Dicrostonyx hudsonius (Pallas, 1778)

Don E. Wilson, Russell A. Mittermeier & Thomas E. Lacher, Jr, 2017, Cricetidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 7 Rodents II, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 204-535 : 297-298

35.

Ungava Collared Lemming

Dicrostonyx hudsonius

French: Lemming d'Ungava / German: Ungava-Halsbandlemming / Spanish: Lemming de collar de Ungava

Other common names: Labrador Collared Lemming

Taxonomy. Mus hudsonius Pallas, 1778 , [Labrador, Canada.

This species is monotypic.

Distribution. NE Canada, in N Quebec and Labrador, including Belcher and King George Is.

Descriptive notes. Head—body 112-160 mm, tail 12-22 mm, hindfoot 20-25 mm; weight 40-90 g. The Ungava Collared Lemming is stocky, with relatively short limbs, short tail, small eyes, and indistinct dorsal stripe extending to rump. Pelage is seasonally dimorphic, with long white fur in winter to match snowy environments and brownish gray with buffy or rusty sides, throat, and ear tufts in summer. Venter is grayish. Poorly developed, reddish chest collar is often present.

Habitat. Tundra from old beach terraces to alpine meadows up to elevations of c.1000 m. Near tree line, Ungava Collared Lemmings typically avoid wooded areas and inhabit burrows in rocky slopes and dry lichen tundra.

Food and Feeding. The Ungava Collared Lemming eats grasses, berries, bark, and buds.

Breeding. Ungava Collared Lemmings can breed year-round, especially during population increases, but breeding mostly occurs in spring and summer (March-September). Gestation lasts 22-26 days. Litters have 3-5 young, and females have 2-3 litters/year.

Activity patterns. Ungava Collared Lemmings can be active day or night throughout the year.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Ungava Collared Lemmings are often found in small colonies. They are thought to have relatively small home ranges.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List.

Bibliography. Bradley, Ammerman et al. (2014), Cassola (2016g), Fedorov & Goropashnaya (1999, 2016), Krohne (1982), Manning (1976), Rausch (1977), Rausch & Rausch (1972), Wilson & Ruff (1999).

Figures

34. Nearctic Collared Lemming (Dicrostonyx groenlandicus), 35. Ungava Collared Lemming (Dicrostonyx hudsonius), 36. Nelson's Collared Lemming (Dicrostonyx nelsoni), 37. Ogilvie Mountains Collared Lemming (Dicrostonyx nunatakensis), 38. Richardson’s Collared Lemming (Ducrostonyx richardsoni), 39. Palearctic Collared Lemming (Dicrostonyx torquatus), 40. Unalaska Collared Lemming (Dicrostonyx unalascensis), 41. Gray Red-backed Vole (Craseomys rufocanus), 42. Hokkaido Red-backed Vole (Craseomys rex), 43. Korean Red-backed Vole (Craseomys regulus), 44. Shanxi Red-backed Vole (Craseomys shanseius), 45. Anderson’s Red-backed Vole (Craseomys andersoni), 46. Smith’s Red-backed Vole (Craseomys smith), 47. Western Red-backed Vole (Myodes californicus), 48. Southern Red-backed Vole (Myodes gapperi), 49. Bank Vole (Mpyodes glareolus), 50. Tian Shan Red-backed Vole (Myodes centralis), 51. Large-eared Vole (Myodes macrotis), 52. Northern Red-backed Vole (Myodes rutilus), 53. Silver Mountain Vole (Alticola argentatus), 54. White-tailed Mountain Vole (Alticola albicauda), 55. Kashmir Mountain Vole (Alticola montosus), 56. Royle’s Mountain Vole (Alticola roylei), 57. Strelzov’s Mountain Vole (Alticola strelzouvi), 58. Tuva Mountain Vole (Alticola tuvinicus), 59. Gobi Altai Mountain Vole (Alticola barakshin), 60. null (null), 60. null (null), 61. Mongolian Mountain Vole (Alticola semicanus), 61. Mongolian Mountain Vole (Alticola semicanus), 62. Stoliczka’s Mountain Vole (Alticola stoliczkanus), 62. Stoliczka’s Mountain Vole (Alticola stoliczkanus), 63. Lemming Mountain Vole (Aschizomys lemminus), 63. Lemming Mountain Vole (Aschizomys lemminus), 64. Gansu Red-backed Vole (Caryomys eva), 64. Gansu Red-backed Vole (Caryomys eva), 65. Kolan Red-backed Vole (Caryomys inez), 65. Kolan Red-backed Vole (Caryomys inez), 66. Pere David's Red-backed Vole (Eothenomys melanogaster), 66. Pere David’s Red-backed Vole (Eothenomys melanogaster), 67. Yunnan Red-backed Vole (Eothenomys miletus), 68. Sichuan Red-backed Vole (Eothenomys chinensis), 69. Southwest China Red-backed Vole (Eothenomys custos), 70. Black-eared Red-backed Vole (Eothenomys olitor), 71. Yulongxuen Red-backed Vole (FEothenomys proditor), 72. Ward’s Red-backed Vole (Eothenomys wardi), 73. Hinton’s Red-backed Vole (Eothenomys hintoni), 74. Tarquinius Red-backed Vole (Eothenomys tarquinius), 75. Burrowing Vole (Hyperacrius fertilis), 76. Murree Vole (Hyperacrius wynnei)

Distribution. NE Canada, in N Quebec and Labrador, including Belcher and King George Is.