Sonoma Chipmunk

About the Sonoma Chipmunk

The Sonoma chipmunk (Neotamias sonomae) is a species of rodent in the squirrel family Sciuridae. It is endemic to northwestern California in the United States. Members of Neotamias are characterized by having two premolars. N. sonomae has two subspecies: N. s. alleni and N. s. sonomae.

The Sonoma chipmunk is only found in California, north of the San Francisco Bay. Most of its range is within Sonoma and Marin counties. Sonoma chipmunks are found in areas of forest or chaparral. They can be found in forests of sticky laurel, Ponderosa pine, Douglas fir, spruce, redwood, and black oak. They are more often than not associated with coniferous forests. The chaparral that Sonoma chipmunks inhabit is characterized by sagebrush plains. Sonoma chipmunks are found in elevations from 0 to 1,800 m (5,900 ft). These chipmunks typically live on the ground and make burrows in the ground, but they can climb and may make nests in trees.

The Sonoma chipmunk has a total body length (including tail) ranging 220–264 mm (8.7–10.4 in). Tail length ranges 100–126 mm (3.9–5.0 in), hind foot (pes) length is 34–39 mm (1.3–1.5 in), and... Wikipedia →