European water vole vs Merriam’s Pocket Mouse

Arvicola amphibius compared with Perognathus merriami

Key Differences

• European water vole is Near Threatened while Merriam’s Pocket Mouse is Least Concern.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	European water vole	Merriam’s Pocket Mouse
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Chordata (cordados)	Chordata (cordados)
Class same	Mammalia (mamíferos)	Mammalia (mamíferos)
Order same	Rodentia (Roedores)	Rodentia (Roedores)
Family	Cricetidae	Heteromyidae
Genus	Arvicola	Perognathus
Species	Arvicola amphibius	Perognathus merriami

Evolutionary Relationship

European water vole and Merriam’s Pocket Mouse share a common ancestor at the Order level: Rodentia. (Roedores)

Conservation Status

European water vole

NT — Near Threatened

Merriam’s Pocket Mouse

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	European water vole	Merriam’s Pocket Mouse
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

European water 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.

Merriam’s Pocket Mouse

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.