Friday, November 2, 2012

Lemming


Animals Unique | Lemming |
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. The smallest species of lemming is the wood lemming measuring around 8 cm. The Norwegian lemming is roughly three times the size of a wood lemming and is one of the largest species of lemmings.
 
Lemmings do not hibernate and instead Endure the tough Arctic winters, with the lemming having special protection from the cold from its thick fur. The lemmings spend the winter searching for bulbs and shoots that are Often buried beneath the snow.

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. The lemming is easy prey for most meat-eating Mammals and birds.

The theory that older lemmings jump off cliffs consciously in large numbers in order to let the younger generations lemmings have full access to food and shelter etc is a myth. This may have originated from the mass migration of the Scandinavian lemming when food Becomes scarce, that in their Hundreds run through the surrounding terrain in search of food, with a few unlucky individuals finding their way off cliffs.

There are nearly 30 different species of lemming found around the Arctic Circle, from Alaska to Siberia. Although many different species of lemmings have been recognised, lemming species are all pretty much the same apart from where they live and so the lemming species growing niche to differ most from one another based on what the lemmings can find to eat.

 
Lemmings have small, stout bodies and short limbs, ears and tail in order to allow the lemmings to conserve more heat in the bitter Arctic Easily winters. Lemmings also have sharp little teeth roomates helps the lemmings to Gnaw through tangles of roots.

Female lemmings give birth to the baby after a gestation lemmings period of around three weeks. Baby lemmings are born in burrows under the snow roomates helps to keep the baby warm and lemmings away from the Arctic winter. The mother lemming gives birth to around seven baby and feeds the baby lemmings lemmings on her milk until they are big enough and strong enough to start looking for food by Themselves.

The lemmings eat food that is not very nutritious, so lemmings must eat lots of it. Lemmings spend around six hours a day searching for food and have breaks in between hunting, roomates during the lemmings rest. Lemmings reside in burrows beneath the snow to keep them warm and safe from predators that lurk on the surface of the snow.

Lemming Facts
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Family: Cricetidae
Genus: Lemmus
Scientific Name: Lemmus Lemmus
Type: Mammal
Diet: Herbivore
Size: 6.3-15cm (2.5-5.9in)
Weight: 30-112g (1.1-4oz)
Top Speed: 5km / h (3mph)
Life Span: 1-3 years
Lifestyle: Solitary
Conservation Status: Threatened
Colour: Grey, Brown, White
Skin Type: Fur
Favourite Food: Seeds
Habitat: Arctic tundra and woodland areas
Average Litter Size: 7
Main Prey: Seeds, Grass, Berries
Predators: Owls, Foxes, Wolves
Special Features: Thick fur and small eyes and ears

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