pine vole

Thân thiện

A pine vole emerges from its burrow in a grassy field.

Definition

Noun: 1. A small rodent: The pine vole is a species of short-tailed vole with glossy fur, known for its burrowing behavior. It is native to the eastern United States. 2. A specific animal species: This term refers precisely to Microtus pinetorum, a small mammal in the family Cricetidae.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The pine vole is an important part of the forest ecosystem, though it is rarely seen.
  • Researchers are studying the impact of pine vole populations on tree root systems.
  • You can identify a pine vole by its short tail and shiny, brownish fur.

Advanced Usage

• Scientific context: In biology and ecology, "pine vole" is used as a common name to distinguish from other vole species like the meadow vole or prairie vole.
  • The study compared the foraging behavior of the pine vole to that of the meadow vole.

Variants and Related Words

• Pine mouse (n): A regional/common name for the pine vole.
  • Gardeners sometimes call it a pine mouse because it can damage plants.
• Vole (n): The general category of small, stocky rodents to which the pine vole belongs.
  • Voles are often confused with mice, but they have shorter tails and different habits.

Synonyms

• Microtus pinetorum: The formal, scientific Latin name for the species.
• Woodland vole: Another common name used for this animal.

Related Phrases

• Vole damage: Refers to harm caused to plants, trees, or crops by the burrowing and feeding activities of voles, including pine voles.
  • The young trees died from extensive vole damage to their roots.

Học thuật

Noun

1. short-tailed glossy-furred burrowing vole of the eastern United States

Từ đồng nghĩa

• pine mouse
• Pitymys pinetorum