Quaternary zoogeography of the Nearctic Dicrostonyx lemmings

Abstract

Twenty‐four fossil localities of Dicrostonyx lemmings are reported in North America. The fossil localities are all extralimital except two, one in Alaska and one in the Northwest Territories. The Pleistocene fossil distribution parallels the modern ranges: Dicrostonyx hudsonius east of Hudson Bay and the Appalachian Mountains and D. torquatus to the west. Dicrostonyx remains of the late Quaternary are generally found in disharmonious faunas and may therefore not be an accurate indicator of a strict tundra environment.