''Synaptomys'' is a
genus
Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...
of
North America
North America is a continent in the Northern Hemisphere, Northern and Western Hemisphere, Western hemispheres. North America is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by South Ameri ...
n
lemming
A lemming is a small rodent, usually found in or near the Arctic in tundra biomes. Lemmings form the subfamily Arvicolinae (also known as Microtinae) together with voles and muskrats, which form part of the superfamily Muroidea, which also inclu ...
s. These animals live in wet forested and open areas. They are small, cylindrical rodents with large heads and short ears, legs, and tails. They eat green vegetation such as grasses and sedges. They are often found in colonies.
Systematics
The genus ''Synaptomys'' comprises two extant species and 10 extinct species. ''S. borealis'' is sometimes placed in the genus ''Mictomys''.
Extant species
*
Northern bog lemming
The northern bog lemming (''Synaptomys borealis'') is a small North American lemming. It is one of two species in the genus ''Synaptomys'', the other being the southern bog lemming, southern bog lemming ''(Synaptomys cooperi)''. Very little info ...
- ''S. borealis''
(Richardson, 1828)
*
Southern bog lemming - ''S. cooperi''
Baird, 1858
Extinct species
*
Florida bog lemming (''S. australis'' Simpson 1928)
* Bunker's bog lemming (''S. bunkeri'' Hibbard 1939)
[
* Morgan's bog lemming (''S. morgani'' Martin et al. 2003)][
A number of other fossil species have been included here but have since been transferred to other genera, such as '' Mictomys'' and '' Praesynaptomys''.]
References
Further reading
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bog Lemming
Synaptomys
Taxa named by Spencer Fullerton Baird