Microtus is a genusofvoles found in North America, Europe and northern Asia. The genus name refers to the small ears of these animals. They are stout rodents with short ears, legs and tails. They eat green vegetation such as grasses and sedges in summer, and grains, seeds, root and bark at other times. The genus is also called "meadow voles".[1]
| Microtus Temporal range: Late Pliocene - recent | |
|---|---|
| |
| Lusitanian pine vole | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Rodentia |
| Family: | Cricetidae |
| Subfamily: | Arvicolinae |
| Tribe: | Microtini |
| Genus: | Microtus Schrank, 1798 |
| Subgenera | |
|
Blanfordimys | |
There is some disagreement on the definitive list of species in this genus, and which subgenera are recognized. The American Society of Mammalogists recognizes the following 60 species, with discrepancies as noted:[2]
Subgenus Blanfordimys
Subgenus Euarvicola
Subgenus Hyrcanicola (not recognized by the ASM, listed in subgenus Microtus)
Subgenus Iberomys
Subgenus Microtus
Subgenus Pedomys (not recognized by the ASM, listed in subgenus Pitymys)
Subgenus Pitymys (includes the former subgenus Mynomes)
Subgenus Terricola
The IUCN recognizes these additional species:
There is also at least one known subfossil species known:
Subgenus †Tyrrhenicola