field vole vs Polynesian rat

Microtus agrestis compared with Rattus exulans

Key Differences

• field vole is Near Threatened while Polynesian rat is Least Concern.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	field vole	Polynesian rat
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	Muridae (Mice & Rats)
Genus	Microtus	Rattus
Species	Microtus agrestis	Rattus exulans

Evolutionary Relationship

field vole and Polynesian rat share a common ancestor at the Order level: Rodentia. (Rodents)

Conservation Status

field vole

NT — Near Threatened

Polynesian rat

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	field vole	Polynesian rat
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

field vole

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Range

Distributed across Belgium, Denmark, Norway, Russia, and Sweden. Listed as Near Threatened, this species requires ongoing monitoring to prevent population decline.

Polynesian rat

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests, and tropical and subtropical coniferous forests, among 4 distinct biome types spanning the Australasia and Indomalayan realms. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Widely distributed across Asia (6 countries), Europe (United Kingdom), North America (United States), Oceania and the Pacific (11 countries), and South America (Chile).

field vole

field vole (Microtus agrestis) 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.