Reassessment of the taxonomic status of Craseomys and three controversial species of Myodes and Alticola (Rodentia: Arvicolinae)

Dynamic home range of the grey-sided vole Craseomys rufocanus: a pilot study

BACKGROUND

Knowledge about home range size is vital to understand social systems and population dynamics of small mammals, as well as dispersal and a species' landscape use. Home ranges have been mapped for some species of voles (subfamily Microtinae) but remain virtually unknown for many species, including the grey-sided vole Craseomys rufocanus.

RESULTS

A small pilot study was carried out in an inland valley of northern Norway, where six adult C. rufocanus were radio-tracked with one male and one female in each of the summers 2021-2023. Despite the small sample size, a large variation in home range size was found; males 2 294 - 36 887 m2 and females 1 728-7 392 m2 (100% MCP). Three of the voles tracked over a prolonged period of time showed a dynamic use and shifting of the range. Home range size and use was mostly related to reproduction. The male with the smallest range had probably not yet become reproductively active, whereas the male with the largest range was searching for females at a time when vole density was very low. The third male reduced his range when the reproductive season ended. For females the most important limitations were food, shelter and dependent young, those with young needed to return frequently and spend more time at the nest site. When the reproductive season ended, one female increased her range, perhaps exploring sites to overwinter.

CONCLUSIONS

Home range use in this population appears to be more dynamic than has previously been reported for C. rufocanus. The large ranges of males most likely resulted from the search of reproductively active females, outside of the reproductive season male ranges approximated female ranges. Female ranges most likely were limited by the need to feed close to their nest with dependent young, being able to roam more freely when reproduction ended.

A new perspective on the taxonomy and systematics of Arvicolinae (Gray, 1821) and a new time-calibrated phylogeny for the clade

Background

Arvicoline rodents are one of the most speciose and rapidly evolving mammalian lineages. Fossil arvicolines are also among the most common vertebrate fossils found in sites of Pliocene and Pleistocene age in Eurasia and North America. However, there is no taxonomically robust, well-supported, time-calibrated phylogeny for the group.

Methods

Here we present well-supported hypotheses of arvicoline rodent systematics using maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference of DNA sequences of two mitochondrial genes and three nuclear genes representing 146 (82% coverage) species and 100% of currently recognized arvicoline genera. We elucidate well-supported major clades, reviewed the relationships and taxonomy of many species and genera, and critically compared our resulting molecular phylogenetic hypotheses to previously published hypotheses. We also used five fossil calibrations to generate a time-calibrated phylogeny of Arvicolinae that permitted some reconciliation between paleontological and neontological data.

Results

Our results are largely congruent with previous molecular phylogenies, but we increased the support in many regions of the arvicoline tree that were previously poorly-sampled. Our sampling resulted in a better understanding of relationships within Clethrionomyini, the early-diverging position and close relationship of true lemmings (Lemmus and Myopus) and bog lemmings (Synaptomys), and provided support for recent taxonomic changes within Microtini. Our results indicate an origin of ∼6.4 Ma for crown arvicoline rodents. These results have major implications (e.g., diversification rates, paleobiogeography) for our confidence in the fossil record of arvicolines and their utility as biochronological tools in Eurasia and North America during the Quaternary.

Revalidation and expanded description of Mustela aistoodonnivalis (Mustelidae: Carnivora) based on a multigene phylogeny and morphology

The lacked-teeth pygmy weasel, Mustela aistoodonnivalis Wu & Kao, 1991, was originally described as being from Taibai Mountain and Zhashui county, Shaanxi, China. Subsequently, it was considered a subspecies or synonym of Mustela nivalis. In a faunal survey of northwestern Sichuan, eight specimens of M. aistoodonnivalis were collected. A molecular phylogenetic analysis of one mitochondrial and six nuclear genes clustered the specimens as a distinct clade and not with M. nivalis. Morphologically, the lack of the second lower molar differentiated them from M. nivalis, and genetic distances were typical of discrete species. These analyses confirmed that M. aistoodonnivalis is an independent species in the genus Mustela.

Evidence of late root formation of molars in Anderson's red-backed vole, Eothenomysandersoni (Thomas, 1905) (Cricetidae, Rodentia), and arguments for its generic allocation

We evaluated the molars in Anderson's red-backed vole (n = 114) from the Kii Peninsula of Honshu, Japan. Two of the specimens are considered extremely old aged based on their dimensions and on the loss of alveolar capsules of M², and a third one is also old based on its strongly worn left M³ and M₁. Of the former two individuals, one showed an incipient closure of re-entrant angles at its basal end, as estimated from the difference between the occlusal patterns of the occlusal and basal surfaces of the left M₂. The latter individual also showed a complete closure of the basal end in the left M³. These patterns differ from incipient roots observed in other vole taxa but were similar to a previous example of incipient roots in Anderson's red-backed vole. Therefore, we suggest that molar roots in this species form at an extremely late age or by strong wear. Root formation in molars is considered an important diagnostic character, as Eothenomys molars lack roots, while Craseomys molars develop roots at a late age. However, this dental character may be particularly difficult to assess in voles under natural conditions. Considering previous phylogenetic findings based on molecular analyses, Craseomys is the most appropriate genus for Anderson's and other Asiatic red-backed voles.