Eothenomys chinensis (Thomas, 1891)

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

68.

Sichuan Red-backed Vole

Eothenomys chinensis

French: Campagnol de Chine / German: Sichuan-Rotelmaus / Spanish: Topillo rojo de Sichuan

Other common names: Chinese Oriental ole, Pratt's Oriental Vole, Pratt's Vole, Sichuan Chinese Vole

Taxonomy. Microtus chinensis Thomas, 1891 , “Kia-ting-fu, West Sze-chuen [= Sichuan, Chinal.”

Placed into subgenus Anteliomys . Until very recently chinensis included tarquinius and hintoni. Monotypic.

Distribution. Mountains along the Dadu River in Sichuan, China.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 102-134 mm, tail 57-71 mm; weight 38-57 g. The Sichuan Red-backed Vole is a large species of Eothenomys , with long tail (77-85% of head—body length). Ears are prominent. Females have two pairs of inguinal nipples. Fur is long and soft, dark brown above and slate below. Tail is blackish brown, indistinctly bicolored, and thinly haired. Skull is heavy with prominent crests. Molars are hypsodont and rootless, with thick enamel and not much cement. M? is complex, with five inner salient angles.

Habitat. Mountain forests, dense thickets of Rhododendron (Ericaceae) , and meadows at elevations of 1500-3400 m.

Food and Feeding. No information.

Breeding. Reproductive period is from early summer to late autumn.

Activity patterns. No information.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

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

Bibliography. Kaneko (1996), Lunde (2008), Luo Jing et al. (2004), Ye Xiaodi et al. (2002), Zeng Tao et al. (2013).

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)

Distribution. Mountains along the Dadu River in Sichuan, China.