Tamias umbrinus, J. A. Allen, 1890
|
publication ID |
https://doi.org/ 10.5281/zenodo.6840226 |
|
DOI |
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6840623 |
|
persistent identifier |
https://treatment.plazi.org/id/064D0660-FF82-ED7F-FAC8-FC5CF924FB68 |
|
treatment provided by |
Diego |
|
scientific name |
Tamias umbrinus |
| status |
|
Uinta Chipmunk
French: Tamia des Uinta / German: Uinta-Backenhornchen / Spanish: Ardilla listada de Uinta
Other common names: Hidden Forest Uinta Chipmunk (nevadensis), Mount Ellen Uinta Chipmunk (sedulus)
Taxonomy. Tamias umbrinus J. A. Allen, 1890 View in CoL ,
“Uintah Mountains, south of
Ft. Bridger,”
Utah, USA. Restricted by A. H. Howell in 1929 to Blacks Fork, Uinta Mts, Summit County, Utah.
Seven subspecies are recognized.
Subspecies and Distribution.
T.u.umbrinusJ.A.Allen,1890—NUtahandSWWyoming(USA).
T.u.adsitusJ.A.Allen,1905—SWUtahandNArizona(USA).
1.wu.fremontiWhite,1953—extremeSMontanaandNWWyoming(USA).
T.u.inyoensisMerriam,1897—Nevada,WUtah,andECalifornia(USA).
T.u. montanus White, 1953 — disjunct range in E Utah and Colorado (USA).
T u. nevadensis Burt, 1931 — Sheep Mts in S Nevada (USA).
T u. sedulus White, 1953 — Henry Mts in SE Utah (USA).
Descriptive notes. Head—body mean 121-8 mm (males) and 125-7 mm (females), tail 89-119 mm; weight 51-74 g. Dorsal pelage of the Uinta Chipmunk is generally brownish with dark and light longitudinal stripes. Head is grayish with three facial stripes, two white and one brown to cinnamon, at each side of head, and white to cream post-auricular patches. Ventral pelage is white, and tail is grayish on dorsal side and orange to reddish ventrally. Winter pelage is slightly duller than summer pelage. Subspecies adsitus has darker sides and less brownish hump. Subspecies fremonti has yellow sides and grayish white post-auricular patches. Subspecies inyoensis has a relatively dark pelage. Subspecies montanus has gray sides and cinnamon buff feet. Subspecies nevadensis has a relatively gray dorsal pelage. Subspecies sedulous has a more reddish brown dorsal pelage, yellowish sides and ventral side of tail is ocherous orange.
Habitat. Coniferous forests. The Uinta Chipmunk is found mostly in areas dominated by species of Pinaceae, like pine (Pinus), spruce (Picea), and fir (Abies).
Food and Feeding. Diet of the Uinta Chipmunk is composed of seeds, fruits, fungi, and animal matter, such as avian eggs and insects. Seeds are transported in check pouches and cached in underground larders for consumption during winter.
Breeding. Breeding season begins in spring, with some geographical variation. In Colorado, pregnant females can be found in May and in Arizona,as late as June. Females give birth inside nests built in burrows, tree cavities, or in arboreal nests built by other species. Gestation is ¢.30 days and litter size is 3-5 young. Females produce onelitter per year.
Activity patterns. The Uinta Chipmunk is terrestrial, but it climbs better than most chipmunks and frequently forages in trees and bushes. It is diurnal, and active yearround if the weatheris favorable. In colder regions, or during severe winters it remains in the nest and may enter torpor for short periods, but probably does not hibernate. Overwinter survival can be extremely low, and local extinctions and recolonizations are common.
Movements, Home range and Social organization. The Uinta Chipmunk is territorial, aggressively defending its territory against other chipmunk species.It is also very vocal and has a loud high-pitched alarm call. When threatened, it seeks cover under bushes and trees. Estimated population density varies 0-7-17 ind/ha.
Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List.Subspecies nevadensis is considered sensitive by the state of Nevada (USA). Current population trend is stable. Overall species distribution is highly fragmented.
Bibliography. Bergstrom (1992), Bergstrom & Hoffmann (1991), Braun et al. (2011), Howell (1929), Levenson (1990), Thorington et al. (2012).
No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.
