| True lemmings Temporal range:Pleistocene - Recent | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Norway lemming (Lemmus lemmus) | |
Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Rodentia |
| Family: | Cricetidae |
| Subfamily: | Arvicolinae |
| Tribe: | Lemmini |
| Genus: | Lemmus Link, 1795 |
| Type species | |
| Mus lemmus | |
| Species | |
L. amurensis | |
| Synonyms | |
Myodes[1] | |
ThegenusLemmus contains several species oflemming sometimes referred to as thetrue lemmings. They are distributed throughout theHolarctic, particularly in thePalearctic.
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 thecollared lemmings, their coats do not change color in winter. They stay brown and grey.
These lemmings are found predominantly intundra 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 commitmass suicide. These intense population booms appear to be most common in the northern part of its range (such asLapland).
Gestation is 16–23 days. Litters are 1-13 (7 average). Young are sexually mature after 14 days. When conditions are favorable, thesedemographic parameters allow for a veritable explosion in population size.
