Alexandromys limnophilus

Individuals are medium in size among the genus Microtus. The average body length is 100mm (80-117mm). The average tail length is 38mm (34-48mm), about 35% of the body length. The ears are short, averaging 13mm (12-15mm), slightly exposed outside the fur. The back of the body is brown, or gray-brown. The fur on the abdomen is grayish white. The tail is darker, black-brown, and lighter on the ventral side of the tail. Its identification characteristics are mainly on the teeth: the first lower molar has only 4 closed triangles (the same as the root vole), which is different from many other types of voles, most of which have 5 closed triangles; the third upper molar has 4 horns on the inside and 3 on the outside.

It is endemic to China. It is distributed in parts of Qinghai, Sichuan, Gansu, Shaanxi, Ningxia and other provinces (regions).

It inhabits relatively humid and watery habitats such as subalpine shrubs, forest gaps, meadow grasslands, mountain grasslands, and swamp grasslands below 2,000 meters above sea level. It is also distributed in small quantities in farmland and nursery oases.

Qaidam root voles live in caves, which are relatively simple and mostly have a single entrance. They build their nests under haystacks, grass roots, and tree roots. Some individuals build outer nests. They feed on the green parts of plants, and in winter they dig up roots, tuber sprouts, and seeds of plants. They live a diurnal lifestyle. Their natural enemies are mainly weasels, foxes, wolves, and birds of prey.

Root voles breed between summer and autumn. It reproduces 3-4 times a year. In the Qilian Mountains, most adult female mice caught in July and August are pregnant. Each litter usually has 3-9 pups, with an average of 5.

This species is a carrier of the plague virus.

Listed in the 2008 Red List of Endangered Species of the World Conservation Union (IUCN) ver3.1 - Least Concern (LC).