126.

Juniper Vole

Microtus juldaschi

French: Campagnol des genévriers / German: WacholderWiihimaus / Spanish: Topillo de enebros

Other common names: Juniper Mountain Vole, Pamir Vole

Taxonomy. Arvicola juldaschi Severtzov, 1879, Kara-Art, Karakul’ Lake, Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region, Tajikistan.

In the past, M. juldaschi was placed in Neodon, but recent phylogenetic studies based on mtDNA classified juldaschi in subgenus Blanfordimys assister species to M. afghanus and M. bucharensis. In the past, carruthersi was considered a separate species; hybrids between juldaschi and carruthersi are fertile. Two subspecies recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution.

M.j.juldaschiSevertzov,1879—SWKyrgyzstan,ETajikistan,NEAfghanistan,NWPakistan,andSWChina(SWXinjiangandNWTibet[=Xizang]).

M. j. carruthersi Thomas, 1909 — SE Uzbekistan and W Tajikistan (Hissar Mts).

Descriptive notes. Head-body 83-115 mm, tail 24-50 mm, ear 11-17 mm, hindfoot 15-17 mm; weight 21-33 g. Pelage of the Juniper Vole is soft, brownish gray above, lighter on flanks, and gray on belly. Tail is bicolored, pale brown above and silvery white below. Ears are conspicuous. There are six plantar pads. Females have two pairs each of inguinal and pectoral nipples (eight nipples in total). Skull shows no peculiarities: nasals are short, bullae are moderately swollen, and supratemporal ridges are weakly developed. Dentalfields of triangles four and five on M, are confluent and connect with anterior loop. M? has three salient angles on inner side. Diploid number varies between 54 and 60.

Habitat. Grasslands and bushes in subalpine and alpine meadows in deciduous and coniferous forests at elevations of 1300-4500 m, but mainly above 2000-2500 m. Meadows occupied by the Juniper Vole usually have grass and herbs 5-15 cm tall; taller grass (15-30 cm) is less preferred. It avoids rocky habitats.

Food and Feeding. Juniper Voles feed on nearly any green plant within their reach and prefer onion ( Allium fedschenkoanum, Amaryllidaceae); roseroot ( Rhodiola litwinovii, Crassulaceae); corydalis ( Corydalis gortschakovii, Papaveraceae); buttercup ( Ranunculus rubrocalyx) and narcissus-flowered anemone ( Anemone narcissiflora), both Ranunculaceae; mountain spiderwort ( Gagea serotina, Liliaceae); mustard ( Chorispora macropoda, Brassicaceae); knotweeds ( Polygonum hissaricum and P. nitens, Polygonaceae); medic ( Medicago) and locoweeds ( Oxytropis), both Fabaceae; dandelion ( Taraxacum, Asteraceae); loseworth ( Pedicularis kryllowii, Orobanchaceae); lady's mantle ( Alchemilla, Rosaceae); mountain sorrel ( Oxyria sp., Polygonaceae); and cranesbill ( Geranium, Geraniaceae). In mountains of Kazakhstan, 94% of examined stomachs contained green vegetation (leaves and stalks), and 5:7% contained seeds and insects. In Tajikistan, spring diet consists of balanced proportions of green vegetation and roots; green plants predominate in summer, with addition of flowers, fruits, and seeds. In autumn and winter, main foods are roots, supplemented with green vegetation that remain under snow. Food is stored for winter. In Tajikistan, winter stores consist mainly leaves of locoweeds, bulbs of corydalis, and roots of sedges ( Carex, Cyperaceae). Dry weight of caches is 7-60 g (average 35 g).

Breeding. Breeding season of the Juniper Vole is in May—October and may start under snow. Reproductively active females weight 14-3-19-6 g and have 1-2 litters/season; three litters were reported from Kyrgyzstan. Numbers of embryos are 1-6 (mean range 2:8-3-9). In Tajikistan, litters are 2-8 young (average 4-6); second litters are larger. Juveniles can mature and reproduce in the year they were born. Captive females delivered 3 litters/season, with 2-7 young (mean 3-6).

Activity patterns. Juniper Voles are active round-the-clock but mainly crepuscular. Daily activity is frequently restricted to burrowing. A family burrow has 1-82 entrances (average 8) and 1-5-20 m (mean is 6-13-9 m) of tunnels that spread over 9-150 m?*. Corresponding values for Tajikistan are 7-92 entrances/system and 1-9-51 m of tunnels. Most tunnels are 10-15 cm deep and have diameters of 1.2-5 cm (mean 2-8 cm). A nesting burrow has 2-8 entrances (mean 4) and covers 1-1-9-8 m* (mean 4-7 m?). Tunnels are narrow (1:2.1-5 cm) and descend as deep as 55 cm. There are 1-3 nesting chambers (volume 1300-2625 cm’, mean 2700 cm?), with 2cm thick layer oflightsoil mixed with dry plant matter. Nests are 30-35 cm below the ground’s surface. Nesting burrows contain 1-2 caches.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Juniper Voles are gregarious and live in family groups. Males are aggressive among themselves.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The [UCN Red List (as Neodon juldaschi). Threats to the Juniper Vole include habitat loss and degradation due to natural disasters such as avalanches and landslides.

Bibliography. Davydov (1964, 1988), Gromov & Erbajeva (1995), Lunde (2008), Molur (2016c), Niethammer (1970), Roberts (1997), Shenbroy & Krasnov (2005), Sludskiy et al. (1978), Yanushevich et al. (1972).