Eastern chipmunk

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Eastern chipmunk
Temporal range:
Early Holocene–present (9,720–0 YBP) [1]
Chipmunk with stuffed cheeks in Prospect Park (05980).jpg
Eastern chipmunk (Tamias striatus)
Status TNC G5.svg
Secure  (NatureServe) [3]
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Family: Sciuridae
Genus: Tamias
Species:
T. striatus
Binomial name
Tamias striatus
Subspecies [4]
  • T. s. striatus
  • T. s. doorsiensis
  • T. s. fisheri
  • T. s. griseus
  • T. s. lysteri
  • T. s. ohioensis
  • T. s. peninsulae
  • T. s. pipilans
  • T. s. quebecensis
  • T. s. rufescens
  • T. s. venustus
Tamias striatus range map.png
Synonyms [5]
  • Sciurus striatus Linnaeus, 1758

The eastern chipmunk (Tamias striatus) is a chipmunk species found in eastern North America. It is the only living member of the genus Tamias. [6] [7] [8] [9] [10]

Contents

Etymology

The name "chipmunk" probably comes from the Ojibwe word ᐊᒋᑕᒨajidamoo (or possibly ajidamoonh, the same word in the Ottawa dialect of Ojibwe), which translates literally as "one who descends trees headlong." [11] First described by Mark Catesby in his 1743 The Natural History of Carolina, Florida, and the Bahama Islands, the chipmunk was eventually classified as Sciurus striatus by Linnaeus, meaning "striped squirrel" in Latin. [12] [13] The scientific name was changed to Tamias striatus, meaning "striped steward", by Johann Illiger in 1811. [14]

Description

A small species, it reaches about 30 cm (12 in) in length including the tail, and a weight of 66–150 g (2.3–5.3 oz). [15] It has reddish-brown fur on its upper body and five dark brown stripes contrasting with light brown stripes along its back, ending in a dark tail. It has lighter fur on the lower part of its body. It has a tawny stripe that runs from its whiskers to below its ears, and light stripes over its eyes. It has two fewer teeth than other chipmunks and four toes each on the front legs, but five toes on the hind legs. [16] The chipmunk's appearance "remains consistent throughout life. There is no external difference in appearance between the sexes except the obvious anatomical characteristics of the genitalia during periods of fertility. Molt occurs once or twice annually, during May or June and sometimes again in October. Both albino and melanistic specimens have been observed, but without geographical regularity." [14]

Habitat

The eastern chipmunk lives in deciduous wooded areas and urban parks throughout the eastern United States and southern Canada. It prefers locations with rocky areas, brush or log piles, and shrubs to provide cover. [17]

Behavior

The eastern chipmunk can climb trees well, but constructs underground nests with extensive tunnel systems, often with several entrances. To hide the construction of its burrow, the eastern chipmunk is argued by some to carry soil to a different location in its cheek pouches. [18] However, recorded observations of chipmunks carrying soil in their cheek pouches are extremely limited. John Burroughs is noted as having written that "I used to think that the chipmunk carried away the soil in his cheek pouches, and have so-stated in one of my books [Riverby, 1894], but I am now certain that he does not—only his food stores are thus carried." [19] Chipmunks also line their burrows with leaves, rocks, sticks, and other material, making the burrows even harder to see. [18] "The vocal repertoire of the chipmunk consists of five more or less stereotyped sounds: the chip, the chuck, the trills, the whistle or squeal, and chatter." [20] The chipmunks' trilling has been measured to occur at the rate of 130 trills per minute. [16]

Diet

Eastern chipmunk eating under a log pile in Bedford, New York Chipmunk Eating .jpg
Eastern chipmunk eating under a log pile in Bedford, New York

The chipmunk is mainly active during the day, spending most of its day foraging. It prefers bulbs, seeds, fruits, nuts, green plants, mushrooms, insects, worms, and bird eggs. It commonly transports food in pouches in its cheeks.

Lifecycle

The eastern chipmunk defends its burrow and lives a solitary life, except during mating season. In fact, the chipmunk's solitary existence has been noted by author and scientist Lawrence Wishner as "one of the most characteristic behavioral features of the chipmunk". Members of the species interact with each other only while courting and mating, and for the period that pups spend with their mothers after birth, typically around six to eight weeks. [21] Females usually produce one or two litters of three to five young. [16] The two breeding seasons are from February to April and from June to August. During the winter, the chipmunk may enter long periods of hibernation. [22]

Predators of the eastern chipmunk include hawks, owls, foxes, raccoons, snakes, weasels, coyotes, bobcats, lynx, domestic dogs and domestic cats. On average, eastern chipmunks live three or more years in the wild, but in captivity they may live as long as eight years. [16]

Eastern chipmunks are known to be one of many hosts for the parasitic larvae of Cuterebra botflies. [23]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chipmunk</span> Tribe of mammals (rodent (marmot))

Chipmunks are small, striped rodents of Sciuridae, the squirrel family; specifically, they are ground squirrels (Marmotini). Chipmunks are found in North America, with the exception of the Siberian chipmunk which is found primarily in Asia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Antelope squirrel</span> Genus of rodents

Antelope squirrels or antelope ground squirrels of the genus Ammospermophilus are sciurids found in the desert and dry scrub areas of the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. They are a type of ground squirrel and are able to resist hyperthermia and can survive body temperatures over 40 °C (104 °F).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Least chipmunk</span> Species of rodent

The least chipmunk is the smallest species of chipmunk and the most widespread in North America.

<i>Tamias</i> Genus of rodents

Tamias is a genus of chipmunks in the tribe Marmotini of the squirrel family. The genus includes a single living species, the eastern chipmunk. The genus name Tamias means "treasurer", "steward", or "housekeeper", which is a reference to the animals' role in plant dispersal through their habit of collecting and storing food for winter use.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Siberian chipmunk</span> Species of mammal

The Siberian chipmunk, also called common chipmunk, is one of the genera of chipmunk native to northern Asia from central Russia to China, Korea, and Hokkaidō in northern Japan. It was imported from South Korea and introduced in Europe as a pet in the 1960s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alpine chipmunk</span> Species of rodent

The alpine chipmunk is a species of chipmunk native to the high elevations of the Sierra Nevada of California. No significant threats to the species are known.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Merriam's chipmunk</span> Species of rodent

Merriam's chipmunk is a species of chipmunk in the family Sciuridae. It is found in central and southern California in the United States and a small area in northern Baja California, Mexico.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yellow-cheeked chipmunk</span> Species of rodent

The yellow-cheeked chipmunk, also known as the redwood chipmunk, is a species of rodent in the squirrel family, Sciuridae. It is endemic to areas near the coast of northern California in the United States where it inhabits coastal coniferous forest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Palmer's chipmunk</span> Species of rodent

Palmer's chipmunk is a species of rodent in the family Sciuridae, endemic to Spring Mountains in southern Nevada. Its natural habitat is temperate forests. Palmer's chipmunks are limited to "sky islands" which are mountainous habitats that are surrounded by other lower elevation inhospitable habitats. It is primarily threatened by habitat loss. Palmer's chipmunk is named after Theodore Sherman Palmer, an American botanist and zoologist. With adequate habitat and food resources Palmer's chipmunks typically live from 1 to 4 years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Colorado chipmunk</span> Species of rodent

The Colorado chipmunk is a species of chipmunk in the squirrel family Sciuridae. It is endemic to Colorado, Utah, Arizona and New Mexico in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Red-tailed chipmunk</span> Species of rodent

The red-tailed chipmunk is a species of rodent in the family Sciuridae. It is found in Alberta and British Columbia in Canada and Montana, Idaho and Washington in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Allen's chipmunk</span> Species of rodent

Allen's chipmunk, also known as the shadow chipmunk, is a species of chipmunk native to the western United States. Occurring in California, Oregon, and Nevada, it is a common species of the Sierra Nevada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sonoma chipmunk</span> Species of rodent

The Sonoma chipmunk is a species of rodent in the squirrel family Sciuridae. It is endemic to northwestern California in the United States. Members of Neotamias are characterized by having two premolars. N. sonomae has two subspecies: N. s. alleni and N. s. sonomae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Uinta chipmunk</span> Species of rodent

The Uinta chipmunk or hidden forest chipmunk, is a species of chipmunk in the family Sciuridae. It is endemic to the United States. Formerly known as Tamias umbrinus, phylogenetic studies have shown it to be sufficiently distinct from the eastern chipmunk as to be placed in a separate genus, Neotamias. The same studies have also suggested that Palmer's chipmunk may actually be a subspecies of Uinta chipmunk, although the two are still generally regarded as separate species.

<i>Neotamias</i> Genus of rodents

Neotamias is a genus of chipmunks within the tribe Marmotini of the squirrel family. It contains 23 species, which mostly occur in western North America. Along with Eutamias, this genus is often considered a subgenus of Tamias.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ezo chipmunk</span> Subspecies of mammal

The Ezo chipmunk is a subspecies or local population of the Siberian chipmunk; it is found in what was once known as Ezo, namely Hokkaidō, Japan, and Sakhalin and the Southern Kuriles, Russia.

References

  1. ↑ Graham, Russell W. (1984) [7 March 1983]. "Paleoenvironmental Implications of the Quaternary Distribution of the Eastern Chipmunk (Tamias striatus) in Central Texas". Quaternary Research. 21: 111–114. doi:10.1016/0033-5894(84)90094-2.
  2. ↑ Cassola, F. (2017) [errata version of 2016 assessment]. "Tamias striatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016: e.T42583A115191543. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T42583A22268905.en .
  3. ↑ "Tamias striatus". NatureServe Explorer. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
  4. ↑ Thorington, R.W. Jr; Hoffman, R.S. (2005). "Tamias (Tamias) striatus". In Wilson, D.E.; Reeder, D.M (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 817. ISBN   978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC   62265494.
  5. ↑ "Tamias striatus". Global Biodiversity Information Facility . Retrieved 30 April 2022.
  6. ↑ Patterson, Bruce D.; Norris, Ryan W. (2016). "Towards a uniform nomenclature for ground squirrels: the status of the Holarctic chipmunks" (PDF). Mammalia. 80 (3): 241–251. doi:10.1515/mammalia-2015-0004. S2CID   9955150 . Retrieved 8 June 2019.
  7. ↑ Wilson, D. E.; D. M. Reeder (2005). "Mammal Species of the World". Archived from the original on 23 June 2007. Retrieved 27 June 2007.
  8. ↑ Piaggio, A. J.; Spicer, G. S. (2001). "Molecular phylogeny of the chipmunks inferred from mitochondrial cytochrome b and cytochrome oxidase II gene sequences" (PDF). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 20 (3): 335–350. CiteSeerX   10.1.1.330.9046 . doi:10.1006/mpev.2001.0975. PMID   11527462.
  9. ↑ Piaggio, Antoinette J.; Spicer, Greg S. (2000). "Molecular Phylogeny of the Chipmunk Genus Tamias Based on the Mitochondrial Cytochrome Oxidase Subunit II Gene" (PDF). Journal of Mammalian Evolution. 7 (3): 147–166. doi:10.1023/a:1009484302799. S2CID   7623018.
  10. ↑ Musser, G. G.; Durden, L. A.; Holden, M. E.; Light, J. E. (2010). "Systematic review of endemic Sulawesi squirrels (Rodentia, Sciuridae), with descriptions of new species of associated sucking lice (Insecta, Anoplura), and phylogenetic and zoogeographic assessments of sciurid lice" (PDF). Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History. 339 (339): 1–260. doi:10.1206/695.1. hdl:2246/6067. S2CID   82712592.
  11. ↑ Chipmunk, Online Etymology Dictionary
  12. ↑ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879). "sciurus". Charlton T. Lewis, Charles Short, A Latin Dictionary, scĭūrus. A Latin Dictionary. Clarendon Press. Archived from the original on 27 October 2021.
  13. ↑ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879). "strio". Charlton T. Lewis, Charles Short, A Latin Dictionary, S , strēnŭē , strĭo. A Latin Dictionary. Clarendon Press. Archived from the original on 27 October 2021.
  14. 1 2 Wishner page 113
  15. ↑ "Eastern chipmunk videos, photos and facts – Tamias striatus – ARKive". Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 26 November 2013.
  16. 1 2 3 4 Eastern Chipmunk Archived 8 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine , West Virginia Wildlife Series
  17. ↑ Long, John L. (14 August 2003). Introduced Mammals of the World: Their History, Distribution and Influence. Csiro Publishing. ISBN   978-0-643-09916-6.
  18. 1 2 "Chipmunks" (PDF). Internet Center for Wildlife Damage Management. p. B-14. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 August 2018.
  19. ↑ Wishner page 100
  20. ↑ Wishner page 117
  21. ↑ Wishner page 116-117
  22. ↑ Ian Popple (26 April 2012). "The mother of all hangovers". Archived from the original on 5 March 2016.
  23. ↑ Paquette, Chelsey; Garant, Dany; Savage, Jade; Réale, Denis; Bergeron, Patrick (May 2020). "Individual and environmental determinants of Cuterebra bot fly parasitism in the eastern chipmunk (Tamias striatus)". Oecologia. 193 (2): 359–370. Bibcode:2020Oecol.193..359P. doi:10.1007/s00442-020-04685-x. PMID   32566968. S2CID   219958543.

Bibliography

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