Jalapan pine vole facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Jalapan pine vole |
|
|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Microtus
|
| Species: |
quasiater
|
| Synonyms | |
|
Pitymys quasiater |
|
The Jalapan pine vole (scientific name: Microtus quasiater) is a small rodent that belongs to the Cricetidae family, which includes hamsters and voles. This special vole lives only in Mexico. Its scientific name, quasiater, means "almost black," which describes its fur color. The name "Jalapan" comes from the city of Jalapa, where the first one was found.
Contents
What Does It Look Like?
The Jalapan pine vole is the tiniest vole living in Mexico. An adult vole is about 10 to 14 centimetres (3.9 to 5.5 in) long, which is roughly the length of a pen. It weighs around 26 grams (0.92 oz), which is lighter than a small apple!
This vole has soft, long fur that is dark brown. Its belly is a bit lighter in color. Both male and female voles are about the same size.
Where Does It Live?
The Jalapan pine vole lives only in a mountain range called the Sierra Madre Oriental in Mexico. You can find it from southern San Luis Potosi to northern Oaxaca.
Its Mountain Home
These voles make their homes in mountainous cloud forests. These forests are often covered in mist and clouds. They live at high elevations, between 700 and 2,150 metres (2,300 and 7,050 ft) above sea level.
You'll most often find them in open, grassy areas. They also like to live near river banks or in wet, marshy places. Sometimes, they live at the edges of farms. They can also be found in thicker forests with pine and oak trees, especially where there are many ferns growing on the ground.
What Does It Eat and How Does It Behave?
Like many other voles, the Jalapan pine vole is a herbivore. This means it eats only plants. It's not picky about its food! It eats at least 36 different kinds of plants.
Its Diet
Most of its diet includes the leaves and stems of grasses, sedges (grass-like plants), and other small plants. It also enjoys some roots, seeds, flowers, and even fungi. These foods are common in the areas where it lives. This shows that the Jalapan pine vole is very good at finding food and can adapt to different plant types.
Daily Life and Reproduction
The Jalapan pine vole is a nocturnal animal. This means it is active at night. During the day, it rests and hides under rocks or fallen logs to stay safe.
These voles can have babies all year long. However, they tend to have more young during the rainy season. A mother vole usually gives birth to one to four babies at a time. The young voles grow very quickly. They reach their full adult size about one month after they are born.
