Mammals of the WorldShort-tailed Field Vole
Microtus agrestis
- Order
- Rodentia
- Family
- Cricetidae
- Genus
- Microtus
- IUCN status
- LC
- Distribution
- United Kingdom|Switzerland|Liechtenstein|Austria|Belgium|Netherlands|Luxembourg|Germany|Denmark|Czech Republic|Slovakia|Hungary|Poland|Romania|Moldova|Ukraine|Belarus|Lithuania|Latvia|Estonia|Norway|Sweden|Finland|Russia|Kazakhstan|China|Mongolia
- Realm
- Palearctic
Other names: Field Vole|Short-tailed Vole
About this species
- Size
- Approximately 10cm head-and-body length
- Habitat
- Moist grassland, marsh, woodland, and riverbanks
The short-tailed field vole is a gray-brown vole about 10cm long, with a tail noticeably shorter than its body. Compared with many mice it has a blunter muzzle, smaller ears, and a stockier outline. Its coat and proportions fit life in dense ground vegetation rather than open running. Small vole species remain difficult to distinguish visually, however, and the opened account offers no Mongolia-specific comparison with similar Microtus, so confident records may require measurements or expert examination. (Wikipedia, short-tailed field vole account)
This vole favours moist grassy cover in marshes, woodland openings, and along riverbanks. It excavates shallow burrows but often builds its nest above ground, hidden beneath vegetation. Males defend territories, whereas female home ranges may overlap; daughters tend to remain near their mother's range while young males disperse. The species is herbivorous and forms an important prey base for many predators. The Mammal Diversity Database confirms Mongolia, but the biological source gives no named Mongolian locality or reliable viewing season. (Wikipedia, short-tailed field vole account; Mammal Diversity Database, Mongolia country list)
Description: Wildlife of Mongolia guide, Wildlife of Everywhere (wildlifeofeverywhere.com); general species information paraphrased from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA)