 Its diploid number of chromosomes and the basic karyotype characteristics (2N = 32, NF = 46) are unique among voles of the genus "Microtus".The species is genetically most closely related to alpine voles "Microtus multiplex", "Microtus liechtensteini" and "Microtus bavaricus".It split from the common ancestor as the first, and the oldest fossil found to date is from Holocene.