Southwestern water vole
The southwestern water vole (Arvicola sapidus), also called southern water vole, is a large amphibious vole native to most of France and south-westwards through Spain and Portugal. It is listed on the IUCN Red List as vulnerable.[1] Although historically considered to be a member of the same species as the European water vole, Musser and Carleton (2005) considered it distinct enough to warrant full species status. It is threatened for many of the same reasons as the northern water vole, and a campaign is currently underway to seek protection for the species, both at a national level and at European Union level.
| Southwestern water vole | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Rodentia |
| Family: | Cricetidae |
| Subfamily: | Arvicolinae |
| Genus: | Arvicola |
| Species: | A. sapidus |
| Binomial name | |
| Arvicola sapidus Miller, 1908 | |
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| Range | |
It was traditionally one of the main ingredients in the Valencian dish called paella.
References
- Rigaux, P.; Vaslin, M.; Noblet, J. F.; Amori, G. & Muñoz, L. J. P. (2008). "Arvicola sapidus". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2008: e.T2150A9290712.
Sources
- Musser, G. G. and M. D. Carleton. 2005. Superfamily Muroidea. pp. 894–1531 in Mammal Species of the World a Taxonomic and Geographic Reference. D. E. Wilson and D. M. Reeder eds. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore.
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