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Neotamias amoenus

(J.A. Allen, 1890)

Yellow-pine Chipmunk

G5Secure Found in 108 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G5SecureGlobal Rank
Least concernIUCN
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.103853
Element CodeAMAFB02030
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
Tamias amoenus(J.A. Allen, 1890)
Other Common Names
Tamia amène (FR) yellow-pine chipmunk (EN)
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
Rank MethodExpertise without calculation
Review Date2016-04-04
Change Date1996-11-05
Range Extent Comments
Western North America, from central British Columbia and southwestern Alberta south to Yolla Bolly Range and Mammoth Pass in California, northern Nevada, and northwestern Utah, east to central Montana and western Wyoming; elevations of 975-2900 m in California (Sutton 1992; Hoffmann et al., in Wilson and Reeder 1993).
Ecology & Habitat

Diagnostic Characteristics

See Sutton (1995).

Habitat

Generally in brushy areas interspersed with herbaceous vegetation and open conifer stands; shrubs typically present include snowberry, chinquapin, mountain mahogany, antelope brush, currant, and buckbrush (Sutton 1992). Found among logs, brush, and rocky outcrops. Also in brushy areas between subalpine forest and alpine tundra, and in alpine areas themselves. Digs burrows 7-21" deep. Constructs grass nest in burrow under stump, log, or rock; also nests above ground in woody vegetation.

Ecology

Home range is a few acres, parts of which may be used seasonally (see Sutton 1992). In Washington, density was fairly stable over 3 years at 1.25/ha (see Sutton 1992). Easy prey for many kinds of predators. Competitive interactions with other chipmunk species may limit habitat use. Effective dispersal agent for Jeffrey pine seeds (Vander Wall 1992; see also Vander Wall, 1993, Oecologia 96:246-252).

Reproduction

Breeds in early spring. Average litter size is 5 (Washington) to 6 (California); 1 litter/year in Washington Cascades (Kenagy and Barnes 1988). Young are born from mid-May to early June (Banfield 1974), weaned in about 6 weeks; first appear at surface in June in Washington Cascades; first breeds at 1 year (Kenagy and Barnes 1988). May live up to 5 years.
Terrestrial Habitats
Woodland - ConiferShrubland/chaparralAlpineBare rock/talus/scree
Other Nations (2)
United StatesN5
ProvinceRankNative
NevadaS5Yes
CaliforniaSNRYes
MontanaS5Yes
WashingtonS5Yes
WyomingS3Yes
IdahoS5Yes
OregonS4Yes
UtahS1Yes
CanadaN5
ProvinceRankNative
British ColumbiaS5Yes
AlbertaS4Yes
Roadless Areas (108)
California (20)
AreaForestAcres
Black ButteMendocino National Forest15,461
Bucks LakePlumas National Forest680
Chips CreekPlumas National Forest12,940
Crane Mtn.Modoc National Forest1,269
Granite ChiefTahoe National Forest6,546
GrindstoneMendocino National Forest26,031
Heart LakeLassen National Forest9,349
Horse Mdw.Inyo National Forest5,687
Mt. EddyShasta-Trinity National Forest7,232
Mt. Shasta AShasta-Trinity National Forest676
Mt. Shasta BShasta-Trinity National Forest2,809
Mt. VidaModoc National Forest7,771
Onion SpringsLassen National Forest2,421
Orleans Mtn.Klamath National Forest49,090
Orleans Mtn. CSix Rivers National Forest15,589
ParsnipModoc National Forest8,485
PyramidEldorado National Forest24,347
Robinson PeakHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest5,835
SherwinInyo National Forest3,140
Wilderness ContiguousMendocino National Forest3,606
Idaho (5)
AreaForestAcres
Bighorn - WeitasNez Perce-Clearwater National Forest254,845
HoodooNez Perce-Clearwater National Forest153,868
North Lochsa SlopeNez Perce-Clearwater National Forest117,662
PalisadesCaribou-Targhee National Forest122,002
West Meadow CreekNez Perce-Clearwater National Forest115,949
Montana (20)
AreaForestAcres
Allan Mountain (01946)Bitterroot National Forest104,184
Bear - Marshall - Scapegoat - SwanLewis and Clark National Forest344,022
Bear - Marshall - Scapegoat - SwanLolo National Forest118,485
Bear - Marshall - Scapegoat - SwanHelena National Forest51,360
Bmss Ra 1485Flathead National Forest334,275
BridgerGallatin National Forest45,059
Cube Iron - SilcoxLolo National Forest36,998
Evans GulchLolo National Forest8,059
Fred BurrBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest5,814
Freezeout MountainBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest97,305
Gallatin FringeGallatin National Forest51,571
HoodooLolo National Forest105,162
Hyalite - Porcupine - Buffalo Horn Wilderness Study AreaGallatin National Forest143,991
Line Creek PlateauCuster National Forest24,825
Lolo CreekLolo National Forest14,335
MadisonGallatin National Forest127,859
Maple PeakLolo National Forest6,469
North AbsarokaGallatin National Forest159,075
Red Lodge Creek HellroaringCuster National Forest17,210
Selway - Bitterroot (01067)Bitterroot National Forest114,953
Nevada (2)
AreaForestAcres
Rose - GalenaHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest3,711
Ruby - Lamoille CynHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest32,771
Oregon (24)
AreaForestAcres
Aldrich MountainMalheur National Forest4,925
Beaver CreekWallowa-Whitman National Forest12,973
Bend WatershedDeschutes National Forest14,829
Crane MountainFremont National Forest23,096
Dry CabinMalheur National Forest12,274
HellholeUmatilla National Forest65,679
HomesteadWallowa-Whitman National Forest5,817
Hurricane CreekWallowa-Whitman National Forest1,606
Imnaha FaceWallowa-Whitman National Forest29,575
Jaussaud CorralUmatilla National Forest5,535
Little SheepWallowa-Whitman National Forest5,238
MarshWinema National Forest1,226
Mill Creek Watershed (OR)Umatilla National Forest7,820
Mt. JeffersonDeschutes National Forest2,282
Mt. BaileyUmpqua National Forest18,401
Mt. Hood AdditionsMt. Hood National Forest13,061
Mt. ThielsenWinema National Forest1,153
Sky Lakes AWinema National Forest3,940
Sky Lakes BWinema National Forest9,615
Twin MountainWallowa-Whitman National Forest58,533
Upper Catherine CreekWallowa-Whitman National Forest6,446
W - T ThreeUmatilla National Forest1,705
Walla Walla RiverUmatilla National Forest34,416
West - South BachelorDeschutes National Forest25,994
Washington (28)
AreaForestAcres
Alpine Lakes Adj.Wenatchee National Forest57,104
Black CanyonOkanogan National Forest9,681
Blue LakeGifford Pinchot National Forest11,359
Blue SlideWenatchee National Forest17,505
ChelanWenatchee National Forest74,650
Glacier Peak BMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest19,328
Goat Rocks AdjWenatchee National Forest6,108
Gotchen CreekGifford Pinchot National Forest7,518
Granite MountainOkanogan National Forest27,428
Grassy TopIdaho Panhandle National Forests13,485
Harvey CreekColville National Forest10,140
Jefferson RidgeOlympic National Forest6,512
Jupiter RidgeOlympic National Forest10,148
Liberty BellOkanogan National Forest108,495
Long DrawOkanogan National Forest3,922
Long SwampOkanogan National Forest66,344
Madison CreekOlympic National Forest1,223
Meadow CreekUmatilla National Forest4,882
Mill Creek Watershed (WA)Umatilla National Forest16,747
Mt. Baker Noisy - DiobsudMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest56,039
Mt. Baker NorthMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest16,873
Norse PeakWenatchee National Forest10,169
Pasayten RimOkanogan National Forest17,074
QuilceneOlympic National Forest18,656
SawtoothOkanogan National Forest122,194
SpanglerUmatilla National Forest5,936
TeanawayWenatchee National Forest72,849
TiffanyOkanogan National Forest22,045
Wyoming (9)
AreaForestAcres
Beartooth Proposed WildernessShoshone National Forest16,837
Grayback RidgeBridger-Teton National Forest295,113
PalisadesTarghee National Forest1,121
Salt River RangeBridger-Teton National Forest235,661
Sleeping GiantShoshone National Forest5,176
South Beartooth HighwayShoshone National Forest105,570
Teton Corridor TrailheadsBridger-Teton National Forest286
Wapiti Valley NorthShoshone National Forest18,345
West Slope TetonsTarghee National Forest47,448
References (28)
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