The Uinta chipmunk[1] or hidden forest chipmunk[2] (Neotamias umbrinus), is a species of chipmunk in the family Sciuridae. It is endemic to the United States. Formerly known as Tamias umbrinus,[1]phylogenetic studies have shown it to be sufficiently distinct from the eastern chipmunk as to be placed in a separate genus, Neotamias.[3] 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.[4]
The Uinta chipmunk is a medium-sized chipmunk, with adults ranging from 20 to 24 cm (7.9 to 9.4 in) in length, including the tail at 7 to 11 cm (2.8 to 4.3 in), and weighing an average of 67 g (2.4 oz). The predominant color of the summer coat varies from yellowish brown-grey to dark brown, often with a reddish tinge. Three wide, distinct dark blackish-brown stripes run down the back, separated and surrounded by four paler stripes of pale grey to white fur. Also, three dark and three pale stripes are on each side of the face. In the winter, the coat becomes duller and more greyish, and the stripes become less distinct. The ears are black, and the underparts a very pale grey. The tail has orange and black fur, with a paler fringe of hair on the underside.[5]
Distribution and habitat
The Uinta chipmunk lives in montane and subalpine forests of the western United States, between 1,400 and 3,650 m (4,590 and 11,980 ft) elevation. It is most common at the margins of pine and fir forests, or in clearings, often near rocky terrain or steep slopes.[5][6] Uinta chipmunks do not have a continuous, unbroken range, but are instead found in a number of disjunct localities,[2] perhaps reflecting changing patterns of forest cover during the Pleistocene. Seven subspecies are currently recognized:
N. u. adsitus - southern Utah and northern Arizona
Uinta chipmunks are herbivorous. Their primary diet consists of the seeds of coniferous trees such as Douglas fir, ponderosa pine, juniper, and spruce, and on the fruit of local shrubs such as wild roses, raspberries, and chokecherries. They also eat some grass and fungi, and may supplement their diet with small quantities of insects or carrion.[5]
The chipmunks are solitary, diurnal, animals, and are aggressive to other members of their own species, each individual defending a territory of 2 to 5 ha (4.9 to 12.4 acres).[7] They establish dens in burrows under rocks, shrubs, or other shelter, or else in natural rock crevices or hollow logs. They spend much of the winter in their dens, but are otherwise highly arboreal, climbing trees to search for food and escape from predators.[5]
The animals have been reported to make a number of different vocalizations, with most common being bursts of sharp "chip" sounds that can continue for up to 15 minutes, and are made from exposed locations, such as rock outcrops or high branches. Other vocalizations include lower-pitched "chuck" sounds, often interspersed with "chips" while fleeing from predators, trills, and squeals.[8]
Reproduction
The breeding season occurs in the spring, roughly from late April to early June, with the exact time depending on the local climate and latitude. The mother gives birth to a single litter of three to five young after a gestation period around 30 days. The young are weaned around 25 days of age, and begin to leave the burrow shortly thereafter.[5] Only 27.5% of Uinta chipmunks survive through the winter, and the maximum life expectancy is believed to be two years.[8]
References
^ abcWilson, D. E.; Reeder, D. M., eds. (2005). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. ISBN978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
^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. doi:10.1006/mpev.2001.0975. PMID 11527462.
^Wilson, D. E.; Reeder, D. M., eds. (2005). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. ISBN978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
^Johnson, D.H. 1943. Systemic Review of Chipmunks, UC Publications in Zoology University of California
^Bergstrom, B.J. (1988). "Home ranges of three species of chipmunks (Tamias) as assessed by radiotelemetry and grid trapping". Journal of Mammalogy. 69 (1): 190–193. doi:10.2307/1381774. JSTOR 1381774.
^ abBergstrom, B.J. & Hoffmann, R.S. (1991). "Distribution and diagnosis of three species of chipmunks (Tamias) in the Front Range of Colorado". Southwestern Naturalist. 36 (1): 14–28. doi:10.2307/3672112. JSTOR 3672112.
External links
Hole Jr., Robert. . Encyclopedia of Life Field Guides. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 7 December 2012.
January 07, 2023
uinta, chipmunk, hidden, forest, chipmunk, neotamias, umbrinus, species, chipmunk, family, sciuridae, endemic, united, states, formerly, known, tamias, umbrinus, phylogenetic, studies, have, shown, sufficiently, distinct, from, eastern, chipmunk, placed, separ. The Uinta chipmunk 1 or hidden forest chipmunk 2 Neotamias umbrinus is a species of chipmunk in the family Sciuridae It is endemic to the United States Formerly known as Tamias umbrinus 1 phylogenetic studies have shown it to be sufficiently distinct from the eastern chipmunk as to be placed in a separate genus Neotamias 3 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 4 Uinta chipmunk 1 Conservation statusLeast Concern IUCN 3 1 2 Scientific classificationKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass MammaliaOrder RodentiaFamily SciuridaeGenus NeotamiasSpecies N umbrinusBinomial nameNeotamias umbrinus J A Allen 1890 Subspecies7 see text SynonymsTamias umbrinus J A Allen 1890 Contents 1 Description 2 Distribution and habitat 3 Diet and behavior 4 Reproduction 5 References 6 External linksDescription EditThe Uinta chipmunk is a medium sized chipmunk with adults ranging from 20 to 24 cm 7 9 to 9 4 in in length including the tail at 7 to 11 cm 2 8 to 4 3 in and weighing an average of 67 g 2 4 oz The predominant color of the summer coat varies from yellowish brown grey to dark brown often with a reddish tinge Three wide distinct dark blackish brown stripes run down the back separated and surrounded by four paler stripes of pale grey to white fur Also three dark and three pale stripes are on each side of the face In the winter the coat becomes duller and more greyish and the stripes become less distinct The ears are black and the underparts a very pale grey The tail has orange and black fur with a paler fringe of hair on the underside 5 Distribution and habitat EditThe Uinta chipmunk lives in montane and subalpine forests of the western United States between 1 400 and 3 650 m 4 590 and 11 980 ft elevation It is most common at the margins of pine and fir forests or in clearings often near rocky terrain or steep slopes 5 6 Uinta chipmunks do not have a continuous unbroken range but are instead found in a number of disjunct localities 2 perhaps reflecting changing patterns of forest cover during the Pleistocene Seven subspecies are currently recognized N u adsitus southern Utah and northern Arizona N u inyoensis central Nevada and eastern California N u fremonti western Wyoming N u montanus western Colorado N u nevadensis southern Nevada N u sedulus southeastern Utah N u umbrinus northern UtahDiet and behavior EditUinta chipmunks are herbivorous Their primary diet consists of the seeds of coniferous trees such as Douglas fir ponderosa pine juniper and spruce and on the fruit of local shrubs such as wild roses raspberries and chokecherries They also eat some grass and fungi and may supplement their diet with small quantities of insects or carrion 5 The chipmunks are solitary diurnal animals and are aggressive to other members of their own species each individual defending a territory of 2 to 5 ha 4 9 to 12 4 acres 7 They establish dens in burrows under rocks shrubs or other shelter or else in natural rock crevices or hollow logs They spend much of the winter in their dens but are otherwise highly arboreal climbing trees to search for food and escape from predators 5 The animals have been reported to make a number of different vocalizations with most common being bursts of sharp chip sounds that can continue for up to 15 minutes and are made from exposed locations such as rock outcrops or high branches Other vocalizations include lower pitched chuck sounds often interspersed with chips while fleeing from predators trills and squeals 8 Reproduction EditThe breeding season occurs in the spring roughly from late April to early June with the exact time depending on the local climate and latitude The mother gives birth to a single litter of three to five young after a gestation period around 30 days The young are weaned around 25 days of age and begin to leave the burrow shortly thereafter 5 Only 27 5 of Uinta chipmunks survive through the winter and the maximum life expectancy is believed to be two years 8 References Edit a b c Wilson D E Reeder D M eds 2005 Mammal Species of the World A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference 3rd ed Johns Hopkins University Press ISBN 978 0 8018 8221 0 OCLC 62265494 a b c Linzey A V amp Hammerson G 2008 Neotamias umbrinus IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2008 Retrieved 8 January 2009 old form url Piaggio A J amp 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 doi 10 1006 mpev 2001 0975 PMID 11527462 Wilson D E Reeder D M eds 2005 Mammal Species of the World A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference 3rd ed Johns Hopkins University Press ISBN 978 0 8018 8221 0 OCLC 62265494 a b c d e Braun J K et al 2011 Tamias umbrinus Rodentia Sciuridae Mammalian Species 43 1 216 227 doi 10 1644 889 1 Johnson D H 1943 Systemic Review of Chipmunks UC Publications in Zoology University of California Bergstrom B J 1988 Home ranges of three species of chipmunks Tamias as assessed by radiotelemetry and grid trapping Journal of Mammalogy 69 1 190 193 doi 10 2307 1381774 JSTOR 1381774 a b Bergstrom B J amp Hoffmann R S 1991 Distribution and diagnosis of three species of chipmunks Tamias in the Front Range of Colorado Southwestern Naturalist 36 1 14 28 doi 10 2307 3672112 JSTOR 3672112 External links EditHole Jr Robert Uinta Chipmunk Tamias umbrinus Encyclopedia of Life Field Guides Archived from the original on 4 March 2016 Retrieved 7 December 2012 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Uinta chipmunk amp oldid 1121367930, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
