162.

Calabria Pine Vole

Microtus brachycercus

French: Campagnol de Calabre / German: Kalabrien-Kleinwiihimaus / Spanish: Topillo de Calabria

Taxonomy. Pitymys savii brachycercus Lehmann, 1961, Camigliatello Silano, Calabria, Italy.

Microtus brachycercus is in subgenus Terricola and savii species group. It was previously synonymized with M. savii but elevated to a separate species based on chromosomal and molecular evidence. Hybrid males from experimental crosses between savii and brachycercus are sterile. It was classified in genus Pitymys . Monotypic.

Distribution. S Italy.

Descriptive notes. Head—body 87-98 mm,tail 23-27 mm; weight 14-24 g. The Calabria Pine Vole is small and very similar to Savi’s Pine Vole ( M. savii). As implied by the specific epithet, tail is short, ¢.22% of head-body length. Females have two pairs of inguinal and one pair of pectoral teats (six nipples in total). Pelage is dark brown above and slaty gray below. Skull is small, lightly built and not ridged. Upper incisors are slightly proodont. M is long and complex, with six inner salient angles. M? is short and simplified, with three inner salient angles.

Habitat. Meadows, pastures, gardens, arable land, urban areas, and woodland. The Calabria Pine Vole does not occupy high mountains.

Food and Feeding. No information.

Breeding. Female Calabria Pine Voles collected in March from Monte Gargano ( Apulia) had 2—4 embryos (mean 3-4).

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. Amori (2008), Amori, Contoli & Nappi (2008), Castiglia et al. (2008), Galleni (1995), Gornung et al. (2011), Lehmann (1961), Niethammer (1981).