The Lemming

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Lemming
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Adult

Baby

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General Information;

Type: Mammal
Diet: Herbivore
Size: 6.3-15cm (2.5-5.9in)
Weight: 30-112g (1.1-4oz)
Conservation status: Not applicable
Scientific Classification: Kingdom: Animalia, Phylum: Chordata. Class: Mammalia, Order: Rodentia, Family: Cricetidae, Subfamily: Arvicolinae
Size relative to a 6-ft (2-m) man: Not applicable
Lemming Range


Lemmings are small rodents, usually found in or near the Arctic, in tundra biomes. They are subniveal animals, and together with voles and muskrats, they make up the subfamily Arvicolinae (also known as Microtinae), which forms part of the largest mammal radiation by far, the superfamily Muroidea, which also includes rats, mice, hamsters, and gerbils. The lemming is a tiny rodent that is found in or near the Arctic Circle and are thought to be related to voles and muskrats.
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Physical Features;
Lemmings have small, stout bodies and short limbs, ears and tail in order to allow the lemming to conserve heat more easily in the bitter Arctic winters. Lemmings also have sharp little teeth which helps the lemmings to gnaw through tangles of roots. These creatures also consists of a thick fur that can be a variety of different colours such as brown, grey and white. Lemmings also have small eyes and ears to companty their other features. Plus, Lemmings weigh from 30 to 112 g (1.1 to 4.0 oz) and are about 7 to 15 cm (2.8 to 5.9 in) long. They generally have long, soft fur, and very short tails.
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Mental Features;
Lemmings are surprisingly solitary animals, only coming together to mate then separating again. Wild lemmings are thought to never get older than a couple of years due the harsh conditions in their natural habitat and the small and very edible size of the lemming. Lemming behavior and appearance are markedly different from many other rodents, which are inconspicuously colored and try to conceal themselves from their predators. Lemmings, on the contrary, are conspicuously colored, and behave aggressively towards predators and even human observers.
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Diet;
They are herbivorous, feeding mostly on leaves and shoots, grasses, and sedges in particular, but also on roots and bulbs. At times, they will eat grubs and larvae. In the winter, lemmings spend the winter searching for bulbs and shoots that are often buried beneath the snow.
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Threats towards this animal;
The threats towards this animal excluding wolves are:

Stoats, owls, foxes, and hawks.
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Credits (c);

Images:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/goddessparkle/5854191822/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jar0d/4612944852/

Information:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lemming
http://a-z-animals.com/animals/lemming/
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