Water voles of the world
< Back
Click here if you have seen a water vole!
Ratty is not alone. There are in fact three species of water vole found across the northern hemisphere.
Northern Water Vole
Our own water vole Arvicola terrestris is found right across Europe eastwards through Siberia and south to Israel, Iran and the Tien Shan mountains of north-west China. In Europe it is absent from Ireland, Iceland and most offshore islands.
Southern water vole
The southern water vole Arvicola sapidus, occurs in western France and through mainland Spain and Portugal, where it occupies very similar habitats to its northern cousin.
American water vole
The American water vole Microtus richardsonii was originally included in the genus Arvicola, but is now considered to be more closely related to the field vole Microtus agrestis. The American water vole is found along small streams in subalpine and alpine meadows in the Rocky Mountains and Cascade Mountains of south-western Canada and north-western USA.
< Back
