Alpine Pine Vole vs Black-thighed Puffleg

Microtus multiplex compared with Eriocnemis derbyi

Key Differences

• Alpine Pine Vole is Least Concern while Black-thighed Puffleg is Near Threatened.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Alpine Pine Vole	Black-thighed Puffleg
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordates)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class	Mammalia (Mammals)	Aves (Birds)
Order	Rodentia (Rodents)	Apodiformes (Apodiformes)
Family	Cricetidae	Trochilidae
Genus	Microtus	Eriocnemis
Species	Microtus multiplex	Eriocnemis derbyi

Evolutionary Relationship

Alpine Pine Vole and Black-thighed Puffleg share a common ancestor at the Phylum level: Chordata. (Chordates)

Conservation Status

Alpine Pine Vole

LC — Least Concern

Black-thighed Puffleg

NT — Near Threatened

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Alpine Pine Vole	Black-thighed Puffleg
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Alpine Pine Vole

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Black-thighed Puffleg

Habitat

Typically found in various aerial, terrestrial, and aquatic environments.

Range

Distributed across Colombia, Ecuador, and Norway. Listed as Near Threatened, this species requires ongoing monitoring to prevent population decline.

Alpine Pine Vole

The Alpine Pine Vole (Microtus multiplex) is a species in the genus Microtus. It is currently classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Black-thighed Puffleg

An Andean puffleg hummingbird named for the males' distinctive velvety black thighs contrasting with the characteristic white leg feather puffs, black-thighed pufflegs inhabit humid montane forest and forest edges in Ecuador and Colombia at elevations of 1,500–3,500 meters. Males display glittering green plumage with a violet-blue tail. Listed as Near Threatened due to deforestation of the Andean cloud forest, with populations declining as the specialized high-altitude forest habitat is cleared for agriculture.