Eastern chipmunk

Strip chipmunks

The strip - chipmunk ( Tamias striatus (Linnaeus, 1758) ), also Eastern Chipmunk and Hackee called, is a waldbewohnendes rodent of the family of squirrels ( Sciuridae ). The occurring in eastern North America chipmunks is set due to the lower relative to all other chipmunks number of upper front teeth back into its own subgenus Tamias ( Illiger, 1811), by some authors in their own monotypic genus Tamias.

Features

The strip - chipmunk is a 13-19 cm chipmunks. The length of the bushy tail is 7.5 to 11.5 centimeters. The animal is gray to black and the belly light brown colored towards the back. It owes its name its black and white stripes on the side of the body and its large cheek pouches, which are used to transport its food.

Dissemination

This species is widely distributed in the deciduous forests of the east coast and in the hinterland of Canada and the United States.

Way of life

The maximum life expectancy of the diurnal striped chipmunk is approximately 5 years, but usually only 2-3 years.

To his food include various tree fruits such as acorns, nuts, seeds, mushrooms and berries. The night or spend their hibernation these animals in self-dug underground constructions. For the cold season, these squirrels put food supplies in hollow tree stumps and the like. These animals are site- faithful and defend their territory (size :0,08 -0, 60 ha) vigorously against foreign counterparts. Among the natural enemies mainly include hawks, foxes, raccoons, weasels, snakes, bobcats, Canadian Lynx and domestic cats.

Reproduction

From mid-March to early April and mid-July to mid-August, throws the female, after a gestation period of 31 days up to 15 young, mostly 3-5, which are weaned after 5 weeks. Then follow her mother a few months before himself seeking their own territory.

Inventory and hazard protection

Depending on the availability of food, the population of the species varies greatly. This species is classified as not threatened (Least Concern ).

Inside systematics

There are eleven recognized subspecies:

  • T. s doorsiensis - Wisconsin. Similar to T. s peninsulae with pale skin, but with lighter and auffälligerem spot behind the ears, dorsal gray, the tail is speckled more white.
  • See T. fisheri - lower reaches of the Hudson River, south to Virginia and eastern Kentucky, west to Ohio. Bleicher and gray as the type subspecies.
  • See T. griseus - west of the Great Lake, Upper Mississippi Valley. Larger and less distinct coat pattern as the type subspecies, but gray.
  • T. s lysteri - New England, upstate New York and southeastern Canada between Lake Huron and Nova Scotia
  • T. s ohionensis - Ohio. Very dark and dull coat.
  • T. s peninsulae - Wisconsin and Michigan. Medium in size with very pale and copper colored fur.
  • T. s pipilans - Louisiana. Largest and most powerful gefärbteste subspecies with yellowish brewing colored cheeks and flanks.
  • T. s quebecensis - Quebec. Similar to T. s griseus, but smaller and darker, the white dorsal stripe in front of the base of the tail.
  • See T. rufescens - northwest Ohio, southern Lower Peninsula of Michigan. Short tail and striking reddish drawing.
  • T. striatus see - Southern Ohio to Georgia.
  • See T. venustus - southwestern end of the deposit, west of the Mississippi River, south of the Arkansas. Stripe on the back are lighter and stronger colored, but shorter than in T. striatus see.
Linnaeus (disambiguation) Falcon Canada lynx Mammalian Species Bernhard Grzimek
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