Account
What the sources say about this taxon, as written.
description · 
Plazi
Descriptive notes. Head-body 147-8-152-5 mm, tail 109-115-1 mm; weight 80-180 g (males) and 80-120 g (females). The Yellow-cheeked Chipmunk can be differentiated from the other species of the townsendii complex by its larger size, darker dorsal coloration, thinner tail, different vocalization, and structure of the genital bones. In southern part ofits distribution, it can be differentiated from the Sonoma Chipmunk (1. sonomae) and from Merriam’s Chipmunk (7. merriami) by its shorter tail, darker pelage, and larger body size. Chromosome number of the Yellow-cheeked Chipmunk is 2n = 38. Karyotype is type B for Tamias and consists offive pairs of metacentric autosomes, six pairs of submetacentric autosomes, seven pairs of acrocentric autosomes, a submetacentric X chromosome, and an acrocentric Y chromosome.
biology_ecology · Plazi
Movements, Home range and Social organization. Population density was estimated at 3-8 ind/ha in Mendocino County, California. Although difficult to observe due to thickness of underbrush, it can be recognized by its vocalizations, which are described as low-frequency two-part “chips.” The Yellow-cheeked Chipmunk vocalizations can be differentiated from Townsend’s Chipmunk (7. townsendii) vocalizations by a lower frequency, and differentiated from the other species of the townsendii complex byits distinctive rhythm.
breeding · Plazi
Breeding. Males are able to mate between March and June. One female with four embryos, which measured 43 mm each, was reported in mid-March. Hybridization of the Yellow-cheeked Chipmunk and the Shadow Chipmunk (7. senex) may occur, based on intermediate “chip” vocalizations registered in the south of the Eel River, in Humboldt County.