Water voles
| Water voles | ||||||||||||
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Preparation of the Eastern water vole ( Arvicola amphibius ) |
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| Systematics | ||||||||||||
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Arvicola | ||||||||||||
| Lacépède , 1799 |
The water voles ( Arvicola ) are a genus of voles . Because of their attachment to the water, they are also known by the colloquial name of water rats . There are three types:
- Eastern water vole , Arvicola terrestris (synonym: Arvicola amphibius ), Europe, North and West Asia
- Western water vole , Arvicola sapidus , France, Spain, Portugal
- Mountain water vole , Arvicola scherman , Northern Spain, Central Europe, Southeastern Europe
With a head body length of up to 22 centimeters, water voles are the largest voles in the Old World . While the eastern water vole is widespread in large parts of its range and is considered a pest in many places, the western water vole is a rather seldom encountered animal.
Occasionally the water voles are classified as a subgenus of field mice ( Microtus ). In this case, the Richardson vole or American water vole ( Microtus richardsoni ) is sometimes assigned as another species.
Their size makes them typical prey for larger mammals and birds.
literature
- Ronald M. Nowak: Walker's Mammals of the World. 2 volumes. 6th edition. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore MD et al. 1999, ISBN 0-8018-5789-9 .
- Guy G. Musser, Michael D. Carleton: Muroidea. In: Don E. Wilson , DeeAnn M. Reeder (Eds.): Mammal Species of the World. A taxonomic and geographic Reference. 2 volumes. 3. Edition. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore MD 2005, ISBN 0-8018-8221-4 , pp. 894-1531.
