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Neotamias dorsalis

(Baird, 1855)

Cliff Chipmunk

G5Secure Found in 52 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G5SecureGlobal Rank
Least concernIUCN
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.103986
Element CodeAMAFB02110
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVertebrate Animal
IUCNLeast concern
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumCraniata
ClassMammalia
OrderRodentia
FamilySciuridae
GenusNeotamias
Synonyms
Eutamias dorsalisTamias dorsalisBaird, 1855
Concept Reference
Wilson, D. E., and D. M. Reeder (editors). 1993. Mammal species of the world: a taxonomic and geographic reference. Second edition. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, DC. xviii + 1206 pp. Available online at: http://www.nmnh.si.edu/msw/.
Taxonomic Comments
See Patterson and Norris (2016) for a revised classification of Marmotini (Sciuridae: Xerinae), based on Thorington et al. (2012), Ge et al. (2014), and Patterson and Norris (2016); the three chipmunk lineages should be recognized as three distinct genera, namely, Tamias Illiger, 1811, Eutamias Trouessart, 1880, and Neotamias A. H. Howell, 1929. Thorington and Hoffmann (in Wilson and Reeder 2005) noted that chipmunks could be legitimately allocated to one (Tamias), two (Neotamias, Tamias), or three (Tamias, Neotamias, Eutamias) genera; they chose to adopt the single-genus (Tamias) arrangement.
Conservation Status
Review Date1996-11-06
Change Date1996-11-06
Edition Date1996-11-06
Range Extent250-20,000 square km (about 100-8000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences81 to >300
Range Extent Comments
Eastern Nevada, southern Idaho, Utah, southwestern Wyoming, and northwestern Colorado south through Arizona and western New Mexico to northwestern Durango, western Coahuila, and coastal Sonora (Hoffmann et al., in Wilson and Reeder 1993). to northern Mexico. Populations in Sonora and Coahuila are disjunct. Elevations of 1500-3700 m in most areas, but also in low elevation deserts in Arizona and New Mexico and to sea level in Sonora (see Hart 1992).
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

North: pygmy conifer woodland, ponderosa pine woodland, saxicoline brush, maple associations, sagebrush and saltbush. Arizona-New Mexico: aspen, low elevation shrublands, deserts, and lava fields; various oak associations; lower forest communities in sympatry with TAMIAS CINEREICOLLIS or T. QUADRIVITTATUS; alone, also occurs in higher elevation Douglas-fir and Mexican white pine. Durango: madrone, manzanita, and other typical lower Sonoran riparian vegetation. Primarily terrestrial, but climbs rocks and sometimes woody plants. Dens and nests are in rock heaps, crevices, rocky bluffs and cliffs, underground burrows, and trees. See Hart (1992).

Ecology

Territorial in immediate vicinity of home den. In Utah, home range averaged around 1 ha; in Nevada, home ranges frequently averaged 100 m in greatest dimension (see Hart 1992). See Hart (1992) for comments on interspecific competitive relationships among chipmunks. Preyed on by various hawks, snakes, and carnivores.

Reproduction

Breeds in spring. Young are born in spring and early summer. Newly emerged litters usually include 3-6 young. Individual females may produce multiple litters in a single year in some areas (e.g., New Mexico), but multiple litters have not been recorded in Utah or Arizona. See Hart (1992).
Terrestrial Habitats
Woodland - HardwoodWoodland - ConiferWoodland - MixedShrubland/chaparralDesertBare rock/talus/screeCliff
Palustrine Habitats
Riparian
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN5
ProvinceRankNative
IdahoS3Yes
NevadaS5Yes
ArizonaS5Yes
ColoradoS2Yes
Navajo NationS4Yes
New MexicoS4Yes
WyomingS1Yes
UtahS4Yes
Roadless Areas (52)
Arizona (17)
AreaForestAcres
Black CanyonPrescott National Forest10,683
Blind Indian CreekPrescott National Forest26,847
BoulderTonto National Forest40,359
Butterfly Roadless AreaCoronado National Forest42,296
Cdo WsaCoronado National Forest1,955
ChiricahuaCoronado National Forest76,876
East Clear CreekCoconino National Forest1,613
GaliuroCoronado National Forest28,333
GoldfieldTonto National Forest15,257
Happy ValleyCoronado National Forest7,972
Lime CreekTonto National Forest42,568
Lower RinconCoronado National Forest3,278
Oracle RoadlessCoronado National Forest22,365
PicachoTonto National Forest4,969
PinalenoCoronado National Forest130,920
Santa TeresaCoronado National Forest8,929
Sierra Ancha Wilderness ContiguousTonto National Forest7,787
Nevada (7)
AreaForestAcres
Arc Dome - CarversHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest3,846
Black SpringHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest11,016
Humboldt - Angel LkHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest1,008
QuinnHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest62,459
Snake - Big WashHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest4,146
Snake - HatcheryHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest4,627
South SchellHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest125,614
New Mexico (14)
AreaForestAcres
Apache Kid ContiguousCibola National Forest67,542
Contiguous To Black & Aldo Leopold WildernessGila National Forest111,883
Contiguous To Gila Wilderness & Primitive AreaGila National Forest79,049
Devils CreekGila National Forest89,916
Dry CreekGila National Forest26,719
Frisco BoxGila National Forest38,979
Meadow CreekGila National Forest34,167
Peloncillo (NM)Coronado National Forest43,339
Ryan HillCibola National Forest34,201
San JoseCibola National Forest16,950
Sawyers PeakGila National Forest59,743
Scott MesaCibola National Forest39,515
The HubGila National Forest7,498
Wahoo MountainGila National Forest23,122
Utah (13)
AreaForestAcres
0401024Ashley National Forest12,882
418001Uinta National Forest5,697
418016Uinta National Forest35,240
418025Uinta National Forest32,698
418040Uinta National Forest1,702
Capital ReefDixie National Forest763
FishhookDixie National Forest12,959
Joe LottFishlake National Forest19,826
Mt. Logan NorthWasatch-Cache National Forest18,930
NoblettsWasatch-Cache National Forest3,116
Signal PeakFishlake National Forest30,889
South RimDixie National Forest1,372
Thousand Lake MountainFishlake National Forest27,267
Wyoming (1)
AreaForestAcres
0401036Ashley National Forest6,309
References (29)
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