Tamias quadrivittatus 333species has been observed to carry Yersinia pestis, the bacte-
rium responsible for sylvatic (bubonic) plague, and the only
parasites recorded from the long-eared chipmunk are fl eas
(Catallagia sculleni, Diamanus montanus, Monopsyllus ciliatus,
M. eumolpi, and Oropsylla idahoensis) and ticks (Demacentor
andersoni and Haemaphysalis leporispalustris).
general references: Clawson et al. 1994b; A. W. Linzey
and Hammerson 2008j; Piaggio and Spicer 2000; Sutton 1995.
Tamias quadrivittatus (Say, 1823)
Colorado Chipmunk
description: Colorado chipmunks have a reddish to cin-
namon head, sometimes mixed with gray; two white to
cream stripes on the face; and a black stripe through the eye,
off set with cinnamon. A gray postauricular patch is often
present. The median dorsa l stripe is dark gray to black, with
two lateral dark stripes that are often slightly lighter in
color. The dark stripes are off set by white to cream to buff
light stripes. The sides, the hips, and the feet are ochraceous
to cinnamon. The venter is cream to white.
size: Female—HB 132.0 mm.
Male—HB 125.3 mm.
Both sexes—T 99.6 mm; Mass 59.6 g (45.2–69.8 g).
distribution: This species is found in eastern Utah, Colo-
rado, northeast Arizona, northern New Mexico, and ex-
treme western Oklahoma (USA).geographic variation: Three subspecies are recognized.T. q. quadrivittatus—throughout the entire range, except
southern New Mexico (USA). See description above.
T. q. australis—southcentral New Mexico, within the Organ
Mountains (USA). This form is grayer, and the dorsal sur-
face of the feet is grayish brown.
T. q. oscuraensis—central New Mexico, within the Oscura
Mountains (USA). This is the smallest of the subspecies.
The sides are reddish brown, and there is more reddish
brown on the dorsal surface of the feet.conservation: IUCN status—least concern. Population
trend—stable. T. q. australis and T. q. oscuraensis are threat-
ened in New Mexico.habitat: The Colorado chipmunk occurs in habitats that
are mainly rocky, with conifers or shrubs. It is often found
in pinyon-juniper (Pinus, Juniperus), scrub oak (Quercus),
ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa), or spruce-fi r (Picea, Pseu-
dotsuga, Abies) forests.natural history: This species is diurnal. Colorado chip-
munks probably do not hibernate and can be active year-
round in favorable weather; individuals will remain in nests
during poor weather and may enter short bouts of torpor,Tamias quadrimaculatus. Photo courtesy Mike Cong.