Calabria pine vole
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The Calabria pine vole (Microtus brachycercus) is a rodent endemic to Italy.
Taxonomy
Microtus brachucercus was initially described by Lehmann in 1961 as a subspecies of M. savii, under the name Pitymys savii brachycercus. brachycercus refers to its short tail.[1] Genetic tests in the Calabrian region found, although similar, the X chromosome is larger than that of samples of M. savii found elsewhere in Italy and the Y chromosome is twice the size, leading Galleni in 1994 to designate M. brachycercus as a separate species.[2][3]
DNA evidence suggests that M. brachycercus separated from M. savii 0.3 to 0.5 million years ago.[4] The two species can hybridize, but the male offspring are infertile and do not produce and sperm. The females are fully fertile, however.[5][6]
M. brachycercus has two subspecies, M. brachycercus niethammericus and M. brachycercus brachycercus.[7]
Description
The Calabria pine vole is a small vole, weighing about Script error: No such module "convert". to Script error: No such module "convert"..[1] It is very similar in form to Savi's pine vole (M. savii). It can often be distinguished morphologically by a more open anterior loop in the first lower molar, but this can sometimes be found in Savi's pine vole as well.[8]
Distribution and habitat
The Calabrian pine vole is found in central and southern Italy, in a wide variety of habitat types.[7][2] It was first identified from Calabria, in southern Italy, and the extent of its northward range is still being investigated; earlier sources report the distribution as just southern Italy.[9][8] It is quite common in its range and the population is stable, so it is considered a species of least concern by the IUCN despite its relatively restricted range.[2]
References
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- ↑ D.E. Wilson & D.M. Reeder, 2005: Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference. Third Edition. The Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore.
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