|
Description |
| Smoky-grey coat on its back, shading to tawny at
the sides, with a whitish stomach, lower part of the
tail and feet. Different from other fieldmice, its
outer ear emerges from its coat and its tail is
longer. |
|
Behaviour |
| This animal spends its rest periods in holes
underground, dug out between rocks and stones.
Sometimes they hide in mountain huts. It is the
least prolific type of fieldmouse, due to the short
mountain summer which allows the female to give
birth at most twice a year, to 2-6 young which
become independent after three weeks. It is preyed
on by all the carnivores present in its habitat, and
its partially daytime habits mean it falls victim
also to snakes and diurnal birds of prey. |
|
Feeding |
| Prevalently herbivore, it eats roots and grasses
which it finds near to its den. It is active in
winter when it searches for food by burrowing
tunnels under the snow. |
| Habitat |
| Prefers rocky areas above 1500 metres. Living
among stones helps it to mitigate the effect of the
wide ranges in temperature in the mountains which
occur both during the day and over the seasons. |
|
Presence |
| Sometimes is possible to find footprints in the
snow, distinguishable from those of other voles as
there are also marks left by its tail. |
|
Sighting |
| Il fatto che l'arvicola delle nevi sia attiva
anche di giorno permette talvolta qualche fortuito
avvistamento nel corso di passeggiate in montagna ad
alta quota. |
| Life
Span |
| Because of its diurnal habits, it is sometimes
possible to spot when walking in the mountains at
high altitudes |
|
Edited by Alessandra Buscemi and Paola
Tuccinardi
Fauna urbis p.soc.coop.a r.l.
|
