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
The Palearctic or Palaearctic is the largest of the eight biogeographic realms of the Earth. It stretches across all of Eurasia north of the foothills of the Himalayas, and North Africa.
The realm consists of several bioregions: the Euro-Sibe ...
.
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 lemmings, their coats do not change color in winter. They stay brown and grey.
Natural history
These lemmings are found predominantly in
tundra 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
Lapland may refer to:
Places
*Lapland or Sápmi, an ethno-cultural region stretching over northern Fennoscandia (parts of Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Russia)
**Lapland (Finland) (''Lappi''/''Lappland''), a Finnish region
*** Lapland (former pr ...
).
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 () is the statistical study of populations, especially human beings.
Demographic analysis examines and measures the dimensions and dynamics of populations; it can cover whole societies or groups defined by criteria such as edu ...
parameters allow for a veritable explosion in population size.
Species
*
Amur lemming
The Amur lemming (''Lemmus amurensis'') is a species of lemmings found near the Amur River in Siberia
Siberia ( ; rus, Сибирь, r=Sibir', p=sʲɪˈbʲirʲ, a=Ru-Сибирь.ogg) is an extensive geographical region, constituting all of ...
- ''(Lemmus amurensis)''
*
Norway lemming - ''(Lemmus lemmus)''
*
Beringian lemming
The Beringian lemming or Beringian brown lemming (''Lemmus nigripes'') is a species of lemming found in Russia and North America.
Taxonomy
It was formerly considered conspecific with the Canadian lemming (''L. trimucronatus'') with both speci ...
- (''Lemmus nigripes'')
*
East Siberian lemming
The East Siberian lemming, Eastern Siberian brown lemming, or Ognev's lemming (''Lemmus paulus'') is a species of lemming endemic to Russia, where it has a disjunct distribution throughout parts of Siberia east of the Verkhoyansk Range.
Taxonom ...
- (''Lemmus paulus'')
*
West Siberian lemming
The West Siberian lemming or Western Siberian brown lemming (''Lemmus sibiricus'') is a true lemming species found in the Russian Federation. Like other lemmings, it belongs to the Cricetidae family of rodents.
It is endemic to Russia, where ...
- ''(Lemmus sibiricus)''
*
Canadian lemming - ''(Lemmus trimucronatus)''
References
*Duff, A. and A. Lawson. 2004. Mammals of the World A Checklist. New Haven, Yale University Press.
*Musser, G. G. and M. D. Carleton. 2005. Superfamily Muroidea. pp. 894–1531 ''in'' Mammal Species of the World a Taxonomic and Geographic Reference. D. E. Wilson and D. M. Reeder eds. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore.
*Nowak, R. M. 1999. Walker's Mammals of the World, Vol. 2. Johns Hopkins University Press, London.
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