Dicrostonyx

Dicrostonyx is a genus of small, vole-like rodents in the family Cricetidae, subfamily Arvicolinae. Members of this genus are commonly referred to as lemmings and are adapted to cold, Arctic and subarctic environments.

Distribution and habitat

Species of Dicrostonyx occur across northern Eurasia and North America, including Greenland and other Arctic regions. They inhabit tundra and rocky areas with short vegetation, mosses, and lichens, where they can construct runways and shallow burrows to cope with the harsh climate.

Description

Dicrostonyx lemmings are small, stout-bodied rodents with short ears and tails. Their fur shows seasonal changes in color, providing camouflage in snow and exposed ground. As members of Arvicolinae, they possess the characteristic dental and skeletal features of this group, including ever-growing incisors and complex, rootless molars suited to grazing on fibrous Arctic vegetation.

Diet and ecology

They are herbivorous, feeding on grasses, sedges, mosses, lichens, and other tundra vegetation. They play a crucial ecological role as prey for a range of Arctic predators and can influence the structure of vegetation through their grazing. Some populations exhibit pronounced numerical cycles, which can affect predator populations in their ecosystems.

Species

The genus includes several species, notably the collared lemming (Dicrostonyx torquatus) and the Greenland lemming (Dicrostonyx groenlandicus). These species differ in distribution and specific ecological adaptations, but share the general Arctic lemming lifestyle.

Taxonomy

Dicrostonyx is part of the tribe Arvicolini within Cricetidae, reflecting its close relationship to other voles and lemmings that inhabit cold northern habitats.