Template:Did you know nominations/Creeping vole

The following is an archived discussion of the DYK nomination of the article below. Please do not modify this page. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page (such as this nomination's talk page, the article's talk page or Wikipedia talk:Did you know), unless there is consensus to re-open the discussion at this page. No further edits should be made to this page.

The result was: promoted by Allen3 ^talk 19:13, 1 January 2015 (UTC)

Creeping vole

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... that with a weight of 19 g (0.67 oz) and a length of 140 mm (5.5 in), the creeping vole (Microtus oregoni) is the smallest in the Pacific Northwest?

Reviewed: Halystina umberlee
Comment: there is an image of the skull on the page, but no other images currently available.

5x expanded by Gaff (talk). Self nominated at 23:50, 11 December 2014 (UTC).

The article has been 5x expanded in the last 7 days and there are no obvious copyvios. I'm not sure the hook accurately describes what's in the article, which says "Compared to other voles within their geographic range". That appears to be from Mendocino, California to Port Moody so to extrapolate that to saying "is the smallest in the Pacific Northwest" sounds a bit too much like original research I'm afraid. Perhaps an ALT from that geographic spread, or something else in the article would be a better fit? Or maybe ALT1 ... that the creeping vole has a relatively short tail measuring less than 30% of its body length? Ritchie333 ^(talk) ^(cont) 16:25, 16 December 2014 (UTC)

I was wondering about that. Granted, no clear lines exist to define Pacific Northwest and some would certainly include N. Calif and BC, but it not exactly what the source reads. (There is another book out there about Mammals of the Pacific Northwest by Maser, that probably does say this, but I d'ont have a copy. I wanted to provide some frame of reference, rather than just "within its geographic range." As an Oregonian, my inclination was for "smallest in Oregon," but aiming to appeal to a broader audience. your ALT1 looks good. Also...

ALT2 ... that with a weight of 19 g (0.67 oz) and a length of 140 mm (5.5 in) the creeping vole (Microtus oregoni) is the smallest in the Oregon?

ALT3 ... that the type specimen of the creeping vole (Microtus oregoni) was collected in 1836 by John Kirk Townsend, near the mouth of the Columbia River in Oregon?

* I'm fine with any combination of the above. All are well sourced and neutral. I will be out of town for a few days, so feel free to edit as you see fit. Gaff (talk) 17:18, 16 December 2014 (UTC)

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Well I still prefer ALT1, but then I would say that wouldn't I? Anyway, the alt is cited to the American Society of Mammalogists source, so I think it meets all the DYK criteria. I'll leave it up to the closer to put a second opinion on that. Ritchie333 ^(talk) ^(cont) 17:27, 16 December 2014 (UTC)