True lemming
Encyclopedia
The genus
Lemmus contains several species of lemming
sometimes referred to as the true lemmings. They are distributed throughout the Holarctic
, particularly in the Palearctic
.
s, their coats do not change color in winter.
or high elevations. Populations can fluctuate widely and mass migrations do take place. This mass migration is probably the source of the myth that lemmings commit mass suicide
. These intense population booms appear to be most common in the northern part of its range (such as Lapland).
Gestation is 16–23 days. Litters are 1-13 (7 average). Young are sexually mature after 14 days. When conditions are favorable, these demographic
parameters allow for a veritable explosion in population size.
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
Lemmus contains several species of lemming
Lemming
Lemmings are small rodents, usually found in or near the Arctic, in tundra biomes. They are subniveal animals, and together with voles and muskrats, they make up the subfamily Arvicolinae , which forms part of the largest mammal radiation by far, the superfamily Muroidea, which also includes rats,...
sometimes referred to as the true lemmings. They are distributed throughout the Holarctic
Holarctic
The Holarctic ecozone refers to the habitats found throughout the northern continents of the world as a whole. This region is divided into the Palearctic, consisting of Northern Africa and all of Eurasia, with the exception of Southeast Asia and the Indian subcontinent, and the Nearctic,...
, particularly in the Palearctic
Palearctic
The Palearctic or Palaearctic is one of the eight ecozones dividing the Earth's surface.Physically, the Palearctic is the largest ecozone...
.
Description
Head and body is 10-13.5 cm, and tail length is 18–26 mm. Weight ranges from 40-112 g. They are grey or brown. Unlike the collared lemmingCollared lemming
Dicrostonyx is a genus of rodent in the family Cricetidae. It contains the collared lemmings.It contains the following species:* Northern Collared Lemming * Ungava Collared Lemming...
s, their coats do not change color in winter.
Natural history
These lemmings are found predominantly in tundraTundra
In physical geography, tundra is a biome where the tree growth is hindered by low temperatures and short growing seasons. The term tundra comes through Russian тундра from the Kildin Sami word tūndâr "uplands," "treeless mountain tract." There are three types of tundra: Arctic tundra, alpine...
or high elevations. Populations can fluctuate widely and mass migrations do take place. This mass migration is probably the source of the myth that lemmings commit mass suicide
Mass suicide
- Examples :Mass suicide sometimes occurs in religious or cultic settings. Defeated groups may resort to mass suicide rather than being captured. Suicide pacts are a form of mass suicide unconnected to cults or war that are sometimes planned or carried out by small groups of frustrated people...
. These intense population booms appear to be most common in the northern part of its range (such as Lapland).
Gestation is 16–23 days. Litters are 1-13 (7 average). Young are sexually mature after 14 days. When conditions are favorable, these demographic
Demography
Demography is the statistical study of human population. It can be a very general science that can be applied to any kind of dynamic human population, that is, one that changes over time or space...
parameters allow for a veritable explosion in population size.
Species
- Amur LemmingAmur LemmingThe Amur Lemming is a species of lemming found near the Amur River on the side of Siberia. The Amur Lemming is on the IUCN Red List.-External links:IUCN Red List information:...
- (Lemmus amurensis) - Norway LemmingNorway lemmingThe Norway lemming , Lemmus lemmus, is a common species of lemming found in northern Scandinavia and adjacent areas of Russia. It is the only vertebrate species endemic to the region. The Norway lemming dwells in tundra and fells, and prefers to live near water. Adults feed primarily on...
- (Lemmus lemmus) - Wrangel Island LemmingWrangel Island LemmingThe Wrangel Island Lemming or Lemmus portenkoi, is a species of lemming endemic to Wrangel Island in Russia. It was included as a subspecies of L. sibiricus by Jarrell and Fredga in 1993, while Chernyavskii regarded it as a separate species.-References:*D.E. Wilson & D.M. Reeder, 2005: Mammal...
- (Lemmus portenkoi) - Siberian Brown LemmingSiberian Brown LemmingThe Siberian Brown Lemming is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae.It is found in Canada, Russian Federation, and United States.It does not hibernate during winter, because it lives in burrows. It is prey to several animals including the snowy owl and the Arctic fox.-References:*Musser,...
- (Lemmus sibiricus) - North American Brown LemmingNorth American Brown LemmingThe North American brown lemming, Lemmus trimucronatus, is a small North American lemming. Originally called the Siberian Brown Lemming Lemmus sibiricus it was later decided that they formed two distinct species....
- (Lemmus trimucronatus)