89.

Italian Water Vole

Arvicola italicus

French: Campagnol d'ltalie / German: Italien-Schermaus / Spanish: Rata de agua de Italia

Taxonomy. Arvicola amphibius var. italica [sic] Savi, 1838, vicinity of Pisa, Italy.

Arvicola italicus was treated until recently as a synonym of A. amphibius (earlier of A. terrestris). Phylogenetic reconstructions using molecular markers retrieved italicus to be a separate species. Monotypic.

Distribution. Endemic to Italy and marginally reaching S Switzerland in Ticino.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 162-191 mm,tail 84-102 mm; weight 83-139 g.

The Italian Water Vole is similar to aquatic form of the Eurasian Water Vole ( A. amphibius). Back is brown, on average lighter than on the Eurasian Water Vole; flanks are light and buffy; cheeks are slightly yellowish; and belly is slate gray and washed in buff. Tail is dark brown above and gray below. Skull is of the aquatic form, and incisors are orthodont.

Habitat. Humid plains and valleys, with densely vegetated banks along rivers, ditches, ponds, and marshes. The Italian Water Vole also occurs in brackish water and was reported in Venetian Lagoon. It is restricted to lowlands up to elevations of 300 m in north-eastern Italy and up to 1600 m in Calabria, southern Italy.

Food and Feeding. Diet of the Italian Water Vole is similar to the aquatic Eurasian Water Vole, consisting mainly of green parts of semi-aquatic and aquatic plants, including broadleaf cattail (7ypha latifolia, Typhaceae). In spring, pale-yellow iris (Iris pseudacorus, Iridaceae) is consumed abundantly around Pisa and Livorno. Food is cached. Feeding on bark is reported during winter. The Italian Water Vole also preys on larval and adult stages of insects, snails, shrimps, and frogs.

Breeding. Young Italian Water Voles suckle for c.2 weeks. They start leaving nests and swimming at 15-16 days old and are weaned at c.21 days old.

Activity patterns. Italian Water Voles are predominantly diurnal. In summer, they live aquatically, but in winter, individuals can move away from water. In spring, they abandon terrestrial life and return to water banks. They dig shallow tunnels with entrances below or above water level. Globular nests are 25-30 cm in diameter and are woven from stems and leaves of grasses and other marshy plants. In flooded areas, nests are commonly on low trunks of willows ( Salix, Salicaceae) or in clumps of sedges.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Not assessed on The IUCN Red List due to its recent recognition as a species. The Italian Water Vole is widespread on the Italian Peninsula, but it shows some attributes of rarity and population decline. Decline was noted in the 1970s and 1980s, and many historical occurrences have not been reconfirmed. It was historically present in Sicily but is now absent. The Italian Water Vole is not protected in Italy, but itis included on Red Lists of provinces of Veneto and Umbria. It is not considered an agricultural pest, although considerable damage was reported in the 19" century.

Bibliography. Amori, Contoli & Nappi (2008), Castiglia et al. (2016), Gippoliti (2012), Meylan & Saucy (1995).