100.

Mandarin Vole

Lasiopodomys mandarinus

French: Campagnol mandarin / German: Mandarin-W (ihimaus / Spanish: Topillo mandarin

Other common names: Chinese ole

Taxonomy. Arvicola mandarinus Milne-Edwards, 1871, Saratsi (= Linfen), Shanxi, China.

Lasiopodomys mandarinus is in subgenus Lasiopodomys . Morphologically and genetically, itis sister species to L. brandti . In the past, it was placed in genus Microtus . Five subspecies recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution.

L.m.mandarinusMilne-Edwards,1871—NC&ECChina(SInnerMongolia[=NeiMongol],Shaanxi,Shanxi,Henan,andNEAnhui).

L.m.faeceusG.M.Allen,1924—EChina(SEInnerMongolia,Hebei,WLiaoning,Beijing,Shandong,andJiangsu).

L.m.johannesThomas,1910—NCChina(NEShanxi).

L.m.kishida:Mori,1930—KoreanPeninsula.

L. m. vinogradovi Fetisov, 1936 — S Transbaikalia in Russia (S Buryatia) and NC Mongolia. Also present in NE Inner Mongolia, but subspecies involved not known.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 90-114 mm, tail 20-27 mm, ear 7-12 mm, hindfoot 15-21 mm; weight 18-50 g. Female Mandarin Volesare slightly larger than males. Fur on head and upperparts varies from relatively light buff-brown to dark grayish brown; underparts are grayish buffy white to brownish buff; and tail is bicolor, brown above and light ocherous to pure white below. Sole of foot has six plantar pads. Skull has wide braincase and comparatively small auditory bullae. M? has three inner and three outer angles. M| has five isolated and alternating dental fields. Antero-labial triangle T6 is isolated from TH and integrated into anterior cup. Chromosomal complement displays intrapopulation polymorphism and varies geographically. It has 2n = 47-48 and FN = 53-56 in Mongolia and 2n = 48-50 and FN = 54-55 in China.

Habitat. Steppes and open areas in mixed forests at elevations up to 1700 m. The Mandarin Vole prefers fine-grained rocky hill slopes with grassy vegetation but often penetrates crop fields.

Food and Feeding. In Mongolia and Buryatia, the Mandarin Vole feeds almost entirely on Stellera chamaejasme ( Thymelaeaceae), eating its massive roots and green parts. In China, Mandarin Voles often damage crops of wheat and soybean by feeding on their roots.

Breeding. Reproductive period of the Mandarin Vole lasts from early April to late August in Buryatia and from March to November, with peak of intensity in April-August, in China. Litters have 1-10 young (averages 2:9-5-7). Adult females can produce 2-3 litters/year. Gestation lasts 22-24 days. Females become sexually mature at 38-45 days and males at 556-60 days.

Activity patterns. The Mandarin Vole is semi-fossorial and mainly active underground; individuals rarely emerge on the ground’s surface or move more than 1 m from burrow entrances. Activity has 6-8 bouts/ day, total duration of activity is c¢.4-5 hours/ day, and duration of separate activity bouts varies from ten to 156 minutes. Activity is highest at twilight and lowest during daylight.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Mandarin Voles live in large family groups that occupy a complex burrow. Group composition varies seasonally. During the main reproduction season in summer, groups are composed of one (rarely two) adult male, 1-3 adult females, 2-5 subadult individuals, and 2-4 juveniles. In spring and autumn, groups increase to 1-6 (usually three) adult males, 1-7 (usually three) adult females, and 3-10 (usually 6-7) yearlings of several generations. All individuals in a group are amicable and share common nest and home range. Young males disperse from parent’s burrow at 50-70 days old; most young females stay with parents. Young females often bring up litters together with their mother in the same nest. They probably mate with strange males because behavioral mechanisms minimize inbreeding. Adult males and immature females help to rear offspring. Family burrows have a large nest chamber at a depth of ¢.20 cm and system of foraging tunnels at depths 5-20 cm and covering the entire area of the family home range. Total length of tunnels can be up to 95 m. Home ranges are 50-600 m? (average 142-177 m*). Home ranges of neighboring families do not overlap and defended against strangers. Contacts between individuals are accompanied by acoustic communication expressed as quiet or sharp squeals and male songs. Sharp squeals are usually emitted during aggressive interactions. Quiet squeals are typical for females during friendly contacts, e.g. when meeting a male. Songs are exclusively male signals that are emitted at any contacts with females. Male songs and female quiet squeals can be heard as a dialogue.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red Last.

Bibliography. Abramson & Lissovsky (2012), Abramson, Lebedev, Tesakov & Bannikova (2009), Bannikov (1954), Chistova et al. (2008), Dmitriev (1980), Gladkikh et al. (2016), Gromov & Erbajeva (1995), Huang Huimin & Wang Tingzheng (1998), Rutovskaya (2011), Smorkatcheva (1999, 2003), Smorkatcheva & Smolnyakova (2004), Smorkatcheva et al. (1990), Tai Fadao & Wang Tingzheng (2001), Tai Fadao, Wang Tingzheng & Zhao Yajun (1999), Tai Fadao, Zhao Yajun & Wang Tingzheng (1998), Wang Jinxing, Zhao Xiaofan, Deng Yi et al. (2003), Wang Tingzheng & Zhang Yue (1995), Zhang Yongzu etal. (1997), Zorenko etal. (1994).