Colorado chipmunk
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.
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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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AquaticAn aquatic animal is an animal, either vertebrate or invertebrate, which lives in water for most or all of its life. It may breathe air or extract ...
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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 ...
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BurrowingA burrow is a hole or tunnel excavated into the ground by an animal to create a space suitable for habitation, temporary refuge, or as a byproduct ...
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FossorialA fossorial animal is one adapted to digging which lives primarily but not solely, underground. Some examples are badgers, naked mole-rats, clams, ...
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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...
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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MonogamyMonogamy is a form of relationship in which both the male and the female has only one partner. This pair may cohabitate in an area or territory for...
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SocialNo
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 withColorado chipmunks are medium-sized rodents in the squirrel family. Chipmunks are distinguished from ground squirrels in that their faces have a stripe going across under the eye. Fur color of Colorado chipmunks is orange with yellowish-brown on the sides, the head is cinnamon and the belly is white in color. Their tail is black on the tip, white on the sides, and tawny underneath.
Colorado chipmunks are endemic to Colorado, Utah, Arizona and New Mexico in the United States. They can be found most often in coniferous forests, woodlands, montane shrub lands, and alpine tundra habitats.
Colorado chipmunks are terrestrial but also excellent climbers. They are diurnal and feed mainly on the ground but may get some food by climbing into trees and shrubs. They usually forage near their burrows and return frequently to their nesting sites to store food. During winter months they hibernate in their nests which are located in trees, logs, or in underground burrows. Colorado chipmunks communicate with each other with the help of calls and body postures. When they are alarmed they produce a short bark to warn others about the danger.
Colorado chipmunks are herbivorous. Their diet consists of seeds, berries, flowers, and insects.
Colorado chipmunks are monogamous, where both males and females have only one partner. The breeding season occurs in the spring when the chipmunks emerge from their burrows. Depending on the elevation at which these chipmunks are found, they may produce 1 or 2 litters per year. Females give birth to 5-8 altricial young after the gestation period that lasts around 29-60 days. Young are born in the burrow, where mothers care for them, nurse, groom, and protect. Within 40-50 days young will be weaned from their mother and ready to disperse.
There are no major threats to Colorado chipmunks at present.
The IUCN Red List and other sources do not provide the Colorado chipmunk total population size, but this animal is common and widespread throughout its known range. Currently, this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List and its numbers today are stable.
Colorado chipmunks carry seeds and nuts of various plants, thus acting as key seed dispersers of this species. In addition, they are prey items for local predators.
Social animals are those animals that interact highly with other animals, usually of their own species (conspecifics), to the point of having a rec...