Microtus richardsoni

9.9

A large mouse-like animal that lives in western North America, often called Richardson's vole

noun

Specialized

: Microtus richardsoni

The Microtus richardsoni inhabits alpine meadows across parts of the Rocky Mountains.

Examples

Unlike smaller voles, the Microtus richardsoni can weigh up to twice as much as similar species.
In the Rocky Mountains, the Microtus richardsoni plays an important role in soil aeration through its burrowing habits.
Researchers observed the Microtus richardsoni for signs of environmental adaptation.
The Microtus richardsoni is commonly found in grasslands.
Have you seen a Microtus richardsoni in the wild?
The Microtus richardsoni is a vital part of the ecosystem in western North America, often found in grasslands and meadows.
Researchers studying the Microtus richardsoni noted its unique behaviors in response to seasonal changes.

Synonyms

Richardson vole

vsMicrotus richardsoni

Specialized

9.8

A small animal like a mouse that lives in mountain meadows in western North America

uses the formal scientific name instead of the common name

Surface Forms

Microtus richardsoni singular

Microtus richardsonis plural

Morphology

Microtus + richardsoni

This is a standard Linnaean binomial combining the genus name 'Microtus' with a species epithet; if a learner knows 'Microtus' denotes a genus of voles, they can infer the phrase refers to a particular species of that genus. The species epithet 'richardsoni' is a proper-name formation rather than an unrelated idiom, so the overall meaning is compositionally derivable from the constituents and the taxonomic naming pattern.

Etymology

Microtus richardsoni may come from the Latin word Microtus, meaning 'small mouse', plus richardsoni, which is named after the naturalist Richardson who first found or described the animal. So the name can be read as 'Richardson's small mouse', a simple picture to help you remember this vole.