170.

Cyrenaica Vole

Microtus mustersi

French: Campagnol de Musters / German: Cyrenaika-Wihimaus / Spanish: Topillo de Cirenaica

Other common names: Muster's Vole

Taxonomy. Microtus mustersi Hinton, 1926, Merg, Cyrenaica, Libya.

Microtus mustersi is in subgenus Sumeriomys and guentheri species group. In the past, it was synonymized with socialis, guentheri, or rani, but here restored to species level based on nucleotide sequences. Its occurrence in Africa is believed to be a relict dating back to the Pleistocene. Monotypic.

Distribution. NE Libya (Cyrenaica).

Descriptive notes. Head-body 99-124 mm, tail 20-31 mm. No specific data are available for body weight. The Cyrenaica Vole is similar to the Levant Vole ( M. guentheri), but ears are less hairy, and tail is ¢.25% of head-body length. Females have two pairs of pectoral and two pairs of inguinal nipples. There are five plantar pads. Pelage is soft, dense, and short; it is medium brown dorsally and paler and buffy on flanks. Belly is gray and washed creamy. Skull has slightly convex dorsal profile, expanded zygomatic arches, and long nasals. Bullae are moderately inflated. Incisors are orthodont. Molar pattern as in the Levant Vole.

Habitat. Coastal plain and inland plateau of Cyrenaica at elevations close to sea level up to 650-700 m. Habitat and abundance differ markedly between the two main landscape types of Cyrenaica. On coastal plain, Cyrenaica Voles occupy dense lush understories of bush-like perennials, tamarix (7amarix, Tamaricaceae), large sedges, or coarse grasses; habitat is sporadic and abundance is low. On hilly and rocky inland sites, Cyrenaica Voles dig into hard substrate in more continuous habitat. They also occupy cultivated areas.

Food and Feeding. No information.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. Cyrenaica Voles are active day and night. They live in burrows and move through pathways that connect entrances to underground tunnels.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. During breeding season, male and female Cyrenaica Voles might use different burrows. They urinate in particular spots around burrow entrances.

Status and Conservation. Not assessed on The IUCN Red List as a distinct species. The Cyrenaica Vole was previously considered a synonym of the Levant Vole classified as Least Concern.

Bibliography. Happold (2013l), Hufnagl (1972), Ranck (1968), Thanou et al. (2011).