Myodes smithii
| Smith's vole | |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Rodentia |
| Family: | Cricetidae |
| Genus: | Myodes |
| Species: | M. smithii |
| Binomial name | |
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Myodes smithii (Thomas, 1905) |
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| Synonyms | |
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Smith's vole (Myodes smithii) is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae. It is also known as Smith's red-backed vole and is found only in Japan.
This vole is named after Richard Gordon Smith, (1858–1918) who, after falling out with his wife, traveled the world hunting for animals and keeping a record of his travels and discoveries in eight large leather-bound diaries. He spent some time in Japan where he collected mammals for the British Museum, including the type species of this vole.
There has been considerable discussion as to the phylogeny of this species. The molars grow continually during the animal's life and because of this , it was at one time placed in the genus Phaulomys. However, studies using mitochondrial and nuclear ribosomal DNA have shown that it is closely related to the Japanese and Asian species, Myodes rufocanus, and the Korean species, Myodes regulus and that there is no support for its inclusion in Phaulomys. The ever-growing molars in M smithii are now believed to be independently derived from a rooted Myodes ancestor endemic to Japan.
Smith's vole is found on the Japanese islands of Dogo, Honshu, Kyushu and Shikoku. Also at Oki and four cities and one town in the region of Mikawa.
The color of Smith's vole varies from brownish-yellow to mid brown with the underparts a paler shade of brown. The body length is about 115 millimetres with a tail about 60 millimetres. The weight varies between 20 and 35 grams. The fur is dense and short, the muzzle blunt and the ears rounded. The dental formula is 1.0.0.31.0.0.3 and the molars grow continuously throughout life.
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