Mammals
Collared Lemming
Dicrostonyx groenlandicus · also called Arctic lemming, Greenland collared lemming
In the depth of the Arctic winter, a white collared lemming tunnels beneath the snow, its forefeet armed with enlarged claws that appear only in the cold season.
Overview
The collared lemming, Dicrostonyx groenlandicus, is a Least Concern rodent of the Arctic tundra of northern Canada, Alaska, and Greenland. Its white winter coat, seasonal winter claws, and boom-and-bust population cycles make it one of the most specialised small mammals of the far north.
A rodent built for snow
Few rodents change as much with the seasons as the collared lemming, which grows a white coat and extra-large claws to cope with winter on the tundra.
Status
Least Concern, widespread across the Arctic.
Collared Lemming: common questions
Does the collared lemming turn white in winter?
Yes, it moults into a white winter coat, a change that helps it blend into the snow.
What are the collared lemming's winter claws?
In winter it develops enlarged, split claws on its forefeet, which help it dig through snow and frozen ground.
Does the collared lemming hibernate?
No, it stays active all winter, tunnelling beneath the snow to reach food.
Where is the collared lemming found?
It is found on tundra across northern Canada, Alaska, and Greenland.