Merriam's chipmunk (Neotamias merriami ) is a species of rodent in the family Sciuridae. It is found in central and southern California in the United States and a small area in northern Baja California, Mexico.
The dental formula for Tamias merriami is 1.0.2.3.1.0.1.3. × 2 = 22
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DiurnalDiurnal animals are active during the daytime, with a period of sleeping or other inactivity at night. The timing of activity by an animal depends ...
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HerbivoreA herbivore is an animal anatomically and physiologically adapted to eating plant material, for example, foliage, for the main component of its die...
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GranivoreSeed predation, often referred to as granivory, is a type of plant-animal interaction in which granivores (seed predators) feed on the seeds of pla...
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TerrestrialTerrestrial animals are animals that live predominantly or entirely on land (e.g., cats, ants, snails), as compared with aquatic animals, which liv...
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AltricialAltricial animals are those species whose newly hatched or born young are relatively immobile. They lack hair or down, are not able to obtain food ...
Among animals, viviparity is the development of the embryo inside the body of the parent. The term 'viviparity' and its adjective form 'viviparous'...
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Generally solitaryGenerally solitary animals are those animals that spend their time separately but will gather at foraging areas or sleep in the same location or sh...
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Not a migrantAnimals that do not make seasonal movements and stay in their native home ranges all year round are called not migrants or residents.
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HibernatingHibernation is a state of minimal activity and metabolic depression undergone by some animal species. Hibernation is a seasonal heterothermy charac...
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starts withMerriam's chipmunks are small ground dwelling rodents. They have a gray to brown fur, with dark stripes. Their bellies and cheeks are white in color. These chipmunks have long bushy tails that are usually dull white on the edge.
Merriam's chipmunks are found in central and southern California, in the United States and a small area in northern Baja California, Mexico. These animals inhabit areas that have trees, shrubs, logs, and rocks. They prefer to live in chaparral, oak and pine forests, thickets by streams, and around rock outcroppings.
Merriam's chipmunks are diurnal and generally solitary creatures. Most populations do not hibernate although, at high elevations, some do hibernate to avoid cold weather and snow. During the autumn, Merriam's chipmunks collect and cache food, choose a place for shelter, and feed to gain their mass. During winter time, males usually form groups preparing for the breeding season. These small chipmunks like to use different cavities and even woodpecker cavities, and burrows from pocket gophers as shelters for the night. When foraging they usually stay within 300 meters from their night shelter. Merriam's chipmunks use different calls in order to communicate with each other. Among them are chucks that make others to be quiet and to hide, chips, trills as alarm calls, and chippers that are produced when a chipmunk is scared and running away for cover.
Merriam's chipmunks are herbivorous. They eat acorns, seeds, and nuts of conifers, juniper, and other chaparral species. These chipmunks may also feed on insects and lizards.
Little information is known about the mating system in Merriam's chipmunks. When the breeding season starts females attract males by calling to them. When a male comes to a calling female he starts to perform a display during which he runs and leaps around the female. The breeding season for these animals occurs from mid-January to June, with a peak during April. Females produce one litter per year consisting of 3 to 8 young. The gestation period lasts around 32 days. Young are born altricial, and stay in the burrow or nest before they develop. Around one month after birth, they are able to leave the burrow, however, it will take them around 2 weeks to become agile and be able to jump. Young Merriam's chipmunks becomereproductively mature when they reach 1 year of age.
Currently, there are no major threats to Merriam's chipmunks.
According to IUCN, the Merriam's chipmunk is locally common throughout its range but no overall population estimate is available. Currently, this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List and its numbers today are stable.
Merriam's chipmunks may help disperse oak trees due to their habit to cache acorn seeds that they consume in their diet. These chipmunks are also a prey item for local predators.
