Eothenomys custos (Thomas, 1912)

Don E. Wilson, Russell A. Mittermeier & Thomas E. Lacher, Jr, 2017, Cricetidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 7 Rodents II, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 204-535 : 309

69.

Southwest China Red-backed Vole

Eothenomys custos

French: Campagnol sentinelle / German: Stidwestchina-Rotelmaus / Spanish: Topillo rojo de China suroccidental

Other common names: Custos Oriental Vole, Southwest China Vole, Southwest Red-backed Vole

Taxonomy. Microtus (Anteliomys) custos Thomas, 1912 , “A-tun-tsi [= Degen Xian], N.W. Yunnan, [ China].”

Eothenomys custos is in the subgenus Anteliomys . Until recently it included hintoni, but this taxon is now recognized as a distinct species. Four subspecies recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution.

E.c.custosThomas,1912—NWYunnan(China).

E.c.changsanensisWang&Yang,2000— CangMtofDaliinYunnan(China).

E.c.ninglangensisWang&Li,2000—SWSichuanandNEYunnan(China).

E. c. rubellus G. M. Allen, 1924 — N Yunnan (China).

Descriptive notes. Head—body 79-110 mm,tail 32-50 mm; weight 21-36 g. The Southwest China Red-backed Vole is modestly sized, with relatively short tail (30-50% of head-body length) and short ears. Females have two pairs of inguinal nipples. Fur is long and soft, brown dorsally and light gray-brown ventrally. Skull is smooth, with broad interorbital region and small bullae. Molars are very similar to those of the Sichuan Red-backed Vole (FE. chinensis ).

Habitat. Mountain forests, bamboo stands, meadows, and stony areas at elevations of 2500-3900 m.

Food and Feeding. No information.

Breeding. Breeding of the Southwest China Red-backed Vole occurs from early summer to late autumn.

Activity patterns. No information.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Classified as [Least Concern on The IUCN Red List.

Bibliography. Kaneko (1996), Lunde (2008), Luo Jing et al. (2004), Wang Yingxiang (2003), Zeng Tao et al. (2013).

Figures

34. Nearctic Collared Lemming (Dicrostonyx groenlandicus), 35. Ungava Collared Lemming (Dicrostonyx hudsonius), 36. Nelson's Collared Lemming (Dicrostonyx nelsoni), 37. Ogilvie Mountains Collared Lemming (Dicrostonyx nunatakensis), 38. Richardson’s Collared Lemming (Ducrostonyx richardsoni), 39. Palearctic Collared Lemming (Dicrostonyx torquatus), 40. Unalaska Collared Lemming (Dicrostonyx unalascensis), 41. Gray Red-backed Vole (Craseomys rufocanus), 42. Hokkaido Red-backed Vole (Craseomys rex), 43. Korean Red-backed Vole (Craseomys regulus), 44. Shanxi Red-backed Vole (Craseomys shanseius), 45. Anderson’s Red-backed Vole (Craseomys andersoni), 46. Smith’s Red-backed Vole (Craseomys smith), 47. Western Red-backed Vole (Myodes californicus), 48. Southern Red-backed Vole (Myodes gapperi), 49. Bank Vole (Mpyodes glareolus), 50. Tian Shan Red-backed Vole (Myodes centralis), 51. Large-eared Vole (Myodes macrotis), 52. Northern Red-backed Vole (Myodes rutilus), 53. Silver Mountain Vole (Alticola argentatus), 54. White-tailed Mountain Vole (Alticola albicauda), 55. Kashmir Mountain Vole (Alticola montosus), 56. Royle’s Mountain Vole (Alticola roylei), 57. Strelzov’s Mountain Vole (Alticola strelzouvi), 58. Tuva Mountain Vole (Alticola tuvinicus), 59. Gobi Altai Mountain Vole (Alticola barakshin), 60. null (null), 60. null (null), 61. Mongolian Mountain Vole (Alticola semicanus), 61. Mongolian Mountain Vole (Alticola semicanus), 62. Stoliczka’s Mountain Vole (Alticola stoliczkanus), 62. Stoliczka’s Mountain Vole (Alticola stoliczkanus), 63. Lemming Mountain Vole (Aschizomys lemminus), 63. Lemming Mountain Vole (Aschizomys lemminus), 64. Gansu Red-backed Vole (Caryomys eva), 64. Gansu Red-backed Vole (Caryomys eva), 65. Kolan Red-backed Vole (Caryomys inez), 65. Kolan Red-backed Vole (Caryomys inez), 66. Pere David's Red-backed Vole (Eothenomys melanogaster), 66. Pere David’s Red-backed Vole (Eothenomys melanogaster), 67. Yunnan Red-backed Vole (Eothenomys miletus), 68. Sichuan Red-backed Vole (Eothenomys chinensis), 69. Southwest China Red-backed Vole (Eothenomys custos), 70. Black-eared Red-backed Vole (Eothenomys olitor), 71. Yulongxuen Red-backed Vole (FEothenomys proditor), 72. Ward’s Red-backed Vole (Eothenomys wardi), 73. Hinton’s Red-backed Vole (Eothenomys hintoni), 74. Tarquinius Red-backed Vole (Eothenomys tarquinius), 75. Burrowing Vole (Hyperacrius fertilis), 76. Murree Vole (Hyperacrius wynnei)

Subspecies and Distribution. E.c.custosThomas,1912—NWYunnan(China). E.c.changsanensisWang&Yang,2000— CangMtofDaliinYunnan(China). E.c.ninglangensisWang&Li,2000—SWSichuanandNEYunnan(China). E. c. rubellus G. M. Allen, 1924 — N Yunnan (China).