Lasiopodomys

Lasiopodomys
	Lasiopodomys brandtii
Systematics
Subordination :	Mouse relatives (Myomorpha)
Superfamily :	Mice-like (Muroidea)
Family :	Burrowers (Cricetidae)
Subfamily :	Voles (arvicolinae)
Tribe :	Arvicolini
Genre :	Lasiopodomys
Scientific name
	Lasiopodomys
	Lataste , 1887

Lasiopodomys is a genus of rodents in the subfamily of voles (Arvicolinae). The three species belonging to it live in East Asia.

The following species belong to the genus.

Brandt's Mongolian Vole or Brandt's Vole ( Lasiopodomys brandtii ), Mongolia , Northeast China , bordering Russian areas.
Qinghai Vole or Gray Mongol Vole ( Lasiopodomys fuscus ), Qinghai Province, China .

Mandarin vole ( Lasiopodomys mandarinus ), Northeast China, Korean Peninsula .

These burrows reach a head-trunk length of 98 to 150 mm and a tail length of 19 to 30 mm. In their physique they largely correspond to the field mice ( Microtus ). Variations exist in details of the skull and teeth. The fur of Lasiopodomys brandtii is sand-colored on the top and whitish on the underside. The other two species have a brownish upper surface, the belly and feet are gray.

The Lasiopodomys species inhabit steppes and meadows in mountains or in broader depressions. Lasiopodomys fuscus reaches 4800 meters above sea level.

The way of life is mainly known for Lasiopodomys brandtii . This species is diurnal, it feeds on grass, other green parts of plants and roots. Simple underground passages are dug for short stays and complex tunnel systems are created. These systems have 4 to 12 entrances which are connected 14 to 24 cm below the ground with tunnels up to 30 m long. Furthermore, 1 or 2 living rooms and 1 to 4 storage rooms are created. Several individuals live together in the tunnel network. If a population becomes too large, mass migrations of 50 to 60 km can occur. In winter, these rodents do not come to the surface of the earth.

The males fight for the right to mate in spring. There are several litters per season that consist of 5 to 12 young animals. Some of these can reproduce in the same year.

Individual evidence

↑ Don E. Wilson , DeeAnn M. Reeder (Ed.): Mammal Species of the World . A taxonomic and geographic Reference . 3. Edition. 2 volumes. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore MD 2005, ISBN 0-8018-8221-4 (English, Lasiopodomys ).
↑ ^a ^b Lasiopodomys in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2014. Accessed April 15, 2015.
↑ ^a ^b ^c ^d Ronald M. Nowak: Walker's Mammals of the World. Volume 2. 6th edition. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore MD et al. 1999, pp. 1468-1469, ISBN 0-8018-5789-9 .

Web links

Commons : Lasiopodomys - collection of pictures, videos and audio files

[Wilson_2005-1] Don E. Wilson , DeeAnn M. Reeder (Ed.): Mammal Species of the World . A taxonomic and geographic Reference . 3. Edition. 2 volumes. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore MD 2005, ISBN 0-8018-8221-4 (English, Lasiopodomys ).

[IUCN-2] Lasiopodomys in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2014. Accessed April 15, 2015.

[Walkers-3] Ronald M. Nowak: Walker's Mammals of the World. Volume 2. 6th edition. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore MD et al. 1999, pp. 1468-1469, ISBN 0-8018-5789-9 .