Tamias panamintinus uses vocalizations during courtship and other contexts. Young are able to make vocalizations within 12 to 18 hours of birth, and will make noises if separated from the mother.
All chipmunks make a variety of sounds. The lengths and patterns of vocalizations may be species specific, and can include chucks, chatterings, whistles, chips, chipperings, burst and sweeps. These are typically described by frequency and rate. Panamint chipmunks have a unique terminal pulse which following a chip, as well as lengthened syllables.
Although not well studied in this species, other chipmunks are known to use visual communication, such as tail positioning and body posture. Tactile communication is also important during courtship and mating, as well as in the natal burrow. It is reasonable to assume that Panamint chipmunks are similar to other members of the genus in this regard.
Communication Channels: visual ; tactile ; acoustic
Perception Channels: visual ; tactile ; acoustic ; chemical
Tamias panamintinus is not a large conservation concern. What concern there is stems from the small range of the species. This restricted range makes it important to conserve the habitat of these animals to ensure that they are present in the future. Panamint chipmunks are common in the areas they inhabit. Two of these areas are Death Valley National Park and the Mojave Preserve. These areas are federally protected land and because of this all of the animals inhabiting these areas are protected. A permit is required to trap, collect, or perform studies.
US Federal List: no special status
CITES: no special status
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: least concern
There is no known negative impact on human economies caused by these chipmunks.
These animals have no known direct economic impact on humans. However, because they help to disperse seeds, they may aid people by keeping forests healthy.
Panamint chipmunks are a prey species. They probably contribute to some extent to the diets of their predators, although details on this interaction are not available in the literature. In addition, they probably play some role in seed dispersal and reforestation through their caching behavior.
Ecosystem Impact: disperses seeds
Panamint chipmunks are primarily granivores, but will consume seeds, fruits, green vegetation, arthropods, lichens, and bark. Fruits consumed are primarily piñon and juniper fruits found in the course of foraging on the ground, in shrubs, and trees. These animals often cache food for future use. If water is available they drink it, but access to free water is not necessary for survival, as enough water is available from the diet.
Animal Foods: carrion ; terrestrial non-insect arthropods
Plant Foods: leaves; wood, bark, or stems; seeds, grains, and nuts; fruit
Foraging Behavior: stores or caches food
Primary Diet: herbivore (Granivore )
Tamias panamintinus is found in isolated populations in southeastern California and southwestern Nevada. The species was described from specimens collected from the Panamint Mountains of Death Valley National Park, California. In other parts of California, it occurs on the eastern slope of the southern Sierra Nevada Mountains and in desert ranges such as the Argus, Clark, Granite, Inyo, Kingston, Mescal, Providence, and White mountains. In Nevada, there are records from the Excelsior, Grapevine, Silver Peak, Spring, Sweetwater, and Wassuk, Wabuska mountain ranges.
Biogeographic Regions: nearctic (Native )
Panamint chipmunks are commonly associated with piñon pine forests where they seek out rock outcroppings. These animals occur at elevations between 1,370 and 2,745 m. They prefer areas where soil cover is thin and granite cliffs and ledges are numerous. They reside in areas of high heat and arid conditions that other species of chipmunk are unable to tolerate.
Range elevation: 1370 to 2745 m.
Average elevation: 2060 m.
Habitat Regions: temperate ; terrestrial
Terrestrial Biomes: chaparral ; scrub forest ; mountains
The longevity of these animals has not been reported. However, it is likely to be similar to that seen in other members of the genus Tamias. As such, it is not likely to exceed 8 years, and is likely to be shorter.
Panamint chipmunks are medium sized chipmunks with the total body length of females averaging 118.6 mm and that of males averaging 117.9 mm. Females are slightly larger than males, as is the case with other species of chipmunk. Weights are between 74 and 105 g.
During summer, pelage coloration is bright tawny with the anterior gray; whereas in the winter the fur is long and silky, with yellowish coloration and faded markings. The top of the head is light gray, with reduced dark facial stripes. The dorsal stripes are dark except for the middle stripe, which is usually brown; the outer stripes are similar in coloration to the body.
There are two subspecies described, T. panamintinus panamintinus, and T. panamintinus acrus. The larger of the subspecies is T. p. panamintinus. The colors of T. p. panamintinus are paler, with tawny sides, and grayer at the crown of the head, whereas T. p. acrus has sides that are brown in color. The skull of T. p. acrus is smaller mainly in the width and depth of the brain case; a shorter, narrower, and more pointed rostrum. Tamias panamintinus panamintinus has larger orbitals and a brain case that is longer posteriorly.
Panamint chipmunks share their habitat with other species of chipmunks. Tamias minimus, Tamias umbinus, and Tamias palmeri are commonly found in the same areas as T. panamintinus. However, the species are fairly easily distinguished.
Tamias minimus is small to medium in size, with a rostrum that is short and stout. Its coloration is varied, depending on the subspecies; the baculum is thin in the shaft and at the base.
Tamias umbrinus is medium to large with dark tones on the upper part of the body with a medium sized skull and a narrow braincase. The baculum is thick and short in the shaft with a widened base.
Tamias palmeri has grayish to tawny tones on the upper part of the body, a pale ocular stripe, with a shorter skull, rostrum, nasal, and upper incisors than T. umbrinus. The baculum is undistinguishable from the baculum of T. umbrinus.
Based on molecular data from the mitochondrial DNA of T. panamintinus, it is likely that Panamint chipmunks are most closely related to Tamias quadrimaculatus and T. minimus.
Like many chipmunks, these animals are not active above ground on cold winter days. They are assumed to hibernate. Because of this, they should be considered heterothermic. However, because when they are active, as well as torpid, they maintain a constant body temperature. This makes them homoiothermic. Like all mammals, T. panamintinus is endothermic.
Range mass: 74 to 105 g.
Average mass: 90 g.
Range length: 85 to 240 mm.
Average length: 163 mm.
Other Physical Features: endothermic ; heterothermic ; homoiothermic; bilateral symmetry
Sexual Dimorphism: female larger
Typical chipmunk predators are raptors, weasels, coyotes, bobcats, and foxes. As members of the Order Rodentia, they are considered a vital part of the food chain. Although details for T. panamintinus are not available, it is likely that their predators are similar to those of other species in the area.
Known Predators:
Anti-predator Adaptations: cryptic
Details on the reproductive habits of Panamint chipmunks are scant. If they are like other members of their genus, they are probably polygynous.
Panamint chipmunks breed from March to May. Gestation is about 36 days in this species. Young are typically born in late May to June. Litters usually range in size from 3 to 9 young, although a litter size of 4 to 6 young is more typical. Weaning occurs around the age of 5 weeks.
As in other chipmunks, the young are able to reproduce in the breeding season following their birth. In other species of chipmunks, young usally enter hibernation alone, and so are independent by the end of their first summer. It is likely that this species is similar.
Breeding interval: These animals breed once annually.
Breeding season: Mating occurs from March to May.
Range number of offspring: 3 to 9.
Average gestation period: 36 days.
Average weaning age: 5 weeks.
Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female): 10 months.
Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male): 10 months.
Key Reproductive Features: iteroparous ; seasonal breeding ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); sexual ; fertilization ; viviparous
Mothers care for their young in a nest located in a burrow. Maternal care extends from birth until shortly after weaning. During this period, the young go from being hairless, with eyes and ears shut, to fully-functional miniature adults. The mother provides her young with food and protection. Males are not known to engage in parental care.
Parental Investment: altricial ; pre-fertilization (Provisioning, Protecting: Female); pre-hatching/birth (Provisioning: Female, Protecting: Female); pre-weaning/fledging (Provisioning: Female, Protecting: Female); pre-independence (Provisioning: Female)
The Panamint chipmunk (Neotamias panamintinus) is a species of rodent in the squirrel family, Sciuridae. It is endemic to desert mountain areas of southeast California and southwest Nevada in the United States.[1]
It is considered a species of least concern on the IUCN Red List due to its broad range, prevalence, and no known major threats.[1] The Panamint chipmunk occurs in pinyon pine-juniper woodlands in bushes, boulders, and on cliffs.[1]
Environmentally, the Panamint chipmunks are a prey species that contributes to the diets of their predators, including birds, raptors, coyotes, foxes, and bobcats.[2]
The Panamint chipmunk (Neotamias panamintinus) is a species of rodent in the squirrel family, Sciuridae. It is endemic to desert mountain areas of southeast California and southwest Nevada in the United States.
It is considered a species of least concern on the IUCN Red List due to its broad range, prevalence, and no known major threats. The Panamint chipmunk occurs in pinyon pine-juniper woodlands in bushes, boulders, and on cliffs.
Environmentally, the Panamint chipmunks are a prey species that contributes to the diets of their predators, including birds, raptors, coyotes, foxes, and bobcats.
