55.

Kashmir Mountain Vole

Alticola montosus

French: Campagnol du Cachemire / German: KaschmirGebirgswiihimaus / Spanish: Topillo de montana de Cachemira

Other common names: Central Kashmir Vole, True'’s Vole

Taxonomy. Arvicola montosa [sic] True, 1894, “Central Kashmir, [N India], 11,000 feet [= 3353 m].”

In the past, A. montosus was synonymized with A. roylei or A. argentatus . The specific name is often incorrectly spelled montosa . Latin names ending with cola ( Arvicola, Alticola, etc.) are masculine therefore montosa requires modification of the suffix into —osus. Monotypic.

Distribution. Known from few localities in NE Pakistan and NW India.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 102-126 mm, tail 41-65 mm. No specific data are available for body weight. The Kashmir Mountain Vole is moderately large, with tail 36-61% of head-body length. Pelage is long and soft, dorsally dark brown and below gray, clouded slate by underfur. Skull has expanded zygomatic arches and small bullae, resembling Royle’s Mountain Vole (A. roylei). Enamel pattern of the M? distinguishes the Kashmir Mountain Vole from other species of Alticola . Dentaltriangles are isolated, and there are four inner salient angles.

Habitat. Rocky areas in subalpine scrubs and alpine meadows at elevations of 2600-4700 m.

Food and Feeding. Kashmir Mountain Voles have been observed eating stems and leaves of Artemisia (Asteraceae), Polygonum amplexicaule ( Polygonaceae), and Thymus serpyllum ( Lamiaceae).

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. No information.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Vulnerable on The IUCN Red List (as A. montosa). Area of occurrence is estimated to be more than 20,000 km?, but area of occupancy is given as one-tenth that, or just 2000 km?®. Justification for the classification is distributional fragmentation, small area of occupancy, and continued decline in extent and quality of habitat. Conservation Assessment and Management Plan for South Asian Non-volant Small Mammals classified the Kashmir Mountain Vole as least concern in India and critically endangered in Pakistan. Justification for the classification of the Pakistani population is isolation and threats affecting habitat.

Bibliography. Awan et al. (2004), Molur et al. (2005), Rossolimo & Pavlinov (1992).