# Lemming (*Dicrostonyx*) Lemmings are small rodents that live in the Arctic regions. They have thick fur to keep warm and are known for their mass migrations. - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Habitat:** Tundra ![Lemming](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771426196/objects/6202.jpg) ## Appearance The Lemming is a small, stocky rodent with a very short tail and tiny ears often hidden in its fur. Its coat can be greyish-brown in summer, but some species turn entirely white in winter, allowing them to blend perfectly with the snow. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Rodentia - **Family:** Cricetidae - **Genus:** Dicrostonyx ## Interesting facts - Hidden under the snow, lemmings stay active all winter long, creating a secret world of tunnels! - Lemming teeth never stop growing, so they must constantly gnaw on tough plants to wear them down! - Their populations boom and bust dramatically, changing the entire Arctic ecosystem! - They are surprisingly fierce for their size, growling and jumping at threats much larger than themselves! ## Special abilities - **Snow Camouflage:** Lemming has a coat that turns white in winter, helping it blend into snowy landscapes and hide from predators. - **Tundra Tunnels:** Lemming can dig intricate burrows and tunnels through snow and frozen ground, creating shelter and foraging paths. - **Rapid Breeders:** Lemming has a very short gestation and large litters, helping its population quickly bounce back in harsh environments. - **Winter Claws:** Some lemmings grow special winter claws on their front paws to help them dig through hard snow and ice. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 10-18 cm - **Weight:** 0.03-0.13 kg - **Lifespan:** 1-2 years - **Speed:** 20 km/h - **Litter Size:** 4-9 - **Gestation:** 18-25 days ## Diet & Feeding Lemmings munch on plants like grasses, mosses, and lichens to survive the cold, treeless tundra. - **Primary Foods:** Grasses, Mosses, Lichens, Sedges, Shoots - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Hunts:** [Arctic Fox](https://www.snappit.app/explore/arctic-fox) (*Vulpes lagopus*) — A primary predator in Arctic ecosystems. - **Eats:** [Snowy Owl](https://www.snappit.app/explore/snowy-owl) (*Bubo scandiacus*) — Their population cycles often follow lemming numbers. - **Hunts:** Ermine (*Mustela erminea*) — Small, agile predator that follows lemmings into tunnels. - **Eats:** Arctic Willow (*Salix arctica*) — An important food source for lemmings. ## Traits - [Wildlife](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wildlife): Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats. - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Burrowing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/burrowing): Burrowing animals dig tunnels and chambers in the ground, using these subterranean structures for shelter, hunting, or breeding. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Tundra](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/tundra): This habitat trait refers to species inhabiting tundras, which are treeless biomes characterized by permafrost, cold temperatures, and low-growing vegetation. - [Migratory](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/migratory): Migratory animals undertake seasonal movements from one region to another, typically in response to changes in climate or food availability. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Lemmings are wild animals and should not be approached or touched. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Lemming? Compare ears, muzzle, tail, feet and coat markings. Size is hard to judge without something nearby for scale, and young mammals may not have adult coloring yet. Mammal Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Lemming? 10-18 cm ### How much does Lemming weigh? 0.03-0.13 kg ### How long does Lemming live? 1-2 years ### How fast can Lemming move? 20 km/h ### What does Lemming eat? Lemmings munch on plants like grasses, mosses, and lichens to survive the cold, treeless tundra. ### Where is Lemming usually found? Tundra ### How does Lemming hunt? Foraging ## More Mammals - [Eastern Fox Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-fox-squirrel) (*Sciurus niger*) - [Eastern Cottontail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-cottontail) (*Sylvilagus floridanus*) - [Eastern Chipmunk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-chipmunk) (*Tamias striatus*) - [California Ground Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-ground-squirrel) (*Otospermophilus beecheyi*) --- Source: [Lemming: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/lemming)