Heather vole

Taxobox
name = Heather voles
fossil_range = Early Pleistocene - Recent
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Mammalia
ordo = Rodentia
familia = Cricetidae
subfamilia = Arvicolinae
genus = "Phenacomys"
genus_authority = Merriam, 1889
subdivision_ranks = Species
subdivision = "Phenacomys intermedius"
"Phenacomys ungava"

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 species is:
*Western Heather Vole ("Phenacomys intermedius")
*Eastern Heather Vole ("Phenacomys ungava")