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The European Water Vole (Arvicola amphibius formerly called A. terrestris) is a semi-aquatic mammal that resembles a rat. In fact, the water vole is often informally called the water rat. Some authorities consider the Southwestern Water Vole in the same species, but it is now generally considered a distinct species. Water voles have rounder noses than rats, deep brown fur, chubby faces and short fuzzy ears; unlike the rat their tails, paws and ears are covered with hair.
In the wild, they survive for 2 years on average; most do not survive a second winter. In captivity, they normally start to deteriorate in condition as they approach their third year becoming thinner and losing much of their fur, nearly all die during their third winter.
Water voles reach 140–220mm in length (5–9 inches) plus a tail of 55%–70% of this. Adults weigh from 160–350 g (6–12 ounces), juveniles weigh less but must reach around 140–170 g (5–6 ounces) to be able to survive their first winter.
The binomial applied to the Water Vole is Arvicola amphibius, it was formerly known by the junior synonym A. terrestris. The confusion stems from the fact that Linnaeus described two species of Water Vole on the same page of the same work. Those two forms are now universally considered the same species. Musser and Carleton (2005) recognized A. amphibius (Linnaeus, 1758) as technically correct because the first source to unite the two forms that Linnaeus had treated separately into a single species chose A. amphibius as the valid name. Since A. amphibius and A. terrestris are literally tied in when they were named, priority is determined on the basis of the decision of the first reviewer. This reviewer used A. amphibius to refer to both forms. The species is more widely known by the synonym A. terrestris which for many decades was treated as the valid name.
There are three species in the genus Arvicola; A. amphibius the Northern Water Vole, A. sapidus the Southern Water Vole and A scherman the Montane Water Vole.
The water vole Arvicola amphibius, also known as the Northern water vole, is found in much of Great Britain, northern and central Europe and in parts of Russia.
There is another water vole found in northwestern United States, and southwestern Canada. Some sources classify the North American water vole as a separate species, either Microtus richardsoni or Arvicola richardsoni.
Water vole, Ore Mountains, GermanyIn Britain, water voles live in burrows excavated within the banks of rivers, ditches, ponds, and streams. Burrows are normally located adjacent to slow moving, calm water which they seem to prefer. They also live in reed beds where they will weave ball shaped nests above ground if no suitable banks exist in which to burrow.
Water voles prefer lush riparian vegetation which provides important cover to conceal animals when they are above ground adjacent to the water body. Areas of heavily grazed and trampled riparian habitats are generally avoided Water voles may be displaced by the introduction of riparian woodland and scrub as they prefer more open wetland habitats away from tree cover.
As well as frequenting typical lowland wetland habitats dominated by rank marginal aquatic vegetation, water voles are also just as at home in areas upland peatland vegetation where they utilise suitable small ditches, rivers and lochs surrounded by moorland up to 1000 m asl (e.g. northern Scotland)
In Europe and Russia, they may venture into woods, fields, and gardens. They live under the snow during the winter.
In the wild, they survive for 2 years on average; most do not survive a second winter. In captivity, they normally start to deteriorate in condition as they approach their third year becoming thinner and losing much of their fur, nearly all die during their third winter.
Water voles reach 140–220mm in length (5–9 inches) plus a tail of 55%–70% of this. Adults weigh from 160–350 g (6–12 ounces), juveniles weigh less but must reach around 140–170 g (5–6 ounces) to be able to survive their first winter.
The binomial applied to the Water Vole is Arvicola amphibius, it was formerly known by the junior synonym A. terrestris. The confusion stems from the fact that Linnaeus described two species of Water Vole on the same page of the same work. Those two forms are now universally considered the same species. Musser and Carleton (2005) recognized A. amphibius (Linnaeus, 1758) as technically correct because the first source to unite the two forms that Linnaeus had treated separately into a single species chose A. amphibius as the valid name. Since A. amphibius and A. terrestris are literally tied in when they were named, priority is determined on the basis of the decision of the first reviewer. This reviewer used A. amphibius to refer to both forms. The species is more widely known by the synonym A. terrestris which for many decades was treated as the valid name.
There are three species in the genus Arvicola; A. amphibius the Northern Water Vole, A. sapidus the Southern Water Vole and A scherman the Montane Water Vole.
The water vole Arvicola amphibius, also known as the Northern water vole, is found in much of Great Britain, northern and central Europe and in parts of Russia.
There is another water vole found in northwestern United States, and southwestern Canada. Some sources classify the North American water vole as a separate species, either Microtus richardsoni or Arvicola richardsoni.
Water vole, Ore Mountains, GermanyIn Britain, water voles live in burrows excavated within the banks of rivers, ditches, ponds, and streams. Burrows are normally located adjacent to slow moving, calm water which they seem to prefer. They also live in reed beds where they will weave ball shaped nests above ground if no suitable banks exist in which to burrow.
Water voles prefer lush riparian vegetation which provides important cover to conceal animals when they are above ground adjacent to the water body. Areas of heavily grazed and trampled riparian habitats are generally avoided Water voles may be displaced by the introduction of riparian woodland and scrub as they prefer more open wetland habitats away from tree cover.
As well as frequenting typical lowland wetland habitats dominated by rank marginal aquatic vegetation, water voles are also just as at home in areas upland peatland vegetation where they utilise suitable small ditches, rivers and lochs surrounded by moorland up to 1000 m asl (e.g. northern Scotland)
In Europe and Russia, they may venture into woods, fields, and gardens. They live under the snow during the winter.
The Southwestern Water Vole or Southern Water Vole, Arvicola sapidus is a large amphibious vole is found in most of France and south-westwards through Spain and Portugal. Although historically considered to be a member of the same species as the Eurasian Water Vole, Musser and Carleton (2005) considered it distinct enough to warrant full species status. It is listed on the IUCN Red List as near threatened. It is threatened for many of the same reasons as the Northern water vole, and a campaign is currently underway to seek protection for the species, both at a national level and at European Union level.
The Southwestern Water Vole
The European Water Vole
