Dicrostonyx nelsoni, Merriam, 1900

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 : 298

36.

Nelson's Collared Lemming

Dicrostonyx nelsoni

French: Lemming de Nelson / German: Nelson-Halsbandlemming / Spanish: Lemming de collar de Nelson

Other common names: St. Lawrence Island Collared Lemming

Taxonomy. Dicrostonyx nelsoni Merriam, 1900 , “St. Michaels [Norton Sound], Alaska.”

Dicrostonyx nelsoni is monotypic and is not recognized as a distinct species by some, but instead considered a subspecies of D. groenlandicus . Other taxonomists, based on chromosomal differences and breeding studies, suggest that there are up to three species of collared lemming in Alaska alone.

Distribution. W Alaska, from Seward Peninsula S to Alaska Peninsula and Unimak I (previously considered D. peninsulae ), and including population on St. Lawrence I (previously considered D. exsul ).

Descriptive notes. Head—body 126-135 mm,tail 9-13 mm; weight 45-72 g. Nelson's Collared Lemming is stocky, with relatively short limbs and tail. It is seasonally dimorphic, white in winter and grayish brown in summer. There is usually a reddish collar in summer.

Habitat. Drier and rockier shrublands and tundra of western Alaska.

Food and Feeding. Nelson's Collared Lemming eats leaves, flowers, buds, and roots of shrubs, herbs, and sedges. Willows ( Salix , Salicaceae ) are especially important as a winter food.

Breeding. Nelson's Collared Lemmings might breed year-round, with gestation averaging c.20 days and litters likely of 1-8 young.

Activity patterns. Nelson’s Collared Lemming is terrestrial and probably active throughout the year, feeding day and night.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

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

Bibliography. Bradley, Ammerman et al. (2014), Cassola (2016h), Fedorov & Goropashnaya (1999, 2016), Jar rell & Fredga (1993), MacDonald & Cook (2009), Musser & Carleton (2005), Rausch (1977), Rausch & Rausch (1972), Stenseth & Ims (1993), 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. W Alaska, from Seward Peninsula S to Alaska Peninsula and Unimak I (previously considered D. peninsulae ), and including population on St. Lawrence I (previously considered D. exsul ).