105.

Clarke’s Vole

Neodon clarkei

French: Campagnol de Clarke / German: Clark-Felswiihimaus / Spanish: Topillo de montana de Clarke

Taxonomy. Microtus clarkei Hinton, 1923, Kuikiang-Salween Divide, Yunnan, China.

Neodon clarkei was formerly placed in Microtus or Volemys . Morphological and molecular data support a closer relationship to N. wreneand N. leucurus . Monotypic.

Distribution. S China (SE Xizang and W & S Yunnan), NE Myanmar, and N Vietnam.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 105-134 mm, tail 60-70 mm, ear 12-16 mm, hindfoot 19-21 mm. No specific data are available for body weight. Clarke’s Vole is relatively large, with moderately long hair. Externally, it is very similar to the Reed Vole (Alexandromysfortis) but with dorsal pelage less yellow and more reddish brown. Underparts are slate-gray, with silver tips to fur. Medium-long tail is covered with short hairs that are thicker at distal ends, forming slight tufts. Tail is brown above and dirty white below. Dorsal surfaces of feet are dirty white. Hindfeet have five plantar pads.

Habitat. Coniferous forests and alpine meadows at elevations of 3400-4290 m. Clarkes Voles can move into open fields if they occur near forest.

Food and Feeding. No information.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. No information.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List (as Microtus clarke). Clarke's Vole is not uncommon and perhaps is even locally abundant.

Bibliography. Ellerman & Morrison-Scott (1951), Francis (2008), Lunde & Aplin (2008a).