Lemmings - are small animals, appearance and lifestyle reminiscent of hamsters and voles.The second title of lemmings - polar flycatcher.From the zoological point of view, this animal belongs to the order of rodents and subfamily polevkovyh.Lemmings - is the eternal inhabitants of tundra and forest tundra.In this article you will learn how to look and what to eat lemmings in the tundra.It is not surprising, but in such harsh living conditions of these animals feel quite comfortable.This is due to the fact that from time to time they make the barbaric invasion of the lands of others.Everything in order.
How are lemmings?
Before you tell exactly where they live and what to eat lemmings in the tundra, it is advisable to learn about the features of their appearance.This little mouse-like animal type.The length of the calf does not exceed 15 cm, 2 cm of which - a tail.Mass animal - 20-70, the Fur in these creatures is long and thick, has a yellow-brown color with dark spots.Paws animal and its tail painted in pure yellow, and abdomen - in the sand.A distinguishing feature of the two strips are lemmings yellow, arranged on the muzzle and extending from the eye.In winter the fur animal much lighter (turns white), and the claws on the front legs grow even stronger.
Lemmings.Where to live?
The feed these creatures - we find out a little later, but now want to consider where they live.Lemmings common in the tundra and forest tundra (in part) of North America and Eurasia.Several types of these creatures survived and the islands of the Arctic Ocean.Favorite places lemmings zoologists are studying the northern marshes, such as Scandinavia.
on the territory of the Russian Federation live 6 species of lemmings.They spread from the Kola Peninsula to Chukotka and the Far East.These include lemmings:
- forest;
- Norwegian;
- Siberia;
- hoof;
- Amur;
- lemming Vinogradov.
what to eat lemmings in the tundra?
As mentioned above, the lemmings - a rodent.Since these creatures live in the tundra, even food for them are stunted northern plants such as the so-called reindeer moss, various roots, dwarf birch catkins.Stocks for the winter, they do not.Their nests can arrange animals on the ground under the snow, holding them all winter.At that time, they feed on radical part of certain tundra plants.They do not get used often starve in winter.
Lemmings.Lifestyle
lemmings and Tundra can not exist without each other, but some species of these creatures still not chained to its "northern house", and from time to time make seasonal migrations.They are sent to the so-called "summer pastures" - to the regions with a gentle climate.There's animals eat mosses, sedges, shrubs, etc.Incidentally, they are also active throughout the year.After a long journey lemming per night can eat twice more than he weighs!In the "summer pastures" these animals are ready to eat for a whole day, making only brief interruptions.
Zoologists, watched how they live and what to eat lemmings in the tundra, note one interesting feature: every 15-20 years, these brave men in large numbers leaving their northern edge, going on long journeys.Curiously, neither the mountains nor the rivers do not stop this wave of live lemmings.It is noted that when the animals were stuffed in large quantities in fishing boats, which are not under their weight and kept going down.
Such invasions are causing extensive damage to agriculture, because the little wanderers have a truly brutal appetite, devouring everything in its path!Fortunately, the cold climate and the presence of certain enemies at times reducing the number of these rodents.At this time, you can observe mass death of lemmings: the earth for thousands of kilometers dotted with their corpses.
These brave!
Lemmings, description, and food in the tundra which we reviewed in this article, are the real brave!For example, should any stranger only be close to the mink lemming, the latter immediately bravely jumps, he stands on his hind paws, squeaks, grunts and tries to bite him in every way.In general, these creatures are attacking at every opportunity.At the same time the lemmings do not even mind the fact that the enemy can be several times larger than the host mink!This often plays a cruel joke with them: they become lunch wild dogs and cats.
