California vole
California vole | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Mammalia |
Order: | Rodentia |
Family: | Cricetidae |
Subfamily: | Arvicolinae |
Genus: | Microtus |
Subgenus: | Pitymys |
Species: | M. californicus
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Binomial name | |
Microtus californicus (Peale, 1848)
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Subspecies | |
17; see text |
The California vole (Microtus californicus) is a type of vole[2] which lives throughout much of California and part of southwestern Oregon. It is also known as the "California meadow mouse", a misnomer as this species is a vole, not a mouse. It averages 172 mm (6.8 in) in length although this length varies greatly between subspecies.
Description
The California vole is a medium-sized vole, and a typical member of its group in appearance. Males range from 152 to 196 mm (6.0 to 7.7 in) in head-body length, with a 42 to 58 mm (1.7 to 2.3 in) tail. Females are significantly smaller at 149 to 182 mm (5.9 to 7.2 in) in length with a 38 to 53 mm (1.5 to 2.1 in) tail. Males weigh from 41 to 81 g (1.4 to 2.9 oz), and females from 36 to 63 g (1.3 to 2.2 oz).[3] Variation between different subspecies, though, is considerable, with the southern subspecies tending to be larger than those found further north.[4]
The body is covered with cinnamon to tawny olive fur, ticked with occasional darker hairs, and fading to a medium grey on the underside. The tail is black above and grey below. The whiskers and feet are grey in color, with a patch of white fur near the anus.[3] Between subspecies, those native to more highland habitats tend to be more reddish in color, and those in marshier environments tend to be darker. Males have a pair of scent glands on the hips, which are used to mark their trackways. Females have four pairs of teats, two in the chest, and two closer to the groin.[4]
Distribution and habitat
The California vole is found from
Subspecies
Seventeen subspecies are currently recognized,[4] some of which are protected.[6] They include:
- M. c. californicus - San Francisco region
- M. c. equivocatus - Baja California
- M. c. aestuarinus - central California
- M. c. constrictus - Humboldt County, California
- M. c. eximus - Oregon and north-central California
- M. c. grinelli - Sierra de Juárez, Baja California
- Monterey vole, M. c. halophilus - Monterey Bay, California
- M. c. huperuthrus - Baja California
- M. c. kernensis - Kern County, California
- M. c. mariposae - east-central California
- Mojave River vole, M. c. mohavensis (CDFG special concern) - Mojave Desert
- M. c. paludicola - Alameda County, California
- M. c. sanctidiegi - southwestern California
- San Pablo vole, M. c. sanpabloensis (Contra Costa County, California
- Amargosa vole, M. c. scirpensis (Federal and State endangered) - Panamint Range, California
- South Coast marsh vole, M. c. stephensi (CDFG special concern) - Los Angelesregion
- Owens Valley vole, M. c. vallicola (CDFG special concern) - White Mountains, California
Ecology
The California vole is
Because the California vole is relatively common and widespread, it has numerous natural predators, including hawks, owls, egrets, long-tailed weasels, coyotes, skunks, mountain lions and garter snakes.[4]
Behavior
California voles are
The voles are active above ground primarily to find food, reaching the seeds on high grasses by standing on their hind legs and clipping the stems with their teeth. They often carry the food back to their burrow to eat it, although they do not hoard food or hibernate through the winter. California voles are often found in groups of a single male, one or more females, and a number of young, and the male may assist the female in construction of her nest before she gives birth. California voles are reasonably strong swimmers, and may use this tactic to attempt to escape from predators.[4]
Reproduction
California voles are able to breed almost year-round, although most breeding occurs during the middle of the wet season, from March to April. Males may breed with more than one female, although the species is not as strongly
The young are born hairless and blind, weighing an average of 2.8 g (0.099 oz). They begin to grow fur within five days of birth, and their eyes open at 9 days, although they are capable of sensing light before this. The young are weaned at around two weeks of age, and have a full set of adult teeth by three weeks. Females reach sexual maturity after as little as three weeks, while males become sexually mature after six weeks.[4] The lifespan is correspondingly short, with individuals living for less than a year, even in the absence of predators.
Evolution
Fossils of members of the genus
References
- . Retrieved 19 November 2021.
- OCLC 62265494.
- ^ a b B.J. Verts; L.N. Carraway (1998). Land Mammals of Oregon. Berkeley: University of California Press.
- ^ doi:10.1644/868.1.
- ISBN 1-56098-845-2.
- ^ CDFG Special Animals List, February 2008 Archived 2014-01-24 at the Wayback Machine
- PMID 5545554.
- .
- JSTOR 1933012.
- S2CID 86292806.
- .