Chionomys

Snow mouse ( Chionomys nivalis)

The snow mice ( Chionomys ) are a genus of mammals of the family of voles.

Features

It is comparatively large voles with a long tail, which reaches over 50% of head-body length. The head-body length is 90-156 mm, tail length 50-108 mm, the length of the hind foot 17.0 to 27.0 mm and the ear length of 13-20 mm. The animals weighing 29-78 g The coat is soft and fine, the whiskers are at least 35 mm very long. The females have four pairs of mammary glands.

Distribution and habitat

The genus is confined to the mountains of the south-western Palaearctic, two of the three species are endemic in the Caucasus. The species of the genus are bound to rocky bottoms and come in mountains from 500 m to 4700 m in height in front, rarely also in deeper layers.

System

The species were formerly placed the genus Microtus, however, the fossil record and genetic studies have been separated as a distinct genus. The genus includes three species:

• Snow mouse ( Chionomys nivalis ), Mountains in southern Europe and Asia Minor to Iran, even in the Alps
• Roberts snow vole ( Chionomys roberti ), west Caucasus
• Caucasian snow vole ( Chionomys gud ), Caucasus