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The subterranean rodent,the mandarin vole (Lasiopodomys mandarinus) is one of the main agricultural and forestry pests in the eastern and northern Loess Plateau.It has a mean litter size of 3.9±0.1 pups and breeds 2-4 times a year.In order to study the evolution of mandarin voles,and to potentially provide a basis for their control,we have compared the characteristics of the reproductive organs of male and female voles with those of Kunming mice (litter size = 7.5±0.4) using conventional histological methods.The ovaries of Mandarin voles were smaller and contained fewer follicles than those of Kunming mice (p<0.001) during the oestrous cycle.For the uterus,the thicknesses of the myometrium and the endometrium of the mandarin vole were significantly less than for the mice.The Kunming mice have a highly convoluted uterus while the mandarin voles have long thin uteri during the oestrous cycle.3) In the breeding season,there were no differences in the size of the testis between the male voles and mice,although the vole epididymis width was smaller than that of male mice.4) The preputial glands and clitoral gland of mandarin voles are smaller than Kunming mice,and this may be associated with their underground life style.