Palmer's chipmunk facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Palmer's chipmunk |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Neotamias
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| Species: |
palmeri
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| Synonyms | |
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Tamias palmeri |
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The Palmer's chipmunk (Neotamias palmeri) is a small rodent that belongs to the squirrel family. This special chipmunk lives only in Nevada, a state in the United States. It makes its home in cool, mountain forests. Sadly, the Palmer's chipmunk is facing threats because its natural home is shrinking.
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What Does It Look Like?
Palmer's chipmunks look a lot like other chipmunks you might know. They have clear black and white stripes running down their backs. Their bodies are tan, but their bellies are a lighter, paler color.
These chipmunks are about 21 to 22 centimeters (8 to 9 inches) long, including their tails. Their tails alone are about 8.5 to 10 centimeters (3 to 4 inches) long. Adult Palmer's chipmunks usually weigh between 50 and 69 grams, which is about the weight of a small apple.
Where Does It Live?
The Palmer's chipmunk is found only in one specific place: the Spring Mountains in Clark County, southern Nevada. It lives high up in the mountains, usually between 2,100 and 3,000 meters (7,000 to 10,000 feet) above sea level.
These chipmunks like to live near cliffs and in forests. They can be found among pinyon pine and juniper trees, and even higher up in fir, pine, and bristlecone pine forests. They also seem to prefer areas where there is water nearby.
What Does It Eat and Do?
Palmer's chipmunks are good at storing food for later. They hide seeds from trees like the ponderosa pine. These seeds are a very important part of their diet. They also eat local fruits, grass, insects, and seeds from other types of pine trees.
During cold weather, Palmer's chipmunks will go into a deep sleep called hibernation. However, they are not "obligate hibernators." This means they don't have to stay asleep the whole winter. On warmer winter days, they might wake up and leave their burrows to get food from their hidden stashes.
Life Cycle
Female Palmer's chipmunks usually build their nests on the ground. Sometimes, they might build them in trees. In late spring or early summer, a mother chipmunk will have a litter of 3 or 4 babies, called pups. When they are born, the pups do not have any hair.
After about a month, the pups grow a soft fur coat. They start to move in and out of the nest. By the time they are about 6 weeks old, the young chipmunks are mostly eating solid food.
Why Is It Endangered?
The Palmer's chipmunk is currently listed as an endangered species. This means it is at a high risk of disappearing forever. The IUCN has given it this status.
The main reason it is endangered is because its habitat is shrinking. More campgrounds are being built, trees are being cut down, and the city of Las Vegas is growing bigger. All these things take away the forests where the chipmunks live. Also, wild dogs and cats can hunt these chipmunks, which adds to the problem.
Images for kids
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A Palmer's chipmunk with its distinctive stripes.
See also
