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Norway lemming By: Gustav Hansson From: Natural History Magazine 1989

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#v #norwegian lemming #RAGE FOR 13.8 BILLION YEARS compressed into a minuscule meat potato

The Norway lemming, also known as the Norwegian lemming, is a common species of rodent in the genus Lemmus which is endemic to the Fennoscandian Peninsula and the Novaya Zemlya achiepelago where it can be found throughout Norway, Sweden, Finland, and part of Russia. Norway lemming is a generally solitary migratory creature which is active at both day and night, alternating naps between periods of activity. They inhabit tundra, taiga, alpine areas, heathlands, and wetlands preferably near water sources, and feed upon sedges, grasses, flowers, mosses, lichens, bark, berries, roots, bulbs, and shoots.Norway lemmings are preyed upon by weasels, foxes, wolves, wolverines, ermines, mink, marten, owls, hawks, falcons, gulls, and jaegers. During the summer months, these rodents reside in complex underground tunnel systems. Come winter they often extend these burrows into and underneath the snow, greatly extending there home ranges. In spite of the myth perpetuated by the Disney movie "White Wilderness", lemmings never commit mass suicide by jumping off cliffs. Instead the Norway lemming has a dramatic three- to four-year population cycle, in which the species' population periodically rises to unsustainable levels, such high population density leads to social friction, distress, and causes a mass dispersal in random directions with each lemming looking for vacant territory. This often drives them to travel long distances across unfamiliar territory leading to high mortality. Reaching upward of 6 inches (150mm) in length and 4.5 ounces (130g) in size, it is one of the largest lemming species, with both sexes sporting thick bodies, small tails, and large front teeth. The fur is heavy, helping the animal keep warm during the cold winter months. Mainland Norway Lemmings display the same coloration year-round - black and brown with golden-yellow bands, in contrast, the Novaya Zemlya lemming has a cryptic gray coloration. They are a promiscuous species which breeds year round. Females of this species are very productive, able to yield a litter every 3 - 4 weeks. Gestation period typically lasts for 16 - 23 days, producing 14 - 16 babies. Under ideal conditions a Norway lemming will reach sexual maturity at 3-4 weeks of age and may live upwards of 3 years.

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