97.

Duke of Bedford's Vole

Proedromys bedfordi

French: Campagnol de Bedford / German: Bedford-Wiihimaus / Spanish: Topillo del Duque de Bedford

Other common names: Bedford's ole

Taxonomy. Proedromys bedfordi Thomas, 1911, 97 km SE Minchow, S Gansu, China.

Genetic study by Hao Haibang and colleagues in 2011 supported close relationship between Proedromys and Microtus . Monotypic.

Distribution. S Gansu and N Sichuan (C China).

Descriptive notes. Head-body 99-129 mm, tail 37-5-43.5 mm, ear 15-H— 18 mm, hindfoot 18-5-20-5 mm. No specific data are available for body weight. Dorsal pelage of the Duke of Bedford’s Vole is long, with dull brown hairs; ventral pelage is grayish white. Tail is brown above and dull white below;its is only ¢.35% ofhead-body length. Females with eight mammae, two pectoral pairs and two inguinal pairs. Skull is heavily built. Molars rootless and continuously growing; M | has four closed triangles. Upper incisors are broad, with an anterior groove—a distinct feature in Arvicolinae.

Habitat. Subtropical moist montane forests at elevations of 2440-2550 m.

Food and Feeding. No information.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. The Duke of Bedford's Vole is terrestrial.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Vulnerable on The IUCN Red List. The Duke of Bedford’s Voleis threatened by habitat loss because of expanding agriculture and logging. There is a recorded population in Jiuzhaigou National Nature Reserve.

Bibliography. Allen (1940), Hao Haibang et al. (2011), Johnston & Smith (2016b), Liu Shaoying et al. (2007), Lunde (2008).