Brandt's Vole

About this species

Diet

Above-ground and underground parts of plants

Habitat

Dry steppe, pasture, lakeside meadow and river valley

Brandt's vole is a compact steppe rodent with small ears and short, uniformly sandy-brown fur that becomes paler underneath. Its tail is entirely brown, and dense hair covers the rear portions of the feet. The subdued colour suits dry grassland, but field identification among similar voles can be difficult without close views or measurements. The species is native to Mongolia, northern China and southern Transbaikalia, occupying the broad dry-grassland belt shared by those regions. (Wikipedia, Brandt's vole account)

Brandt's voles live colonially in dry steppe and pasture, also using lakeside meadows and river valleys. Each family maintains a burrow network with several entrances, nest chambers and storerooms. They feed on both above-ground and underground plant material and accumulate substantial winter stores. Activity occurs by day and night and shifts seasonally. Four or five broods may be produced annually. In Mongolia, periodic population outbreaks can strip extensive pasture, expose poor subsoil through digging and alter vegetation used by grazing livestock. (Wikipedia, Brandt's vole account)

Description: Wildlife of Mongolia guide, Wildlife of Everywhere (wildlifeofeverywhere.com); general species information paraphrased from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA)