User:Alecthefruitbat/sandbox

Habitat and Range

Palmer's chipmunk resides only in the Spring Mountains of southern Nevada and mostly occur between 7,000 and 10,000 feet in elevation. They inhabit cliffs and forested areas between the upper Pinyon pine and Juniper regions, up and into the Fir-Pine and Bristlecone pine communities.

Nests are most commonly formed on the ground, however nests are occasionally formed in trees.

Physical Description and Behavior

The Palmer's chipmunk resembles other chipmunks in that it has solid black and white stripes that run down its body dorsally. The body of the chipmunk is tan while its ventral side is more pale. The body of these chipmunks varies from 210 and 223 mm in length; their tails add between 86.5 and 101.5 mm to the overall length of the chipmunks. Overall, Palmer's chipmunks weigh between 50 and 69.4 grams.

These chipmunks hibernate during cold weather, however they are not obligate hibernators. On warm winter days, Palmer's chipmunks will come out of their burrows to visit their cashes for a bit of food.

Diet

Palmer's chipmunk Caches have been uncovered and found to contain seeds from the Ponderosa Pine which are an important food resource of the chipmunk. This species has also been known to eat local fruits, grass, insects and other coniferous seeds.

Reproduction

In late spring to early summer, female chipmunks have litters of 3 or 4 pups which are born hairless. After a month or so, the pups have developed a smooth fur coat and begin to move in and out of the nest. At about 6 weeks old, the pups have moved to a mostly solid food diet.

Conservation Status

Palmer's chipmunk is listed on ICUN's red list as an endangered species. Since the species is confined to only the Spring Mountains of Nevada, habitat loss due to human activities is a potential concern for the future of the habitat.