Microtus miurus Osgood 1901
131. Singing Vole Microtus miurus French: Campagnol chanteur / German: Alaska-Wihimaus / Spanish: Topillo fonador Other common names: Alaska Haymouse, Alaska Vole, Toklat Vole Taxonomy. Microtus miurus Osgood, 1901, head of Bear Creek, in mountains near Hope City, Turnagain Arm, Cook Inlet, Alaska,...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Other/Unknown Material |
| Language: | unknown |
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Lynx Edicions
2017
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| Online Access: | https://zenodo.org/record/6707040 https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6707040 |
| Summary: | 131. Singing Vole Microtus miurus French: Campagnol chanteur / German: Alaska-Wihimaus / Spanish: Topillo fonador Other common names: Alaska Haymouse, Alaska Vole, Toklat Vole Taxonomy. Microtus miurus Osgood, 1901, head of Bear Creek, in mountains near Hope City, Turnagain Arm, Cook Inlet, Alaska, USA. Subspecies paneaki is considered here as a synonym of nominotypical miurus. Five subspecies recognized. Subspecies and Distribution. M.m.miurusOsgood,1901—KenaiPeninsula,Alaska,USA. M.m.anderson:Rand,1945—knownonlyfromthetypelocalityinWNorthwestTerritories,Canada. M.m.cantatorR.M.Anderson,1947—WrangellMtsofAlaska,USA,andSWYukon,Canada. M.m.murieiNelson,1931—NAlaska,USA,andmostofYukon,Canada. M. m. oreas Osgood, 1907 — S Alaska, USA. Descriptive notes. Head-body 82-114 mm, tail 19-41 mm, ear 11-13 mm, hindfoot 19-21 mm; weight 22-52 g. Dorsal pelage of the Singing Vole is a mix of buff-tipped to black-tipped guard hairs and varies from pale tawny to pale buffy gray, but it is sometimes pale ocherous. Tail is darker above (dusky) and lighter buffy to ocherous below. Habitat. Tundra and taiga-tundra ecotonal habitats on well-drained ground. Singing Voles are found most often in willows (Salix, Salicaceae) along streams or near or above tree line, with their burrows often associated with rocky outcrops and large boulders that provide structural refuge from predators. Differences in microhabitats and social interactions tend to structure ways that Singing Voles use their environment. If an area has multiple microhabitats that are strongly defined, an individual will show stronger habitat affinity, but if habitats vary less and are more uniform, behavior tends to influence how space is used. Food and Feeding. Singing Voles are well known for communal hay piles of dried grass, shrubs, and forbs aboveground and cached food such as tubers underground for long winters. Caches are made primarily by immature individuals of the age class that is most likely to survive winter. Diet is primarily herbaceous plants and fungi, ... |
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