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Merriam's Chipmunk

Neotamias merriami

Description:

Brown, gray and black chipmunk with black stripes on face and down the back.

Habitat:

Unknown bush in coastal scrub and Oak forest of Daley Ranch. It was about 1,300 feet / 396 meters in elevation.

Notes:

I've been unable to locate a species recorded in this area but there are some nearby. "The only chipmunk that inhabits San Diego County is the Merriam's chipmunk. It is common and occurs widely from the inland valleys east to the western edge of the desert. Typical habitat is chaparral, oak woodland, and oak-pine woodland but I have observed them in desert transition habitat in the county." - Dept of Fish and Game

No species ID suggestions

12 Comments

TorreyNeel
TorreyNeel 9 months ago

I have never seen one, great capture.

I received a reply from the Ca Dept of Fish & Game. Apparently this species is common so I'll contact the various reference sites I looked at and share the information with them.

Awesome. Thanks again Jellis!

Jellis
Jellis 9 months ago

The othe name for California chipmunk is Dusty

Jellis
Jellis 9 months ago

Not sure but I always contact Dept Fish,game&wildlife

Thank you for the wonderful links! Since the various documentation doesn't show Chipmunks in the area, I wonder who I should contact to have the data updated. Any ideas?

Jellis
Jellis 9 months ago

Panamint Chipmuck range is in nearer the Nevada border. And is named because of the area it's in. Panamint Valley
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panamint_ch...
Merriam's is probably Southern Calif and the only other prospect would be the California Chipmunk which ranges the most southern California and into Baja.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_...

RobBielawski
RobBielawski 9 months ago

http://creagrus.home.montereybay.com/chi...

The facial patterns look really similar to the Panamint Chipmunk in these photos as well...interesting though that no chipmunks are supposed to range there and yet they've found a way to do it.

Thank you Sachin!

Jellis, you may be right. It seems to be the closest recorded species. The facial markings didn't seem right but there may be variation within the species.

Sachin Zaveri
Sachin Zaveri 9 months ago

lovely,

Jellis
Jellis 9 months ago

Might be a Merriam's Chipmunk Tamias merriami

Escondido, California, USA

Lat: 33.17, Long: -117.05

Spotted on Jul 29, 2012
Submitted on Jul 30, 2012

Reference

Related spottings

Least chipmunk Least chipmunk Chipmunk Colorado chipmunk

Nearby spottings

Miner's Lettuce San Diego Morning Glory California Toothwort Phacelia