Balkan Pine Vole vs European hamster

Microtus felteni compared with Cricetus cricetus

Key Differences

• Balkan Pine Vole is Least Concern while European hamster is Critically Endangered.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Balkan Pine Vole	European hamster
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordates)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class same	Mammalia (Mammals)	Mammalia (Mammals)
Order same	Rodentia (Rodents)	Rodentia (Rodents)
Family same	Cricetidae	Cricetidae
Genus	Microtus	Cricetus
Species	Microtus felteni	Cricetus cricetus

Evolutionary Relationship

Balkan Pine Vole and European hamster share a common ancestor at the Family level: Cricetidae.

Conservation Status

Balkan Pine Vole

LC — Least Concern

European hamster

CR — Critically Endangered

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Balkan Pine Vole	European hamster
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Balkan Pine Vole

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

European hamster

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including temperate broadleaf and mixed forests, temperate coniferous forests, and boreal forests and taiga, among 8 distinct biome types within the Palearctic biogeographic realm. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Distributed across Belgium, Denmark, Russia, and Ukraine. Currently classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

Balkan Pine Vole

The Balkan Pine Vole (Microtus felteni) 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.