lemmien

Lemmings are a group of small, gregarious rodents native to Arctic and subarctic regions of North America, Europe, and Asia. They belong to the subfamily Arvicolinae within the family Cricetidae and include several species across the genera Lemmus, Dicrostonyx, and Myopus. The best known species are the Arctic lemming and the collared lemming. They have compact bodies, short tails, and dense fur; length about 10–14 cm with a short tail, and weight around 40–70 g. Coat color changes with seasons, often from brownish or grayish in summer to white in winter in many northern populations.

They inhabit tundra, alpine meadows, and boreal forests, often making extensive burrow systems and runways above ground. They are herbivores, feeding on grasses, mosses, roots, and shoots. Reproduction is rapid: females can reach sexual maturity within a month or two, and litters typically contain several young. Population densities rise and fall in cycles roughly every 3–5 years for several species, driven by food availability and predator pressure. They are skilled climbers and swimmers and can disperse over long distances when populations are high.

Lemmings are a key prey species for many arctic predators, including owls, foxes, wolves, and mustelids, and play an important role in tundra ecosystem dynamics and nutrient cycling. A persistent myth claims that lemmings commit mass suicide during migrations; in reality, large-scale die-offs or drownings can occur during migrations or harsh weather, but these are not intentional acts.

Most species are of least concern, though some localized populations face threats from habitat change and climate effects.