Arctic lemming vs Gharial

Dicrostonyx torquatus compared with Gavialis gangeticus

Key Differences

• Arctic lemming is Least Concern while Gharial is Critically Endangered.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Arctic lemming	Gharial
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordates)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class	Mammalia (Mammals)	Reptilia (Reptiles)
Order	Rodentia (Rodents)	Crocodylia (Crocodilians)
Family	Cricetidae	Crocodylidae (Crocodiles)
Genus	Dicrostonyx	Crocodylus (True Crocodiles)
Species	Dicrostonyx torquatus	Gavialis gangeticus

Evolutionary Relationship

Arctic lemming and Gharial share a common ancestor at the Phylum level: Chordata. (Chordates)

Conservation Status

Arctic lemming

LC — Least Concern

Gharial

CR — Critically Endangered

Population: ~650

Trend: Increasing ↑

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Arctic lemming	Gharial
Diet	—	Carnivore
Average Lifespan	—	60 years
Average Length	—	5.0 m
Average Weight	—	200.0 kg

Habitat & Geographic Range

Arctic lemming

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Gharial

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, tropical and subtropical coniferous forests, and temperate broadleaf and mixed forests, among 6 distinct biome types spanning the Indomalayan and Palearctic realms. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Distributed across India and Nepal. Currently classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

Arctic lemming

The Arctic lemming (Dicrostonyx torquatus) is a species in the genus Dicrostonyx. It is currently classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Gharial

The gharial is a fish-eating crocodilian with a distinctive long, narrow snout. It is critically endangered with fewer than 700 adults.