brown bear vs California vole

Ursus arctos compared with Microtus californicus

Key Differences

• brown bear is Extinct while California vole is Least Concern.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	brown bear	California vole
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordates)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class same	Mammalia (Mammals)	Mammalia (Mammals)
Order	Carnivora (Carnivorans)	Rodentia (Rodents)
Family	Ursidae (Bears)	Cricetidae
Genus	Ursus (Bears)	Microtus
Species	Ursus arctos	Microtus californicus

Evolutionary Relationship

brown bear and California vole share a common ancestor at the Class level: Mammalia. (Mammals)

Conservation Status

brown bear

EX — Extinct

Population: ~200.0K

Trend: Stable →

California vole

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	brown bear	California vole
Diet	Omnivore	—
Average Lifespan	25 years	—
Average Length	2.0 m	—
Average Weight	300.0 kg	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

brown bear

Habitat

Typically found in a wide range of habitat types.

Range

Found across Europe (6 countries).

California vole

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

brown bear

The world's most widely distributed bear species, brown bears range from North America and Europe across Russia to Japan, occupying forests, tundra, and alpine meadows. Adults can weigh up to 700 kg in coastal Alaskan populations. Omnivores that consume berries, roots, fish, and carrion, brown bears are a keystone species that distribute nutrients across landscapes. Most populations are stable, though some subspecies are threatened.

California vole

The California vole (Microtus californicus) 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.