View source for Merriam's chipmunk

{{Short description|Species of rodent}}
{{Speciesbox
| name = Merriam's chipmunk
| image = Neotamias merriami.jpg
| status = LC
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| status_ref = <ref name="iucn status 12 November 2021">{{cite iucn |author=Álvarez-Castañeda, S.T. |author2=Castro-Arellano, I. |author3=Lacher, T. |date=2016 |title=''Neotamias merriami'' |volume=2016 |page=e.T21358A22269203 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T21358A22269203.en |access-date=12 November 2021}}</ref>
| genus = Neotamias
| species = merriami
| authority = ([[Joel Asaph Allen|J. A. Allen]], 1889)
| synonyms = ''Tamias merriami'' <small>J. A. Allen, 1889</small>
| synonyms_ref =
}}

'''Merriam's chipmunk''' ('''''Neotamias merriami''''') is a species of [[chipmunk]] in the family [[Sciuridae]]. It is found in central and southern [[California]]<ref name="California Gap Analysis Project's Predicted Distribution Map">{{cite web |url=http://depts.washington.edu/natmap/maps/CA_maphtml/m060.html |title=California Mammal Maps - Merriam's Chipmunk (Tamias merriami) |access-date=2010-08-26 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101216041246/http://depts.washington.edu/natmap/maps/CA_maphtml/m060.html |archive-date=2010-12-16 }}</ref> in the [[United States]] and a small area in northern [[Baja California]], [[Mexico]].<ref name="iucn status 12 November 2021" /> 

== Description ==
Its fur is grayish-brown, with dark and light-colored dorsal stripes. It has light gray or white stripes around the eyes and a white underbelly. The tail is very bushy, often measuring over 80% of the head and body length. They experience molting of the fur on their bodies and tails.<ref name=":0" /> 

The dental formula for Tamias merriami is {{DentalFormula|upper=1.0.2.3.|lower=1.0.1.3.|total=22}}<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal|last1=Best|first1=Troy L.|last2=Granai|first2=Nancy J.|date=1994-12-02|title=Tamias merriami|journal=Mammalian Species|issue=476|pages=1–9|doi=10.2307/3504203|issn=0076-3519|jstor=3504203}}</ref>

== Distribution and habitat ==
The Merriam’s chipmunk lives in parts of central and southern California and Baja California,<ref name="iucn status 12 November 2021" /> including along the western slope of the [[Sierra Nevada]] mountains.<ref name=":0" /> They have been observed at altitudes of up to 2,940 meters but most often live at elevations under 1,200 meters. They primarily inhabit forests and [[chaparral]]-covered shrubland habitats. They live in areas with a variety of trees, shrubs, logs, rocks, and plant litter, which are features utilized for their food and shelter. <ref name=":0" />

== Diet ==
The merriam’s chipmunk has a mainly herbivorous diet. It forages daily for food and carries seeds or acorns in its cheek pouches, often to be cached in the ground. Acorns are a major part of its diet, especially from valley oak trees. Other sources of food include the seeds, nuts, and berries of a variety of plants, insects, and larvae.<ref name=":0" />

== Reproduction ==
When mating, females attract males by calling to them. The duration of the female call is ten to fifteen minutes. A male will hear the call and respond to it by running to and jumping around the female. The female then squats down, and the male performs 12-24 thrusts. The entire process of mating lasts about fifteen seconds.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Compton |first=Stephen B |date=January 1995 |title="REPRODUCTIVE BEHAVIOR IN MERRIAM'S CHIPMUNK (TAMIAS MERRIAMI)." |url= |journal=The Great Basin Naturalist |volume=55 |issue=1 |issn=0017-3614 |jstor=41712869}}</ref> 

==References==
{{Reflist}}

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{{Taxonbar|from1=Q21730971|from2=Q1769103}}

[[Category:Neotamias]]
[[Category:Mammals described in 1889]]
[[Category:Taxonomy articles created by Polbot]]
[[Category:Rodents of the United States]]
[[Category:Rodents of Mexico]]
[[Category:Taxa named by Joel Asaph Allen]]

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