Alpine pine vole
The Alpine Kleinwühlmaus or Fatio - Kleinwühlmaus ( Microtus multiplex ) is a mammal of the subfamily of voles ( Arvicolinae ). The small European range of the species includes parts of the Alps and some neighboring mountains, the animals live mainly underground in areas of dense undergrowth. The species is not endangered.
Mark
The Alpine Kleinwühlmaus is slightly larger than the similar vole. The head-body length is 90-110 mm, tail length 30-44 mm, the length of the hind foot 15-17 mm and the ear length 9-11 mm. The animals weighing 20-30 g The coat is on the top light yellowish and reddish brown, the bottom and back of the feet are hairy whitish. Ears are almost completely hidden in the fur. The skull should be slightly domed and the auditory capsules are relatively large. The Alpine Kleinwühlmaus is from the extremely similar and closely related two species Bavarian vole ( Microtus bavaricus ) and Illyrian vole (M. Liechtenstein ) distinguishable only by molecular genetic or through the comparative analysis of several dental and cranial dimensions.
Distribution and habitat
The relatively small range of the Alps - Kleinwühlmaus ranges from eastern Massif Central to the east of the Southern Alps in France and Switzerland to the north-central Italy and thence southwards to the northern part of the Apennines. It inhabits open and semi-open habitats with dense ground vegetation as meadows, glades, and older forests with dense herbaceous layer and comes there from sea level to 2800 m altitude before.
Way of life
Alpine Kleinwühlmäuse are more diurnal as nocturnal, but live mostly underground. The species is apparently monogamous and lives year-round in pairs in exclusive districts. The branched underground passage system is applied flat below the soil surface, the animals also use transitions of the blind mole ( Talpa caeca ). In each territory there are several nests, which are also located underground in the normal case, rarely also above ground under heaps. Probably the only vegetable food consists mainly of roots, tubers and bulbs, rare the animals eat grass and fruits of chestnut. Reproduction occurs year round, leaves in its intensity in winter but down significantly. The litters are relatively small and comprise on average only 2-3 boy.
Inventory and risk
The Alpine Kleinwühlmaus is locally common, evidence of population decline, there is not. The world stock shall, according to IUCN as uncritical ( " least concern ").