65.

Kolan Red-backed Vole

Caryomys inez

French: Campagnol inez / German: Kolan-Rotelmaus / Spanish: Topillo rojo de Kolan

Other common names: Inez's Red-backed Vole, Inez’s Vole, Kolan Vole

Taxonomy. Microtus (Eothenomys) inez Thomas, 1908, “Mountains 12 miles [= 19 km] N.W. of Ko-lan-chow[= Kelan Xian], Shan-si [= Shanxi, China]. 7000’ [= 2134 m].”

In the past, C. inezwas included in Eothenomys. Two subspecies recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution.

C. i. inex Thomas, 1908 — C & S Shaanxi, Shanxi, S Hebei, W Henan, and WC Anhui (China).

C. i. nux Thomas, 1910 — Gansu, Ningxia, S Shaanxi, and N Sichuan (China).

Descriptive notes. Head-body 83- 110 mm, tail 22-46 mm; weight 12-32 g. The Kolan Red-backed Vole is small and slender, with tail shorter than on the Gansu Red-backed Vole ( C. eva). Tail is relatively longer on subspecies nux (39-45% of head-body length) than on subspecies inez (34-42%). Females have two inguinal pairs of nipples. Fur is brown, lighter on inez (dull ocherous-buff) and darker on nux (deep wood-brown). Belly is lighter than back, feet are whitish or gray, and tail is indistinctly bicolored and darker above. Skull is less angular than in the Gansu Red-backed Vole and remains smooth in advanced age. Molars are as in the Gansu Red-backed Vole, except for longer M3 and more complex M

Habitat. Dry forests, brushland, and farmland in hilly regions with annual precipitation of 390-450 mm at elevations of 500-2150 m. Kolan Red-backed Voles are reportedly common in bottoms of narrow, wooded, and bushy valleys.

Food and Feeding. No information.

Breeding. Breeding season of the Kolan Red-backed Vole occurs in March—October. A female with two embryos was reported, lactating females were collected in late May, and young-of-the-year were captured in June.

Activity patterns. The Kolan Red-backed Vole is fossorial.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. The Kolan Red-backed Vole burrows in loose soil.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. The Kolan Red-backed Vole is endemic to central China, with an overall distribution of c.172,000 km®.

Bibliography. Li Yongxiang & Xue Xiangxu (2009), Lunde (2008), Luo Zexun et al. (2000), Shenbrot & Krasnov (2005), Ye Xiaodi et al. (2002).