Lasiopodomys fuscus Büchner 1889

Lasiopodomys fuscus Büchner 1889, Wiss. Res. Przewalski Cent.-Asien Reisen, Zool., I: (Sauget.): 125.

Type Locality: China, S Qinghai Prov., Yushu Autonomous Prefecture, Zhidoi Co., upper reaches of Zi Qu (also as Zhi Qu or Tongtian He) River, a tributary of the Yangtze; 33º40'N, 96º15'E (as restricted by lectotype designation by Hoffmann, 1996 a) .

Vernacular Names: Smokey Vole.

Distribution: E Tibetan Plateau, western Qinghai Prov., C China; limits unresolved.

Conservation: IUCN – Lower Risk (nt).

Discussion: Included in Phaiomys leucurus, whether as Pitymys or Microtus (Corbet, 1978 c; Ellerman and Morrison-Scott, 1951; Pavlinov et al., 1995 a; Zhang and Wang, 1963), but separated as a species and transferred to Lasiopodomys by Zheng and Wang (1980; also Musser and Carleton, 1993). USNM specimens of fuscus verify its membership in Lasiopodomys, not Phaiomys . Hoffmann (1996 a) carefully described old expedition routes and collecting sites, selected a lectotype of fuscus, and documented sympatry between it and the wider ranging Phaiomys leucurus .