The living squirrels are divided into five subfamilies, with about 58 genera and some 285 species.Ĭhipmunks may be classified either as a single genus, Tamias, or as three genera: Tamias, which includes the eastern chipmunk Eutamias, which includes the Siberian chipmunk and Neotamias, which includes the 23 remaining, mostly western, species. These differences are listed in the table below:Īnimalia – Chordata – Mammalia – Rodentia – Sciuromorpha – SciuridaeĪnimalia – Chordata – Mammalia – Rodentia – Sciuromorpha – Sciuridae – Marmotini – Tamiina - Tamias There are other characteristics that set chipmunks apart from other squirrels, such as in the manner that they burrow or nest, the types of food they eat and other things. This allows them to fill these pouches with food and carry them back to their burrows either to save for the winter or to eat in peace. Furthermore, chipmunks have elastic skin in their cheeks. While running, chipmunks tend to hold their tails more erect as compared to squirrels, whose tails flail about behind them. Some other types of squirrels may have stripes on the top of their head and sometimes on their body, but these are not as prominent as the chipmunks’ and at time may not even be distinguishable.Ĭhipmunks also have shorter less bushy tails than squirrels. They also have strips on the top of their heads, and white strips under their eyes. Also, chipmunks tend to have prominent black and white strips running from their head to their tail. Physically, chipmunks are much smaller than most other types of squirrels, almost half even. A type of chipmunk, the Siberian chipmunk however is native to Asia. Chipmunks, on the other hand, can be mainly found in North America. They are indigenous to the Americas, Eurasia, and Africa and they have been introduced to Australia. However, there are certain differences that set chipmunks apart. In fact, chipmunks make up about 25 of the 400 different species classified in the squirrel family. This explains why it is so easy to confuse a ‘squirrel’ and a chipmunk. This family includes tree squirrels, ground squirrels, chipmunks, marmots, flying squirrels, and prairie dogs. Squirrels are a type of small or medium-sized rodents, belonging to Sciuridae family. Key difference: Squirrels are a type of small or medium-sized rodents.
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