Vole

Vole
The bank vole (Myodes glareolus) lives in woodland areas in Europe and Asia.
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Rodentia
Family:	Cricetidae
Subfamily:	Arvicolinae
Groups included
Arvicolini Ellobiusini – mole voles Microtini Clethrionomyini Phenacomyini – tree and heather voles Pliomyini Prometheomyini
Cladistically included but traditionally excluded taxa
Dicrostonychini - collared lemmings Lagurini Lemmini Ondatrini - muskrats

A vole is a small mouse-like mammal. It is a rodent from a subfamily called the Arvicolinae. They live in woodlands and grasslands.

There are about 155 species of voles. There are species in Europe, Asia, North Africa and North America. The closest relatives of voles are the lemmings and muskrats, which are in the same subfamily.

Adult voles, depending on the species, are 7.5 to 17.5 centimetres (three to seven inches) long. They eat seeds, grass or other plants, and insects.

Many animals hunt voles, for example owls, hawks, coyotes, foxes, weasels, cats and snakes.

The average life of the smaller vole species is three to six months. These voles rarely live longer than 12 months. Larger species, such as the European water vole Arvicola, live longer. They usually die during their second winter. As many as 88% of voles die during the first month of life.

Classification

• Order Rodentia
  • Superfamily Muroidea
    • Family Cricetidae
      • Subfamily Arvicolinae (in part)
        • Tribe Arvicolini
          • Genus Arvicola – water voles
          • Genus Blanfordimys – Afghan vole and Bucharian vole
          • Genus Chionomys – snow voles
          • Genus Lasiopodomys
          • Genus Lemmiscus – sagebrush vole
          • Genus Microtus – voles
          • Genus Neodon – mountain voles
          • Genus Phaiomys
          • Genus Proedromys – Duke of Bedford's vole
          • Genus Volemys
        • Tribe Ellobiusini – mole voles
          • Genus Ellobius – mole voles
        • Tribe Clethrionomyini
          • Genus Alticola – voles from Central Asia
          • Genus Caryomys
          • Genus Eothenomys – voles from East Asia
          • Genus Hyperacrius – voles from India (True's vole), Afghanistan and Pakistan (Murree's vole)
          • Genus Craseomys – some red-backed voles
          • Genus Clethrionomys - other red-backed voles
        • Tribe Phenacomyini
          • Genus Arborimus – tree voles
          • Genus Phenacomys – heather voles
        • Tribe Pliomyini
          • Genus Dinaromys – voles from the Dinaric Alps

Other websites

• "Genetic Code for Monogamy"—National Geographic video on YouTube