Northern collared lemming, Nearctic collared lemming, Peary land collared lemming
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.
It has a short chunky body covered with thick grey fur with a thin black stripe along its back and light grey underparts. It has small ears, short legs and a very short tail. It has a pale brown collar across its chest. In winter, its fur turns white, and it has large digging claws on its front feet. It is 14 cm long with a 1.5 cm tail and weighs about 40 g.
It is active year-round, day and night. It makes runways through the surface vegetation and also digs burrows above the permafrost. It burrows under the snow in winter. Lemming populations go through a three- or four-year cycle of boom and bust. When their population peaks, lemmings disperse from overcrowded areas.
It feeds on grasses, sedges and other green vegetation in summer, and twigs of willow, aspen and birches in winter.
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.
