Eothenomys wardi (Thomas, 1912)

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 : 310

72.

Ward’s Red-backed Vole

Eothenomys wardi

French: Campagnol de Ward / German: \Ward-Rotelmaus / Spanish: Topillo rojo de Ward

Other common names: \Ward’'s Chinese Vole, Ward's Oriental Vole

Taxonomy. Microtus (Anteliomys) ward : Thomas, 1912, “Chamutong [= Tra-mutang], Upper Salween drainage-area, W. of A-tun-tsi, [Yunnan, China]. 13,000’ [= 3962 m].”

Eothenomys wardi is in the subgenus Anteliomys . In the past, it was mainly regarded as a synonym of E. chinensis , but molecular evidence supported specific status of E. wardi . Monotypic.

Distribution. Known from less than ten localities in the Meili Snow (= Chamutong) Mts between Salween and Mekong river valleys, NW Yunnan (China).

Descriptive notes. Head-body 90-108 mm, tail 43-56 mm; weight 22-39 g. Ward's Red-backed Vole is moderately large, with tail longer than ¢.50% of head-body length. Ears protrude above pelage. Females have two pairs of inguinal nipples. Fur is ¢.8 mm long, soft, gray-brown above and light gray below. Skull shows no peculiarities, being moderately deep. M? is complex, with five inner salient angles and long posterior cup.

Habitat. Open and rocky mountain meadows and forests at elevations of 2400-4250 m.

Food and Feeding. No information.

Breeding. Breeding season of Ward’s Red-backed Vole is from early summer to late autumn.

Activity patterns. No information.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Near Threatened on The IUCN Red List. Justification for the ranking is the small distribution of less than 10,000 km?. Ward’s Red-backed Vole is close to being classified as Vulnerable due to its limited distribution, but there is no information on habitat conditions and possible threats.

Bibliography. Kaneko (1996), Lunde (2008), Shenbrot & Krasnov (2005), 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. Known from less than ten localities in the Meili Snow (= Chamutong) Mts between Salween and Mekong river valleys, NW Yunnan (China).