The northern collared lemming or Nearctic collared lemming (Dicrostonyx groenlandicus), sometimes called the Peary Land collared lemming in Canada, is a small lemming found in Arctic North America and Wrangel Island. At one time, it was considered to be a subspecies of the Arctic lemming (Dicrostonyx torquatus). Some sources believe several other species of collared lemmings found in North America are actually subspecies of D. groenlandicus.[2]
| Northern collared lemming | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Rodentia |
| Family: | Cricetidae |
| Subfamily: | Arvicolinae |
| Genus: | Dicrostonyx |
| Species: | D. groenlandicus
|
| Binomial name | |
| Dicrostonyx groenlandicus (Traill, 1823)
| |
| |
| Northern collared lemming range (not including the Wrangel lemming)[1] | |
| Synonyms | |
|
kilangmiutak Anderson & Rand, 1945 | |
Description
editIt has a short chunky body covered with thick grey fur with a thin black stripe along its back and light grey underparts.[citation needed] It has small ears, short legs and a very short tail.[citation needed] It has a pale brown collar across its chest.[citation needed] In winter, its fur turns white, and it has large digging claws on its front feet.[citation needed] It is 14 cm (5.5 in) long with a 1.5 cm (0.59 in) tail and weighs about 40 g (1 oz).[citation needed]
Distribution and habitat
editIt is found in the tundra of northern Canada, Alaska and Greenland. A disjunct population is also present on Wrangel Island in Siberia; this population was formerly considered its own species, the Wrangel lemming (D. vinogradovi).[3][4][5]
Diet
editIt feeds on grasses, sedges and other green vegetation in summer, and twigs of willow, aspen and birches in winter.[citation needed]
Predators
editPredators include snowy owls, gulls, wolverines, the Arctic fox and the polar bear.[citation needed]
Breeding
editFemale lemmings have two or three litters of four to eight young in a year. The young are born in a nest in a burrow or concealed in vegetation.[citation needed]
Behaviour
editIt is active year-round, day and night.[citation needed] It makes runways through the surface vegetation and also digs burrows above the permafrost.[citation needed] It burrows under the snow in winter.[citation needed] Lemming populations go through a three- or four-year cycle of boom and bust.[citation needed] When their population peaks, lemmings disperse from overcrowded areas.[citation needed]
References
edit- ^ a b Cassola, F. (2017) [errata version of 2016 assessment]. "Dicrostonyx groenlandicus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T42618A115195764. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T42618A22331908.en.
- ^ Musser, G. G.; Carleton, M. D. (2005). "Superfamily Muroidea". In Wilson, D. E.; Reeder, D. M. (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 971–972. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
- ^ Gerrie, R. & Kennerley, R. (2017) [errata version of 2016 assessment]. "Dicrostonyx vinogradovi". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T6569A115082805. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T6569A22331837.en. Retrieved 2021-09-05.
- ^ "Dicrostonyx groenlandicus (Traill, 1823)". ASM Mammal Diversity Database. American Society of Mammalogists. Retrieved 2021-09-05.
- ^ "The Mammals of Russia: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference". ResearchGate. Retrieved 2021-09-05.