Common Vole
ExploreMammals
Common Vole
Microtus arvalis
The Common Vole is a small, furry animal that loves to live in grassy fields and meadows. They are great at digging tunnels and can be found scurrying around looking for food.
Habitat: Grasslands
Appearance
The Common Vole is a small, stocky rodent with brownish-grey fur on its back and lighter grey underneath. It has a blunt snout, small eyes, and short ears that are often hidden within its dense fur, making it look different from a long-eared mouse.
KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassMammaliaOrderRodentiaFamilyCricetidaeGenusMicrotus
Category
MammalsRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
1
Interesting facts
A single female Common Vole can have up to 5 litters in one year!
Common Voles create 'vole runways' by eating paths through dense grass!
Even in winter, they stay active under the snow in cozy tunnels!
Their underground tunnels can be longer than two school buses combined!
Special abilities
Ability
Burrow Builder
Common Voles can dig intricate tunnel systems because of their strong claws, which helps them create safe homes.
Ability
Rapid Reproducer
Common Voles have many babies quickly that helps their species survive, even with many predators around.
Ability
Vegetation Chewer
Common Voles can munch on tough grasses and roots because of their constantly growing teeth, which helps them find food.
Ability
Hidden Hearing
Common Voles have excellent hearing despite their small ears, which helps them detect predators from far away.
Measurements & details
- Length
- 8-13 cm
- Weight
- 0.018-0.05 kg
- Lifespan
- 1-2 years
- Top Speed
- 12 km/h
- Litter Size
- 3-8
- Gestation
- 20-21 days
Watch
Diet & Feeding
A plant-eating expert, the Common Vole nibbles on fresh grass, seeds, and underground roots.
Primary Foods
- grasses
- seeds
- roots
- bulbs
- leaves
Foraging Method
- Foraging
Ecological connections
eaten by
Barn Owl
Tyto alba
main prey for many owl species
eaten by
Red Fox
Vulpes vulpes
a significant food source for opportunistic foxes
eats
Wheat
Triticum aestivum
consumes seeds and shoots of agricultural crops
eats
Cocksfoot Grass
Dactylis glomerata
major food source in its grassland habitat
Traits
Furry
Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur.
Social
Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring.
Burrowing
Burrowing animals dig tunnels and chambers in the ground, using these subterranean structures for shelter, hunting, or breeding.
Grassland
Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.
Herbivorous
This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material.
Keystone Species
Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment.
Also known as
No aliases listed yet.
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
If you see a vole, watch quietly from a distance and do not try to touch it.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is Common Vole?
8-13 cm
How much does Common Vole weigh?
0.018-0.05 kg
How long does Common Vole live?
1-2 years
How fast can Common Vole move?
12 km/h
What does Common Vole eat?
A plant-eating expert, the Common Vole nibbles on fresh grass, seeds, and underground roots.
Where is Common Vole usually found?
Grasslands
How does Common Vole hunt?
Foraging
How many babies does Common Vole usually have?
3-8
Snap Map
Zoom in to split clusters and explore where this object has been snapped.
Loading map…
