102.

Radde’s Vole

Lasiopodomys raddei

French: Campagnol de Radde / German: Radde-Wiihimaus / Spanish: Topillo de Radde

Taxonomy. Arvicola raddei Poljakov, 1881, Zun-Torey Lake, Zabaykalsky Krai, Russia.

Lasiopodomys raddei 1s in subgenus Stenocranius. In the past, it was considered a welldifferentiated subspecies of L. gregalis . Specific status was validated with genetic data and experimental hybridization trials with L. gregalis . The genetically dated specimens from Mongolia originate from a single location in the middle Uldza River valley. Lasiopodomys raddei probably occurs in Uldza and Onon river basins, with exception of the right bank of lower Uldza River, where L. gregalis was found. Morphologically and genetically, it is sister species to L. gregalis . Monotypic.

Distribution. S Transbaikalia in Russia (Zabaykalsky Krai, S of Shilka and Ingoda rivers) and NE Mongolia; distributional limits in Mongolia are not clearyet.

Descriptive notes. Head—body 95-130 mm, tail 21-37 mm, ear 6-12 mm, hindfoot 15-18 mm; weight 24-54 g. Fur color of head and upperparts of Radde’s Vole is light dull pale gray; back of head and anterior part of back never have longitudinal dark strip; underparts are whitish gray; and tail is bicolored, pale gray above and whitish below. Sole of foot has six plantar pads. Braincase is narrow. Auditory bullae are relatively small and not inflated. Enamel pattern of molaris like that of the Narrow-headed Vole ( L. gregalis). Chromosomal complement is not known.

Habitat. Steppe at elevations of 550-1150 m.

Food and Feeding. No information.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. No information.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

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

Bibliography. Abramson, Lebedev, Tesakov & Bannikova (2009), Bannikov (1954), Ognev (1950), Petrova, Tesakov et al. (2016), Petrova, Zakharov etal. (2015).