Silver mountain vole facts for kids
The silver mountain vole (Alticola argentatus) is a small rodent that lives in mountain areas. These voles are known for their silver-grey fur and long whiskers. They have special teeth that grow continuously, which helps them eat tough plant fibers.
Silver mountain voles are well-suited for life in high mountains. You can find them in Central Asia, from the Saur Mountains in the northeast to the Kugitang Range in the west, and all the way to Tibet and the Himalayas in the south.
Quick facts for kids Silver mountain vole |
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| Silver mountain vole found in Himachal Pradesh, India | |
| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Rodentia |
| Family: | Cricetidae |
| Subfamily: | Arvicolinae |
| Genus: | Alticola |
| Species: |
A. argentatus
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| Binomial name | |
| Alticola argentatus (Severtzov, 1879)
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Contents
About Silver Mountain Voles
What They Look Like
Silver mountain voles can have many different fur colors. Their fur can be bright yellow to dark brown. The color might change depending on how dry their home area is.
Their tails are almost hairless and can be quite long, from about one-third to half of their body length. Lighter-colored voles have white tails. Darker voles have tails with two distinct colors. The fur on their back and the top of their head is usually the darkest.
Young voles start to shed their baby fur when they weigh about 18 to 21 grams. This shedding, called molting, happens in spring (March or April) and again in autumn (September or October).
Their Special Teeth
Like many rodents, silver mountain voles have special teeth called hypsodont molars. These teeth keep growing throughout their lives. This is very helpful because their diet includes tough, fibrous plants, which can wear down teeth quickly.
Where They Live
Their Mountain Homes
You can find these voles in the Tien Shan and Pamir Mountains. These mountain ranges are in countries like Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, China, and Pakistan. The northernmost place they live is the Saur Mountains. The southernmost is the Gilgit region of Pakistan.
The areas where silver mountain voles live are often part of the Eurasian Steppe. This region has lots of low, tough grasses that can survive dry weather. Because of these plants, many small mammals, including the silver mountain vole, live partly underground or find shelter among rocks.
Building Their Homes
Silver mountain voles often live in high mountains, in areas above the tree line. They also live in lower hills and forests, but less often. They build their nests in the rocks of rocky slopes. They often fill cracks in the rocks with their droppings mixed with plant bits. This creates a warm, insulated wall for their homes.
Their nests are soft, round balls made of plant material. These nests have different areas for sleeping and for raising their young. Silver mountain voles can be active both during the day and at night. They have even been seen moving around under the snow in winter!
How They Live
What They Eat
In winter and early spring, silver mountain voles mostly eat plant roots and seeds. These foods make up most of what's in their stomachs from November to February.
When March comes, they start eating fresh green plants. From April to September, these green plants are almost all they eat. In autumn, they gather food to store for the winter. These food stashes are usually small, weighing from 2 to 5 grams, but sometimes up to 35 to 42 grams.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
The time of year when silver mountain voles have babies changes depending on how high up they live. In forests and subalpine areas (just below the tree line), they breed from March to October. In the very high alpine zones, their breeding season is shorter, from May to September. Interestingly, on the southern slopes of lower hills, voles have been seen breeding even in winter!
Young voles are born in May in the forest and subalpine areas. They can have their own babies by the summer months. Usually, a female vole will have three litters (groups of babies) each year. They become old enough to have babies at a fairly young age.
Health and Disease
Silver mountain voles can carry a type of bacteria called Yersinia pestis. This bacteria can cause a disease known as the plague. It is found in wild rodent populations in many rural areas, especially in Mongolia. A type of flea that lives on marmots, called Oropsylla silantiewi, is thought to be the main way this bacteria spreads among animals.
 | Kyle Baker |
 | Joseph Yoakum |
 | Laura Wheeler Waring |
 | Henry Ossawa Tanner |
