What specific shape characterizes the spindle-shaped droppings found in water vole latrines?
Answer
Spindle-shaped
Latrines are one of the most definitive indicators that water voles are actively using a specific area. These features consist of small piles of their characteristic droppings. The shape of these droppings is consistently described as spindle-shaped, differentiating them from other small mammals. These piles are usually situated conspicuously along the water's edge, often placed atop prominent mounds of earth, flat stones, or sometimes floating debris, making them highly visible markers of recent vole activity.
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