Long-eared chipmunk facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Long-eared chipmunk |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Neotamias
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| Species: |
quadrimaculatus
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| Long-eared chipmunk range | |
| Synonyms | |
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Tamias quadrimaculatus Gray, 1867 |
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The long-eared chipmunk (Neotamias quadrimaculatus) is a small, quick rodent that belongs to the squirrel family. It's also known as the Sacramento chipmunk or the four-banded chipmunk. You can only find this chipmunk in the central and northern parts of the Sierra Nevada mountains in California and Nevada, United States. As its name suggests, the long-eared chipmunk has the longest ears of all chipmunk species!
What Does It Look Like?
Long-eared chipmunks are small and speedy creatures. Male chipmunks are about 23 to 23.9 centimeters (9.1 to 9.4 inches) long from nose to tail. Females are a bit longer, from 23 to 24.5 centimeters (9.1 to 9.6 inches). A big part of their length is their tail, which can be 8.5 to 10.1 centimeters (3.3 to 4.0 inches) long.
Males usually weigh between 74.1 and 89.0 grams (2.6 to 3.1 ounces). Females are a little heavier, weighing from 81.0 to 105.0 grams (2.9 to 3.7 ounces). These chipmunks have a bright reddish-brown fur color. They are easy to spot because they have five dark stripes and four lighter stripes on their backs. They also have clear white patches right at the bottom of their ears, which makes their long ears stand out even more!
How Do They Live?
Long-eared chipmunks are diurnal, which means they are active during the day. They spend their days looking for food on the ground. Their diet includes things like fungi (mushrooms), seeds, fruits, flowers, and even insects. When autumn arrives, they will climb up conifer trees to snack on seeds found inside the cones.
When winter comes, usually from November until March, these chipmunks go into hibernation. They sleep in a cozy den they make on the ground. For the rest of the year, they live in burrows they dig or find comfy spots inside hollow trees.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
Long-eared chipmunks usually mate in late April and May. After about one month of gestation (when the mother carries the babies), the young chipmunks are born.
