Neotamias palmeri
| Taxonomy | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name: | Neotamias palmeri | ||||
| Common name: | Palmer's chipmunk | ||||
| Family: | Sciuridae | Minor Group: | Mammal | Major Group: | Vertebrate Animal |
| Rank and Status | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Global Rank: | G3 | Endemic: | Yes | NNHP Track Status: | At-Risk List |
| Subnational (State) Rank: | S2 | Sand Dunes: | No | USESA Status: | No Status |
| Native Status: | Native | Wetland: | No |
| Other Agency Status | Status | Last Updated | Status Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| State of Nevada Protected | Sensitive Mammal NAC 503.030.3 | ||
| Nevada Wildlife Action Plan - 2012 | Species of Conservation Priority | ||
| Nevada Wildlife Action Plan - 2005 | Species of Conservation Priority | ||
| International Union for Conservation of Nature | Endangered | ||
| CCVI Score | Highly Vulnerable | Conf. VH; Factors contributing to increased vulnerability are natural barriers, physiological thermal niche, historical hydrological niche, and disturbance. |
| Distribution (NV Counties) |
|---|
Status: Confident or certain
| Clark |
Status: Possible
| Lincoln | Nye |
| Summary Occurrence Data | |
|---|---|
| Occurrence Count: | 11 |
| Total Observed Area (hectares): | 124 |
| Maximum Known Elevation (m): | 3048 |
| Minimum Known Elevation (m): | 2012 |
| Links |
|---|
| Neotamias palmeri data at NatureServe |
| Neotamias palmeri photos and data at Encyclopedia of Life |
| Character Abstract | |
|---|---|
| Identification Comments: | |
| Subspecies Comments: | |
| Food Habits: | The primary food source is conifer seeds (Lowrey and Longshore 2010). Currant berries provide food resources in the late summer. This species may also eat other seeds, fruits, fleshy fungi, green vegetation, and insects. |
| Phenology Comments: | |
| Reproduction Comments: | Births occur in late May in June; gestation lasts at least 33 days; litter size usually 3-6; young first emerge in June, continue to appear through August (see Best 1993). |
| Migration Mobility: | |
| Habitat Comments: | Recent studies consider this species a habitat generalist within relatively mature coniferous forests. It is primarily associated with white-fir/limber/mixed conifer associations between 2,600 and 2,900 meters but has also been observed from the upper elevations of pinyon/juniper (2,080 m) to above the Bristlecone timber line (3,290 m). Habitat modeling determined that decreasing understory tree density and increasing currant berry shrub density increased the numbers of Palmer's chipmunks. Other important habitat characteristics that increase the likelihood of occurrence include lower slopes, nearness to permanent water sources, and northern aspects (Lowrey and Longshore 2010). |
| Ecology comments: | Palmer's chipmunk has a narrow thermoneutral zone (32-34° C) and develops hyperthermia at temperatures above 34° C. It digs deep burrows to survive cold winter periods. It typically occurs on north-facing slopes where vegetation cover is greater (Lowrey and Longshore 2010). |
| Version Date: |
 individual in habitat
Photographer: Copyright Cris Tomlinson, Nevada Department of Wildlife
Photo Date: |
