New Mexico
- M. m. canescens - central Washington and southern British Columbia
- M. m. codiensis - north western Wyoming
- M. m. dutcheri - central California
- M. m. fucosus - southern Nevada
- M. m. fusus - southern Colorado
- M. m. micropus - northern Nevada
- M. m. nanus - widespread, from Washington and Oregon to Montana and Colorado
- M. m. nevadensis - south western Nevada
- M. m. pratincola - north western Montana
- M. m. rivularis - southern and eastern Utah
- M. m. undosus - central Nevada
- M. m. zygomaticus - north eastern Wyoming
Biology and behavior
Montane voles are herbivorous, although they may also eat small numbers of insects and other arthropods. The majority of their diet consists of forbs, supplemented by seeds, grasses, and fungi. One study in Colorado found that favored foods included vetch and evening primrose.[6] Predators include a range of hawks and owls, weasels, and even coyotes.[2] Montane voles have been reported to form up to 80% of the diet of great horned owls in Idaho.[7]
Montane voles have also been used in the laboratory in studies of African sleeping sickness, since they suffer similar symptoms to humans when infected with the parasite.[2]
Montane voles are nocturnal during the summer, but primarily diurnal during winter.[8] They often inhabit abandoned gopher burrows, although they are also capable of digging their own.[9] Typical burrows are 100 cm (39 in) in length, and reach a depth of 20 cm (7.9 in), although there is considerable variation.[2] Montane voles also construct nests, which are typically cup-shaped,[9] although those used for raising young are globular and about 13 cm (5.1 in) in diameter.[10] Males mark their territory with urine and dung and by rubbing their anal scent glands along the ground.[11]
Reproduction
References
- ^ a b c Template:IUCN2009.2
- ^ a b c d e f g Sera, W. & Early, C.N. (2003). "Microtus montanus". Mammalian Species: 1–20. doi:10.1644/716.
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Jannett Jr., F.J. (1978). "Dosage response of the vesicular, preputial, anal, and hip glands of the male vole, Microtus montanus, to testosterone propionate". Journal of Mammalogy. 59 (4): 772–779.
- ^ Welsh, C.J.; et al. (1988). "Novel, species-typical esters from preputial glands of sympatric voles, Microtus montanus and M. pennsylvanicus". Journal of Chemical Ecology. 14 (1): 143–158. doi:10.1007/BF01022538.
{{cite journal}}: Explicit use of et al. in:|author=(help) - ^ Stoecker, R.E. (1972). "Competitive relations between sympatric populations of voles (Microtus montanus and M. pennsylvanicus)". Journal of Animal Ecology. 14 (2): 311–329.
- ^ Vaughan, T.A. (1974). "Resource allocation in some sympatric, subalpine rodents". Journal of Mammalogy. 55 (4): 764–795.
- ^ Marti, C.D. & Kochert, M.N. (1996). "Diet and trophic characteristics of great horned owls in southeastern Idaho". Journal of Field Ornithology. 67 (4): 499–506.
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Rowsemitt, C.N. (1991). "Activity rhythms in female montane voles (Microtus montanus)". Canadian Journal of Zoology. 69 (4): 1071–1075. doi:10.1139/z91-151.
- ^ a b Jannett Jr., F.J. (1982). "Nesting patterns of adult voles, Microtus montanus, in field populations". Journal of Mammalogy. 63 (3): 495–498.
- ^ Hartung, T.G. & Dewsbury, D.A. (1979). "Nest-building behavior in seven species of muroid rodents". Behavioral and Neural Biology. 27 (4): 532–539. doi:10.1016/S0163-1047(79)92166-6.
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Jannett Jr., F.J. (1981). "Sex ratios in high-density populations of the montane vole, Microtus montanus, and the behavior of territorial males". Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology. 8 (4): 297–307. doi:10.1007/BF00299530.
- 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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