1. Classification
  2. Biological and physiological features
  3. Housing conditions
  4. Predominant diseases

 

Classification:
Class: Mammals
Order: Rodents
Suborder: Sciographies
Family: Sciuridés (squirrels, marmots, prairie dogs)
Genus: Tamia
Species: striatus

 

Common name: Latin name:
Siberian chipmunk or Burunduk Eutamia sibiricus
(Bred and sold in Europe)
Hudson’s chipmunk Tamiasciurus hadsonicus
Dwarf neotamias Neotamia pygmaeus
Striped chipmunk, also called striped squirrel, Tamia striatus
Japanese squirrel or Korean chipmunk
(bred and sold in Europe)

 

Biological and physiological features

The Korean chipmunk has a grey back with 5 dark-brown longitudinal stripes, and its flanks are yellowish-grey.

  • Adult weight: 70-120 g
  • Body length: 15 cm
  • Tail length: 10-12 cm
  • Dental formula (22 continuously growing teeth)
upper jaw 1 0 2 3
I C PM M
lower jaw 1 0 1 3
  • Cheek pouches
  • Powerful eyesight, wide field of vision
  • 4 toes on the forelimbs and 5 toes on the hindlimbs

Biological parameters

  • Arboreal (living in trees)
  • Body temperature: 38-39.5°C
  • Respiratory rate: 200/minute
  • Heart rate: 300-500/minute
  • Average lifespan: 5 years (sometimes 8, even 12)

Reproductive physiology

  • Age at sexual maturity: male 12 months, female 11 months
  • Breeding season: March to April
  • Cycle length: 4-5 days
  • Type of ovulation: spontaneous (at the time of mating)
  • A single mating on the 2nd day of the cycle
  • Gestation length: 35-40 days
  • Birth weight: 3-4 grams
  • Number of young per litter: 3-5
  • Weaning age: 4 weeks
  • Number of teats: 8 (4 pairs)
  • Number of litters per year: 1
  • Reproductive lifespan: 5-6 years

Handling:

The examination is difficult because it bites easily and moves very fast. You begin with observation in the cage and by taking it in your hands; you put on a glove and grasp the head between thumb and index finger.

Caution: do not grasp the animal by the tail, as it risks being scalped.

Living environment

In the wild: burrows with a central chamber and side corridors serving as a larder for the winter. Each chipmunk has its own burrow. Hibernation from October to April.

In captivity: a large indoor aviary of wire mesh with metal uprights, 100x50x150 cm at minimum. Provide mesh with holes smaller than 2 cm, one or more large natural branches, and a wooden nest box with an entrance hole of 3 cm and more than 15 cm in every direction.

Preferred bedding: peat, or better still, excellent-quality hay. The bedding is changed as soon as the urine causes an unpleasant smell.

Squirrels give off no smell.

Ambient temperature: few requirements. Keeping outdoors is possible provided you avoid a full-south exposure. The squirrel hibernates and wakes up in March. No hibernation indoors.

Great sensitivity to temperature swings and to insufficient ventilation.

Feeding

Specific compound feeds (of the commercial type); a traditional diet is possible, with dry foods, varied seeds (walnuts, hazelnuts, ash keys, maize, wheat and sunflower), oat flakes, fresh foods (lettuce, dandelions, fresh bark, fruit, buds), and animal protein in small amounts (eggs, raw meat, mealworms, insects).

In the wild the animal feeds on berries, insects, frogs, small reptiles, eggs and nestlings.

Predominant diseases

Digestive disorders

Dental abnormalities: a defect of the incisors makes chewing difficult, then impossible. These abnormalities are hereditary.

‘Gum’ disease: caused by the build-up of solid or food debris between the incisors. This results in a chronic infection of the ‘gums’.

Bloating (tympany): caused by a sudden change of diet or by excessive consumption of fruit or greens. The outcome is unfortunately often unfavourable without early treatment.

Inflammation of the small intestine (enteritis): always very serious and fast-developing. Its origin is bacterial, and the salmonellosis pathogen is often involved.

Respiratory disorders

Encouraged by sudden temperature changes, draughts, and faulty ventilation.

Skin disorders

External parasites (fleas and ticks, mites), fungal infections (mycoses), abscesses

Urinary disorders

Urinary disorders are fairly common.

Signs: the animal is restless and suffers from pollakiuria (problems passing urine, frequent and scanty urination). Cystitis is generally due to stones.

Reproductive pathology

Metritis (due to a post-partum infection), pyometra, mammary tumours (often tending to be benign), hypocalcaemia (common after giving birth and in early lactation, but also in young males)

Traumatic conditions

Fractures

Nervous disorders

Epilepsy: the cause is still poorly understood.

Heatstroke

It is seen in summer and can be caused by excessive temperature or by keeping the animal in an insufficiently ventilated room. Extremely serious, it calls for emergency body-cooling and shock treatment at the vet.

Eye disorders

Cataract: mainly in males, and its cause is poorly understood.