Tamias sonomae

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	MAMMALIA	RODENTIA	SCIURIDAE

Scientific Name:

Tamias sonomae

Species Authority:

(Grinnell, 1915)

Common Name/s:

English

–

Sonoma Chipmunk

Synonym/s:

Tamias sonomae (Grinnell, 1915)

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Least Concern ver 3.1

Year Published:

2008

Assessor/s:

Linzey, A.V. & NatureServe (Hammerson, G.)

Reviewer/s:

Amori, G., Koprowski, J. & Roth, L. (Small Nonvolant Mammal Red List Authority)

Justification:
Listed as Least Concern because its extent of occurrence is greater than 20,000 km², it is common, and there are no major threats.

History:

1996

–

Lower Risk/least concern

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	This species occurs in northwestern California in the United States, from the northern San Francisco Bay area north to Siskiyou County; in the Upper Sonoran and Transition life zones, from near sea level to 2,100 m asl (Best 1993).
Countries:	Native: United States (California)
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	This species is locally abundant in a restricted range.
Population Trend:	Stable

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	This species occurs in dense chaparral, brushy clearings in forests, and streamside thickets; often associated with black oak, ponderosa pine, digger pine, Douglas-fir, white fir, redwood, sticky laurel, incense cedar, madrone, manzanita, and serviceberry; associated with tan oak on high ridges in Trinity and Humboldt counties, with whitethorn, chokecherry, serviceberry, and silk tassel in large warm tracts of brush in Trinity County (Best 1993). A tree nest was on a limb 15 metres up in a large Douglas-fir at the base of a forested slope (Best 1993). Often uses elevated perches such as stumps, rocks, or lower limbs of trees. Breeds once a year in spring. Young are born during May-July; timing of reproduction varies with elevation. Litter size is 3-5 (usually four). Female raises litter alone; remains with young for at least three weeks after young emerge. Weaned young may stay together for some weeks after separation from mother. Males disperse as juveniles; females tend to stay near natal site (Best 1993). Diet includes seeds, fruits, fungi, etc. Forages on ground and in bushes. Active throughout most of the year. Probably remains in its burrow only during severe winter storms.
Systems:	Terrestrial

Habitat and Ecology:

This species occurs in dense chaparral, brushy clearings in forests, and streamside thickets; often associated with black oak, ponderosa pine, digger pine, Douglas-fir, white fir, redwood, sticky laurel, incense cedar, madrone, manzanita, and serviceberry; associated with tan oak on high ridges in Trinity and Humboldt counties, with whitethorn, chokecherry, serviceberry, and silk tassel in large warm tracts of brush in Trinity County (Best 1993). A tree nest was on a limb 15 metres up in a large Douglas-fir at the base of a forested slope (Best 1993). Often uses elevated perches such as stumps, rocks, or lower limbs of trees.

Breeds once a year in spring. Young are born during May-July; timing of reproduction varies with elevation. Litter size is 3-5 (usually four). Female raises litter alone; remains with young for at least three weeks after young emerge. Weaned young may stay together for some weeks after separation from mother.

Males disperse as juveniles; females tend to stay near natal site (Best 1993). Diet includes seeds, fruits, fungi, etc. Forages on ground and in bushes. Active throughout most of the year. Probably remains in its burrow only during severe winter storms.

Systems:

Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	There are no major threats to this species at present.

Major Threat(s):

There are no major threats to this species at present.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	This species is not known to occur in any protected areas.

Conservation Actions:

This species is not known to occur in any protected areas.

Citation:	Linzey, A.V. & Hammerson, G. 2008. Tamias sonomae. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 25 May 2012.
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