Alticola, also known as the mountain vole, is a genus of rodent in the family Cricetidae. Their fur is pale ash-brown. They prefer environments of high elevation (often in remote and extreme habitats). They are widely distributed across the mountains of Central Asia, and are found in steppe, rocky montane, and alpine forests.
They are one of the least known groups of voles in evolutionary and life history.
Taxonomy They appear to be a sister genus to the red-backed voles of genera Clethrionomys and Craseomys, based on morphological similarities. However, molecular analysis is unstable to confirm this, due to incomplete sampling of specimens and the uncertain taxonomic placement of the genera Craseomys and Phaulomys. Phaulomys is a junior synonym of Craseomys, with Alticola and Myodes (the former genus for the red-backed voles) being separate genera. It is also closely related to Eothenomys.
Species The following species are assigned to the genus: Subgenus Alticola White-tailed mountain vole, A. albicauda Silver mountain vole, A. argentatus Gobi Altai mountain vole, A. barakshin Alticola kohistanicus Central Kashmir vole, A. montosus Lake Baikal mountain vole, A. olchonensis Alticola parvidens Royle's mountain vole, A. roylei Mongolian silver vole, A. semicanus Stolička's mountain vole, A. stoliczkanus Flat-headed vole, A. strelzovi Tuva silver vole, A. tuvinicus Alticola yarlungius Subgenus Aschizomys Lemming vole, A. lemminus Large-eared vole, A. macrotis
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