Tamias speciosus, Merriam, 1890
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publication ID |
https://doi.org/ 10.5281/zenodo.6840226 |
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DOI |
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6835467 |
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persistent identifier |
https://treatment.plazi.org/id/064D0660-FF9F-ED63-FA6A-F9B2FC56F3EF |
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treatment provided by |
Diego |
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scientific name |
Tamias speciosus |
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Lodgepole Chipmunk
French: Tamia de Californie / German: KistenkieferBackenhdérnchen / Spanish: Ardilla listada de Lodgepole
Taxonomy. Tamias speciosus Merriam, 1890 View in CoL ,
“San Bernardino Mts., [San Ber-
nardino Co.], Cal[ifornia, USA].”
Four subspecies are recognized.
Subspecies and Distribution.
T:s.speciosusMerriam,1890—SpartofSierraNevada,SCCalifornia(USA).
T.s.callipeplusMerriam,1893—MtPinos,SCalifornia(USA).
1s.fraterJ.A.Allen,1890—NpartofSierraNevada,fromMtLassen,California,S tonearLakeTahoeinextremeWNevada(USA).
T.s. sequoiensis A. H. Howell, 1922 — C part of Sierra Nevada, in C California (USA), between the distribution offrater and speciosus, though the exact boundaries between the subspecies are unknown.
Descriptive notes. Head-body 122-2-127-1 mm, tail 86-8-94-8 mm; weight 56-8 62-7 g. The longitudinal dorsal dark and light stripes extend to face, through eyes and to nose. Sides vary from cinnamon to yellowish orange to light brown, and tail is dark, with an even darker band on ventral side near tip. The Lodgepole Chipmunk is a medium-sized chipmunk, skull is broad, and rostrum is short and narrow. Subspecies callipeplus has a smaller ventral tail band. Subspecies frater has reddish sides, narrower lateral stripes, and a broader skull. Subspecies sequoiensis has a lighter ventral surface on tail. Chromosome number of the Lodgepole Chipmunk is 2n = 38. Karyotypeis type B for Tamias and consists offive pairs of metacentric autosomes, six pairs of submetacentric autosomes, seven pairs of acrocentric autosomes, a submetacentric X chromosome, and an acrocentric Y chromosome.
Habitat. Mixed forests, in the Hudsonian, Canadian, and transition life zones, at elevations of ¢.1500-3300 m. It also occurs in stands of pines and firs (Pinaceae) such as lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta), Jeffrey pine (P. jeffreyi), and red fir (Abies magnifica). It is associated frequently with sugar pine (P. labertiana), white fir (A. concolor), incense cedar (Libocedrus decurrens, Cupressaceae), chinquapin (Castanopsis sempervirens, Fagaceae) and oaks (Quercus, Fagaceae). The Lodgepole Chipmunk can also occur in burned areas.
Food and Feeding. Diet of the Lodgepole Chipmunk consists mostly of seeds and fruits of trees, shrubs, forbs, and grasses, but also includes small amounts of hypogeous fungi, and animal material when available, such as insects, especially caterpillars, and avian eggs. It scatterhoards seeds and appears to be an important seed disperser. Following the wind dispersal of seeds ofJeffrey pine, the Lodgepole Chipmunk regularly scatterhoards them to sites that are better for germination and establishment than those achieved only through passive wind dispersal. Recovery of the scatterhoarded seeds appears to be mainly by scent, which is enhanced by soil moisture.
Breeding. Breeding season occurs one month after emergence, which varies with elevation, being later at higher elevations. Females produce onelitter per year, typically 3-6 young, with an average of 4-3, in early summer.
Activity patterns. The Lodgepole Chipmunk is diurnal, with a midday activity peak;it is active year-round. Date of hibernation immergenceis variable, but most individuals begin to hibernate with first heavy snow of winter, emerging between March and early April, or sometimes during winter when weather is favorable. Compared to other chipmunks, the Lodgepole Chipmunk is more arboreal, sometimes building nests in tree cavities or climbing trees when threatened. However, most nests are built in stumps, rock crevices, and cracks. It frequently vocalizes from trees, with tail held upward. Vocalizations are used for courtship or when disturbed, and geographical variation in vocalizationsis reported.
Movements, Home range and Social organization. Home range is 1-3-2-6 ha, for both males and females, and population density is usually c.1 ind/ha orless, with a substantial increase in July due to juveniles of the year. At higher elevations, the Lodgepole Chipmunk is sympatric with the Yellow-pine Chipmunk (7. amoenus) and the Least Chipmunk (7: minimus), although at lower elevationsit is sympatric with the Alpine Chipmunk (7: alpinus). It is possible that the elevational range of the Lodgepole Chipmunk is defined by the aggressive behavior of the Yellow-pine Chipmunk and Alpine Chipmunks. Other sympatric species include the Long-eared Chipmunk (7. quadrimaculatus) and the Shadow Chipmunk (7 senex).
Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. The current population trend is stable, but populations do fluctuate seasonally and annually. The Lodgepole Chipmunk is considered common and currently it has no major threats. It is susceptible to sylvatic plague.
Bibliography. Best, Clawson & Clawson (1994b), Davis et al. (2008), Izzo et al. (2005), Linzey & NatureServe (Hammerson) (2008ag), Meyer et al. (2007a, 2007b), Moritz et al. (2008), Pyare & Longland (2001), Sutton (1995), Thorington et al. (2012), Vander Wall (1993a, 1993b, 1993c, 1998, 2002).
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.
