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Tamias sibiricus
Siberian chipmunk


By Kenneth Haberland

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Family: Sciuridae
Genus: Tamias
Species: Tamias sibiricus

Geographic Range

Tamias sibiricus is the only member of the genus Tamias found outside North America. It is found naturally in northern Asia from central Russia to China, Korea, and northern Japan. It is also found in eastern Europe as a result of individuals escaping from captivity. ("Siberian Chipmunk", 2009; Weathers, 2006)

Biogeographic Regions
palearctic (Introduced , Native )

Habitat

Siberian chipmunks live primarily on the forest floor where there is plenty of cover and among rocky outcroppings and in human structures, such as house foundations. They are also excellent climbers. (Weathers, 2006)

Habitat Regions
temperate ; terrestrial

Terrestrial Biomes
taiga ; forest

Physical Description

Range mass
50 to 150 g
(1.76 to 5.29 oz)

Range length
12 to 17 cm
(4.72 to 6.69 in)

Siberian chipmunks are 18 to 25 cm in total length, including a tail that is approximately one third of that length. Body length is 12 to 17 cm. The fur on the back is yellow to brown, with white fur on the chest and belly. There are 5 dark and 4 light colored stripes that runs down the back. Body mass varies with season and availability of food. A typical Siberian chipmunk will weigh 50 to 150g. (; "Siberian Chipmunk", 2009)

Other Physical Features
endothermic ; homoiothermic; bilateral symmetry

Sexual Dimorphism
sexes alike

Reproduction

There is little known information on the mating systems of Siberian chipmunks. Most other chipmunks and squirrels have a promiscuous mating system. (Saddington, 2007)

Breeding interval
Siberian chipmunks breed once to twice yearly, depending on location.

Breeding season
Breeding occurs from April to June.

Range number of offspring
3 to 8

Range gestation period
28 to 35 days

Range birth mass
3.8 to 4 g
(0.13 to 0.14 oz)

Range weaning age
7 (high) weeks

Range time to independence
8 (low) weeks

Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female)
9 months

Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male)
9 months

The breeding season of Tamias sibericus begins in the second half of April. After a gestation period of 28 to 35 days a litter of 3 to 8 young is born. In Europe a second litter may be born over the summer months. Size at birth is 3.8 to 4g. ("Siberian Chipmunk", 2009; Saddington, 2007)

Key Reproductive Features
iteroparous ; seasonal breeding ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); viviparous

Females are solely responsible for care of the offspring. The eyes of the young typically open after 20 to 25 days. The mother will take the young out foraging at 6 weeks old, weaning will be complete by 7 weeks, and at 8 weeks the young will be old enough to look for territory of their own. (Saddington, 2007)

Parental Investment
altricial ; pre-fertilization (Provisioning, Protecting: Female); pre-hatching/birth (Provisioning: Female, Protecting: Female); pre-weaning/fledging (Provisioning: Female, Protecting: Female)

Lifespan/Longevity

Typical lifespan
Status: wild

2 to 5 years

Typical lifespan
Status: captivity

6 to 10 years

Siberian chipmunks live for a maximum 2 to 5 years in the wild, and 6 to 10 years in captivity. Several reports of Siberian chipmunks living past 10 years as personal pets have been reported. ("Siberian Chipmunk", 2009)

Behavior

Siberian chipmunks are active during the day and sleep at night. During the winter months they will enter a period of torpor, waking every few weeks to eat food stored in their burrow. Like other squirrels, they will bury food up to 5 cm deep in soil. Siberian chipmunks are constantly cleaning themselves, starting with the back and ending with the tail. Sometimes one chipmunk will bathe another. (Weathers, 2006)

Key Behaviors
scansorial; terricolous; fossorial ; diurnal ; sedentary ; hibernation

Home Range

Little information on Tamias sibericus homne range size was readily available. Other Tamias species dig burrows throughout their lives. Towards the end of their lifespan burrows can encompass a 30 square m area with multiple chambers for bedding and food storage. There may even be a latrine that is used during the winter months. Chipmunks empty latrine chambers at the beginning of spring, depositing the waste far from the entrance so as to not attract predators. ("Eastern chipmunk (Tamias striatus)", 2009)

Communication and Perception

Siberian chipmunks have 2 vocalizations. The first is a fast "cheep" that sounds a lot like a bird call. This is used when frightened, and lasts only 1/5 of a second. It is often used 3 to 6 times in succession. The second sound is a deep croaking sound. It is unknown what this croak is used for, although it is believed to be related to mating. They may also use visual and scent cues in communication, although this has not been documented.

Communication Channels
acoustic

Perception Channels
visual ; acoustic

Food Habits

Siberian chipmunks are omnivores. In the wild their diet consists of seeds and grains, fungi, fruits, vegetables, grains, insects, small birds, and lizards.

Primary Diet
omnivore

Animal Foods
birds; reptiles; insects; terrestrial non-insect arthropods

Plant Foods
seeds, grains, and nuts; fruit

Other Foods
fungus

Foraging Behavior
stores or caches food

Predation

Known Predators


Natural predators for Siberian chipmunks include birds of prey, weasels, and cats, although specific predator species are not reported in the literature. These chipmunks are vigilant and agile, escaping to their burrows when threatened. They are also cryptically colored in their forest undergrowth habitats. ("Siberian Chipmunk", 2009)

Anti-predator Adaptations
cryptic

Ecosystem Roles

Siberian chipmunks provide an important food source to their predators. Chipmunks are also important seed distributors due to their buried and forgotten caches. Like other chipmunks, they help to disperse fungal spores, dispersing important forest fungi. Parasite species are not reported for Siberian chipmunks. ("Siberian Chipmunk", 2009)

Ecosystem Impact
disperses seeds

Economic Importance for Humans: Positive

Siberian chipmunks disperse tree and plant seeds and fungal spores that aid in forest regeneration. Siberian chipmunks are occasionally kept as pets and their pelts are sometimes used. They may help to control pests, especially in outbreaks of forest tree pests. ("Eastern chipmunk (Tamias striatus)", 2009; Danell, et al., 1998; Weathers, 2006; "Eastern chipmunk (Tamias striatus)", 2009; Danell, et al., 1998; Weathers, 2006; "Eastern chipmunk (Tamias striatus)", 2009; Danell, et al., 1998; Weathers, 2006; "Eastern chipmunk (Tamias striatus)", 2009; Danell, et al., 1998; Weathers, 2006)

Positive Impacts
pet trade ; body parts are source of valuable material; controls pest population

Economic Importance for Humans: Negative

Siberian chipmunks may occasionally eat crops and damage gardens. Like other mammals, they may carry diseases or host fleas infected with plague. ("Siberian Chipmunk", 2009; Weathers, 2006)

Negative Impacts
injures humans (carries human disease); crop pest

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species [Link]
Least Concern
More Information

US Federal List [Link]
No special status

CITES [Link]
No special status

Siberian chipmunks are considered "least concern" by the IUCN because they are widespread and common throughout their range. There have been no recorded declines in populations.

For More Information

Find Tamias sibiricus information at

Contributors

Kenneth Haberland (author), Northern Michigan University, Bruggink John (editor, instructor), Northern Michigan University, Tanya Dewey (editor), Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology.

References

2009. "Eastern chipmunk (Tamias striatus)" (On-line). Accessed March 12, 2009 at http://www.wildernesshaven.net/chipmunks.htm.

2009. "Siberian Chipmunk" (On-line). Wikipedia. Accessed February 12, 2009 at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siberian_Chipmunk.

Danell, K., T. Willebrand, L. Baskin. 1998. Mammalian Herbivores in the Boreal Forests: Their Numerical Fluctuations and Use by Man. Ecology and Society, volume 2 issue 2: article 9. Accessed April 25, 2009 at http://www.consecol.org/vol2/iss2/art9/.

Muster, G. 2009. "Siberian Chipmunk rodent" (On-line). Encyclopedia Brittanica. Accessed February 12, 2009 at http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/852624/Siberian-chipmunk.

Saddington, G. 2007. NOTES ON THE BREEDING OF THE SIBERIAN CHIPMUNK Tamias sibircius IN CAPTIVITY. International Zoo Yearbook, volume 6 issue 1: 165-166. Accessed April 03, 2009 at http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/vsample?PISSN=0074-9664&path_ok=/journal/117997665/home.

Weathers, K. 2006. "Tamias sibericus - Siberian Chipmunk" (On-line). Accessed February 12, 2009 at http://www.paw-talk.net/forums/printthread.php?t=7182.

To cite this page: Haberland, K. 2009. "Tamias sibiricus" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed June 01, 2012 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Tamias_sibiricus.html

Disclaimer: The Animal Diversity Web is an educational resource written largely by and for college students. ADW doesn't cover all species in the world, nor does it include all the latest scientific information about organisms we describe. Though we edit our accounts for accuracy, we cannot guarantee all information in those accounts. While ADW staff and contributors provide references to books and websites that we believe are reputable, we cannot necessarily endorse the contents of references beyond our control.

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