What are mice called in the tundra? - briefly
In the Arctic tundra, mouse‑like rodents are commonly referred to as lemmings. The name “tundra mouse” is not a scientific term; lemmings belong to the family Cricetidae.
What are mice called in the tundra? - in detail
Mice that inhabit Arctic and sub‑Arctic tundra are generally not true house mice (Mus musculus) but belong to the vole and lemming families. The most frequently encountered species is the tundra vole (Microtus oeconomus), sometimes called the “northern vole” or “tundra mouse.” It is a small rodent with a short, dense coat, a blunt nose, and a short tail. Its range extends across northern Europe, Siberia, Alaska, and Canada, where it occupies moist tundra, riverbanks, and meadow patches.
Another common tundra resident is the collared lemming (Dicrostonyx richardsoni), also known as the Arctic lemming. Although lemmings are not classified as mice, they share many morphological traits. The collared lemming has seasonal fur coloration—brown in summer, white in winter—and a distinctive black collar around the neck. Populations undergo dramatic fluctuations, often leading to mass migrations across the tundra surface.
A third species occasionally encountered is the meadow vole (Microtus pennsylvanicus) in more southerly tundra zones. It prefers grassy openings and displays a high reproductive rate, producing multiple litters each summer.
Key adaptations of these tundra rodents include:
- Insulating fur with a high lipid content, reducing heat loss.
- Reduced surface‑to‑volume ratio, minimizing exposure to cold.
- Seasonal changes in fur color and thickness for camouflage and thermoregulation.
- Burrowing behavior that creates insulated nests below the frozen ground surface.
- Ability to store body fat quickly during brief summer periods to survive long winters.
In scientific literature, the term “tundra vole” is the standard designation for the primary mouse‑like species found across polar grasslands, while “collared lemming” refers to the most abundant lemming species in the same environment. Both groups are integral components of the tundra food web, serving as prey for Arctic foxes, snowy owls, and wolverines.