Hopi chipmunk facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hopi chipmunk |
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Neotamias
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rufus
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The Hopi chipmunk (scientific name: Neotamias rufus) is a small, quick chipmunk that lives in the southwestern United States. You can find it in states like Colorado, Utah, and Arizona. This chipmunk used to be thought of as the same as the Colorado chipmunk, but scientists now know it's a different species. The Hopi chipmunk is doing well in the wild. It's listed as "Least Concern" by the IUCN Red List, which means it's common and not currently facing big threats. It was last checked in 2016.
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What Does the Hopi Chipmunk Look Like?
The Hopi chipmunk is a bit smaller than some other chipmunks. Its fur is mostly orange-red to buff, and it doesn't have much black in its stripes. This gives it a unique, warm color.
Here are some typical measurements for a Hopi chipmunk:
- Total length (from nose to tail tip): 190–235 millimeters (about 7.5 to 9.2 inches)
- Tail length: 83–95 millimeters (about 3.3 to 3.7 inches)
- Hindfoot length: 31–35 millimeters (about 1.2 to 1.4 inches)
- Ear length: 15–22 millimeters (about 0.6 to 0.9 inches)
- Weight: 52–62 grams (about 1.8 to 2.2 ounces)
Female Hopi chipmunks are usually a little bigger than males.
Where Do Hopi Chipmunks Live?
Hopi chipmunks love living in rocky areas. They often make their homes where there are pinion pines and juniper trees. They gather food like nuts, seeds, and fruits. They have special cheek pouches where they can store food to carry it back to their den or to eat later.
These chipmunks build their nests in piles of rocks or in cracks in cliffs. They are very common in the canyon and slickrock areas of western Colorado, especially where there are lots of broken rocks or deep cracks for them to hide in.
In Colorado, you can find the Hopi chipmunk in the western part of the state, starting from the Yampa River and going south. They also live along the Colorado River, reaching as far east as Eagle County. You can also find them along the Gunnison River, up to the western edge of the Black Canyon.
What Do Hopi Chipmunks Eat?
The Hopi chipmunk's diet includes many types of seeds. They especially like seeds from Indian ricegrass and penstemon plants. They also enjoy seeds from junipers, pinion pines, oak trees, and skunkbrush plants, along with other shrubs.
How Do Hopi Chipmunks Behave?
Hopi chipmunks are naturally shy animals. Even if they are born and raised by humans, they usually stay timid and don't become tame. Like Panamint chipmunks, they live in the pinyon-juniper forests of the southwestern United States. They make their homes in rock crevices or in piles of broken rocks.
These chipmunks are very fast and sure-footed. They can run easily on the steep rock faces of canyons and buttes. They often climb into bushes to collect seeds. However, they never eat their food right there. Instead, they either take the food back to the safety of their den or find a high spot, like a boulder. From this lookout, they can eat their food while also watching out for predators like hawks.
See also
In Spanish: Ardilla rayada de Hopi para niños
