Neodon
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| Horsfield , 1841 |
Neodon is a genus of rodents in the subfamily of voles (Arvicolinae) with five species that are found in Asia . The taxon was listed for a long time as a subgenus of field mice ( Microtus ).
features
These voles reach a head-trunk length of 92 to 122 mm, a tail length of 24 to 52 mm and a weight of 26 to 73 g. The smallest representative is the species Neodon linzhiensis , which was newly described in 2012 . The fur on the upper side has a dark gray-brown color in most species (with the exception of the Pamir rock vole), while the underside is generally lighter and more colored in shades of gray. Furthermore, the tail has a dark top and a light underside.
The structure of the large molars resembles the molars of the extinct genus Allophaiomys , which occurred in the Pleistocene . Hence, it is believed that neodon is an original form of Asian voles.
Way of life
The species inhabit mountains and plateaus up to 3700 meters above sea level. There they can be found in mountain steppes , on mountain meadows and in bushland. All representatives of the genus are herbivores and the better researched species are documented to create winter supplies.
Types and distribution
The following species belong to the genus.
- Mekong vole ( Neodon forresti ), lives in the mountains of southern China and Myanmar .
- Gansu rock vole ( Neodon irene ), is common in central and southern China.
- Pamir rock vole ( Neodon juldaschi ), occurs in Afghanistan , Tajikistan , Kyrgyzstan and western China.
- Linzhi rock vole ( Neodon linzhiensis ) was discovered in 2012 in a nature reserve in Tibet .
- Sikkim rock vole ( Neodon sikimensis ), lives in northeast India , Nepal , Bhutan and southern China.
status
The IUCN lists the Mekong vole and Neodon linzhiensis with insufficient data available. The other three species described by 2012 are not considered endangered.
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b c 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, Neodon ).
- ↑ a b Shao Ying Liu et al .: A New Vole from Xizang . In: Zootaxa . 3235, 2012, pp. 1–22. Retrieved September 25, 2016.
- ^ A b Neodon In: Andrew T. Smith, Xie Yan (Ed.): Mammals of China . Princeton University Press, Princeton / Oxford 2008, ISBN 978-0-691-09984-2 , pp. 127-128
- ↑ a b Neodon in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016. Retrieved September 25, 2016.
Web links
- Sikkim rock vole, illustration , American Society of Mammalogists.