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chipmunk
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Eastern chipmunk (Tamias striatus) with brown fur and dark stripes on its back sits on a piece of wood, autumn leaves in the background.
How Siberian chipmunks prepare for winter
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Eastern chipmunk (Tamias striatus) with brown fur and dark stripes on its back sits on a piece of wood, autumn leaves in the background.

chipmunk

rodent
Also known as: Tamias
Written by
Guy Musser
Archbold Curator Emeritus Vertebrate Zoology and Mammalogy, American Museum of Natural History, New York City, U.S.
Guy Musser
Fact-checked by
Britannica Editors
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree....
Britannica Editors
Last updated
•History

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...

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