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Tundra vole
Tundra vole in Alaska
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Rodentia
Family:	Cricetidae
Subfamily:	Arvicolinae
Genus:	Alexandromys
Species:	A. oeconomus
Binomial name
Alexandromys oeconomus (Pallas, 1776)
Synonyms
Microtus oeconomus (Pallas, 1776) Mus oeconomus Pallas, 1776

The tundra vole (Alexandromys oeconomus) or root vole is a medium-sized vole found in Northern and Central Europe, Asia, and northwestern North America, including Alaska and northwestern Canada. In the western part of the Netherlands, the tundra vole is a relict from the ice age and has developed into the subspecies Alexandromys oeconomus arenicola.

Description

The tundra vole has short ears and a short tail. Its fur is yellowish brown with paler sides and white underparts. It is typically about 18 cm (7.1 in) long with a 4 cm (1.6 in) tail and a weight of about 50 grams (1.8 oz).

Habitat

The tundra vole is found in damp tundra or moist meadows, usually near water.

Behaviour and diet

This species makes runways through the surface growth in warm weather and tunnels through the snow in winter. It feeds on grasses, sedges and seeds. It is active year-round. It also digs burrows where it stores seeds and roots, especially licorice root, for the winter.

Breeding

Female voles have three to six litters of three to nine young in a shallow burrow. The vole population in a given area can vary greatly from year to year.

Subspecies

Subspecies are as follows:

• A. o. amakensis - Amak Island tundra vole - Alaska, United States
• A. o. arenicola - Dutch tundra vole - Netherlands
• A. o. elymocetes - Montague Island tundra vole - Alaska, United States
• A. o. finmarchicus - Norwegian tundra vole - Norway
• A. o. innuitus - St. Lawrence Island tundra vole - Alaska, United States
• A. o. medius - Norwegian tundra vole - Norway
• A. o. mehelyi - Central European tundra vole - Austria, Hungary and Slovakia
• A. o. oeconomus - nominate subspecies - widespread
• A. o. popofensis - Shumagin Islands tundra vole - Alaska, United States
• A. o. punakensis - Punuk Islands tundra vole - Alaska, United States
• A. o. sitkensis - Alexander Archipelago tundra vole - Alaska, United States
• A. o. unalascensis - Unalaska Island tundra vole - Alaska, United States

References

1. ^ Linzey, A.V.; Shar, S.; Lkhagvasuren, D.; Juškaitis, R.; Sheftel, B.; Meinig, H.; Amori, G. & Henttonen, H. (2017) . "Microtus oeconomus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T13451A115113894. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T13451A22347188.en. Retrieved 19 February 2022.
2. "Alexandromys oeconomus". ASM Mammal Diversity Database. American Society of Mammalogists.
3. Witte van den Bosch, R. and Bekker, D. (2009). Verdwijnt de oer-Hollandse lemming? Geschiedenis en toekomst van de noordse woelmuis. Zoogdier 20-4: p.p 3-7. (in Dutch)

• IUCN Red List least concern species
• Alexandromys
• Arctic land animals
• Mammals of the Arctic
• Rodents of Europe
• Rodents of Canada
• Rodents of the United States
• Mammals described in 1776
• Least concern biota of North America
• Holarctic fauna
• Habitats Directive species
• Taxa named by Peter Simon Pallas