Microtus obscurus

(Eversmann, 1841)

Altai Vole

Formerly part of Microtus arvalis. Also as Dark Vole.
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Location:Czech Republic, West Bohemia, Zoological and Botanical Park Pilsen (Plzen)Date taken:Sep 17, 2001

Image courtesy of the ASM Mammal Images Library · MIL ID: 4795

Taxonomy

Subclass : Theria
Infraclass : Placentalia
Magnorder : Boreoeutheria
Superorder : Euarchontoglires
Order : Rodentia
Suborder : Supramyomorpha
Infraorder : Myomorphi
Superfamily : Muroidea
Family : Cricetidae
Subfamily : Arvicolinae
Tribe : Arvicolini
Genus : Microtus
Subgenus : Microtus

Species status

Living
Found in the wild

Authority citation

Eversmmann E. (1841). Addenda ad celeberrimi Pallasii Zoographiam Rosso-Asiaticam. Fasciculus II. Uchenye zapiski Imperatorskogo Kazanskogo Universiteta 1:154–167. [Also published separately in a pamphlet, but according to Krystufek & Shenbrot that publication was later. I have not verified the volume number in other sources. The journal name should probably be "Ученыя записки издаваемыя Императорскимъ Казанскимъ Университетомъ"]

Original name as described

Hypudaeus obscurus

Other common names

Dark Vole · Altai Grey Vole

Type material

ZIN S. 6653

Type kind

lectotype

Type locality

probably near Chujskij trakt (a road), Altai Mtns., Russia.

Biogeographic realm

Palearctic

Country distribution

Ukraine · Russia · Georgia · Armenia · Azerbaijan · Turkey · Iran · Kazakhstan · Mongolia · China

Taxonomy notes

split from M. arvalis

Taxonomy notes citation

Tougard, C., Montuire, S., Volobouev, V., Markova, E., Contet, J., Aniskin, V.M. and Quéré, J.-P. 2013. Exploring phylogeography and species limits in the Altai vole (Rodentia: Cricetidae). Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 108(2):434-452. doi:10.1111/j.1095-8312.2012.02034.x

IUCN Red List status

Least Concern

Species Permalink

https://mammaldiversity.org/taxon/1002092

Country distribution map

The map below provides a general overview. Most species inhabit only specific regions within countries. Hover over the highlighted regions to see the country name.

Names and synonyms

Present and past (if available) associated names to the species. Click on a name to view its details.

Total: 14 names and synonyms.

Hypudaeus obscurus

(Eversmann, 1841)

Family

Cricetidae

Root name

obscurus

Validity status

species

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

ZIN S. 6653

Type kind

lectotype

Authority page

156

Authority publication

Ученыя записки издаваемыя Императорскимъ Казанскимъ Университетомъ

Name usages

  1. Eversmann (1841:5, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/13552026) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/69287)
  2. Musser & Carleton (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8562)
  3. Kryštufek & Shenbrot (2022:351) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/59729)

Microtus arvalis caucasicus

Satunin, 1896

Family

Cricetidae

Root name

caucasicus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

nomen_nudum

Authority page

303

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/9983108

Authority publication

Zoologische Jahrbücher

Name usages

  1. Trouessart (1904:448, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/53423329) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/59289)
  2. Musser & Carleton (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8562)
  3. Kryštufek & Shenbrot (2022:351) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/59729)

Microtus arvalis obscurus

Trouessart, 1904

Family

Cricetidae

Root name

obscurus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

448

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/53423329

Authority publication

Berlin

Name usages

  1. Trouessart (1904:448, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/53423329) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/59289)
  2. Smith & Xie (2008:230) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/64149)

Microtus obscurus

G. M. Allen, 1924

Family

Cricetidae

Root name

obscurus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

10

Authority publication

American Museum Novitates

Name usages

  1. Allen (1924:10) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/10368)
  2. Musser & Carleton (1993:526) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/63347)
  3. Wilson, Mittermeier & Lacher (2017:354) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/57900)
  4. Mammal Diversity Database (2018:ID #100000592) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67336)
  5. Mammal Diversity Database (2019:ID #100000592) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67337)
  6. Kryštufek & Shenbrot (2022:351) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/59729)
  7. Mammal Diversity Database (2024, https://www.mammaldiversity.org/taxon/1002092) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67250)
  8. Abramson, Skalon, Bondareva, Bodrov, Petrova & Dvoyashov (2025:8) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/68651)

Microtus brevirostris

Ognev, 1924

Family

Cricetidae

Root name

brevirostris

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

ZMMU S-31251

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

https://zmmu.msu.ru/dbs/list_record.php?id=S-31251

Authority page

32

Authority publication

Rostov on the Don

Name usages

  1. Musser & Carleton (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8562)
  2. Kryštufek & Shenbrot (2022:351) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/59729)

Microtus arvalis macrocranius

Ognev, 1924

Family

Cricetidae

Root name

macrocranius

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

ZMMU S-30988

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

https://zmmu.msu.ru/dbs/list_record.php?id=S-30988

Authority page

27

Authority publication

Rostov on the Don

Name usages

  1. Musser & Carleton (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8562)
  2. Kryštufek & Shenbrot (2022:351) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/59729)

Microtus arvalis transcaucasicus

Ognev, 1924

Family

Cricetidae

Root name

transcaucasicus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

30

Authority publication

Rostov on the Don

Name usages

  1. Musser & Carleton (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8562)
  2. Kryštufek & Shenbrot (2022:351) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/59729)

Microtus arvalis macrocranius natio ghalgai

Krassovsky, 1929

Family

Cricetidae

Root name

ghalgai

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

nomen_nudum · infrasubspecific

Authority page

81

Authority publication

Известия Ингушского Научно-Исследовательского Института

Name usages

  1. Musser & Carleton (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8562)
  2. Musser & Carleton (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8562)
  3. Kryštufek & Shenbrot (2022:351) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/59729)

Microtus arvalis gudauricus

Ognev, 1929

Family

Cricetidae

Root name

gudauricus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

ZMMU S-31004

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

https://zmmu.msu.ru/dbs/list_record.php?id=S-31004

Authority page

1

Authority publication

Известия государственного микробиологического института

Name usages

  1. Musser & Carleton (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8562)
  2. Kryštufek & Shenbrot (2022:351) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/59729)

Microtus arvalis transuralensis

Serebrennikov, 1929

Family

Cricetidae

Root name

transuralensis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

ZIN S. 16280

Type kind

holotype

Authority page

257

Authority publication

Annuaire du Musée Zoologique de l'Académie des Sciences de Russie

Name usages

  1. Musser & Carleton (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8562)
  2. Kryštufek & Shenbrot (2022:351) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/59729)

4 more names and synonyms available — use the desktop version to see them all.

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