chipmunk
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What is a chipmunk?
A chipmunk is a small, striped terrestrial squirrel of the genus Tamias, known for its large cheek pouches used to carry food. Twenty-five species exist, with all but one being native to North America, ranging from Canada to Mexico.
These pygmy squirrels are versatile, dwelling in rocky terrain and forest understories from sea level to high altitudes. They eat seeds, berries, plants, fungi, insects, and carrion, storing food in burrows for winter when they experience periods of torpor. Chipmunks are shallow hibernators that depend on stored food, but they can enter deep hibernation, especially without food.
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What type of animal is a chipmunk?
A chipmunk is a small, striped, terrestrial squirrel of the genus Tamias, with large internal cheek pouches for transporting food. They are active during the day and are mostly North American, found from southern Canada to west-central Mexico.
Chipmunks are basically pygmy squirrels that have adapted to rocky terrain and forest understories. They are expert climbers and can be found in various forest types from sea level to 3,900 metres (12,800 feet).
Chipmunks are members of the squirrel family (Sciuridae) within the order Rodentia.
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Where do chipmunks usually live?
Chipmunks are small, striped squirrels that exploit the resources of rocky terrain and forest understories. They are ecologically versatile and can be found at sea level up to 3,900 meters in environments defined by large rocks, boulders, and cliffs. They inhabit various forest types, from timberline slopes and rock-bordered alpine meadows downward through coniferous and deciduous forests to dry scrublands and sagebrush deserts.
Chipmunks make their shelters or resting places in burrows. They carry seeds and nuts in their cheek pouches to store in their burrows for winter when they experience periods of torpor.
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What do chipmunks eat?
Chipmunks are small, striped squirrels that belong to the genus Tamias. They eat seeds, berries, tender plants, fungi, insects, other arthropods, and sometimes carrion. They use large internal cheek pouches to transport food to their burrows for storage. Most chipmunks do not accumulate significant fat reserves, so they rely on cached food during the winter. Although they experience periods of torpor, they occasionally emerge on sunny days.
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How do chipmunks store food for winter?
Chipmunks are small, striped squirrels known for storing food for winter in their large cheek pouches. They gather seeds and nuts, carry them in their pouches, and stash them in their burrows as a food cache to last through the winter.
Most chipmunks do not accumulate significant fat reserves, so they rely on these food stores. While not considered true hibernators, they experience periods of torpor, during which they occasionally emerge from their burrows on warmer days to feed. Chipmunks, such as the eastern chipmunk, can enter a state of deep hibernation, especially if they lack food.
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How do chipmunks help their ecosystem?
Chipmunks play a role in their ecosystems through seed dispersal and consumption of various food sources. They gather seeds and nuts in their cheek pouches, transporting them to burrows for storage. Some of these seeds are not retrieved, which contributes to new plant growth. Chipmunks consume seeds, berries, plants, fungi, insects, arthropods, and carrion, influencing these populations. They are adaptable and can be found in diverse environments, from forests to rocky terrains, occupying different ecological niches.
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chipmunk, (genus Tamias), any of 25 species of small, striped, terrestrial squirrels with large internal cheek pouches used for transporting food. They have prominent eyes and ears, a furry tail, and delicate claws. All are active only during the day, and all but one are North American, occurring from southern Canada to west-central Mexico. Body length among most species ranges from 8 to 16 cm (3.1 to 6.3 inches) and tail length from 6 to 14 cm (2.4 to 5.5 inches).
Chipmunks are basically pygmy squirrels adapted to exploiting the resources of rocky terrain and forest understories. They scamper along the ground but are also expert climbers. As a group they are an ecologically versatile genus. Different species can be found from sea level to 3,900 metres (12,800 feet) in environments defined by large rocks, boulders, and cliffs. They inhabit various forest types, from timberline slopes and rock-bordered alpine meadows downward through coniferous and deciduous forests to dry scrublands and sagebrush deserts.
The eastern chipmunk (Tamias striatus), common to the deciduous forests of eastern North America, is the largest. Weighing 70–142 grams (2.5–5 ounces), it has a body 14–19 cm (5.5–7.5 inches) long and a shorter tail (8–11 cm [3.1–4.3 inches]). The fur is reddish brown and is broken by five dark brown stripes running lengthwise down the body. These alternate with two gray-brown stripes and two whitish stripes. The smallest chipmunk is the least chipmunk (T. minimus), which weighs about half as much as the eastern chipmunk. The Hopi chipmunk (T. rufus) lives among the buttes and canyonlands of the American Southwest and is remarkably adept at climbing sheer rock faces and overhangs. The Uinta chipmunk (T. umbrinus), which lives in montane forests of the western United States, is much like a tree squirrel in its habits. In addition to denning in burrows, it regularly sleeps and nests in trees, where it sometimes raises young in tree cavities or abandoned bird nests. The only Old World species is the Siberian chipmunk (T. sibiricus), which ranges from the White Sea of northwestern Russia eastward through Siberia to northern Japan and south to China.
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The chipmunks’ call is a shrill chirring or chipping. They relish seeds, berries, and tender plants, but they also eat fungi, insects and other arthropods, and sometimes carrion. They stuff seeds and nuts into their cheek pouches and carry them to a burrow to be stored for later use. As most chipmunks do not accumulate significant fat during the fall, they depend upon this cached food during the winter. Although they experience periods of torpor, chipmunks occasionally emerge on sunny, windless winter days. They were not considered to be true hibernators, but studies indicate that the eastern chipmunk’s body temperature ranges from 35 to 41 °C (95 to 105.8 °F) during activity and drops to 5–7 °C (41–44.6 °F) during torpor—a difference that characterizes true hibernators. Two to eight (rarely nine) young are born in spring or summer after about a month’s gestation. A second litter, usually smaller, is often produced in regions with long summers.
Chipmunks are members of the squirrel family (Sciuridae) within the order Rodentia. Although most classifications acknowledge a single genus of chipmunks, Tamias, some separate the species into the genera Tamias, Eutamias, and Neotamias.