Short-tailed field vole

Short-tailed field vole
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Family: Cricetidae
Subfamily: Arvicolinae
Genus: Microtus
Subgenus: Euarvicola
Species:
M. agrestis
Binomial name
Microtus agrestis
(Linnaeus, 1761)
Field vole distribution
Synonyms
  • Mus agrestis Linnaeus, 1761

The short-tailed field vole, short-tailed vole, or simply field vole (Microtus agrestis)[2] is a grey-brown vole,[3] around 10 cm in length, with a short tail. It is one of the most common mammals in Europe, with a range extending from the Atlantic coast to Lake Baikal. These voles are found in moist grassy habitats, such as woodland, marsh or on river banks. Although they make shallow burrows, they usually build nests above ground. They are an important food source for owls and some other predators and their population size tends to peak and trough cyclically. Field voles breed prolifically, mainly in summer, but often all year round, even under snow. Females produce up to seven litters a year, each averaging from four to six young which are weaned after about fourteen days. The short-tailed field vole is both widespread and common and is listed as being of "Least Concern" by the IUCN.

  1. ^ Kryštufek, B.; Vohralík, V.; Zima, J.; Zagorodnyuk, I. (2017) [errata version of 2016 assessment]. "Microtus agrestis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T13426A115112050. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T13426A22349665.en.
  2. ^ "Microtus agrestis". ASM Mammal Diversity Database. 1.11. American Society of Mammalogists.
  3. ^ Musser, G. G.; Carleton, M. D. (2005). "Superfamily Muroidea". In Wilson, D. E.; Reeder, D. M. (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 990–991. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.