Michael Durham Photography

Arborimus longicaudus

A red tree vole (Arborimus longicaudus) hides in a nest made from the discarded resin ducts from Douglas-fir needles; a byproduct of their diet. Fresh, uneaten fir needles are also present. Red tree voles are nocturnal and live in Douglas fir tree-tops and almost never come to the forest floor. They are one of the few animals that can persist on a diet of conifer needles which is their principle food. As a defense mechanism, conifer trees have resin ducts in their needles that contain chemical compounds (terpenoids) that make them unpalatable to animals. Tree voles, however, are able to strip away these resin ducts and eat the remaining portion of the conifer needle.

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Filename: 22514rv-271.jpg
Image Size: 5900x3933 / 5.6MB; www.DurmPhoto.com; Arborimus longicaudus Pseudotsuga menziesii douglas fir needles hide hiding nest red tree vole resin ducts rodent tree vole vole
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A red tree vole (Arborimus longicaudus) hides in a nest made from the discarded resin ducts from Douglas-fir needles; a byproduct of their diet. Fresh, uneaten fir needles are also present. Red tree voles are nocturnal and live in Douglas fir tree-tops and almost never come to the forest floor. They are one of the few animals that can persist on a diet of conifer needles which is their principle food. As a defense mechanism, conifer trees have resin ducts in their needles that contain chemical compounds (terpenoids) that make them unpalatable to animals. Tree voles, however, are able to strip away these resin ducts and eat the remaining portion of the conifer needle.