Family: Sciuridae, Squirrels view all from this family
Description Brightly colored, with reddish or tawny back; gray head and rump. Outer dark stripes on back indistinct; inner ones reddish or grayish. Head gray on top; upper eye stripe black, lower one brown. Ears tawny in front. L 7 1/2-8 5/8" (192-220 mm); T 3 1/8-4" (80-102 mm); HF 1 1/8-1 1/4" (28-33 mm); Wt 1 1/2-2 1/4 oz (42.5-65.2 g).
Similar Species Yellow-pine Chipmunk is more brightly colored, with top of head brown, and lower eye stripe black and distinct. Least Chipmunk is grayer and generally smaller, with rump similar in color to back. Long-eared Chipmunk is larger and more reddish, with less gray and less-distinct stripes. Cliff Chipmunk averages much larger and has indistinct back stripes. Lodgepole and Uinta chipmunks' ears are blackish in front, whitish behind. Palmer's Chipmunk is somewhat larger, with more gray on shoulders and more distinct striping on back.
Breeding Mates primarily April-early May. 1 litter per year of 3-7 young born May-June. Gestation period is about 36 days. The young first appear aboveground in July, and weaning is completed by August.
Habitat Pinyon-juniper forest in rocky areas.
Range Southwestern Nevada and sc California.
Discussion Although this chipmunk's range is virtually identical to that of the region's pinyon pine, their coincidence probably does not depend so much on pinyon nut crops, which can vary in abundance, as on other factors, such as temperature, the extremes of which sometimes limit species distribution. Although it is considered an only occasional hibernator, the Panamint Chipmunk does become inactive at lower temperatures. In addition to pinyon nuts, the Panamint Chipmunk feeds on juniper berries, forb seeds, fruits, green vegetation, and insects. This chipmunk will sometimes climb pinyon trees and bushes, and even establish nests there, although it generally remains on the ground and appears to depend on rocks for shelter. It will call from the tops of rocks, from which it can see in all directions, and may shell seeds there. Its calls consist of sharp chattering notes, chucks, and whistles.
