Gray-collared chipmuinks, along with many other chipmunks, have charming personalities. They charm campers and hikers with their small size, their boldness in search of food, and their constant activity. In fact, they are not hard to approach at all. They are easily persuaded to accept seeds or nuts from a person's hands (Sheppard, 1990).
Communication Channels: visual ; tactile ; acoustic ; chemical
Perception Channels: visual ; tactile ; acoustic ; chemical
Gray-collared chipmunks are not in any danger of going extinct any time soon. In fact, this species experiences only tiny fluctuations in its population from year to year. These fluctuations have been attributed to predators such as hawks, weasels, coyotes, martens, foxes, and snakes. Fighting during the breeding season is also a source of injury and death for many gray-collared chipmunks.
The most significant decrease in T. cinereicollis populations occurs during periods of food shortage such as when there is seed crop failure and chipmunks doesn't have enough food stored for hibernation. T. cinereicollis depends on stored food during the winter when it doesn't have access to seeds that are covered by snow, etc. (Shepppard, 1990).
US Federal List: no special status
CITES: no special status
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: least concern
Chipmunks can be serious destructive pests when they become numerous around homes and gardens. The burrowing activity of chipmunks can cause significant structural damage by undermining foundations, concrete patios and steps, retaining walls and sidewalks. They may also be destructive to gardens when they dig up and eat bulbs and seeds or attack garden fruits. When they become over-abundant, gray-collared chipmunks can prevent normal reforestation of some trees, especially pines, by eating their seeds. When this occurs, they have to be trapped by humans.
Rodents, such as T. cinereicollis, have also been associated as being carriers of the hantavirus in the southwestern United States. Human infection may occur when infective saliva or excreta are inhaled as aerosols produced directly from the animal. Persons have also become infected after being bitten by rodents (Corrigan, 1997; Healthtouch, 1997; Sheppard, 1990).
Negative Impacts: injures humans (bites or stings, carries human disease); crop pest; household pest
These animals are not reported to have a positive impact on human economies.
Since chipmunks prey upon insects, their food habits influence the growth of various plants. Gray-collared chipmunks are also important in the dispersal of seeds because of their habit of storing them beneath the layer of decaying vegetation on the forest floor. In this way, T. cinereicollis assist in the spread of shrubs, trees, and other plants. As a prey species, populations of T. cinereicollis may have some impact upon predator populations. (Corrigan, 1997; Sheppard, 1990).
Ecosystem Impact: disperses seeds
Tamias cinereicollis spends much of its day collecting and storing seeds, which are its most important source of food. These chipmunks often forage on the ground and they easily climb trees and shrubs to harvest nuts and fruits.
The diet of T. cinereicollis consists of various kinds of nuts, berries, and seeds. Mushrooms, cherry and plum pits, insects, worms and carrion are also consumed. Rare instances of T. cinereicollis preying on birds or small mammals have been observed.
When these chipmunk prepare food for storage, they holds the seeds in their dexterous front paws and with their specialized incisors. Their incisors are especially long and directed forward. Tamias cinereicollis removes seeds from pods with its incisors, then uses its tongue to shift the seeds backward. It stuffs the seeds between its teeth and inside of its cheekpouches. The capacity of these cheekpouches increases with maturity. When they cheek pouches are full, a chipmunk deposits the seeds in its nest or buries them in shallow holes.
After hibernation, gray-collared chipmunks diligently search the ground for any seeds that remain from the previous summer. Since these are usually uncommon, T. cinereicollis may eat young leaves and shoots until new fruit and seeds become available (Corrigan, 1997; Schultz, 1995; Sheppard, 1990).
Animal Foods: birds; mammals
Plant Foods: leaves; roots and tubers; wood, bark, or stems; seeds, grains, and nuts
Foraging Behavior: stores or caches food
Primary Diet: herbivore (Granivore )
Tamias cinereicollis is found all throughout central and eastern Arizona and central and southwest New Mexico in the United States (Findley, 1986; Nowak, 1991).
Biogeographic Regions: nearctic (Native )
These chipmunks are found primarily in coniferous forests at elevations between 1,950 abd 3,440 meters. They prefer mature woodlands and woodlot edges, but they also inhabit areas in and around suburban and rural homes such as around ornamental plantings, rockpiles, outbuildings and below patios and building foundations. Although they are mostly burrowing rodents, they regularly climb oak trees to gain access to rooftops (Best, 1999; Corrigan, 1997; Grzimek, 1990; Sheppard, 1990).
Range elevation: 1,950 to 3,440 m.
Habitat Regions: temperate ; terrestrial
Terrestrial Biomes: forest ; mountains
Other Habitat Features: urban ; suburban
Tamias cinereicollis are easily recognized by the light and dark stripes on their back and head. They bear distinct facial markings and have only five dark stripes on their back. There is a distinct central line that extends forward onto the head. The gray-collared chipmunks are covered in shades of gray and share distinctive patterns of black, pale gray, and buff stripes. Tamias cinereicollis is one of the smaller chipmunks. It has a total length between 208 and 242 mm, with males measuring slightly smaller than females. Weights range between 55 and 70 g. It has a relatively long tail, comprising from 90 to 109 mm of the total length of the animal (Best, 1999; Grzimek, 1990; Sheppard, 1990).
Range mass: 55 to 70 g.
Range length: 208 to 242 mm.
Sexual Dimorphism: female larger
Other Physical Features: endothermic ; bilateral symmetry
Predators include as hawks, weasels, coyotes, martens, foxes, and snakes. Fighting during the breeding season is also a source of injury and death for many gray-collared chipmunks.
The most significant decrease in T. cinereicollis populations occurs during periods of food shortage such as when there is seed crop failure and the chipmunk doesn't have enough food stored for its hibernation. Tamias cinereicollis depends on this food during the winter when it doesn't have access to seeds that are covered by snow, etc. (Shepppard, 1990).
Known Predators:
Mating occurs two times a year, during early spring and again during the summer or early fall. There is a 30 to 31 day gestation period. Two to five young are born in the spring (early May) and again between August and October. They are born naked and blind. Young can eat solid foods by the age of 36 to 40 days, and are weaned by the age of 41 to 45 days. The young are sexually mature within one year and adults may live for up to three years. Young appear for the first time above ground when they are 2/3 full size. The babies are reared by the mother without any help from the fathers (Best, 1999; Corrigan, 1997; Sheppard, 1990).
Breeding interval: These animals usually breed twice yearly.
Breeding season: This species breeds in the spring as well as in summer or early fall.
Range number of offspring: 2 to 5.
Average gestation period: 30-31 days.
Range weaning age: 41 to 45 days.
Average time to independence: 45 days.
Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female): 1 years.
Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male): 1 years.
Key Reproductive Features: iteroparous ; seasonal breeding ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); sexual ; fertilization ; viviparous
The gray-collared chipmunk (Neotamias cinereicollis) is a species of rodent in the family Sciuridae.[2] It is endemic to Arizona and New Mexico in the United States.[1]
The gray-collared chipmunk grows to a total length of about 225 mm (9 in) including a tail of around 98 mm (4 in). The forehead is greyish-brown and the side of the head bears three dark stripes, the central one of which passes through the eye. These are separated by bands of white. The cheeks, neck, shoulders, upper back, and rump are grey. The rest of the upper surface of the body is yellowish-brown with five black or dark brown stripes on the back and sides, though the outer pair of stripes may be difficult to distinguish. The underparts are pale yellowish-brown. The tail is black above and creamy-white below, both surfaces being tinged with buff. The feet are pinkish-buff. The gray face and collar distinguish this species from others in the genus Neotamias.[3]
The gray-collared chipmunk inhabits mountain coniferous forests in central and eastern Arizona and in central and western New Mexico. Its range extends from the Bill Williams Mountains, San Francisco Mountains and White Mountains to the Datil Mountains, Magdalena Mountains and San Mateo Mountains. Its altitudinal range is 1,950 to 3,440 metres (6,400 to 11,290 ft) but it is primarily found between 2,100 and 3,300 metres (6,900 and 10,800 ft). The gray-collared chipmunk is found in ponderosa pine and spruce-fir forests, often up to the timberline. It is commonest where pine and Douglas fir intermix, and is also found in oak and juniper forests.[3]
The gray-collared chipmunk climbs well and is both arboreal and terrestrial. It is found in clearings and at forest edges but also in dense woodland. It is rather shy and when alarmed retreats into cover, but when undisturbed often sits on a stump or fallen tree, gently waving its tail from side to side and uttering a "chuck-chuck-chuck" call. The alarm call is a rapidly repeated, high-pitched "chipper". It feeds mainly on acorns, fir cones, berries, and the seeds of plants, but it also consumes tubers and roots, the fruiting bodies of fungi, green plant material, and occasionally insects.[3] Most food is cached in holes and crevices for later use.[3]
Breeding takes place in late spring and early summer. The nest is made in a concealed location under a log or rock, among tree roots, or in a hole in a tree. It is ball-shaped and lined with the stems of grasses and weeds. A litter of about five young is born after a gestation period of about thirty days. The young are weaned at forty days or later. The gray-collared chipmunk sometimes hibernates in winter but at other times is active, even in snowy conditions. In bad weather it may remain in its nest making use of stored foodstuffs.[3]
The gray-collared chipmunk is listed by the IUCN as being of "least concern". This is because within its range it is common, it faces no major threats and its population size appears to be steady. In a suitable habitat in Arizona it was estimated to be present at the rate of five individuals per hectare in April, increasing to twelve per hectare in August.[1]
The gray-collared chipmunk (Neotamias cinereicollis) is a species of rodent in the family Sciuridae. It is endemic to Arizona and New Mexico in the United States.
