Phenacomys intermedius Merriam 1889

Phenacomys intermedius Merriam 1889, N. Amer. Fauna, 2: 32.

Type Locality: Canada, British Columbia Prov., 20 mi (32 km) NNW Kamloops.

Vernacular Names: Western Heather Vole.

Synonyms: Phenacomys celsus A. B. Howell 1923; Phenacomys constablei J. A. Allen 1899; Phenacomys laingi Anderson 1942; Phenacomys levis A. B. Howell 1923; Phenacomys olympicus Elliot 1899; Phenacomys oramontis Rhoads 1895; Phenacomys orophilus Merriam 1891; Phenacomys preblei Merriam 1897; Phenacomys pumilus (Elliot 1899); Phenacomys truei J. A. Allen 1894 .

Distribution: NW British Columbia and SW Alberta, Canada, south to N New Mexico, C Utah, and N California, USA; disjunct populations in EC California and W Nevada, USA.

Conservation: IUCN – Lower Risk (lc).

Discussion: Howell (1926) originally recognized three species ( intermedius, mackenzii, and ungava) of heather voles, later reduced to two ( intermedius and ungava including mackenzii) by Anderson (1942, 1947). Crowe (1943) further lumped all under intermedius based on suspected intergrades from SW Alberta, and the recognition of a single species has been generally followed (e.g., Banfield, 1974; Corbet and Hill, 1991; Hall and Cockrum, 1953) but not exclusively so (Cowan and Guiguet, 1965; Miller and Kellogg, 1955; Peterson, 1966). Foster and Peterson (1961) questioned Crowe’s appreciation of age-effects in his identification of the alleged intergrades between intermedius and ungava . As remarked by Cowan and Guiguet (1965), the matter of their synonymy "requires more detailed examination before a decision can be reached," an appraisal which stands equally valid today. See McAllister and Hoffmann (1988, Mammalian Species, 305, including ungava).