332 Tamias panamintinusand fruits are not available. T. panamintinus appears to be a
more facultative hibernator that many of its local congeners,
awakening during milder winter days and emerging earlier
than some species, such as T. palmeri. Details on this species’
oxygen consumption, variations in body temperature, organ
weights, and vocalizations are available in the literature.
general references: Best, Clawson, et al. 1994a; Hayssen
2008a, 2008b, 2008c; Laudenslayer et al. 1995; A. W. Linzey
and Hammerson 2008i.
Tamias quadrimaculatus Gray, 1867
Long-Eared Chipmunk
description: This species is distinguished from most other
chipmunks by its long narrow ears, darker reddish color-
ation, and postauricular patches of white pelage. Within the
townsendii species-group it is distinguished by its larger size,
long and narrow rostrum, and zygomatic width.
size: Female—HB 138.2 mm; T 94.5 mm; Mass 87.4 g.
Male—HB 135.8 mm; T 95.4 mm; Mass 78.1 g.
Sex not stated—HB 135.6 mm; T 102.6 mm; Mass 82.8 g.
distribution: The long-eared chipmunk occurs in the
Sierra Nevada of eastcentral California (Plumas to Mariposa
counties) and extreme westcentral Nevada, USA.
geographic variation: None.
conservation: IUCN status—least concern. Population
trend—stable.
habitat: The long-eared chipmunk is typically found in
stands of mixed conifers: ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa),
Douglas fi r (Pseudotsuga menziesii), and sugar pine (Pinus lam-
bertiana). It is often associated either with dense forest
stands or open stands with thick ground cover or dense un-
derstory. Downed woody debris, brush, stumps, and snags
are important habitat components.natural history: Although its diet varies with habitat
and season, T. quadrimaculatus is repor ted to feed most heav-
ily on hypogeous (underground) fungi, consuming lesser
amounts of seeds, leaves, fl owers, fruits, and arthropods.
Caching behavior by T. quadrimaculatus is thought to result
in the regeneration of conifer species and thick understory
brush; the latter may prevent conifer reforestation when it
occurs. Hibernation takes place from late November to late
March, during which time long-eared chipmunks rely on
large stores of seeds. This species is more active and less
territorial than other species of Tamia s, but it is still aggres-
sive, especially during the breeding season. It vocalizes fre-
quently, producing several types of calls: various “chucks”
and “chips” associated with aggression, alarm responses,
and breeding. Tail fl icks are often associated with “chip-
ping” calls. Breeding occurs in late April to early May; gesta-
tion is 31 days; and litter size ranges from two to six young.
Only one litter is produced each year. The home ranges of
males and females are reported to average 0.88 ha and 0.48
ha, respectively. Peak densities reach approximately 1.0/ha.
Predators are probably common, but the only act of preda-
tion that was observed was by a rattlesnake (Crotalus). ThisTamias panamintinus. Photo courtesy Don Roberson.