Chipmunk (Tamias sibiricus)
Morphology
The most common of the 24 species of chipmunk to be kept as a pet is the Siberian chipmunk. Adults reach 12-19 cm in length with a long bushy tail of approximately 11 cm and weigh 70-120 g.
The fur varies from deep brown to greyish light chest nut. The dark prominent eyes arc set on either side of the head and are outlined by a white stripe with an inner dark stripe running towards the ear. The small furry cars have rounded lips and arc set high on the head. Running along the back from the nape of the neck to the base of the tail are live dark stripes with four lighter ones in between. The tail is covered in chestnut grey hairs tipped with white, ∕∖l rest the chipmunk sits upright supported by the hind feet and uses the forelimbs for holding food. similar to the familiar ’squirrel’ position. Chipmunks have cheek pouches extending from the oral cavity which arc used Iocarry Icxxl gathered from the woodland Iloor to storage chambers within their nests. The female has four pairs of teats but these arc absent in the male.Digestive system
The chipmunk is an omnivore and has a similar dentition and type of digestive trad to that seen in the Myomorphs.
Reproductive system
Eemale chipmunks arc seasonally ∣n>l∏(>ι,stroιιs and spontaneous o∖,ιιlators. The breeding season is between March and September. The testes of the male descend into the scrotum in ∣anuary and begin spermatogenesis. I hc female advertises her willingness to mate by a persistent chipping noise on the second day of her three day estrous cycle. The reproductive tract of both sexes follows a similar pattern to that of the MyomorphstsceTabIe 14.2. p 1X9).