Microtus longicaudus

Long-tailed vole
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Rodentia
Family:	Cricetidae
Genus:	Microtus
Species:	M. longicaudus
Binomial name
Microtus longicaudus (Merriam, 1888)
Subspecies
List M. l. abditus A. B. Howell, 1923 M. l. alticola Merriam, 1890 M. l. angusticeps Bailey, 1898 M. l. angustus Hall, 1931 M. l. baileyi Goldman, 1938 M. l. bernardinus Merriam, 1908 M. l. cautus J. A. Allen, 1899 M. l. coronarius Swarth, 1911 M. l. halli Hayman and Holt, 1941 M. l. incanus Lee and Durrant, 1960 M. l. latus Hall, 1931 M. l. leucophaeus J. A. Allen, 1894 M. l. littoralis Swarth, 1933 M. l. macrurus Merriam, 1898 M. l. mordax Merriam, 1891 M. l. sierrae Kellogg, 1922 M. l. vellerosus J. A. Allen, 1899
Distribution of the long-tailed vole
Synonyms
List Arvicola (Mynomes) longicaudus Merriam, 1888 Arvicola (Mynomes) alticolus Merriam, 1890 Arvicola (Mynomes) mordax Merriam, 1891 Arvicola leucophaeus Allen, 1894 Microtus angusticeps Bailey, 1898 Microtus macrurus Merriam, 1898 Microtus vellerosus Allen, 1899 Microtus cautus Allen 1899

The long-tailed vole (Microtus longicaudus), in some areas known as the San Bernardino long-tailed vole, is a small vole found in western North America. They have short ears and a long tail. Their fur is gray brown with light gray underparts. They are around 18 cm (7.1 in) long with an 8 cm (3.1 in) tail and weigh about 50 g (1.8 oz).

The scientific name of the long-tailed vole is Microtus longicaudus. The generic name, Microtus, derives from the Greek words meaning "small" + "ear". In Latin, the species name longicaudus derives from meaning "long" and meaning "tail". The type specimen was a female collected by Vernon Orlando Bailey in the Black Hills at an altitude around 5,500 ft (1,700 m) near Custer, South Dakota, on July 19, 1887. The description was published by C. Hart Merriam in The American Naturalist the following year. The original scientific name was Arvicola longicaudus. Certain features of the molars were noted, which distinguished the long-tailed vole from other voles known at the time. The species was formerly sometimes regarded as a member of the Old World genus Chionomys.

The Coronation Island vole, once considered to be a separate species, is now believed to be a subspecies.

The long-tailed vole is a small terrestrial mammal. They are around 18 cm (7.1 in) long with an 8 cm (3.1 in) tail. They weigh on average 50 g (1.8 oz). They have a thick body and a relatively long tail. The tail is bicolored and extends greater than one-third the animal's total length. The type specimen measured 185 mm (7.3 in), with a 65 millimetres (2.6 in) tail and a 21 millimetres (0.83 in) hind foot. The ear measured 14 millimetres (0.55 in) x 8 millimetres (0.31 in) x 13 millimetres (0.51 in).

The long-tailed vole is similar in size to the meadow vole (Microtus pennsylvanicus). However, it has a longer tail, bigger ears, and grayer coat. In addition, the skull is flatter, and the cranium is wider.

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Wikipedia