European Snow Vole - Vole with the Smallest Litters
The European snow vole (Chionomys nivalis) s also known as the snow vole or Topillo Naval. It is one of the most successful vole species in the world despite the fact that females have fewer babies than other vole species. Despite its common name, the European snow vole can be found in more places than just Europe. They are also found as far south as Israel and as far east as Russia. This species is not endangered because it faces very little competition for food from other species.European snow voles prefer to live in higher altitudes up to 4921.259 feet (1500 meters) in timberlines, rock quarries, canyons, hills and mountains. It also has adapted to human barns and homes in order to survive the winters. When human barns or houses are unavailable, the snow vole makes large multi-chambered nests in between or underneath rocks. The snow vole does not hibernate but keeps active all through the winter.
Physical Description
Snow voles are small, cobby mouse-like creatures with dark button eyes, long whiskers, small round ears and very small feet in relation to their body size. Their fur seems short but is very dense in order to insulate the little rodent from the cold. The color of the fur varies from a tan and grey to a silvery grey. The bellies, chests and insides of the short legs are pale. Their noses are dark pink and are lightly furred.
Adult European snow voles grow to a nose to tail tip length up to 7 inches (17.78 centimeters) long. Their tails vary in length from 1 to 1.5 inches (2.54 to 3.81 centimeters.) Their prominent whiskers can grow up to 1.97 inches (50 millimeters) long -- longer than their tails. Adults weigh anywhere from 1 to 1.5 ounces (28.34 to 42.52 grams.)
Life Cycle and Behavior
Not much is known about wild European snow vole behavior because they are so difficult to study. Most of what is known are from observing snow voles in zoos. Snow voles live solitary lives, marking out their territories with urine and feces. They are most active at night. They eat plants, roots and grasses, tucking extra food into their cheeks to bring back to their burrows. They have few predators to avoid such as marmots or owls, but they are host to a number of parasites like fleas and ticks.
They breed only during the summer. After only 21 days, the female gives birth to a litter from 1 to 7 babies. She nurses them for another 21 days and then they are on their own.
Picture of the European snow vole by Dodoni, licensed under GFDL
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