Eothenomys olitor (Thomas, 1911)

Don E. Wilson, Russell A. Mittermeier & Thomas E. Lacher, Jr, 2017, Cricetidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 7 Rodents II, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 204-535 : 309

70.

Black-eared Red-backed Vole

Eothenomys olitor

French: Campagnol a oreilles noires / German: SchwarzohrRotelmaus / Spanish: Topillo rojo de orejas negras

Other common names: Black-eared Chinese Vole, Chaotung Vole

Taxonomy. Microtus (Eothenomys) olitor Thomas, 1911 , “Chao-tung-fu [= Zhaotung Xian, Yunnan, China].”

Eothenomys olitor 1s placed in the subgenus Anteliomys . It is closely related to E. proditor . Two subspecies recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution.

E.o.olitorThomas,1911—WYunnan(China).

E. o. hypolitor Wang & Li, 2000 — NE Yunnan (China).

Descriptive notes. Head-body 80-92 mm, tail 29-39 mm; weight 13-15 g. The Blackeared Red-backed Vole is the smallest species of FEothenomys. Tail is relatively long, c.40% of head-body length. Furis silky, blackish brown throughout butslightly lighter below. Feet and tail are dark brown; ears are decidedly black and contrast dorsal fur. Skull is small, lightly built, and flattened. Molars are hypsodont, and second upper molar is unique among species of Eothenomys by having prominent posterior salient angle on innerside (i.e. bearing three lingual salient angles). M”is frequently complex, with four inner salient angles.

Habitat. Mountain habitats with low annual fluctuations and high daily fluctuations in temperatures at elevations of 1800-3350 m. The rare Black-eared Red-backed Vole has been found in open fields.

Food and Feeding. No information.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. The Black-eared Red-backed Vole has relatively low body temperature (35-8°C) and proportionally high basal metabolic rate.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

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

Bibliography. Kaneko (2002), Luo Jing et al. (2004), Luo Zexun et al. (2000), Shenbrot & Krasnov (2005), Zeng Tao et al. (2013), Zhu Wanlong et al. (2008).

Figures

34. Nearctic Collared Lemming (Dicrostonyx groenlandicus), 35. Ungava Collared Lemming (Dicrostonyx hudsonius), 36. Nelson's Collared Lemming (Dicrostonyx nelsoni), 37. Ogilvie Mountains Collared Lemming (Dicrostonyx nunatakensis), 38. Richardson’s Collared Lemming (Ducrostonyx richardsoni), 39. Palearctic Collared Lemming (Dicrostonyx torquatus), 40. Unalaska Collared Lemming (Dicrostonyx unalascensis), 41. Gray Red-backed Vole (Craseomys rufocanus), 42. Hokkaido Red-backed Vole (Craseomys rex), 43. Korean Red-backed Vole (Craseomys regulus), 44. Shanxi Red-backed Vole (Craseomys shanseius), 45. Anderson’s Red-backed Vole (Craseomys andersoni), 46. Smith’s Red-backed Vole (Craseomys smith), 47. Western Red-backed Vole (Myodes californicus), 48. Southern Red-backed Vole (Myodes gapperi), 49. Bank Vole (Mpyodes glareolus), 50. Tian Shan Red-backed Vole (Myodes centralis), 51. Large-eared Vole (Myodes macrotis), 52. Northern Red-backed Vole (Myodes rutilus), 53. Silver Mountain Vole (Alticola argentatus), 54. White-tailed Mountain Vole (Alticola albicauda), 55. Kashmir Mountain Vole (Alticola montosus), 56. Royle’s Mountain Vole (Alticola roylei), 57. Strelzov’s Mountain Vole (Alticola strelzouvi), 58. Tuva Mountain Vole (Alticola tuvinicus), 59. Gobi Altai Mountain Vole (Alticola barakshin), 60. null (null), 60. null (null), 61. Mongolian Mountain Vole (Alticola semicanus), 61. Mongolian Mountain Vole (Alticola semicanus), 62. Stoliczka’s Mountain Vole (Alticola stoliczkanus), 62. Stoliczka’s Mountain Vole (Alticola stoliczkanus), 63. Lemming Mountain Vole (Aschizomys lemminus), 63. Lemming Mountain Vole (Aschizomys lemminus), 64. Gansu Red-backed Vole (Caryomys eva), 64. Gansu Red-backed Vole (Caryomys eva), 65. Kolan Red-backed Vole (Caryomys inez), 65. Kolan Red-backed Vole (Caryomys inez), 66. Pere David's Red-backed Vole (Eothenomys melanogaster), 66. Pere David’s Red-backed Vole (Eothenomys melanogaster), 67. Yunnan Red-backed Vole (Eothenomys miletus), 68. Sichuan Red-backed Vole (Eothenomys chinensis), 69. Southwest China Red-backed Vole (Eothenomys custos), 70. Black-eared Red-backed Vole (Eothenomys olitor), 71. Yulongxuen Red-backed Vole (FEothenomys proditor), 72. Ward’s Red-backed Vole (Eothenomys wardi), 73. Hinton’s Red-backed Vole (Eothenomys hintoni), 74. Tarquinius Red-backed Vole (Eothenomys tarquinius), 75. Burrowing Vole (Hyperacrius fertilis), 76. Murree Vole (Hyperacrius wynnei)

Subspecies and Distribution. E.o.olitorThomas,1911—WYunnan(China). E. o. hypolitor Wang & Li, 2000 — NE Yunnan (China).