Red-backed vole

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

iRed-backed voles Fossil range: Late Pliocene - Recent
Southern Red-backed Vole
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Rodentia Family: Cricetidae Subfamily: Arvicolinae Genus: Myodes Pallas, 1811
Species
Myodes californicus Myodes centralis Myodes gapperi Myodes glareolus Myodes rufocanus Myodes rutilus Myodes sikotanensis)

The red-backed voles are the members of the genus Myodes, a group of small slender voles found in North America, Europe and Asia. The genus name comes from the Greek "keyhole mouse". In the past, the genus has been called Evotomys or Clethrionomys, but Myodes takes precedence.

They inhabit northern forests, tundra and bogs. These animals feed on shrubs, berries and roots. Most species have reddish brown fur on their back. They have small eyes and ears. Unlike other voles, the molar teeth are rooted in adults.

The complete list of species is:

• Western Red-backed Vole (M. californicus)
• Tien Shan Red-backed Vole (M. centralis)
• Southern Red-backed Vole (M. gapperi)
• Bank Vole (M. glareolus)
• Grey Red-backed Vole (M. rufocanus)
• Northern Red-backed Vole (M. rutilus)
• Shikotan Vole (M. sikotanensis)

Species of Myodes (Red-backed vole)

Myodes californicus (Western Red-backed Vole) | Myodes centralis (Tien Shan Red-backed Vole) | Myodes gapperi (Southern Red-backed Vole) | Myodes glareolus (Bank Vole) | Myodes rufocanus (Grey Red-backed Vole) | Myodes rutilus (Northern Red-backed Vole) | Myodes sikotanensis (Shikotan Vole) |