Zempoaltépec vole facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Zempoaltépec vole
Conservation status
Endangered (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Rodentia
Family:	Cricetidae
Subfamily:	Arvicolinae
Genus:	Microtus
Subgenus:	Pitymys
Species:	M. umbrosus
Binomial name
Microtus umbrosus Merriam, 1898
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The Zempoaltépec vole (Microtus umbrosus) is a type of rodent that lives in Mexico. It belongs to the family Cricetidae, which includes hamsters and lemmings. The name Microtus comes from Greek words meaning "small ear." The name umbrosus might come from a Latin word meaning "shady."

This vole is quite large for a vole and has a long tail. Its fur is long and soft. The fur on its back is dark with brown tips. Its belly fur is dark gray with a hint of reddish-yellow. You can only find this special vole in a mountain range in Oaxaca, Mexico, near the Cajones River.

Where Does the Zempoaltépec Vole Live?

The Zempoaltépec vole, or Microtus umbrosus, lives only in a specific mountain area in Oaxaca, Mexico. This area is southeast of the Cajones River in the Mixes district. These voles have been found at different heights, from about 1,829 meters (6,000 feet) in a town called Totontepec up to 2,499-3,000 meters (8,200-9,800 feet) on Mount Zempoaltépec.

What is Its Habitat Like?

This vole likes to live in humid, cool places. Its home can be in dense oak forests, pine-oak forests on mountains, or evergreen cloud-forests. It also lives in evergreen rainforests. It builds burrows and long tunnels in soil that is moist but drains well.

What Does the Zempoaltépec Vole Look Like?

The Zempoaltépec vole has several unique features. It is bigger than other Mexican voles. It also has a much longer tail and large back feet. Its tail is about one-third of its total body length, which is longer than most other voles in its group. Its feet have five main pads and a small sixth one. A key feature of this vole is that it has two pairs of mammary glands (for feeding babies) only in its groin area, not on its chest.

How Many Teeth Does It Have?

The Zempoaltépec vole has 16 teeth in total. It has four incisors (front teeth) but no canine teeth or premolars. It has 12 molars (back teeth) for chewing. Its last lower molar has two loops and at least one closed triangle shape. This helps scientists tell it apart from other voles.

Zempoaltépec Vole Genetics and History

The Zempoaltépec vole has 56 chromosomes in each cell. This is one of the highest numbers of chromosomes among Mexican vole species. Scientists study these chromosomes to understand how different vole species are related.

How Did This Vole Evolve?

The way the Zempoaltépec vole's chromosomes are arranged suggests it might be an older species. Its chromosome pattern is similar to what scientists believe was the original pattern for the Microtus group. This means it might be older than other voles like the Mexican vole.

Scientists also study the teeth of voles to understand their family tree. They use special microscopes to look at the tooth surfaces and measure them. This helps them figure out how different vole species are connected.

The Zempoaltépec vole is not closely related to other voles found in North America today. Some scientists think it might be a very old survivor from an early group of voles that came from Asia. It might even be part of a group that was once thought to be extinct.

Why is the Zempoaltépec Vole Endangered?

The Zempoaltépec vole is considered an endangered and fragile species. This is because it lives in a very small area. Also, its habitat in Oaxaca is changing due to human activities. Sadly, the area where this vole lives is not a protected nature reserve.

To help save this vole, more protected areas are needed in Mexico. The area where the Zempoaltépec vole lives should be a top priority for protection. This is because it is also home to eight other important animal species.