Alpine chipmunk

Species of rodent

Alpine chipmunk
Conservation status

Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]

Apparently Secure  (NatureServe)[2]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Family: Sciuridae
Genus: Neotamias
Species:
N. alpinus
Binomial name
Neotamias alpinus
(Merriam, 1893)
Synonyms

Tamias alpinus Merriam, 1893

The alpine chipmunk (Neotamias alpinus) is a species of chipmunk native to the high elevations of the Sierra Nevada of California.[3][4]

Description

Alpine chipmunks share the typical pattern of genus Neotamias, being gray-brown overall and featuring three white stripes on the cheeks and four down the back. The flanks are muted orange. Overall the pattern is much paler compared to most species. They weigh 27-45 grams.[5]

Distribution

Distribution of Alpine chipmunk

Alpine chipmunks only live in high Sierra Nevada, from Yosemite National Park in the north, to Olancha Peak in the south. They have been observed at altitudes from around 2,300 meters (7,500 ft)[6] to 3,900 meters (12,800 ft),[7] though they rarely occur below 2,500 meters (8,200 ft).

Behavior and ecology

The alpine chipmunk feeds on the seeds of sedges, grasses, and other plants in their namesake alpine zone.[5] They generally eat their food on the ground. They do not generally require a source of water other than food, but will use it given the opportunity.

They nest in crevices between rocks, taking advantage of the micro-climatic conditions (i.e. higher temperatures) that exist there. Their young are born in June and July, in litters of 3–6.

They are considered diurnal, though they exhibit some nocturnal activity during the summer. They hibernate from November through April, frequently awakening to eat.[6]

References

  1. ^ Cassola, F. (2016). "Neotamias alpinus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T42568A22266784. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T42568A22266784.en. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
  2. ^ "Tamias alpinus". NatureServe Explorer. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
  3. ^ Hall, E.R. (1981). The Mammals of North America (2nd ed.). New York: John Wiley & Sons.
  4. ^ Grinnell, J.; T.I. Storer (1924). Animal life in the Yosemite: an account of the mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians of a cross-section of the Sierra Nevada. University of California Press.
  5. ^ a b Clawson, Robin G.; Clawson, Joseph A.; Best, Troy L. (1994). "Tamias alpinus". Mammalian Species Archive. 461.
  6. ^ a b Johnson, D.H. (1943). Systematic review of the chipmunks (genus Eutamias) of California. University of California Publications in Zoology.
  7. ^ Swarth, H.S. (1919). Some Sierran chipmunks. Sierra Club Bulletin.
Wikispecies has information related to Tamias alpinus.
  • Hole Jr., Robert. "Alpine Chipmunk Tamias alpinus". Encyclopedia of Life Field Guides. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 7 December 2012.
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Living species of tribe Marmotini (ground squirrels)
Ammospermophilus
(antelope squirrels)
  • Harris's antelope squirrel (A. harrisii) 
  • Espíritu Santo antelope squirrel (A. insularis) 
  • Texas antelope squirrel (A. interpres) 
  • White-tailed antelope squirrel (A. leucurus) 
  • San Joaquin antelope squirrel (A. nelsoni)
Callospermophilus
(golden-mantled ground squirrels)
  • Golden-mantled ground squirrel (C. lateralis) 
  • Sierra Madre ground squirrel (C. madrensis) 
  • Cascade golden-mantled ground squirrel (C. saturatus)
Cynomys
(prairie dogs)
  • Gunnison's prairie dog (C. gunnisoni) 
  • White-tailed prairie dog (C. leucurus) 
  • Black-tailed prairie dog (C. ludovicianus) 
  • Mexican prairie dog (C. mexicanus) 
  • Utah prairie dog (C. parvidens)
Eutamias
  • Siberian chipmunk (E. sibiricus)
Ictidomys
(little ground squirrels)
  • Mexican ground squirrel (I. mexicanus) 
  • Rio Grande ground squirrel (I. parvidens) 
  • Thirteen-lined ground squirrel (I. tridecemlineatus)
Marmota
(marmots)
Subgenus Marmota: Gray marmot (M. baibacina) 
  • Bobak marmot (M. bobak) 
  • Alaska marmot (M. broweri) 
  • Black-capped marmot (M. camtschatica) 
  • Long-tailed marmot (M. caudata) 
  • Himalayan marmot (M. himalayana) 
  • Alpine marmot (M. marmota) 
  • Menzbier's marmot (M. menzbieri) 
  • Groundhog or woodchuck (M. monax) 
  • Tarbagan marmot (M. sibirica)
    Subgenus Petromarmota: Hoary marmot (M. caligata) 
  • Yellow-bellied marmot (M. flaviventris) 
  • Olympic marmot (M. olympus) 
  • Vancouver Island marmot (M. vancouverensis)
Neotamias
(western chipmunks)
  • Alpine chipmunk (N. alpinus) 
  • Yellow-pine chipmunk (N. amoenus) 
  • Buller's chipmunk (N. bulleri) 
  • Gray-footed chipmunk (N. canipes) 
  • Gray-collared chipmunk (N. cinereicollis) 
  • Cliff chipmunk (N. dorsalis) 
  • Durango chipmunk (N. durangae) 
  • Merriam's chipmunk (N. merriami) 
  • Least chipmunk (N. minimus) 
  • California chipmunk (N. obscurus) 
  • Yellow-cheeked chipmunk (N. ochrogenys) 
  • Palmer's chipmunk (N. palmeri) 
  • Panamint chipmunk (N. panamintinus) 
  • Long-eared chipmunk (N. quadrimaculatus) 
  • Colorado chipmunk (N. quadrivittatus) 
  • Red-tailed chipmunk (N. ruficaudus) 
  • Hopi chipmunk (N. rufus) 
  • Allen's chipmunk (N. senex) 
  • Siskiyou chipmunk (N. siskiyou) 
  • Sonoma chipmunk (N. sonomae) 
  • Lodgepole chipmunk (N. speciosus) 
  • Townsend's chipmunk (N. townsendii) 
  • Uinta chipmunk (N. umbrinus)
    • Notocitellus
    • Tropical ground squirrel (N. adocetus) 
    • Ring-tailed ground squirrel (N. annulatus)
    Otospermophilus
    (rock squirrels)
    • Baja California rock squirrel (O. atricapillus) 
    • California ground squirrel (O. beecheyi) 
    • Rock squirrel (O. variegatus)
    Poliocitellus
    • Franklin's ground squirrel (P. franklinii)
    Sciurotamias
    (Asian rock squirrels)
    • Père David's rock squirrel (S. davidianus) 
    • Forrest's rock squirrel (S. forresti)
    Spermophilus sensu stricto
    (Old World ground squirrels)
    • Alashan ground squirrel (S. alashanicus) 
    • Brandt’s ground squirrel (S. brevicauda) 
    • European ground squirrel (S. citellus) 
    • Daurian ground squirrel (S. dauricus) 
    • Red-cheeked ground squirrel (S. erythrogenys) 
    • Yellow ground squirrel (S. fulvus) 
    • Russet ground squirrel (S. major) 
    • Caucasian mountain ground squirrel (S. musicus) 
    • Tian Shan ground squirrel (S. nilkaensis) 
    • Pallid ground squirrel (S. pallidicauda) 
    • Little ground squirrel (S. pygmaeus) 
    • Relict ground squirrel (S. relictus) 
    • Speckled ground squirrel (Spermophilus suslicus) 
    • Taurus ground squirrel (Spermophilus taurensis) 
    • Asia Minor ground squirrel (Spermophilus xanthoprymnus)
    Tamias
    • Eastern chipmunk (T. striatus)
    Urocitellus
    (Holarctic ground squirrels)
    • Uinta ground squirrel (U. armatus) 
    • Belding's ground squirrel (U. beldingi) 
    • Northern Idaho ground squirrel (U. brunneus) 
    • Merriam's ground squirrel (U. canus) 
    • Columbian ground squirrel (U. columbianus) 
    • Wyoming ground squirrel (U. elegans) 
    • Southern Idaho ground squirrel (U. endemicus) 
    • Piute ground squirrel (U. mollis) 
    • Arctic ground squirrel (U. parryii) 
    • Richardson's ground squirrel (U. richardsonii) 
    • Townsend's ground squirrel (U. townsendii) 
    • Long-tailed ground squirrel (U. undulatus)
    • Washington ground squirrel (U. washingtoni) 
    Xerospermophilus
    (pygmy ground squirrels)
    • Mohave ground squirrel (X. mohavensis) 
    • Perote ground squirrel (X. perotensis) 
    • Spotted ground squirrel (X. spilosoma) 
    • Round-tailed ground squirrel (X. tereticaudus)
    Category
    Taxon identifiers
    Neotamias alpinus
    Tamias alpinus