A small short-tailed rodent endemic to North American sphagnum bogs. Extremely specific habitat requirements have made them indicators of pristine wetland systems.
§ Quick facts
§ Encyclopedia
The northern bog lemming is a small North American lemming. It is one of two species in the genus Synaptomys, the other being the southern bog lemming. Very little information is available about this species' life as they are hard to find and study. The northern bog lemming is a small, reddish-brown rodent with a short tail, and distinct markings on their upper teeth. These markings, along with having four pairs of teats, distinguishes this species from the southern bog lemming. The northern bog lemming lives in wet habitats in North America and is omnivorous, eating herbaceous material and invertebrates. They are thought to be extremely sociable animals and sexually mature at around 6 weeks old. Predators include most medium to larger sized carnivorous and omnivorous mammals that eat smaller mammals. The northern bog lemming is listed as a species of "Least Concern" by the IUCN Red List and is considered threatened or of concern in states such as Minnesota and Maine.
Source: Wikipedia — Northern bog lemming Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
§ Identification
Field marks. Stocky vole-like mammal with grayish-brown back; very short tail.
Similar species. Southern Bog Lemming. True voles (longer tails).
Voice. Squeaks.
§ Diet & behavior
Diet. Sedges, mosses, grasses.
Behavior. Among the most range-restricted US mammals. Lives in cold sphagnum bogs.
§ Range
Boreal forest of Canada and northern US
§ Habitat
Sphagnum bogs, fens, wet meadows
§ Threats
Bog drainage, peat mining, climate-driven habitat shifts.
§ Conservation status
According to the IUCN Red List, the northern bog lemming is currently classified as Least Concern.
§ What helps
Support bog protection. Skip peat-based potting mixes. Donate to wetland conservation.
§ Further reading
- Wikipedia — Northern bog lemming
- www.nwf.org — authoritative profile of Synaptomys borealis
- IUCN Red List · taxon 14257
- iNaturalist · taxon 42953
- GBIF occurrence records
- Encyclopedia of Life — Synaptomys borealis
§ Sources cited
- American Society of Mammalogists
- IUCN Red List 2016
