Eothenomys miletus (Thomas, 1914)

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

67.

Yunnan Red-backed Vole

Eothenomys miletus

French: Campagnol du Yunnan / German: Yunnan-Rotelmaus / Spanish: Topillo rojo de Yunnan

Other common names: Large Oriental Vole, Yunnan Chinese Vole, Yunnan Red-backed Vole

Taxonomy. Microtus (Eothenomys) melanogaster miletus Thomas, 1914 , “ 10 miles [= 16 km] W. ofYang-pi, W. Yunnan, [ China]. 7000’ [= 2134 m].”

Eothenomys miletus is in the subgenus Fothenomys. Synonyms include E. cachinus and E. mucronatus . Delimitation against E. melanogaster is uncertain, and synonyms are classified into one species or another, depending on the authority. It lives more to the south and west than E. melanogaster . As is the case with E. melanogaster , E. miletus is in need of taxonomic revision; number of subspecies is uncertain. Molecular phylogenetic trees retrieved deep branching pattern but not much association between lineages and geography. Monotypic.

Distribution. NE India, S China (SE Tibet [= Xizang], C & S Sichuan, Yunnan, Chongqing, and Guizhou), N & WC Myanmar, NW Thailand, and N Vietnam.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 80-140 mm, tail 31-61 mm; weight 22-60 g. Dimensions of the Yunnan Red-backed Vole vary geographically; largest individuals occur in north-eastern Yunnan. It is similar in external appearance to Pere David’s Redbacked Vole (FE. melanogaster ), but on average it is larger and tail is longer, accounting for 33-56% of head-body length. Molar pattern is very similar to that of Pere David’s Red-backed Vole, except M* is more complex, with three reentrant angles on innersides.

Habitat. Mountain forests, thickets, meadows, and farmland at elevations of 1300-4250 m. Records of Yunnan Red-backed Voles below 1000 m are unusual.

Food and Feeding. No information.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. Body temperature (35-7°C) of the Yunnan Red-backed Vole is lower than in many other rodents, and basal metabolic rate is higher than predicted from body mass.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concerned on The IUCN Red List. Overall distribution of the Yunnan Red-backed Vole is ¢.663,000 km. It can be locally abundant.

Bibliography. Allen, G.M. (1912), Kaneko (2002), Liu Shaoying, LiuYang et al. (2012), Luo Jing et al. (2004), Luo Zexun et al. (2000), Shenbrot & Krasnov (2005), Thomas (1921a), Zhu Wanlong et al. (2008).

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)

Distribution. NE India, S China (SE Tibet [= Xizang], C & S Sichuan, Yunnan, Chongqing, and Guizhou), N & WC Myanmar, NW Thailand, and N Vietnam.