Phenacomys fossil map
Where fossils of Phenacomys have been found, shown on the Earth as it looked about 0 million years ago and on today’s map.
Dots are fossil collections recorded in the Paleobiology Database. The “then” view moves today’s fossil sites back to their positions 0 million years ago (the time slice nearest the median age of the fossils) using the Merdith et al. (2021) plate model; positions are approximate. Open on the timeline map →
| Group | Early mammals |
|---|---|
| Lived | 4.7 million years ago to the present (Zanclean to Holocene) |
| Periods | Neogene, Quaternary |
| Family | Cricetidae |
| Named by | Merriam 1889 |
| Fossil records | 96 occurrences at 39 locations (PBDB) |
| Found in | United States, Canada |
| Rock formations | txn:41724, Cape Deceit, Sappa, Alamosa, Crooked Creek, Whidbey |
About Phenacomys
The genus Phenacomys is a group of North American voles. The genus name comes from the Greek for "imposter mouse."
These animals live in forested, alpine and tundra areas, which often include plants of the heath family. They are small rodents with long fur and short ears, legs and tails. They eat green plants, seeds and berries in summer and bark and buds of shrubs at other times. Predators include mustelids, owls and hawks.
Some sources include the tree voles, genus Arborimus, in this genus. At one time, the two species of heather vole were considered to be a single species.
The complete list of living species is:
Western heather vole (Phenacomys intermedius)
Eastern heather vole (Phenacomys ungava)
Text in “About” is quoted from the Wikipedia article Heather vole (revision 1360168871), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0; introduction excerpted verbatim, formatting removed. Ages, family, authority and fossil records: Paleobiology Database, accessed 23 October 2026. Ages are those of the rock layers the fossils were found in. Wikidata: Q847196.
