northern collared lemming
{{Short description|Species of rodent}}
{{Speciesbox
| name = Northern collared lemming
| image = Collared lemming standing in grass - DPLA - 31b8863a7a5bd9e5bd2f73fc0565d883.jpg
| status = LC
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| genus = Dicrostonyx
| species = groenlandicus
| authority = (Traill, 1823)
| synonyms = kilangmiutak Anderson & Rand, 1945
rubricatus (Richardson, 1889)
vinogradovi Ognev, 1948
| range_map = Northern Collared Lemming Dicrostonyx groenlandicus distribution map.png
| range_map_caption = Northern collared lemming range (not including the Wrangel lemming)
}}
File:Collared lemming lying on ground - DPLA - 90c5c1484de4928de9bfc91ef2a07dd8.jpg
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.{{MSW3 Muroidea | id = 13000190 | pages = 971–972}}
Description
It has a short chunky body covered with thick grey fur with a thin black stripe along its back and light grey underparts.{{cn|date=June 2024}} It has small ears, short legs and a very short tail.{{cn|date=June 2024}} It has a pale brown collar across its chest.{{cn|date=June 2024}} In winter, its fur turns white, and it has large digging claws on its front feet.{{cn|date=June 2024}} It is {{cvt|14|cm}} long with a {{cvt|1.5|cm}} tail and weighs about {{cvt|40|g|0}}.{{cn|date=June 2024}}
Distribution and habitat
It 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).{{Cite iucn|author=Gerrie, R. |author2= Kennerley, R. |name-list-style=amp |year=2016 |title= Dicrostonyx vinogradovi |errata= 2017 |page= e.T6569A115082805 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T6569A22331837.en |access-date= 2021-09-05}}{{Cite mdd |title=Dicrostonyx groenlandicus (Traill, 1823) |id=1002125|access-date=2021-09-05}}{{Cite web|title=The Mammals of Russia: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/271850605|access-date=2021-09-05|website=ResearchGate|language=en}}
Diet
Predators
Predators include snowy owls, gulls, wolverines, the Arctic fox and the polar bear.{{cn|date=June 2024}}
Breeding
Female 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.{{cn|date=June 2024}}
Behaviour
It is active year-round, day and night.{{cn|date=June 2024}} It makes runways through the surface vegetation and also digs burrows above the permafrost.{{cn|date=June 2024}} It burrows under the snow in winter.{{cn|date=June 2024}} Lemming populations go through a three- or four-year cycle of boom and bust.{{cn|date=June 2024}} When their population peaks, lemmings disperse from overcrowded areas.{{cn|date=June 2024}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Arvicolinae}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q1765394}}
Category:Mammals described in 1823
Category:Mammals of the Arctic