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Microtus
| Description | Microtus is a genus of voles found in North America, Europe, and northern Asia. The genus name refers to the small ears of these animals. About 62 species are placed in the genus.They are stout rodents with short ears, legs, and tails. They eat green vegetation such as grasses and sedges in summer, and grains, seeds, roots, and bark at other times. The genus is also called "meadow voles". (ITIS database) From Wikipedia article at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microtus, which is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Source Data |
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| Rank | genus | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Taxonomy (GBIF,PBDB) | Life : Animalia : Chordata : Mammalia : Rodentia : Cricetidae : Microtus | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Taxonomic Status (GBIF) | accepted | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Classification (PBDB,GBIF) |
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| Common Name | vole | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Scientific Name | Microtus Schrank, 1798 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Name Published In | Schrank, Franz von P. 1798. Favna Boica : durchgedachte Geschichte der in Baiern einheimischen und zahmen Thiere. Stein, Nürnberg. Vol. Bd.1:Abt.1: i-xii; 1-292. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Opinions (PBDB) |
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| Status (PBDB) | extant | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Taxon Size (PBDB) | 46 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Extant Size (PBDB) | 29 (63%) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| First Recorded Appearance | 5.33 - 0.78 Ma Cenozoic | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Environment | terrestrial (based on Eutheria) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Motility | actively mobile (based on Osteichthyes) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Diet | herbivore (based on Rodentia) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Taphonomy | phosphatic (based on Vertebrata) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Primary Reference (PBDB) | J. Alroy. 2002. Synonymies and reidentifications of North American fossil mammals. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Common Name(s) | Vole, Meadow Voles, Meadow Mice | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wikipedia | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microtus |
External Images
Fossil Distribution
Subtaxa
| Name | Status | Common Name(s) | Fossil Occurrences | Oldest | Youngest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Microtus (Stenocranius) ✝ subgenus | listed (PBDB) | 18 | 2.59 Ma Pleistocene | 0.13 Ma Pleistocene | |
| Arvicola mandarinus species | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Hipudaeus brecciensis species | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Microtus abbreviatus species | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Microtus agrestis species | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | Field Vole | 26 | 2.59 Ma Pleistocene | 0 Ma Extant |
| Microtus anatolicus species | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Microtus arvalis species | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | Common Vole | 64 | 2.59 Ma Pleistocene | 0 Ma Extant |
| Microtus asio species | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Microtus australis ✝ species | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | 2 | 1.80 Ma Pleistocene | 1.80 Ma Pleistocene | |
| Microtus bavaricus species | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Microtus brachycercus species | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Microtus brecciensis species | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | 13 | 2.59 Ma Pleistocene | 0.13 Ma Pleistocene | |
| Microtus breweri species | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Microtus bucharicus species | listed (PBDB) | 0 Ma Extant | |||
| Microtus cabrerae species | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Microtus californicus species | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | California Vole | 16 | 1.80 Ma Pleistocene | 0 Ma Extant |
| Microtus canicaudus species | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Microtus chrotorrhinus species | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | Rock Vole | 16 | 2.59 Ma Pleistocene | 0 Ma Extant |
| Microtus clarkei species | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Microtus daghestanicus species | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Microtus dogramacii species | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Microtus drummondi species | listed (PBDB) | 0 Ma Extant | |||
| Microtus duodecimcostatus species | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | 0 Ma Extant | |||
| Microtus eleniae ✝ species | listed (PBDB) | 1 | 2.59 Ma Pleistocene | 2.59 Ma Pleistocene | |
| Microtus epimticeps species | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | 1 | 2.59 Ma Pleistocene | 2.59 Ma Pleistocene | |
| Microtus evoronensis species | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Microtus felteni species | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Microtus fortis species | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Microtus gerbei species | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Microtus gregalis species | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Microtus guatemalensis species | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | Guatemalan Vole | 0 Ma Extant | ||
| Microtus guentheri species | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | Günther's Vole | 7 | 2.59 Ma Pleistocene | 0 Ma Extant |
| Microtus guildayi species | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | 3 | 1.80 Ma Pleistocene | 0 Ma Extant | |
| Pitymys hibbardi ✝ species | doubtful (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | 3 | 2.59 Ma Pleistocene | 0.13 Ma Pleistocene | |
| Microtus ilaeus species | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Microtus irani species | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Microtus irene species | listed (PBDB) | 0 Ma Extant | |||
| Microtus kikuchii species | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | 0 Ma Extant | |||
| Microtus lavernedii species | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Microtus leucurus species | listed (PBDB) | 0 Ma Extant | |||
| Microtus levis species | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Microtus liechtensteini species | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Microtus limnophilus species | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Microtus llanensis ✝ species | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | 9 | 1.80 Ma Pleistocene | 1.80 Ma Pleistocene | |
| Microtus longicaudus species | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | Long-tailed Vole | 4 | 0.13 Ma Pleistocene | 0 Ma Extant |
| Microtus lusitanicus species | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Microtus machintoni species | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Microtus majori species | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Microtus malei species | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Microtus mandarinus species | listed (PBDB) | 0 Ma Extant | |||
| Microtus maximowiczii species | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Microtus mccowni species | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Microtus mexicanus species | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | Mexican Vole | 6 | 2.59 Ma Pleistocene | 0 Ma Extant |
| Microtus middendorffi species | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | 0 Ma Extant | |||
| Microtus miguelensis ✝ species | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | 2 | 0.30 Ma Pleistocene | 0.13 Ma Pleistocene | |
| Microtus miurus species | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | 2 | 1.80 Ma Pleistocene | 0 Ma Extant | |
| Microtus mongolicus species | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Microtus montanus species | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | Montane Vole | 3 | 0.13 Ma Pleistocene | 0 Ma Extant |
| Microtus montebelli species | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Microtus morlani ✝ species | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | 1 | 0.78 Ma Pleistocene | 0.78 Ma Pleistocene | |
| Microtus mujanensis species | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Microtus multiplex species | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Microtus nivaloides species | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Microtus oaxacensis species | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | Tarabundi Vole | 0 Ma Extant | ||
| Microtus ochrogaster species | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | Prairie Vole | 23 | 1.80 Ma Pleistocene | 0 Ma Extant |
| Microtus oeconomus species | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | Tundra Vole | 21 | 2.59 Ma Pleistocene | 0 Ma Extant |
| Microtus oregoni species | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Microtus paradoxus species | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Microtus paroperarius ✝ species | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | 32 | 2.59 Ma Pleistocene | 0.78 Ma Pleistocene | |
| Microtus pennsylvanicus species | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | Meadow Vole | 85 | 2.59 Ma Pleistocene | 0 Ma Extant |
| Microtus pinetorum species | listed (PBDB) | Woodland Vole | 28 | 2.59 Ma Pleistocene | 0 Ma Extant |
| Microtus pinetorum species | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | ||||
| Microtus qazvinensis species | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Microtus quasiater species | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Microtus quasiater species | doubtful (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | ||||
| Microtus quirini species | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Microtus richardsoni species | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | Water Vole | 1 | 0.13 Ma Pleistocene | 0 Ma Extant |
| Microtus rossiaemeridionalis species | listed (PBDB) | Sibling Vole | 0 Ma Extant | ||
| Microtus sachalinensis species | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Microtus savii species | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Microtus schelkovnikovi species | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Microtus schidlovskii species | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Microtus socialis species | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Microtus subterraneus species | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Microtus tatricus species | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Microtus thomasi species | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Microtus townsendii species | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Microtus transcaspicus species | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Microtus umbrosus species | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | Zempoaltepec Vole | 0 Ma Extant | ||
| Microtus xanthognathus species | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | Taiga Vole | 20 | 2.59 Ma Pleistocene | 0 Ma Extant |
| Pitymys aratai species | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | ||||
| Pitymys cumberlandensis ✝ species | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | 4 | 1.80 Ma Pleistocene | 1.80 Ma Pleistocene | |
| Pitymys mcnowni ✝ species | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | 2 | 1.80 Ma Pleistocene | 1.80 Ma Pleistocene | |
| Pitymys meadensis ✝ species | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | 24 | 1.80 Ma Pleistocene | 0.78 Ma Pleistocene | |
| Pitymys nemoralis species | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | ||||
Obsolete Names
Synonymy List
| Year | Name and Author |
|---|---|
| 1798 | Microtus Schrank |
| 1831 | Pitymys McMurtrie |
| 1858 | Pedomys Baird |
| 1863 | Phaiomys Blyth |
| 1867 | Terricola Fatio |
| 1871 | Arvicola didelta Cope |
| 1871 | Arvicola involuta Cope |
| 1871 | Arvicola didelta Cope p. 89 |
| 1896 | Microtus didelta Cope |
| 1899 | Microtus dideltus Cope |
| 1902 | Microtus Hay p. 728 |
| 1902 | Microtus didelta Hay p. 728 |
| 1912 | Pitymys Miller |
| 1933 | Blanfordimys Argyropulo |
| 1935 | Microtus Schultz and Howard p. 282 |
| 1967 | Microtus Wilson p. 210 |
| 1967 | Pitymys Wilson p. 210 |
| 1974 | Pitymys Martin |
| 1974 | Pitymys dideltus Martin |
| 1974 | Pitymys involutus Martin |
| Year | Name and Author |
|---|---|
| 1978 | Microtus (Pedomys) van der Meulen |
| 1980 | Microtus Kurten and Anderson p. 258 |
| 1983 | Pitymys Repenning |
| 1985 | Pitymys Zakrzewski |
| 1988 | Pitymys Barnosky and Rasmussen |
| 1988 | Pitymys Repenning and Grady |
| 1989 | Microtus Shoshani et al. p. 436 |
| 1990 | Pedomys Pfaff |
| 1990 | Pitymys Pfaff |
| 1992 | Pedomys Repenning |
| 1995 | Pedomys Morgan and White |
| 1995 | Pitymys Morgan and White |
| 1997 | Microtus McKenna and Bell |
| 1997 | Pedomys McKenna and Bell |
| 1997 | Pitymys McKenna and Bell |
| 1997 | Terricola McKenna and Bell |
| 2002 | Microtus Czaplewski et al. p. 102 |
| 2004 | Microtus Seymour |
| 2006 | Microtus Galewski et al. |
References
Data courtesy of: PBDB: The Paleobiology Database, Creative Commons CC-BY licenced. , GBIF: the Global Biodiversity Information Facility, various licences, iDigBio, various licences, and EOL: The Encyclopedia of Life (Open Data Public Domain). Because fossils are made of minerals too!
