common vole vs Desmarest’s Spiny Pocket Mouse

Microtus arvalis compared with Heteromys desmarestianus

Key Differences

• common vole is Near Threatened while Desmarest’s Spiny Pocket Mouse is Least Concern.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	common vole	Desmarest’s Spiny Pocket Mouse
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	Cricetidae	Heteromyidae
Genus	Microtus	Heteromys
Species	Microtus arvalis	Heteromys desmarestianus

Evolutionary Relationship

common vole and Desmarest’s Spiny Pocket Mouse share a common ancestor at the Order level: Rodentia. (Rodents)

Conservation Status

common vole

NT — Near Threatened

Desmarest’s Spiny Pocket Mouse

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	common vole	Desmarest’s Spiny Pocket Mouse
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

common vole

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Range

Found across Europe (6 countries). Listed as Near Threatened, this species requires ongoing monitoring to prevent population decline.

Desmarest’s Spiny Pocket Mouse

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Range

Found in Colombia.

common vole

common vole (Microtus arvalis) is classified as Near Threatened (NT) on the IUCN Red List. Close to qualifying as threatened, with populations that may become vulnerable without conservation action.