Description: Chipmunks are really small squirrels distinguishable from
other similar-sized mammals by the presence of alternating black and white facial stripes. Other small squirrels may have rings, but not eye stripes. Palmer’s chipmunk (head and body: 13 cm [5 in.]) has distinct dark and light stripes on the back and on the face. Found at higher elevations in the Spring Mountains, in comparison to the Panamint Chipmunk (T. panamintinus) which occurs at lower elevations in the pinyon-juniper belt. Panamint chipmunk is slightly smaller and has more brightly colored flanks, yet has solid black and white stripes. It also has a more distinct gray rump. Where these two species overlap they are difficult to identify.
Diet: Mainly conifer seeds; also flowers, berries, green vegetation, insects.
Habitat: Bristlecone pine and mixed conifer habitats with rocky slopes or areas with free-flowing water at elevations of 2,100 - 3,050 m
(7,000 - 10,000 ft). Found in deep, mesic canyons and canyon floors where fallen logs, rocks, small caves, and cliff crevices provide shelter. Also found in picnic areas.
Range: Endemic to the Spring Mountains. Known to occur in the Deer
Creek, Mummy Springs, and Macks Canyon areas, and on the east side of Mt. Charleston.
Comments: Older texts use Eutamias for the genus name, and some
older texts use Charleston Mountain Chipmunk for the common name. The most recent evidence suggests that T. palmeri is a subspecies of
T. umbrinus.