Insular vole

Insular vole
Conservation status

Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Family: Cricetidae
Genus: Microtus
Species: M. abbreviatus
Binomial name
Microtus abbreviatus
Miller, 1899

The insular vole or St. Matthew Island vole (Microtus abbreviatus) is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae. It occurs only on St. Matthew Island and the adjacent Hall Island, in Alaska.[1] On these Bering Sea islands, insular voles live in damp lowland areas, on the lower slopes of mountains, and on rye grass-covered beaches. They are diurnal and eat plant matter. Birds and Arctic foxes (which are the only other mammals on the island) prey on the voles.[2]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Frey, J., Garibaldi, A. & Hammerson, G. (2008). "Microtus abbreviatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2009.2. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 3 February 2010.
  2. "North American Mammals: Insular Vole". Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History.