Home › Mammalia › Cricetidae › Norway Lemming (Lemmus lemmus)
SPECIES PROFILE
Norway Lemming (Lemmus lemmus)
Lemmus
IUCN STATUS
Least Concern
CONSERVATION STATUS
Least Concern
CLASS
Mammalia
GEOGRAPHICAL RANGE
Scandinavia, Kola Peninsula
DIET
Herbivorous
HABITAT
Tundra, alpine meadows
🔬 Classification
PHYLUM
Chordata
CLASS
Mammalia
ORDER
Rodentia
FAMILY
Cricetidae
GENUS
Lemmus
📋 Description
SIZE
10-15 cm body, 40-100 g
COLORATION
Brown with black back stripe
ADAPTATIONS
High reproduction, migration
🌿 Ecology
HABITAT
Tundra, alpine meadows
DIET
Herbivorous
GEOGRAPHIC RANGE
Scandinavia, Kola Peninsula
REPRODUCTION
4-12 young, multiple litters per year
DIET DETAILS
Mosses, grasses
⚠️ Threats & Conservation
PRIMARY THREATS
Population crashes
💡 Interesting Facts
1
Norway lemmings are famous for dramatic population booms and mass migrations. They can swim and are very aggressive when cornered.
2
They are the only lemming species that regularly migrates in huge numbers.
🔭 Sighting Guide
📍 BEST PLACES TO SIGHT
Dovrefjell Norway
🗓️ BEST TIME TO SIGHT
Famous for mass migrations; look for in tundra during peak years.
🎯 SIGHTING TIPS
Summer (peak population cycles)
