Arvicoline

/ɑːrˈvɪkəlaɪn/ adjective

Definition

Relating to or belonging to voles, a type of small rodent that lives in fields and grasslands.

Etymology

From Latin 'arvum' (field) + '-coline' (inhabitant), literally 'field-dweller.' The term was coined in the 19th century to describe rodents adapted to open field habitats.

Kelly Says

Arvicoline rodents like lemmings and voles are so prolific that their population explosions can cause dramatic ecosystem crashes—entire landscapes can shift from abundant to scarce in just a couple of years based on these tiny creatures.

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