Alexandromys gromouvi (Vorontsov et al., 1988)

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 : 329

119.

Gromov's Vole

Alexandromys gromouvi

French: Campagnol de Gromov / German: Gromow-Wihlmaus / Spanish: Topillo de Gromov

Taxonomy. Microtus maximowiczii gromovi Vorontsov et al., 1988 , E shore of Bolshoe Toko Lake, Aldan River Basin, Neryungri District, Sakha Republic (Yakutia), Russia.

In the past, A. gromovi was considered as a subspecies of A. maximowiczii . It is now in subgenus Alexandromys and mongolicus species group. Morphologically and genetically, it is sister species to A. middendorffii . Specimens from Bolshoi Shantar Island in the Sea of Okhotsk were suggested to be conspecific with A. gromouvi. If this relationship can be confirmed with nucleotide sequences, then Alexandromys shantaricus named by S. I. Ognev in 1929 predates A. gromovi. Monotypic.

Distribution. EC Russian Far East along N & W coast of Sea of Okhotsk (S Magadan Region, N & C Khabarovsk Krai, and SE Yakutia [= Sakha Republic]).

Descriptive notes. Head-body 95-130 mm, tail 28-44 mm, ear 10-13 mm, hindfoot 16-20 mm; weight 17-51 g. Male Gromov’s Voles are larger than females. Fur color of head and upperparts is dark gray-brown and heavily shaded ocher-brown, underparts are ash-gray, and tail is distinctly bicolored. Sole of foot has five plantar pads. Chromosomal complement has 2n = 44 and FN = 60.

Habitat. Riparian habitats in boreal coniferous forest zone. Gromov’s Vole occupies sedge-herb meadows in river valleys and lake depressions.

Food and Feeding. Captive Gromov’s Voles eat vegetables, oats, bread, willow ( Salix , Salicaceae ) bark, and green grass.

Breeding. Captive Gromov’s Voles have litters of 1-7 young (average 4-2), and intervals between pregnancies are 22-85 days (average 42-8).

Activity patterns. No information.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Not assessed on The IUCN Red List.

Bibliography. Abramson & Lissovsky (2012), Bannikova et al. (2010), Dokuchaev (2014), Gromov & Erbajeva (1995), Lissovsky & Obolenskaya (2011), Lissovsky et al. (2010), Ognev (1929), Sablina et al. (2015), Sheremetyeva et al. (2009).

Figures

On following pages: 115. Reed Vole (Alexandromys fortis); 116. Sakhalin Vole (Alexandromys sachalinensis); 117. Mongolian Vole (Alexandromys mongolicus); 118. Middendorff's Vole (Alexandromys middendorffii; 119. Gromov's Vole (Alexandromys gromovi); 120. Lacustrine Vole (Alexandromys limnophilus); 121. Root Vole (Alexandromys oeconomus); 122. Taiwan Vole (Alexandromys kikuchii); 123. Japanese Grass Vole (Alexandromys montebell); 124. Afghan Vole (Microtus afghanus); 125. Bucharian Vole (Microtus bucharensis); 126. Juniper Vole (Microtus juldaschi); 127. Short-tailed Field Vole (Microtus agrestis); 128. Mediterranean Field Vole (Microtus lavernedii): 129. Portuguese Field Vole (Microtus rozianus); 130. Insular Vole (Microtus abbreviatus); 131. Singing Vole (Microtus miurus); 132. Rock Vole (Microtus chrotorrhinus); 133. Zempoaltepec Vole (Microtus umbrosus); 134. Tarabundi Vole (Microtus oaxacensis); 135. Guatemalan Vole (Microtus guatemalensis); 136. Woodland Vole (Microtus pinetorum); 137. Jalapan Vole (Microtus quasiater); 138. California Vole (Microtus californicus): 139. Beach Vole (Microtus brewer); 140. Mexican Vole (Microtus mexicanus); 141. Mogollon Vole (Microtus mogollonensis); 142. Prairie Vole (Microtus ochrogasten; 143. Taiga Vole (Microtus xanthognathus); 144. Cabrera'’s Vole (Microtus cabrerae); 145. North American Water Vole (Microtus richardson); 146. Gray-tailed Vole (Microtus canicaudus).

Distribution. EC Russian Far East along N & W coast of Sea of Okhotsk (S Magadan Region, N & C Khabarovsk Krai, and SE Yakutia [= Sakha Republic]).