Colorado chipmunk

Colorado chipmunk
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Rodentia
Family:	Sciuridae
Genus:	Neotamias
Species:	N. quadrivittatus
Binomial name
Neotamias quadrivittatus (Say, 1823)
Distribution of the Colorado chipmunk
Synonyms
Tamias quadrivittatus

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

Description

A Colorado chipmunk eating a sunflower seed near the entrance to Timpanogos Cave in Timpanogos Cave National Monument, Utah

It can be found most often in coniferous forests, woodlands, montane shrub lands, and alpine tundra habitats. This means that in elevation, N. quadrivittatus inhabits anywhere above 1,500 metres (4,900 ft) and below 2,200 metres (7,200 ft) elevation.

This species is the largest of the three species of chipmunks found in the Colorado Front Range (which also include the least chipmunk and the Uinta chipmunk). On average it weighs about 62 grams (2.2 oz). Chipmunks are distinguished from ground squirrels in that their faces have a stripe going across under the eye. There are no dimorphic differences between males and females.

Their vocalizations are essential for defending their territories.

Diet

Their diet consists of seeds, berries, flowers and insects. They like to collect food in the fall and cache it for the winter.

Reproduction

Depending on the elevation at which the chipmunk is found, it may range from 1-2 litters. Most commonly copulation occurs in the spring when the chipmunks emerge from their burrows. The females are only receptive of males for a couple of days after emerging from the burrow. About a month after copulation, the female will give birth to a litter that may have anywhere between 5-8 altricial young. Within 40–50 days they will be weaned from their mother.