California chipmunk
| California chipmunk | ||||||||||||
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California chipmunk ( Tamias obscurus ) |
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| Tamias obscurus | ||||||||||||
| JA Allen , 1890 |
The California chipmunk ( Tamias obscurus , Syn . : Neotamias obscurus ) is a type of squirrel from the genus of the chipmunk ( Tamias ). It comes in the south of the State of California , as well as on to Mexico belonging peninsula Baja California before (Baja California).
features
The California chipmunk reaches an average head-torso length of about 12.4 to 12.8 centimeters, the tail length is about 10.3 to 11.7 centimeters and the weight is about 70 grams. As with other species of the genus, the fur is brown to cinnamon brown and there are several dark back stripes on the back, which are separated by lighter stripes and delimited from the sides of the body. There are four white-gray and five chestnut brown stripes, the outermost stripes being significantly shorter. The stripes are clearly visible in winter fur, but only indistinct and inconspicuous in spring. Compared to the Merriam chipmunk ( Tamias merriami ), with which it is common in parts of southern California, it is slightly smaller and the belly is gray instead of whitish.
distribution
The California chipmunks comes in several separate areas in the south of the State of California , as well as on to Mexico belonging peninsula Baja California before (Baja California). The distribution area includes parts of the San Bernardino Mountains and the San Jacinto Mountains in San Bernardino County , California, as well as the Sierra de San Francisco in Baja California and Baja California Sur , Mexico.
Way of life
California chipmunks live in at least four separate ranges with different habitats, which in turn are fragmented by desert areas. They occur mainly in dry pine-juniper and pine-oak stands at altitudes of 1200 to 3000 meters. In the south of California the habitat is mainly characterized by forests with pines, spruces and oaks in the transition area of the high altitudes, while juniper and pines occur mainly in the area of the higher altitudes (Sonoran zone) and the habitats below 1500 meters by the coastal pine ( Pinus contorta ) and sham chestnuts ( Castanopsis ) as well as the bushy zones of the chaparral with Quercus chrysolepis are characterized. The species is also found in rocky habitats and slopes, especially in the Sierra de San Pedro Mártir .
The species is diurnal with activity peaks in the early morning and late afternoon. It lives primarily on the ground, but can also climb trees and bushes. The animals feed mainly herbivorous of seeds and fruits, the main component of food represent acorns. The animals create inventories. The California chipmunk is usually active year round and does not hibernate. The animals lay their nests in crevices on the ground, in piles of wood and, in the case of Tamias obscurus meridionalis , in cacti.
The mating season begins for the species as early as January and lasts until early June, whereby the southernmost populations can have juveniles as early as February. The litter consists of three to four young animals. It has been suggested that the animals can have two litters a year, but they likely only have one.
In parts of its distribution area, the California chipmunk occurs together, sympatricly , with the Merriam chipmunk ( Tamias merriami ) and the lodgepole chipmunk ( Tamias speciosus ).
Systematics
The California chipmunk is classified as a separate species within the genus of chipmunks ( Tamias ), which consists of 25 species. The first scientific description comes from the American naturalist Joel Asaph Allen from 1890, who described the species using individuals from the Sierra de San Pedro Mártir in Baja California, Mexico. Within the chipmunk group, the California chipmunk, along with most other species, is assigned to the subgenus Neotamias , which is also discussed as an independent genus.
Within the species, three subspecies are distinguished with the nominate form :
- Tamias obscurus obscurus : nominate form; The distribution area extends from southern California about 300 kilometers south to central Baja California. The back color is gray with brown washings, the back stripes are indistinct and the tail is comparatively short.
- Tamias obscurus davisi : As the northernmost form, the subspecies is restricted to two separate areas in southern California. The throat and upper chest are colored gray.
- Tamias obscurus meridionalis : The subspecies occurs only in a limited area in the central area of Baja California. It is the smallest and grayest form of the species.
Status, threat and protection
The California chipmunk is classified by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) as “Least Concern” (LC). This is justified by the assumed large populations and the regular occurrence in the isolated and fragmented habitats. Existence-endangering risks exist due to the strong fragmentation of the habitats; in addition, the animal is caught as a popular pet due to its rarity.
supporting documents
- ↑ a b c d e f Richard W. Thorington Jr. , John L. Koprowski, Michael A. Steele: Squirrels of the World. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore MD 2012; Pp. 328-329. ISBN 978-1-4214-0469-1
- ↑ a b c Neotamias obscurus in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2015.4. Posted by: AV Linzey, R. Timm, ST Álvarez-Castañeda, I. Castro-Arellano, T. Lacher, 2008. Accessed June 14, 2016.
- ^ A b Troy L. Best , Nancy J. Granai: Tamias obscurus. ( Memento of the original from March 15, 2016 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Mammalian Species 472, 1994.
- ↑ a b Tamias (Neotamias) obscurus In: Don E. Wilson , DeeAnn M. Reeder (Ed.): Mammal Species of the World. A taxonomic and geographic Reference. 2 volumes. 3. Edition. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore MD 2005, ISBN 0-8018-8221-4 .
- ↑ Bruce D. Patterson, Ryan W. Norris: Towards a uniform nomenclature for ground squirrels: the status of the Holarctic chipmunks. Mammalia 80 (3), May 2016; Pp. 241-251 doi : 10.1515 / mammalia-2015-0004
literature
- Richard W. Thorington Jr. , John L. Koprowski, Michael A. Steele: Squirrels of the World. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore MD 2012; Pp. 328-329. ISBN 978-1-4214-0469-1
- Troy L. Best , Nancy J. Granai: Tamias obscurus. Mammalian Species 472, 1994.
Web links
- Neotamias obscurus inthe IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2015.4. Posted by: AV Linzey, R. Timm, ST Álvarez-Castañeda, I. Castro-Arellano, T. Lacher, 2008. Accessed June 14, 2016.