User:Purple.peonies1/Northern bog lemming
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Description
The northern bog lemming is a small, compact rodent in the Cricetidae family. With no specific sexual dimorphisms, these lemmings have varying shades of brown, reddish-brown, and chestnut fur on the top, with gray to light brown fur on the bottom. Their fur is long and coarse. [1] These lemmings have black beady eyes, a short tail, small ears, grey feet, and a small, flat nose.[2] They are around 4.8 to 5.7 inches long with a tail that is usually shorter than 1 inch.[1] They weigh around one ounce.[2]
Distinguishing Features
Northern bog lemmings posses 16 thin, sharp teeth. They can be distinguished from other rodents by the distinct grooved markings on their top incisors.[3][1] As they look extremely similar to the southern bog lemming, one can distinguish them by looking at the base of the northern bog lemming's ears for rust-colored fur, something that the southern bog lemming lacks. Northern bog lemming females also have four pairs, or eight individual, nipples while southern bog lemming females only have three pairs.[2]
Distribution and habitat
These animals are found in wet northern forests, bogs, tundra and meadows in Canada, Alaska, northern Washington, Minnesota, and New England.[4]
Diet
The northern bog lemming is a omnivorous animal that primarily feeds on grasses, moss and sedge. Occasionally, they will eat insects, worms, slugs, snails or fungi. A common habit of these lemmings, which signifies their presence in an area, is that they create surface tunnels under vegetation to travel through and to forage in. They line these tunnels with piles of cut grass.[1][5][6] They also leave behind green scat.[5]
Behavior and Ecology
These lemmings are cathemeral mammals, which means they are active at different times during the day and the night, and they do not hibernate.[5] As they have been observed to be extremely sociable with others of their species, they often form colonies. They also do not move habitat throughout the year and stay in the same home range for the majority of their lives.[3][2] On top of building their own tunnels under vegetation and under the surface of the ground, northern bog lemmings often shares habitat with other rodents and will use their tunnels as well.[5] Rodents that northern bog lemming's share habitat with include meadow voles (Microtus pennsylvanicus), and northern short tailed shrews (Blarina brevicauda). [3]
During the spring, summer and fall when there is no snow cover, northern bog lemmings are most active below the earth's surface due to threats of predators. During this time, they live in burrows built underground, under fallen logs or in sphagnum moss. Northern bog lemmings are active above ground most of the winter season as the risk of coming into contact with predators is lower. In this season, they build their nests between the snow and the ground layer. Their nests are built from the grasses, dried leaves, moss, and sedges they find in their habitat, as well as their own fur, and are spherical in shape.[1][5][2]
Reproduction
At ages of five or 6 weeks, northern bog lemmings are thought to be sexually mature.[5] Females tend to have more than one litter per season and each litter contains anywhere from two to eight offspring. The season for breeding for the northern bog lemming is thought to be from the spring (May) to early fall (end of August). The average size of a litter is thought to be four to five offspring[1] and they are born blind, without fur and are altricial.[2]
Communication
Northern Bog lemmings use touch, scent markings, and other chemical signaling to communicate. They strategically leave scent markers throughout their tunnels in the form of feces to let other animals know their tunnels are currently occupied by them and in active use. Tunnels that do not include scent markings or grass clippings have been abandoned by lemmings.[1]
Predators
Northern bog lemmings have a variety of predators. Their predators include any larger mammal that eats smaller mammals (like owls, pine martens (Martes martes), and weasels), as well as predatory raptors such as hawks, and other predators such as snakes.[5][3][2]
Threats and Conservation Status
They are listed as "Species of Special Concern" for protection and preservation by the State of Minnesota [4]
Conservation Management Plans
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References
- ^ a b c d e f g Nicholas, Danielle. "Synaptomys borealis (northern bog lemming)". Animal Diversity Web. Retrieved 2024-10-12.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Northern Bog Lemming" (PDF). MDIFW Endangered Species Program.
- ^ a b c d Webmaster, David Ratz. "Northern Bog Lemming - Montana Field Guide". fieldguide.mt.gov. Retrieved 2024-10-15.
- ^ a b "List of Species in Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN)" (PDF). MNSGCN.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Synaptomys borealis : Northern Bog Lemming | Rare Species Guide". Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved 2024-10-16.
- ^ "Northern bog lemming | Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife". wdfw.wa.gov. Retrieved 2024-10-16.