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Tamias alpinusalpine chipmunk

By Matt Harris

Geographic Range

Alpine chipmunks (Tamias alpinus) are found exclusively in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of eastern and central California. They are found primarily at altitudes ranging from 2,300 to 3,900 m. Alpine chipmunks have the highest altitude range of any species in the genus Tamias. (Clawson, et al., 1994)

Habitat

Tamias alpinus is found mostly in the talus slopes and sub-alpine forests at elevations from 2,300 m all the way up to the highest peaks of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Talus slopes can be best described as slopes formed by an accumulation of rocky debris. Alpine chipmunks can also found among scattered boulders amongst lodgepole pines (Pinus contorta). The habitat of this species does include some pine forests, but studies have shown that T. alpinus does not spend a significant amount of time foraging there. As summer drags on, this high elevation climate tends to become quite arid, and maximum daily temperatures rarely exceed 20 degrees Celsius. In the rare instances when the temperature does climb above that mark, T. alpinus seeks the refuge of deep crevices of rocks and boulders, which seems to be important for thermoregulation. The air is generally still among the rocks and cliffs despite typically breezy conditions found at higher elevations. (Clawson, et al., 1994)

  • Range elevation
    2,300 to 3,900 m
    to ft

Physical Description

Tamias alpinus is a small chipmunk compared to others in the genus. It is generally a yellowish-gray color with lightly contrasting stripes that give it an overall pale coloration. The overall coloration helps the animals to hide among the gray rocks found in their habitat. The dark side stripes are either reddish or brownish, but are never black. However, the dark stripe that is found down the middle of the back may be black. The ventrum is typically bright orange, a coloration which continues down the underside of the tail. The upper portion of the tail is grayish-white to yellow.

The average length of an adult is 166 to 203 mm. Tail length is 63 to 85 mm. An average adult will typically weigh 28 to 50 grams. Some similar species include least chipmunks, which have a longer tail that is grayish to yellow. Also yellow-pine chipmunks, which are larger and more brightly colored. Finally, lodgepole chipmunks, which are larger and much more brown in color than the alpine chipmunk. (Clawson, et al., 1994; Whitaker, 1998)

  • Sexual Dimorphism
  • sexes alike
  • Range mass
    28 to 50 g
    0.99 to 1.76 oz
  • Range length
    166 to 203 mm
    6.54 to 7.99 in

Reproduction

No information was found on this subject.

Alpine chipmunks have only one litter per year that consists of 4 to 5 young. The young are born in early summer, typically in June and July. They typically build their nests deep in crevices between rocks. After about 30 to 45 days the young weigh about 20 grams, which is about 50% of the average body mass of an adult. After developing for about 90 days the young are the same size and weight as the adults. (Clawson, et al., 1994; Harris, 1999)

  • Breeding interval
    Alpine chipmunks breed once yearly.
  • Breeding season
    Mating occurs in late winter and early spring.
  • Range number of offspring
    4 to 5

Parental behavior of this species has not been reported. However, as is common for ground dwelling sciurids, females likely give birth to altricial young in subterranian nests where the young stay until they have developed sufficiently to move around above ground. Females provide young with milk. The role of males in parental care in this species is not known.

  • Parental Investment
  • no parental involvement
  • altricial
  • pre-fertilization
    • protecting
      • female
  • pre-hatching/birth
    • provisioning
      • female
    • protecting
      • female
  • pre-weaning/fledging
    • provisioning
      • female
    • protecting
      • female
  • pre-independence
    • provisioning
      • female
    • protecting
      • female

Lifespan/Longevity

Tamias alpinus typically lives about 2 to 3 years in the wild. (Clawson, et al., 1994)

  • Typical lifespan
    Status: wild
    2 to 3 years

Behavior

Tamias alpinus is primarily a diurnal species that forages in open areas, mostly talus slopes. Though they are almost exclusively terrestrial, they may climb trees as well. They are very agile mammals, as seen when a pair will chase each other at full speed over logs and down through rock crevices and ledges. Intraspecific competition does take place over food, especially when it is scarce. Alpine chipmunks remain active usually until about mid-October, when they start to go into hibernation. They hibernate typically from October through late May or into early June. In late summer they put on a great deal of fat in preperation for hibernation. Cached food is eaten during frequent arousals during hibernation, which are seperated by periods of torpor, lasting up to a several days. (Clawson, et al., 1994; Harris, 1999)

Home Range

The home range size for these animals has not been reported.

Communication and Perception

The call of T. alpinus is a thin, high pitched, repeated, sweet sound. When frightened, these animals will utter a startled whipper as it runs to shelter or safety. (Clawson, et al., 1994)

Food Habits

The diet of T. alpinus primarily consists of the small seeds of sedges and other alpine plants such as forbs, grasses, berries, and even some fungi. Some examples include bitter cherry (Prunus emarginata), currant (Ribes), blueberries and huckleberries (Vaccinium) and pussy-paws (Spraguea umbellate). Pussy-paws seem one of the most preferred foods of T. alpinus. They also eat the seeds of pines. There is some evidence that they will eat the eggs of the Rosy finch and White-crowned sparrow. They are able to conserve water by concentrating urine, and probably do not require a source of water other than the food they eat. They do store food in caches for use during the cold winter months when they awake from hibernation. (Clawson, et al., 1994; Harris, 1999)

  • Animal Foods
  • eggs
  • Plant Foods
  • seeds, grains, and nuts
  • fruit
  • Other Foods
  • fungus

Predation

Predation seems to be rather light because the rocky habitat provides quick escape routes and refuges. The lack of tree cover means that aerial predators such as raptors can be spotted at a considerable distance, increasing the chances of escaping the predator. The little predation that does occur is done so primarily by raptors, weasels, coyotes, foxes and bobcats. (Clawson, et al., 1994)

  • Anti-predator Adaptations
  • cryptic

Ecosystem Roles

As a prey species, these chipmunks probably have some effect on predator populations. Because of their seed caching behavior, these animals probably help to dispurse seeds of some plants.

  • Ecosystem Impact
  • disperses seeds

Economic Importance for Humans: Positive

No known benefits to humans.

Economic Importance for Humans: Negative

There are no known adverse affects of T. alpinus on humans.

Conservation Status

Alpine chipmunks are not listed by CITES or IUCN. (Clawson, et al., 1994)

Contributors

Nancy Shefferly (editor), Animal Diversity Web.

Matt Harris (author), University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, Chris Yahnke (editor), University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.

Glossary

Nearctic

living in the Nearctic biogeographic province, the northern part of the New World. This includes Greenland, the Canadian Arctic islands, and all of the North American as far south as the highlands of central Mexico.

World Map

acoustic

uses sound to communicate

altricial

young are born in a relatively underdeveloped state; they are unable to feed or care for themselves or locomote independently for a period of time after birth/hatching. In birds, naked and helpless after hatching.

bilateral symmetry

having body symmetry such that the animal can be divided in one plane into two mirror-image halves. Animals with bilateral symmetry have dorsal and ventral sides, as well as anterior and posterior ends. Synapomorphy of the Bilateria.

chemical

uses smells or other chemicals to communicate

cryptic

having markings, coloration, shapes, or other features that cause an animal to be camouflaged in its natural environment; being difficult to see or otherwise detect.

diurnal
  1. active during the day, 2. lasting for one day.
endothermic

animals that use metabolically generated heat to regulate body temperature independently of ambient temperature. Endothermy is a synapomorphy of the Mammalia, although it may have arisen in a (now extinct) synapsid ancestor; the fossil record does not distinguish these possibilities. Convergent in birds.

fertilization

union of egg and spermatozoan

forest

forest biomes are dominated by trees, otherwise forest biomes can vary widely in amount of precipitation and seasonality.

fossorial

Referring to a burrowing life-style or behavior, specialized for digging or burrowing.

granivore

an animal that mainly eats seeds

herbivore

An animal that eats mainly plants or parts of plants.

hibernation

the state that some animals enter during winter in which normal physiological processes are significantly reduced, thus lowering the animal's energy requirements. The act or condition of passing winter in a torpid or resting state, typically involving the abandonment of homoiothermy in mammals.

iteroparous

offspring are produced in more than one group (litters, clutches, etc.) and across multiple seasons (or other periods hospitable to reproduction). Iteroparous animals must, by definition, survive over multiple seasons (or periodic condition changes).

motile

having the capacity to move from one place to another.

mountains

This terrestrial biome includes summits of high mountains, either without vegetation or covered by low, tundra-like vegetation.

native range

the area in which the animal is naturally found, the region in which it is endemic.

seasonal breeding

breeding is confined to a particular season

sedentary

remains in the same area

sexual

reproduction that includes combining the genetic contribution of two individuals, a male and a female

stores or caches food

places a food item in a special place to be eaten later. Also called "hoarding"

tactile

uses touch to communicate

temperate

that region of the Earth between 23.5 degrees North and 60 degrees North (between the Tropic of Cancer and the Arctic Circle) and between 23.5 degrees South and 60 degrees South (between the Tropic of Capricorn and the Antarctic Circle).

terrestrial

Living on the ground.

territorial

defends an area within the home range, occupied by a single animals or group of animals of the same species and held through overt defense, display, or advertisement

visual

uses sight to communicate

viviparous

reproduction in which fertilization and development take place within the female body and the developing embryo derives nourishment from the female.

References

Clawson, R., J. Clawson, T. Best. 1994. Tamias alpinus. Mammalian Species, June 1994- Oct. 1995: (461) 1-6.

Harris, J. 1999. "Alpine Chipmunk" (On-line). Accessed March 29, 2004 at http://www.dfg.ca.gov/whdab/html/M053.html.

Whitaker, J. 1998. National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Mammals. New York, New York: Alfred A. Knopf, Inc..

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