Cricetidae
Author
Don E. Wilson
Author
Russell A. Mittermeier
Author
Thomas E. Lacher, Jr
text
2017
2017-11-30
Lynx Edicions
Barcelona
Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 7 Rodents II
204
535
book chapter
80832
10.5281/zenodo.6707142
ab66b2b7-9544-4411-bf61-5bc3651d7bca
978-84-16728-04-6
6707142
65.
Kolan Red-backed Vole
Caryomys inez
French:
Campagnol inez
/
German:
Kolan-Rotelmaus
/
Spanish:
Topillo rojo de Kolan
Other common names:
Inez's Red-backed Vole
,
Inez’s Vole
,
Kolan Vole
Taxonomy.
Microtus (Eothenomys) inez Thomas, 1908
, “Mountains 12 miles [= 19 km] N.W. of Ko-lan-chow[= Kelan Xian], Shan-si [= Shanxi, China]. 7000’ [= 2134 m].”
In the past, C. inezwas included in Eothenomys. Two subspecies recognized.
Subspecies and Distribution.
C. i. inex Thomas, 1908
— C & S Shaanxi, Shanxi, S Hebei, W Henan, and WC Anhui (China).
C. i. nux Thomas, 1910
— Gansu, Ningxia, S Shaanxi, and N Sichuan (China).
Descriptive notes. Head-body 83- 110 mm, tail 22-46 mm; weight 12-32 g. The Kolan Red-backed Vole is small and slender, with tail shorter than on the Gansu Red-backed Vole (
C. eva
). Tail is relatively longer on subspecies nux (39-45% of head-body length) than on subspecies
inez
(34-42%). Females have two inguinal pairs of nipples. Fur is brown, lighter on
inez
(dull ocherous-buff) and darker on nux (deep wood-brown). Belly is lighter than back, feet are whitish or gray, and tail is indistinctly bicolored and darker above. Skull is less angular than in the Gansu Red-backed Vole and remains smooth in advanced age. Molars are as in the Gansu Red-backed Vole, except for longer M3 and more complex M
Habitat. Dry forests, brushland, and farmland in hilly regions with annual precipitation of 390-450 mm at elevations of 500-2150 m. Kolan Red-backed Voles are reportedly common in bottoms of narrow, wooded, and bushy valleys.
Food and Feeding. No information.
Breeding. Breeding season of the Kolan Red-backed Vole occurs in March—October. A female with two embryos was reported, lactating females were collected in late May, and young-of-the-year were captured in June.
Activity patterns. The Kolan Red-backed Vole is fossorial.
Movements, Home range and Social organization. The Kolan Red-backed Vole burrows in loose soil.
Status and Conservation.
Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. The Kolan Red-backed Vole is endemic to central China, with an overall distribution of c.172,000 km®.
Bibliography. Li Yongxiang & Xue Xiangxu (2009), Lunde (2008), Luo Zexun et al. (2000), Shenbrot & Krasnov (2005), Ye Xiaodi et al. (2002).