The Difference Between Chipmunks and Other Squirrels

If you live anywhere in North America, some places in Europe, Asia and even Africa, you have seen some kind of squirrel. These animals are cute rodents who are commonly found in places inhabited by humans. Chipmunks are just one type of squirrel and they differ from other squirrels in various ways.

Contrary to popular belief, chipmunks are in fact, squirrels. They are just among the smallest of the family. They are also less diverse. Where there are nearly 400 varieties of squirrel, chipmunks only make up about 25 of these species.

One of the most obvious and significant ways that other squirrels differ from chipmunks is in appearance. Chipmunks are roughly half the size of most other squirrels. Some squirrels, like the groundhog, are much larger than chipmunks and some other ground squirrels are only somewhat larger. Chipmunks tend to have much shorter tails than squirrels and the chipmunk's tail is less bushy. The position of the tail tends to be different as well. Chipmunks hold their tails more erect than other squirrels when moving.

Chipmunks and other squirrels differ in color and markings as well. Most squirrels have stripes, but those of a chipmunk are more prominent and can contain black and white. They run from the chipmunk's nose to about the base of their tail. Other squirrels do not have stripes on their head. You can hardly tell most squirrels have stripes at all.

The habitat of chipmunks and other squirrels are the same. However, chipmunks are more commonly found on the ground, while most other squirrels nest in trees. Chipmunks typically make burrows. There are squirrels that are ground squirrels like most chipmunks and some chipmunks nest in trees. It is simply the number of instances that differ between chipmunks and all other squirrels. Squirrels that do burrow leave piles of dirt from burrowing outside of the entrance to their home. Chipmunks carry this dirt away in their cheeks and deposit it elsewhere. It is believed that they do this so that their burrows are less obvious to predators.

The diet of squirrels and chipmunks are very similar. They both forage for seeds, nuts, berries and greens. However, their manner of eating can differ in some ways. Chipmunks store a lot of food in their cheeks in order to transport it to the food chambers in their burrows or hiding places. Other squirrels do this as well, but chipmunks have elastic skin in their cheeks, so they can really cram those things. Other squirrels tend to get very busy at the start of winter, finding and eating enough food to get them through hibernation. Chipmunks will eat the food they have in their cheeks and in their food chambers during hibernation.

Aside from the differences listed above, chipmunks are very similar to their cousins. Their body shapes are essentially the same. They fill the same ecological niche, for the most part. The best part, or the worst part, is that neither chipmunks nor other squirrels seem to mind living near humans.

Sources

Squirrel Facts, retrieved 7/30/10, squirrels.org/facts.html

Fenn, Jennifer, What's is the Difference Between a Squirrel and a Chipmunk?, retrieved 7/30/10, wisegeek.com/what-is-the-difference-between-a-squirrel-and-a-chipmunk.htm

Chipmunk, retrieved 7/30/10, nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/chipmunk.html