69.

Southwest China Red-backed Vole

Eothenomys custos

French: Campagnol sentinelle / German: Stidwestchina-Rotelmaus / Spanish: Topillo rojo de China suroccidental

Other common names: Custos Oriental Vole, Southwest China Vole, Southwest Red-backed Vole

Taxonomy. Microtus (Anteliomys) custos Thomas, 1912, “A-tun-tsi [= Degen Xian], N.W. Yunnan, [China].”

Eothenomys custos is in the subgenus Anteliomys . Until recently it included hintoni, but this taxon is now recognized as a distinct species. Four subspecies recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution.

E.c.custosThomas,1912—NWYunnan(China).

E.c.changsanensisWang&Yang,2000— CangMtofDaliinYunnan(China).

E.c.ninglangensisWang&Li,2000—SWSichuanandNEYunnan(China).

E. c. rubellus G. M. Allen, 1924 — N Yunnan (China).

Descriptive notes. Head—body 79-110 mm,tail 32-50 mm; weight 21-36 g. The Southwest China Red-backed Vole is modestly sized, with relatively short tail (30-50% of head-body length) and short ears. Females have two pairs of inguinal nipples. Fur is long and soft, brown dorsally and light gray-brown ventrally. Skull is smooth, with broad interorbital region and small bullae. Molars are very similar to those of the Sichuan Red-backed Vole (FE. chinensis).

Habitat. Mountain forests, bamboo stands, meadows, and stony areas at elevations of 2500-3900 m.

Food and Feeding. No information.

Breeding. Breeding of the Southwest China Red-backed Vole occurs from early summer to late autumn.

Activity patterns. No information.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

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

Bibliography. Kaneko (1996), Lunde (2008), Luo Jing et al. (2004), Wang Yingxiang (2003), Zeng Tao et al. (2013).