(Microtus ochrogaster)
Conservation • Description • Habitat • Biology • Distribution • Taxonomy
Conservation Status |
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IUCN Red List | LC - Least Concern |
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NatureServe | N5 - Secure S3 - Vulnerable |
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Minnesota | Special Concern Species in Greatest Conservation Need |
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Description |
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The head and body are The tail is |
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Size |
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Head and body: Tail: |
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Sign |
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Similar Species |
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Meadow vole (Microtus pennsylvanicus) pelage does not have a grizzled appearance. The belly is not yellowish. The tail is longer, |
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Habitat |
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Prairies, fields, thickets, railroads. Dry areas. |
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Biology |
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Behavior |
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Adults are active mostly during twilight. |
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Lifespan |
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Less than one year |
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Life Cycle |
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Prairie voles are reproductively monogamous but not sexually monogamous. They form pair bonds that last a lifetime, but will mate with other voles if the opportunity arises. Breeding takes place year-round but mostly in the spring and fall. Two to four litters are produced each year. There are usually 3 or 4 offspring per litter though there may be as few as 2 or as many as 7. Gestation lasts 20 to 23 days. The offspring reach sexual maturity at 5 to 6 weeks. Adults usually live less than one year but may live up to two years. |
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Food |
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Diet consists mostly of grasses, tubers, roots, seeds, and when available, insects. In the winter they sometimes eat the bark of woody shrubs. |
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Distribution |
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Sources Prairie vole (M. o. ochrogaster) is found in southeastern Minnesota. Least meadow mouse (M. o. minor) is found in the remainder of the state except the northeast. |
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2/9/2012 | ||||
Occurrence |
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Taxonomy |
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Class | Mammalia (mammals) | ||
Subclass | Theria | ||
Infraclass | Eutheria (placentals) | ||
Magnorder | Boreoeutheria | ||
Superorder | Euarchontoglires | ||
Clade | Glires (rodents and rabbits) | ||
Order | Rodentiia (rodents) | ||
Suborder | Myomorpha (mice, rats, voles, gerbils, hamsters, lemmings) | ||
Superfamily | Muroidea (mice, rats, voles, hamsters, gerbils, and relatives) | ||
Family |
Cricetidae (New World rats and mice, voles, hamsters, and relatives) | ||
Subfamily |
Arvicolinae (voles, lemmings, and muskrats) | ||
Tribe | Arvicolini (water voles and muskrats) | ||
Genus |
Microtus (meadow voles) | ||
Subgenus | Pedomys | ||
Subordinate Taxa |
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Hayden vole (Microtus ochrogaster haydenii) least meadow mouse (Microtus ochrogaster minor) Louisiana vole (Microtus ochrogaster ludovicianus) Ohio prairie vole (Microtus ochrogaster ohioensis) prairie meadow vole (Microtus ochrogaster austerus) prairie vole (Microtus ochrogaster ochrogaster) prairie vole (Microtus ochrogaster similis) prairie vole (Microtus ochrogaster taylori) |
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Synonyms |
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Arvicola austerus Hypudaeus ochrogaster Microtus ludovicianus |
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Common Names |
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prairie vole |
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Glossary
Pelage
The coat of a mammal, consisting of fur, wool, or hair, and including a soft undercoat and stiff guard hairs.
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The Prairie Vole (Microtus ochrogaster) Carl Barrentine |
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About
Uploaded on Mar 13, 2011 Photographed at the Kellys Slough NWR, North Dakota (13 March 2010). |
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