Siberian Chipmunk
Encyclopedia
The Siberian chipmunk or Common Chipmunk is a chipmunk
which occurs across northern Asia
from central Russia
to China
, Korea
, and Hokkaidō
in northern Japan
. The only chipmunk found outside North America
, it is classed either as the only living member of the genus Eutamias
, or a member of a genus including all chipmunks, Tamias. It lives in woodland
habitats with a bushy understory.
. Its dental formula is:
Its foes include birds of prey, mustelids, and cats. In rare cases, Siberian chipmunks may spread diseases such as rabies
by biting other animals or humans.
It has colonised parts of eastern and central Europe
due to escapes from captivity, and has recently become widespread in Belgium; there are also recent reports from Ireland.
Mating begins after the winter rest
in April. After mating it returns to its solitary life. Gestation ranges from 35 to 40 days and four to sometimes 10 cubs are born.
Pet chipmunks enjoy nuts, fruits, vegetables, and rodent lab blocks.
Chipmunk
Chipmunks are small striped squirrels native to North America and Asia. They are usually classed either as a single genus with three subgenera, or as three genera.-Etymology and taxonomy:...
which occurs across northern Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
from central Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
to China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
, and Hokkaidō
Hokkaido
, formerly known as Ezo, Yezo, Yeso, or Yesso, is Japan's second largest island; it is also the largest and northernmost of Japan's 47 prefectural-level subdivisions. The Tsugaru Strait separates Hokkaido from Honshu, although the two islands are connected by the underwater railway Seikan Tunnel...
in northern Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. The only chipmunk found outside North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
, it is classed either as the only living member of the genus Eutamias
Eutamias
Eutamias is a genus of chipmunks within the tribe Marmotini of the squirrel family. It includes a single living species, the Siberian chipmunk . The genus is often treated as a subgenus of Tamias, which is now restricted to the eastern chipmunk of North America...
, or a member of a genus including all chipmunks, Tamias. It lives in woodland
Woodland
Ecologically, a woodland is a low-density forest forming open habitats with plenty of sunlight and limited shade. Woodlands may support an understory of shrubs and herbaceous plants including grasses. Woodland may form a transition to shrubland under drier conditions or during early stages of...
habitats with a bushy understory.
Description
Typical for the Siberian chipmunk are the five white and dark stripes along the back. It is 18–25 cm long, of which a third is the tail. The weight of adults depends on the time of year, and is normally 50–150 grams. The Siberian chipmunk is relatively small compared to other Sciuridae, such as the Red SquirrelRed Squirrel
The red squirrel or Eurasian red squirrel is a species of tree squirrel in the genus Sciurus common throughout Eurasia...
. Its dental formula is:
Its foes include birds of prey, mustelids, and cats. In rare cases, Siberian chipmunks may spread diseases such as rabies
Rabies
Rabies is a viral disease that causes acute encephalitis in warm-blooded animals. It is zoonotic , most commonly by a bite from an infected animal. For a human, rabies is almost invariably fatal if post-exposure prophylaxis is not administered prior to the onset of severe symptoms...
by biting other animals or humans.
It has colonised parts of eastern and central Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
due to escapes from captivity, and has recently become widespread in Belgium; there are also recent reports from Ireland.
Behavior
The Siberian chipmunk is a diurnal species, which lives in coniferous and mixed forests with bushy understory. It is a good climber, but stays mostly on the ground. It has a burrow, which can be 2.5 m long and 1.5 m deep. A burrow consists of a nest chamber, several storage chambers and chambers for the waste. The Siberian chipmunk lives in loose colonies, where every individual has its own territory. The territory ranges from 700 to 4000 m and is larger for females than males and is also larger in autumn than spring. The Siberian chipmunk marks its territory with urine, but also with oral glands on its cheeks. In contrast to its solitary life it rests in pairs in winter and lives from the contents of its storage chambers. It feeds on shrubs, mushrooms, berries, birds, and other small animals.Mating begins after the winter rest
Winter rest
Winter rest is a state of reduced activity of plants and warm-blooded animals during winter. This way, they save energy during cold weather with limited access to food sources...
in April. After mating it returns to its solitary life. Gestation ranges from 35 to 40 days and four to sometimes 10 cubs are born.
Captivity
The Siberian chipmunk has become a pet, but needs a lot of room for climbing and should have covered space to retreat. They are less active in winter but normally do not fall into winter sleep in heated rooms in captivity. Siberian chipmunks often live 6 to 10 or even more years. Most animals also born in captivity become tame to a certain degree.Pet chipmunks enjoy nuts, fruits, vegetables, and rodent lab blocks.