The Gull Island vole (Microtus pennsylvanicus nesophilus) is an extinct subspecies of the meadow vole that was endemic to Great Gull and Little Gull Islands in New York.

Extinction

A ground-dwelling coastal beach grass herbivore, it presumably disappeared after habitat destruction of sand dunes for naval fortifications in August 1898 for the Spanish–American War, only 9 or 10 years after its discovery in 1888. It was last seen in 1897.[2] Predation by feral cats was also partly responsible in its decline. It is known from fifteen specimens in Washington, D.C.

References

  1. ^ "NatureServe Explorer 2.0".
  2. ^ Heywood, N. C. "Gull Island Vole". Archived from the original on March 17, 2005.

External links