152.

Major’s Pine Vole

Microtus majori

French: Campagnol de Major / German: Ostliche Kleinwiihimaus / Spanish: Topillo de Major

Taxonomy. Microtus (Pitymys) majori Thomas, 1906, “Sumela [= Meryemana], south of Trebizond [= Trabzon, Turkey]. Altitude 700-1300 m.”

Microtus majori 1s in subgenus Terricola and subterraneus species group. Molecular reconstructions suggest sister position of major: against the monophyletic lineage of subterraneus and daghestanicus . Taxonomic status of daghestanicus as a separate species was retrieved from chromosomal evidence in early 1970s. Earlier, majori included daghestanicus and was not clearly delimited against subterraneus . In the past, M. majori was classified in genus Pitymys . Three subspecies recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution.

M.m.majoriThomas,1906—NETurkeyandWGeorgia.

M.m.aiscaucasicusOgnev,1924—NslopesofGreaterCaucasusinRussia.

M. m. suramensis Heptner, 1948 — S slopes of Greater Caucasus in Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 90-112 mm, tail 32-49 mm; weight 20-29 g. Major’s Pine Vole is similar to the Common Pine Vole ( M. subterraneus) but decidedly darker, with relatively longer tail (35-45% of head-body length). Pelage is mummy brown above and slaty gray below. Females have three pairs of nipples: one pectoral pair and two inguinal pairs. Skull is deeper and more robust and has wider interorbital region than the Common Pine Vole. Dorsal profile is bowed or flat. Upper incisors are orthodont, and molars are essentially as in the Common Pine Vole.

Habitat. Rocky and humid places in mixed or deciduous forests, clearings, forest edge, and subalpine meadows, most commonly at elevations of 800-1400 m.

Food and Feeding. Green plants dominate spring and summer diets of Major’s Pine Voles, seeds in autumn, and roots, tubers, and bulbs in winter. Spring caches can contain up to 1 kg of plant material.

Breeding. Major’s Pine Voles breed year-round in Armenia and seasonally elsewhere. Breeding starts in April-May, depending on elevation. There are up to 4 litters/season. Numbers of embryos are 2-4/female (mean 2-8). Females mature in their birth year and can have up to two litters before winter.

Activity patterns. Major’s Pine Vole is predominantly nocturnal. It lives in shallow burrows excavated on its own but also seeks shelter among rocks.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Major’s Pine Vole is colonial.

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

Bibliography. Achverdjan et al. (1992), Baskevich (1997), Baskevich et al. (2015), Gromov & Erbajeva (1995), Krystufek & Vohralik (2005), Macholéan, Filippucci & Zima (2001), Shenbrot & Krasnov (2005).