| Water voles Temporal range: Early Pleistocene - Recent | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Arvicola amphibius | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Rodentia |
| Family: | Cricetidae |
| Subfamily: | Arvicolinae |
| Tribe: | Arvicolini |
| Genus: | Arvicola Lacépède, 1799 |
| Type species | |
| Mus amphibius | |
| Species | |
See text | |
Water voles are large voles in the genus Arvicola. They are found in both aquatic and dry habitat through Europe and much of northern Asia. A water vole found in Western North America was historically considered a member of this genus, but has been shown to be more closely related to members of the genus Microtus . [1] [2] Head and body lengths are 12–22 cm (4.7–8.7 in), tail lengths are 6.5–12.5 cm (2.6–4.9 in), and their weights are 70–250 g (2.5–8.8 oz). The animals may exhibit indeterminate growth. They are thick-furred and have hairy fringes on their feet that improve their swimming ability.[ citation needed ]
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A 2021 phylogenetic study using mtDNA found that Arvicola may not belong with the rest of its namesake tribe Arvicolini, but rather forms a sister group to the tribe Lagurini. [3]
