Chipmunk is a small, omnivorous, ground-dwelling squirrel, known for its distinctive striped appearance, with two white and five dark stripes running down its back. It's a member of the rodent family Sciuridae, primarily found in North America, although one species is native to Asia. Chipmunks are known for their cheek pouches, which they use to transport food to their burrows, and their habit of burrowing underground to store food for the winter.
Classification of the Chipmunk:
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Family: Sciuridae
Genus: Tamias, the most widespread genus, and others including Eutamias and Neotamias, depending on the classification system.
The genus Tamias includes 25 species, such as the Eastern chipmunk (Tamias striatus) and the Siberian chipmunk (Tamias sibiricus), the only species found outside North America. These small creatures play significant roles in their ecosystems, such as dispersing seeds and serving as prey for various predators.
