the pygmy sperm whale ( kogia breviceps ) is one of three species of toothed whale in the sperm whale family .

they are not often sighted at sea , and most of what is known about them comes from the examination of stranded specimens .

pygmy sperm whale

this whale is 1 of 3 species of sperm whale ; the other two are the sperm whale and the dwarf sperm whale .
echolocation also provides the pygmy sperm whale with an early warning to incoming predators .
the pygmy sperm whale is a toothed whale that belongs to the cetacean species which includes all species of whale , dolphin and porpoise .
en - pygmy sperm whale , fr - cachalot pygmée , sp - cachalote pigmeo .
the pygmy sperm whale – kogia breviceps the firecracker whale by max newman april 1996 . a then - current study of available information on this remarkable whale the firecracker whale
once sexually mature the pygmy sperm whale can begin mating and reproducing offspring of its own .
dr steve van dyck from queensland museum talks to kim honan about the pygmy sperm whale .
acs pygmy sperm whale cetacean fact sheet - american cetacean society on 03 jan 2002 , a 2 . 88m ( 9 . 45ft ) adult pygmy sperm whale was stranded at thurlestone sands in south devon . [ photos ] irish whale and dolphin group : pygmy sperm whale , kogia breviceps whale and dolphin conservation society ( wdcs )
information on the pygmy sperm whale is currently being researched and written and will appear here shortly .
neuron numbers in sensory cortices of five delphinids compared to a physeterid , the pygmy sperm whale .
sperm whale links sperm whales from the
whales in danger information service
in australia . whalenet , for teachers and students . the sperm whale project - promoting ocean conservation . listen to a sperm whale
dwarf sperm whalethe dwarf sperm whale ( kogia simus ) is a small toothed whale - it is also known as owen ' s pygmy sperm whale ( because it was originally described by the english scientist richard owen in 1866 ) .
the diet of the pygmy sperm whale consists mostly of crab , shrimp , fish , octopus and squid .
a pygmy sperm whale who was found beached at la jolla shores friday was in critical condition at seaworld saturday .
1994 .
pygmy sperm whale
( on - line ) . accessed december 4 , 1999 at urltoken .
source unidentified , pygmy sperm whale , page 88 , provided by karin cooper , fairbanks , alaska , 1996 .
the skull that acts to produce the sounds for echolocation . although the pygmy sperm
the second unknown behavior of the pygmy sperm whales was a process of regurgitation .
a pygmy killer whale calf with shark bite wounds . photo by dan mcsweeney .
neuron numbers in sensory cortices of five delphinids compared to a physeterid , the pygmy sperm whale . - pubmed - ncbi
pygmy sperm whale on the beach . by inwater research group - own work , cc by - sa 4 . 0
at sea it is often difficult to separate the pygmy sperm whale from the dwarf sperm whale . externally the only real difference is that the latter has a larger more prominent dorsal fin .
diet : a squid lover , the pygmy sperm whale sometimes preys on fish and crustaceans . it is believed that the pygmy sperm whale uses its eyesight to locate food in the deep as many of the squid it takes are light emitting .
more information about the dwarf and pygmy sperm whales at noaa’s southwest fisheries science center .
facts on dwarf and pygmy sperm whales ( kogia sp ) . - ocean blue adventures
not much is known about pygmy sperm whales reproduction and mating . it is known that
the classification of the pygmy sperm whale . the american naturalist of 1871 had an article describing the current state of classification of
long , , d . j . 1991 . apparent predation by a whale shark on carcharodon carcharias on a pygmy sperm whale kogia breviceps . fisheiry bulletin 538 - 540 .
sighting notes : similar in appearance to the pygmy sperm whale , but has a larger dorsal fin , generally set nearer the middle of the back . also , the dwarf sperm whale’s blowhole is positioned further forward .
. an adult sperm whale can eat about a ton of food each day .
another view of the pygmy killer whale calf with shark bite wounds . photo by robin baird .
pygmy sperm whales resemble dwarf sperm whales and were not recognised as a separate species until 1966 . as with the dwarf sperm whale , the pygmy sperm whale appears to have an unusual defence mechanism . when startled , it releases a cloud of reddish - brown intestinal fluid and then dives . this may act as a decoy very similar to that of squid ink .
dwarf sperm whales ( kogia sima ) and pygmy sperm whales ( kogia breviceps ) are the only two members of the family kogiidae , and both species are found in hawaiian waters . in our work we ' ve encountered dwarf sperm whales 84 times between 2002 and 2017 , while we ' ve seen pygmy sperm whales on only six occasions . however , pygmy sperm whales strand much more frequently than dwarf sperm whales in hawai‘i .
in baltimore reported adult pygmy sperm whales can eat 25 - 30 lb . daily . their relatives ,
similar to squids , pygmy sperm whales use an ink - like liquid to evade and deter predators .
key west — a juvenile pygmy sperm whale that volunteers tended round the clock for more than four months died early wednesday in a freak accident .
a pygmy sperm whale who was found beached at la jolla shores friday was in critical condition at seaworld saturday . ( photo courtesy of seaworld )
the small size and solitary behavior of the pygmy sperm whale makes them an ideal target for larger predators looking for an easy , defenseless meal .
have 12 - 16 teeth on each side and their blowhole is slightly displaced to the left . these two traits distinguish the pygmy sperm whale ,
the dorsal fin is also smaller in size when compared to the dwarf sperm whale .
breaches , landing in the water tail first . also like the great sperm whale ,
dwarf sperm whale with apparent line injury on dorsal fin . photo by annie douglas .
pygmy sperm whales , kogia breviceps , feed on octopuses , squid , crab , fish , and shrimp .
june 30 , 1995 .
pygmy sperm whale hawaiian stock
( on - line ) . accessed december 4 , 1999 at http : / / swfsc . ucsd . sars . pygmy _ hi . htm .
the pygmy sperm ( kogia breviceps ) is a small grey whale up to 4 metres long , which is more often seen after stranding than at sea . it too has spermaceti oil in its head . the pygmy is hard to distinguish from the very much rarer dwarf sperm whale ( kogia simus ) .
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in terms of size the pygmy sperm whale is slightly larger than its smaller cousin ( the dwarf sperm whale ) measuring between 9 1 / 2 – 11 1 / 2 ft . long and typically weighing between 600 – 1 , 000 pounds .
so a pygmy sperm whale is the most interesting thing i’ve found on the beach . it’s not the montauk monster , but it was far more interesting .
whale has ears , the earholes are plugged with wax . this whale actually
hears
water , a behavior the japanese name uik - kujira or floating whale . the whale would
brain than in many other odontocete brains examined , i . e . bottlenose dolphin , common dolphin , beluga whale and even sperm whale (
can be confused with : pygmy sperm whale and dwarf sperm whale are somewhat difficult to distinguish at sea . pygmy sperm whales grow to somewhat greater total lengths , and have smaller , more rounded dorsal fins , set farther back on the body . there is some degree of overlap in most of characteristics of these 2 species , and identifications must be made cautiously .
adult pygmy sperm whales range from 2 . 7 – 3 . 4 meters in length . they have three stomachs
several lineages of sperm whale were alive during the miocene epoch , from 5m to 24m years ago , but they suddenly became much less diverse during climatic cooling at the end of the epoch . today , there are only three living species : the sperm whale , the pygmy sperm whale and the dwarf sperm whale . modern sperm whales have smaller teeth in the lower jaw and are almost toothless in the upper jaw . they feed on squid at depth , which they capture by sucking in water .
pygmy sperm whales grow up to 14 feet in length and are similar to the great sperm whales for which they are named , according to the american cetacean society .
mystic — a pygmy sperm whale that surprised researchers by living far longer than expected died recently in its outdoor holding tank at the back of the mystic marinelife aquarium .
2d ct slice of the head in sagittal view of a pygmy sperm whale ( kogia breviceps ) demonstrating densities in the melon ( circles ) . ( related poster )
during the middle of the miocene epoch , between about 13m and 12m years ago , the sea which once blanketed present - day peru was home to an array of marine predators of gargantuan proportions . the famous
megashark
carcharocles megalodon swam these waters and so did the prehistoric cousins of the modern sperm whale , called physeteroids . this group of ancient sperm whales is only represented by three species today ( the sperm whale , the dwarf sperm whale , and the pygmy sperm whale ) , but the sperm whales of the miocene were quite distinct from their extant cousins .
the sperm whale was named for the valuable spermaceti oil ( wax ) that this whale produces in the spermaceti organ ( located in its head ) .
a pygmy sperm whale that beached itself on la jolla shores was in critical condition saturday as veterinarians and other animal - care specialists from seaworld worked to save its life .
male sperm whales can reach up to 20 metres in length , making it the largest toothed whale .
the pygmy sperm whales is a very rarely sighted marine mammal due to its small size , oceanic habitat and inactive nature .
clarke mr ( 1980 ) cephalopoda in the diet of sperm whales of the southern hemisphere and their bearing on sperm whale biology . discovery reports 37 : 1–324
the pygmy sperm whale is amongst the smallest of all whales ; they are about 1 . 2m at birth , growing to around 4m at maturity . adults weigh about 400kg .
the pygmy sperm whale rarely visits canadian waters . the animals reach about 3 . 6 metres when full grown and eat octopus , squid , crab fish and shrimp . this whale likely mistook the plastic for one of those creatures .
records from india : that there are two distinct species of small sperm whales , the dwarf and the pygmy , was recognised relatively recently . older records have therefore lumped the two together . from india , there are records of the pygmy sperm whale from visakhapatnam and trivandrum . with the available information , it is not clear whether these are distinct from the records of the dwarf sperm whale from the same localities .
cascadia research and the wild whale research foundation are continuing studies of this species in hawai‘i . in early december 2008 the first - ever satellite tag was deployed on a pygmy killer whale off the island of hawai‘i to examine movements , and another satellite tag was deployed on a pygmy killer whale in april 2009 .
the dwarf sperm whale has a shark - like profile ( but with a more pointed snout than the pygmy sperm whale ) , gray and white countershading , and a light pigment block resembling a shark’s gill slit on the side of its head . generally , a pair of short grooves similar to those in beaked whales is present on the dwarf sperm whale throat . it contains spermaceti in its melon .
diet pygmy sperm whale only have teeth in their bottom jaws ( between 20 and 32 teeth ) , which are used to consume squid and , less commonly , crustaceans and small fish .
the sperm whale ( physeter macrocephalus ) is the largest of the toothed whales , with males growing up to 20 metres in length . the sperm whale also has the largest brain of any living animal , and it was a sperm whale that was pitted against captain ahab in herman melville’s classic novel , moby dick ( 2 ) .
nowadays the dwarf sperm whale is generally classified as one of two species , along with the pygmy sperm whale , in the kogiidae family and kogia genus , however it was not until 1966 that the two species were regard as separate and even more recently kogiidae was regarded as a subfamily of physeteridae .
there have been no reports of a pygmy killer whale dying as a result of hawaii’s long - line tuna and swordfish fishery . but the mouth of a pygmy killer whale stranded on oahu in 2006 had hook and line marks , indicating fishing lines affect the animals .
satellite tagged pygmy killer whale with companions ( including hifa006 , photo above ) , december 7 , 2008 . photo by robin baird .
taxonomy nowadays the dwarf sperm whale is generally classified as one of two species , along with the pygmy sperm whale , in the kogiidae family and kogia genus , however it was not until 1966 that the two species were regard as separate and even more recently kogiidae was regarded as a subfamily of physeteridae .
the pygmy sperm whale is largely a solitary mammal that prefers traveling alone or in small groups although they may be found traveling in small pods of up to 8 other whales during certain times .
a pygmy sperm whale that washed up on a beach near mackay harbour in north queensland could have died after it was caught in fishing gear , from swallowing plastic bags or just old age .
the dwarf and pygmy sperm whales are the only two extant species in the family kogiidae , and as their name suggests they are small compared to their distant cousin the sperm whale . like sperm whales , their mouth is on the underside of their body , but unlike sperm whales they have very few and very small teeth that are sharply pointed and curved . like sperm whales , they are suction feeders and eat mostly squid .
pygmy and dwarf sperm whales are probably not rare , but are not common sightings , because of their offshore distribution and small group sizes .
the pygmy and dwarf sperm whales are two little known deep ocean dwelling cetaceans . their habit of lying motionless near the sea surface far from shore makes them difficult to detect . pygmy sperm whales are though to be more pelagic and dwarf sperm whales more coastal ( reeves et al . 2002 ) . pygmy sperm whales have been seen from japan , hawaii , washington state south to chile and the tasman sea ( reeves et al . ) . dwarf sperm whales are recorded from japan to british columbia south to new zealand and chile .
specifically , staudinger and colleagues hoped to identify differences , if any , in ecological niches occupied by pygmy and dwarf sperm whales . these smaller cousins of the sperm whale were once thought to be a single species until modern analyses showed they are genetically distinct .
when a potential predator is nearby the pygmy sperm whale can use echolocation to identify the threat and will release a dark ink cloud to block the view of its predator so that it can escape .
an inquisitive pygmy killer whale off the bow of our research vessel , off o‘ahu in october 2010 . photo by robin w . baird .
pygmy killer whale with healing injury on mouth - line , probably due to an interaction with a line fishery . photo by russ andrews .
the sperm whale is found in all of the oceans of the world , except the high arctic ( 6 ) .
pygmy sperm whales are found singly or in groups of two to three individuals . however , they are rarely sighted at sea , so most of what we know about this species comes from stranded animals . pygmy sperm whales are also one of the most commonly stranded species in nsw .
the whale , an 8 - foot - long male weighing about 500 pounds , was stranded on the atlantic coast of long island in july with a bile - duct obstruction . the pygmy sperm whale is a warm - water species that occasionally travels into colder waters .
now accepted as a distinct species , the dwarf sperm whale is found throughout much of the worlds tropical and temperate oceans .
vidal o ( 1987 ) recent records of pygmy sperm whales in the gulf of california , mexico . marine mammal sci 3 ( 4 ) : 354–356
taxonomy nowadays the dwarf sperm whale is generally classified as one of two species , along with the pygmy sperm whale , in the kogiidae family and kogia genus , however it was not until 1966 that the two species were regard as separate and even more recently kogiidae was regarded as a subfamily ( kogiinae ) of physeteridae . ( wiki )
nowadays the dwarf sperm whale is generally classified as one of two species , along with the pygmy sperm whale , in the kogiidae family and kogia genus , however it was not until 1966 that the two species were regard as separate and even more recently kogiidae was regarded as a subfamily ( kogiinae ) of physeteridae . ( full text )
wang mc , walker wa , shao kt , chou ls ( 2002 ) comparative analysis of the diets of pygmy sperm whales and dwarf sperm whales in taiwanese waters . acta zoologica taiwanica 13 ( 2 ) : 53–62
a pygmy sperm whale off kona , photo by daniel webster . we see pygmy sperm whales so infrequently we have not obtained many photos . this individual shows the very long back relative to the size of the dorsal fin , the rounded tip of the dorsal fin , and the hump in the back when logging at the surface , all characteristic of this species .
there are very few , probably less than 200 individuals , in this distinct pygmy killer whale population off the islands . the population’s limited number make it more vulnerable than other whale populations to potentially harmful human behavior .
oelschläger ha , kemp b ( 1998 ) ontogenesis of the sperm whale brain . j comp neurol , 399 : 210 - 228
the sperm whale is a toothed whale that lives in pods . it has a huge brain that weighs about 20 pounds ( 9 kg ) ; it is the largest brain of any animal . the sperm whale has a single blowhole that is s - shaped and about 20 inches long . the blowhole is located on the left side of the front if its huge head . the sperm whale has a 4 - 12 inch thick layer of blubber .
the sperm whale was named by the early whalers who discovered whitish oil in the whale’s head and thought the fluid looked like semen . it is possible that this spermaceti oil helps to focus the sound emitted during echolocation , and to stun the whale’s prey .
caldwell , d . k . and m . c . caldwell . 1989 . pygmy sperm whale kogia breviceps ; dwarf sperm whale kogia simus . pp . 235 - 260 in ( s . h . ridgway and r . harrison ( eds . ) . handbook of marine mammals : river dolphins and the large toothed whales . academic press , london .
beak analysis from cephalopod remains showed the diet of pygmy sperm whales to be more diverse than that of the dwarf species , the researchers report , and prey sizes were slightly larger for the pygmy than for the dwarf , but not statistically significantly so .
well , it turns out that there was one a large sperm whale that didn’t use its massive teeth and jaws to hunt squid .
fossil hunters have recovered the remains of an ancient sperm whale that boasted one of the largest bites of any predator that ever lived .
an adult dwarf sperm whale off the island of hawai‘i . photo by daniel webster . note the blunt head and large dorsal fin .
gomez - villota f ( 2006 ) sperm whale diet in new zealand . unpublished mappsc thesis , auckland university of technology , 231 pp
sperm whales produce ambergris , a dark , waxy substance ( related to cholesterol ) that is produced in the lower intestines , and is sometimes found containing squid beaks . ambergris may help protect the sperm whale from the stings on the giant squid , its major food . large lumps of ambergris may be vomited up by the sperm whale .
pygmy sperm whales are known from deep waters in tropical to warm temperate zones of all oceans . they appear to be especially common over and near the continental slope .
generally , the mammals don ' t live much longer than a few weeks once they have beached themselves , said george donnelly of the mystic aquarium . in 140 years , no one has restored a beached pygmy sperm whale to health .
poth c , fung c , güntürkün o , ridgway sh , oelschläger hha ( 2005 ) neuron numbers in sensory cortices of five delphinids compared to a physeterid , the pygmy sperm whale . brain res bull , 66 : 357 - 360
the sperm whale – physeter macrocephalus – is an oddball among living cetaceans . as big as many of its baleen - bearing cousins , yet armed with a lower jaw full of teeth slung below its blunt head , the sperm whale is the largest predaceous vertebrate in the sea .
i knew that i had come across a pygmy sperm whale . i was quite surprised . i ran back to tell my parents , who followed me closesly back to the whale . by then a crowd had gathered aroud the whale . and suddenly found myself like george costanza , an impromptu marine biologist . i explained the taxonomy of the species and how it was related to the bigger sperm whale that everyone knows . i explained how its jagged teeth helped it catch squid , which are its primary food source .
for the first time , researchers know how much fish a pygmy sperm whale needs to eat daily to maintain or gain weight , what is contained in the mammal ' s feces and how it might attempt to defend itself in the wild .
we ' ve been accumulating records for 150 years and of the 15 specimens that we ' ve got of the pygmy sperm whale in the museum they ' ve all come from the coast between brisbane and rockhampton ,
he said .
though there are sightings of solitary individuals , most of the whales travel in small pods of 3 - 6 . like the great sperm whale ,
sperm whale dives can last up to 2 hours and reach depths of up to 3 , 000 metres , making it the deepest diving mammal .
pygmy sperm whales are found either singly or in small groups of 3 - 5 . they are infrequently seen in the wild as they avoid marine traffic . strandings are found on coasts in the southeastern united states , some are found alive either as single individuals or cows with their calves . attempts to rescue stranded pygmy sperm whales have been unsuccessful .
download the above for information on how to distinguish between pygmy killer whales and melon - headed whales .
pygmy sperm whales are the second - most common species to strand in florida , after bottlenose dolphins . they almost always die after stranding , and none is alive in captivity .
adult pygmy sperm whales are 2 . 7 to 3 . 4 m long , and newborns are about 1 . 2 m . adults may weigh as much as 400 kg .
another very distinctive dwarf sperm whale off kona . photo by daniel webster . we have also found that dwarf sperm whales , like their larger cousin the sperm whale , often shed skin even when just resting at the surface , and we have been able to collect several samples for genetic analyses just by looking in the
fluke prints
of whales after they dive .
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could be confused with : there is a possibility of confusion with the dwarf sperm whale kogia simus . the two species can be distinguished as follows :
but these animals aren ' t long lived , i think the longevity in pygmy sperm whales is about 25 years so at some stage they ' ve got to die .
3d volume rendering technique ( vrt ) reconstruction from ct scans of the head in mid - sagittal view of a pygmy sperm whale ( kogia breviceps ) demonstrating the positions of the melon ( anterior section of blue transparency ) , skull , and soft tissues .
pygmy killer whale rolling at the surface , december 2008 . photo by robin baird . note the scarring on the mouth - line , probably due to interaction with a line fishery .
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i knew what i had come across . a few months before , i had purchased a guide book to the marine mammals of north america . i had learned that there were three species of sperm whale . one was the cachalot , the great whale that grappled with giant squid many fathoms down below the surface . it was the species immortalized in melville’s moby dick . the other two were much smaller . the one most common on the east coast is the pygmy sperm whale , and it is better known for being a light shade gray and a more conical head shape . the other species of sperm whale is also small . it is called the dwarf sperm whale . it has a squarer head and darker coloration . it also has a larger dorsal fin in proportion to its body size .
caldwell , d . k . , j . h . prescott and m . c . caldwell : production of pulsed sounds by the pigmy sperm whale ,
pygmy and dwarf sperm whales are very difficult to detect , except in extremely calm seas . pygmy sperm whales have a shark - like head with a narrow underslung lower jaw . the flippers are set high on the sides near the head . the small falcate dorsal fin ( < 5 % of the body length ) is usually set well behind the midpoint of the back .
sperm whales ( physeter macrocephalus ) are toothed whales ( suborder odontoceti ) although dna analysis shows that the sperm whale is actually more closely related to the baleen whales . these whales are one of 76 cetacean species and are marine mammals .
stranded specimens : present in the lower jaw are 10 to 16 pairs of thin , inward curved and sharp - pointed teeth , whilst no teeth are present in the upper jaw . the teeth have been described as being ' strongly reminiscent of the teeth of pythons’ . the number of teeth makes it easy to distinguish a dead pygmy sperm whale from a dwarf sperm whale k . simus ( q . v . ) .
she adds that isotopic tracer data suggest these two rare species , while not exactly the same , showed no significant differences in foraging parameters . “we found the ecologic niche of the two species is very similar in u . s . atlantic waters , which is consistent with other global studies , ” staudinger summarizes . “the pygmy sperm whale consumes a greater diversity and size of prey , which means they may be diving deeper than dwarf sperm whales to feed , this makes sense because pygmy sperm whales grow to larger sizes than dwarf sperm whales , however , this could also be an artifact of small sample sizes . ”
santoro , a . k . i . marten , and t . w . crawford . 1989 . pygmy sperm whale sound kogia breviceps . pp . 59 in abstracts of the 8th biennial conferenc eon the biology of marinn mammals . pacific grove , ca , usa .
baird , r . w . , d . nelson , j . lien and d . w . nagorsen . 1996 . the status of the pygmy sperm whale , kogia breviceps , in canada . canadian field - naturalist 110 : 525 - 532 . download pdf copy
whales or toothed whales . the other two odontocete whales are the larger sperm whales
the sperm whale is by far the largest of the toothed whales , and the size difference between males and females is much more marked than in any other whale species . males are about 18 metres long and weigh 32–45 tonnes , and are up to 40 % longer and 300 % heavier than females . the sperm whale’s brain weighs almost 10 kilograms , and is the heaviest of any animal .
the sperm whale is classified as vulnerable ( vu ) on the iucn red list ( 1 ) and is listed under appendix i of cites ( 4 ) .
the pygmy sperm whale , very similar to the dwarf sperm whale in appearances , is seldom seen as it prefers living in the deep waters that are far away from the shore . for this reason , there is not much known about its behaviour and habits . it is usually seen when it is floating at the surface of the water , in its resting position , with its back and head bobbing lazily out of the water .
generally regarded more as a common species rather than abundant , the threat the pygmy sperm whale faces is not direct hunting , although this does occur . rather , the increasing incidence of entanglement in nets and ingestion of marine pollution such as plastic bags is the main threat .
dr van dyck says there is no shortage of the pygmy whales and the mammals are found world - wide .
this whale is a bluish gray color with a lighter pinkish colored under body .
in efficient click production that the whale has lost the ability to produce whistles .
pygmy sperm whales rely on echolocation in order to hunt for food and navigate the ocean and may have difficulty distinguishing sounds due to human created sounds becoming more and more common in their aquatic habitat .
falcate dorsal fin is located to the rear of the midback . unlike the giant sperm
the pygmy sperm whale ' s diet largely consists of a variety of squid and cuttlefish however they are also known to take shrimp , crabs and some fish . they are thought to forage over a range of ocean depths , which includes some time feeding on or near the ocean bottom .
table of contents showtoctoggle (
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) 1 taxonomy 2 physical description 3 population and distribution 4 human interaction 5 see also 6 references taxonomy nowadays the dwarf sperm whale is generally classified as one of two species , along with the pygmy sperm whale , in the kogiidae family and kogia genus , however it was not until 1966 that the two species were regard as separate and even more recently kogiidae was regarded as a subfamily of physeteridae .
the name for this newly discovered whale is quite literary . its name is leviathan melvillei . leviathan– for the sea creature that is mentioned in the book of job . melvillei– for the author who created the image of the fierce sperm whale in the public consciousness .
whether or not their teeth are necessary for hunting prey is uncertain as their larger sperm whale relative is known to successfully capture prey without teeth and even with a deformed jaw .
found in : pygmy sperm whales may be primarily oceanic . however , they tend to stay close to or over the continental slope . they feed on squid , fish and crabs from both deep and shallow water .
sperm whales , which can be found throughout the mediterranean sea , typically feed on squid .
the small , stocky body of the pygmy sperm whale is dark grey or blue - grey on top and pale on its belly . in some individuals , this paler belly has a slightly pink colouration . the body can appear wrinkled in many cases . its blowhole is situated ahead of its eyes , on the top of its head , which is far further forward than most other whale species .
pygmy sperm whales , kogia breviceps , may be found in all temperate , sub - tropical , and tropical waters . they are not known to migrate . population figures are unknown , but they are not considered endangered .
baird , r . w . 2005 . sightings of dwarf ( kogia sima ) and pygmy ( k . breviceps ) sperm whales from the main hawaiian islands . pacific science 59 : 461 - 466 . download pdf copy
the sperm whale captures its prey by diving deep into the ocean’s trenches . it reaches depths of 3 , 000 metres , descending at a rate of over 100 metres a minute . the whale can stay there up to an hour and , in the dark , find its prey by echolocation . on surfacing , the whale takes 45–50 breaths to re - oxygenate .
sperm whales are found in many open oceans , both in tropical and cool waters . sperm whales live at the surface of the ocean but dive very deeply to catch the giant squid .
i had an encounter with a dead pygmy sperm whale that washed up on the beach on the outer banks of north carolina . i had been walking on the beach that morning , as was my normal custom . i saw this pinkish thing off in the distance , and people were stopping to look at it .
scott , m . d . and j . g . cordaro . 1987 . behavioral observations of the dwarf sperm whale , kogia simus . marine mammal science 3 : 353 - 354 .
a 4 . 5 tonne sperm whale that washed ashore in southern spain died from ingesting large amounts of plastic sheets used in greenhouses on farms in the region , a scientist said thursday .
baird , r . w .
pygmy killer whale
encyclopedia of marine mammals . ed bernd würsig , j . g . m . thewissen , kit kovacs . 3rd edition . elsevier inc . 2018 . download pdf copy
and the slightly smaller dwarf sperm whales . see table 1 and figure 1 . it has been
pygmy killer whales , one of the most poorly - known species of dolphins in the world , are observed at least several times a year within hawaiian waters . through photo id’s , they ( unlike pygmy killer whales anywhere else in the world ) seem to be “regular” residents – never leaving the coastline . our onboard studies have shown that oahu has it’s own resident pod of pygmy killer whales .
the whale is being treated inside a rehabilitation pool at the park’s animal health and rescue center .
solve the 1 - digit addition problems , then do letter substitutions to answer a whale question .
solve the 1 - digit subtraction problems , then do letter substitutions to answer a whale question .
for the best tips to spot this elusive species , visit our whale watching tips and guidelines .
the modern sperm whale , for all its ferocious teeth , is a gentle giant compared with its ancestors ( click to enlarge ) . illustration : the royal natural history / richard lydekker ( 1893 )
there has been no documented case of a pygmy killer whale being hurt by sonar . but there’s low probability anyone would be able to document such harm given the whales are so rare and because they generally spend their time miles offshore .
habitat : dwarf sperm whales are oceanic animals , moving across and over the continental shelf to feed .
the lack of information about the pygmy sperm whale ' s social structure makes life history data difficult to gather . most of what is known is obtained from the many single animals or occasionally mothers with calves that strand . the gestation period is thought to be about 12 months and it appears likely that females give birth on a yearly basis .
the researchers , who were led by dr . christian de muizon , realized they had discovered something unusual . they had discovered a predatory form of sperm whale that did not live mostly on giant squid .
people spotted the whale swimming in the harbour , moving slowly with injuries to its neck and tail .
the pygmy sperm whale uses echolocation to detect its prey and they occur in small groups of 6 - 10 individuals . it has a spermaceti organ in its forehead ( hence the name ) and a sac in its intestines that contains a dark red fluid that is expelled when it is frightened , a feature that is used to confuse and disorient predators .
only one species of the genus kogia ( k . breviceps ) was recognized until 1966 , when studies clearly showed the pygmy and dwarf ( k . sima ) sperm whales to be distinct species ( handley 1966 , chivers et al . 2005 ) .
sperm whales are the deepest diving whales . although they live at the surface they dive to hunt giant squid
dwarf sperm whales are usually solitary creatures but have occasionally been seen in small groups . ( full text )
the common sperm whale is the largest predator on earth . the great rorquals , such as the fin and blue whale , are quite a bit larger , but they are not considered true predators . they are filter feeders , who rely upon the baleen in their mouths to strain out tiny fish and krill for sustenance .
group sizes tend to be small , most often less than five individuals ( although groups of up to 10 have been recorded ) . this species , like the pygmy sperm whale , is shy and undemonstrative when observed at sea . they often drift motionless at the surface . when startled , dwarf sperm whales may leave a large rust - colored cloud of fecal material behind as they dive . in at least one area , there appears to be a calving peak in summer .
through their discovery and description , brygomophyseter , zygophyseter , acrophyseter , and livyatan have fleshed out the wider evolutionary context for the extant sperm whale . the cachalot is the suction - feeding remnant of a lineage of rapacious , predatory whales which were the equivalent of orcas in their ecosystems , and we now know that some of the traits previously thought to be unique adaptations of the living sperm whale are actually many millions of years old .
volunteers searched the lagoon and found the whale underwater and unresponsive . they tried to resuscitate her but failed .
general description : the pygmy sperm whale has a sharklike appearance . it has a robust body with a short head . in larger animals , the head is boxlike or rectangular , at times bulbous . the lower jaw ends well behind the tip of the snout . there is no beak and the tail stock is narrow . the nose is swollen and filled with spermaceti .
my suspicions were furth substantiated when i read about this indo - pacific bottlenosed dolphin in new zealand . this dolphin had helped a female pygmy sperm whale and her calf that came to close to the shore . the dolphin guided the whales back away from the beach and into deeper water . perhaps that was what the atlantic bottlenose dolphins were doing that day in north carolina .
now , those were the facts i knew about sperm whales . they are pretty much just strange toothed whales .
this new specimen should give us additional information about the past diversity of sperm whales ,
said lambert .
pygmy sperm whales are countershaded , ranging from dark grty on the back to white below . often the belly has a pinkish tone . there is a light coloured bracket mark , dubbed the
false gill
, along the side between the eye and the flipper .
for the investigation , which used two complementary methods to characterize whale foraging ecology , staudinger and colleagues at the university of north carolina wilmington ( unc ) analyzed stomach contents collected by the marine mammal stranding network from 22 pygmy and nine dwarf sperm whales found dead on the mid - atlantic coast between 1998 and 2011 . study results appear in the april issue of marine mammal science .
willis , p . m . , and r . w . baird . 1998 . status of the dwarf sperm whale ( kogia simus ) in canada . canadian field - naturalist 112 : 114 - 125 . download pdf copy
this is important information , staudinger says , because if these two species show no evidence of resource partitioning there are likely enough food resources to support both their populations in the region . though if resources shifted or became limiting , pygmy sperm whales would likely have an advantage over dwarf sperm whales as they show evidence of being able to exploit a wider range of food resources and habitats .
handley , c . o . 1966 . a synopsis of the genus kogia ( pygmy sperm whales ) . pp 62 - 69 in whales , dolphins and porpoises ( norris , k . s . , ed ) . university of california press , los angeles , california .
even though it was about the same size as the modern sperm whale , this creature was like a giant orca ; for instead of eating giant squid , its diet most likely consisted of other marine mammals , including other whales .
however , there are two other species that are quite a bit smaller . these are the two whales in the genus kogia — the dwarf and the pygmy sperm whales . they are significantly smaller than the cachalot . they are both dolphin - sized creatures . like the common sperm whale , both of these creatures have spermaceti organs in their heads . both also carry a reddish substance in their intestines . if they are spooked , they will release that substance . it is thought to be used in the same way as the octopus’s ink . the predator becomes confounded in the substance , allowing the little whale to escape .
we also know sperm whales from herman melville’s moby dick , which is partly based upon a true story of a bull sperm whale that rammed a whaling ship in the south pacific . bulls are known to be quite protective of their cows , and it is not an urban legend that they might ram a ship to in defense of their females .
a post - mortem last week showed that the whale died of an abscess deep in its right lung . the abscess appeared to have been caused by a pine needle the whale had inhaled , veterinarian j . lawrence dunn said .
diagnostic features : at sea , size of the whale ( up to 3 . 4 m long ) , false gill , low and sickle - shaped dorsal fin , rust - coloured fecal stain left by the whale when alarmed .
this whale was dated to 12 million years ago , and although it may be a bit speculative , it suggests that the common sperm whales evolved from a group of giant predatory whales that later became more specialized as the ecology changed .
this sperm whale could firmly hold large prey with its interlocking teeth , inflict deep wounds and tear large pieces from the body of the victim ,
the researchers write in the journal nature ( vol 466 , p 105 ) .
the aquarium expressed disappointment at the whale ' s death , but donnelly said the rescue effort was not in vain .
researchers found that the whale , like an octopus using ink , may release a substance to hide itself from enemies .
citation :
pygmy sperm whales , kogia breviceps ~ marinebio . org .
marinebio conservation society . web . accessed monday , july 9 , 2018 . < urltoken > . last update : 1 / 14 / 2013 2 : 22 : 00 pm ~ contributor ( s ) : marinebio
huggenberger s , andré m , oelschläger h ( 2014 ) the nose of the sperm whale : overviews of functional design , structural homologies and evolution . j mar biol ass uk : 11 - 24 . doi : 10 . 1017 / s0025315414001118 .
pygmy killer whales prior to deployment of a suction - cup attached time - depth recorder / vhf radio tag , used to study diving behavior . photo by robin baird .
when i got closer , i realized it was a whale , and not only that , i knew what it was .
such was the fate of the whaler known as the essex . it was sunk when a bull sperm whale rammed it , and the whalers had to escape in their smaller whale chasing boats across the south pacific . a really good account can be found in this book . let’s just say that the story includes cannibalism , including sucking the marrow out of another human’s bones .
the cachalot or the common sperm whale ( physeter macrocephalus ) is the one most think of when considering these toothed whales . it is a relatively large whale , reaching lengths in excess of 65 feet . it is known for having the largest brain of any living mammal , and it is also known diving to great depths to grapple with giant squid , its main prey source .
killer sperm whales were not just restricted to the waters of prehistoric south america . in 2006 researchers toshiyuki kimura , yoshikazu hasegawa , and lawrence barnes reassessed 15 - 14m - year - old fossil remains from japan which had been attributed to a little - known physeteroid called scaldicetus . this genus had been established on the basis of a few isolated teeth from belgium , but when further fossil remains of the whale from japan were found they were distinctive enough to establish the new genus of killer sperm whale , brygmophyseter .
oelschläger hha , ridgway sh , knauth m ( 2010 ) cetacean brain evolution : dwarf sperm whale ( kogia sima ) and common dolphin ( delphinus delphis ) – an investigation with high - resolution 3d mri . brain behav evol , 75 : 33 - 62
the head of the pygmy sperm whale is short and supports a bulbous snout that becomes blunter with age . the snout contains the spermaceti organ . the short narrow underslung mouth is characteristic of the family kogiidae group and in this species contains 12 to 16 pairs of teeth in the lower jaw . the overall upper body colour is a bluish steel grey , which fades to a dull white below the head , body , flippers and flukes .


the gray-collared chipmunk ( neotamias cinereicollis ) is a species of rodent in the family sciuridae .

it is endemic to arizona and new mexico in the united states .

gray - collared chipmunk

gray - collared chipmunk by lambert m . surhone , mariam t . tennoe , susan f . henssonow
after hibernation , gray - collared chipmunks diligently search the ground for any seeds that remain from the previous summer . since these are usually uncommon ,
are easily recognized by the light and dark stripes on their back and head . they bear distinct facial markings and have only five dark stripes on their back . there is a distinct central line that extends forward onto the head . the gray - collared chipmunks are covered in shades of gray and share distinctive patterns of black , pale gray , and buff stripes .
predators include as hawks , weasels , coyotes , martens , foxes , and snakes . fighting during the breeding season is also a source of injury and death for many gray - collared chipmunks .
fleharty , e . d . 1960 . the status of the gray - necked chipmunk in new mexico . j . mamm . 41 : 235 - 242 .
gray - collared chipmunks are not in any danger of going extinct any time soon . in fact , this species experiences only tiny fluctuations in its population from year to year . these fluctuations have been attributed to predators such as hawks , weasels , coyotes , martens , foxes , and snakes . fighting during the breeding season is also a source of injury and death for many gray - collared chipmunks .
since chipmunks prey upon insects , their food habits influence the growth of various plants . gray - collared chipmunks are also important in the dispersal of seeds because of their habit of storing them beneath the layer of decaying vegetation on the forest floor . in this way ,
palmer ' s chipmunk ( neotamias palmeri ) is a medium - sized chipmunk whose range is limited to the higher - elevation areas of the spring mountain range , nevada . a second chipmunk species , the panamint chipmunk ( neotamias panamintinus ) , is more broadly distributed and lives in lower - elevation , primarily pinyon - juniper ( pinus monophylla - juniperus osteosperma ) habitat . . .
with the onset of cold weather , chipmunks enter a restless hibernation during late fall or early winter and are relatively inactive during the winter months . some individuals , however , occasionally come out on warm , sunny days during the winter . by early march , most gray - collared chipmunks have emerged from hibernation .
hart , e . 1976 . life history notes on the cliff chipmunk , eutamias dorsalis , in utah .
habitat : central new mexico and central arizona . coniferous and spruce forests especially around clearing with deadfall . description : only squirrel with gray cheeks . 5 dark and 4 light well defined stripes on back . grayish body with prominent gray on cheeks , upper back and shoulders . source : audubon online guides
palmer ' s chipmunk resembles other chipmunks in that it has solid black and white stripes that run down its body dorsally . the body of the chipmunk is tan while its ventral side is more pale . total body length is
. on warm winter days , palmer ' s chipmunk will come out of its burrow to visit their caches for food .
forest - floor disturbance reduces chipmunk ( tamias spp . ) abundance two years after variable - retention harvest of pacific northwestern forests
gray - collared chipmuinks , along with many other chipmunks , have charming personalities . they charm campers and hikers with their small size , their boldness in search of food , and their constant activity . in fact , they are not hard to approach at all . they are easily persuaded to accept seeds or nuts from a person ' s hands ( sheppard , 1990 ) .
gashwiler , j . s . 1965 . longevity and home range of a townsend chipmunk . journal of mammalogy 46 : 693 .
wadsworth , c . e . 1972 . observations of the colorado chipmunk in southeastern utah . southwestern naturalist 16 : 451 - 454 .
. eutamias dorsalis is recognizable by the near absence of dorsal stripes . an occasional individual may have more prominent stripes , but even in such a specimen the dorsal wash of gray is evident
this article contains basic information ( identification , food sources , nesting and breeding habits , etc . ) about chipmunks . if there is a need to control chipmunks , the behavior and food preferences ( along with other information in this article ) will come into play . chipmunk control page will give information on how to get rid of nuisance animals . for trapping , go to chipmunk trap information page . chipmunk pictures
sheppard , d . 1990 .
chipmunk .
canadian wildlife service hinterland who ' s who . urltoken ( 1 dec . 1997 )
broadbooks , h . e . 1970b . populations of the yellow pine chipmunk , eutamias amoenus . american midland naturalist 83 : 472 - 488 .
populations occurs during periods of food shortage such as when there is seed crop failure and the chipmunk doesn ' t have enough food stored for its hibernation .
when these chipmunk prepare food for storage , they holds the seeds in their dexterous front paws and with their specialized incisors . their incisors are especially long and directed forward .
broadbooks , h . e . 1970a . home ranges and territorial behavior of the yellow - pine chipmunk , eutamius amoenus . journal of mammalogy 51 : 310 - 26 .
chipmunks are often confused with the thirteen - lined ground squirrel . from the same family of animals as tree squirrels , chipmunks are identified differently because of the stripes above and below their eyes . there are two kinds of chipmunks in north america : the eastern chipmunk and the western chipmunk . the name “chipmunk” comes from the two types of chattering calls they make to mate and to communicate between each other . one sound is a thrilling chip - chip - chip repeated rapidly while the other is a lower pitched chuck - chuck - chuck . the main predator of the chipmunk is the long - tailed weasel ; however they are also preyed upon by hawks , foxes , bobcats and house cats .
, which are an important food resource of the chipmunk . this species has also been known to eat local fruits , grass , insects , and the seeds of other conifers .
12 - hart , e . b . 1976 . life history of the cliff chipmunk , eutamias dorsalis , in utah . southwest nat . , 21 - 243 - 246 .
chipmunks can be serious destructive pests when they become numerous around homes and gardens . the burrowing activity of chipmunks can cause significant structural damage by undermining foundations , concrete patios and steps , retaining walls and sidewalks . they may also be destructive to gardens when they dig up and eat bulbs and seeds or attack garden fruits . when they become over - abundant , gray - collared chipmunks can prevent normal reforestation of some trees , especially pines , by eating their seeds . when this occurs , they have to be trapped by humans .
national wildlife federation .
cliff chipmunk , urltoken
( on - line ) . urltoken . accessed 12 / 08 / 02 at http : / / www . urltoken / fieldguide / showspeciesgs . asp ? sort = 1 & curgroupid = 99 & display = 1 & area = 99 & searchtext = cliff + chipmunk & curpagenum = 1 & recnum = ma0186 .
elliot , l . 1978 . social behavior and foraging ecology of the eastern chipmunk ( tamias striatus ) in the adirondack mountains . smithsonian contributions to zoology no . 265 . 107 pp .
13 - hart , e . b . 1971 . food preferences of the cliff chipmunk , eutamias dorsalis , in northern utah . great basin nat . , 31 - 182 - 188 .
ellis , l . s . , and l . r . maxxon . 1979 . evolution of the chipmunk genera eutamias and tamias . journal of mammalogy 60 ( 2 ) : 331 - 334 .
there are no obvious mounds around the burrow entrance because the chipmunk carries the dirt in its cheek pouches and scatters it on the ground away from the burrow to make the burrow entrance less conspicuous . the chipmunk’s main tunnel is between 20 and 30 feet in length , but complex burrowing systems occur where cover is sparse . burrow systems normally include a nesting chamber , one or two food storage chambers , various side pockets connecting to the main tunnel , and separate escape tunnels . the average territory of a chipmunk is about 1 / 4 to 1 / 2 acre , but the adult usually only defends an area about fifty feet around the burrow entrance .
the average territory of a chipmunk is about 1 / 4 to 1 / 2 acre , but an adult usually only defends an area about fifty feet around the burrow entrance ( corrigan , 1997 ; sheppard , 1990 ) .
the eastern chipmunk prefers nuts , acorns , seeds , mushrooms , fruits , berries , corn , and sunflower seeds . it also eats insects , bird eggs , snails and small mammals like baby mice . they collect most of their food from the ground ; however they will scale trees to gather acorns and other nuts when they are ripe . when eating , they will sit upright and hold their food with their front feet . the eastern chipmunk uses its teeth to grind nuts down to size to stuff in their cheek pouches . this grinding sound is very loud and can be heard from several feet away . the eastern chipmunk doesn’t truly hibernate but rather wakes every few weeks during the winter months to eat .
new mexico : new mexico cooperative fish & wildlife research unit , new mexico state university , p . o . box 30003 , msc 4901 , las cruces , nm 88003 , principle investigators : bruce thompson , ken boykin , database creator : robert deitner , habitat modelers : susanne propeck - gray , jennifer puttere , cynthia king , zachary schwenke ,
gray - collared chipmunks are found only in coniferous forests , at elevations of 1 , 950 - 3 , 440 m . they eat all kinds of vegetation , and collect and store acorns underground or in hollow logs . their tracks are often seen in the snow , but they probably remain in their dens during the coldest months , sleeping or feeding on their cache of acorns . one litter , of 4 - 6 , is born a year , usually in june in a nest under a log or stump . nests have also been found in woodpecker holes in trees . when they are 36 - 40 days old , the young begin eating solid food , and less than a week later , stop nursing . by fall , they are almost fully grown .
chipmunk is the common name for any of the small , striped , squirrel - like rodents comprising the genus tamias of the tribe marmotini in the family sciuridae . traditionally , eutamias had been considered a second genus of chipmunks , but today is generally considered a subgenus of tamias .
is a smoky - gray chipmunk with dark stripes on its back . these dark stripes are more distinct on the summer fur than on the winter fur . it lacks the white stripes often found in the pelage of this genus . the flanks are light brown in color , and the undeparts are creamy - white . the tail is bushy with black on top and cinnamon brown underneath . the feet have a hint of yellow . the molt in may and june from winter to summer pelage occurs from anterior to posterior . females tend to molt into their summer pelage in june and july , later than males , due to the engergy requirements of pregnancy and lactation .
land unit forest service lands , new mexico usfs - cibola national forest usfs - gila national forest usfs - luna / quemado / reserve district usfs - negrito watershed ( reserve district ) nmdgf - misc . lands - double e the nature conservancy lands the nature conservancy lands - gray ranch , ( formerly tnc ) other distribution references - 19 , 27 , 29 , 33 , 38 , 54
a chipmunk ' s main tunnel is between 20 and 30 feet in length , but complex burrowing systems occur where cover is sparse . burrow systems normally include a nesting chamber , one or two food storage chambers , various side pockets connecting to the main tunnel , and separate escape tunnels .
if unmolested , they often become bold enough to take food from the hands of humans . the temptation to pick up or pet any wild animal should be strictly avoided , however . while rabies is exceptionally rare ( if not non - existent ) in rodents , chipmunk bites can transmit virulent and dangerous bacterial infections .
we evaluated the two - year effects of variable - retention harvest on chipmunk ( tamias spp . ) abundance ( n ^ ) and habitat in mature coniferous forests in western oregon and washington because wildlife responses to density / pattern of retained trees remain largely unknown . in a randomized complete - block design , six . . .
removes seeds from pods with its incisors , then uses its tongue to shift the seeds backward . it stuffs the seeds between its teeth and inside of its cheekpouches . the capacity of these cheekpouches increases with maturity . when they cheek pouches are full , a chipmunk deposits the seeds in its nest or buries them in shallow holes .
the burrow systems of the eastern chipmunk are quite vast and have many entrances . chipmunks create tunnels up to ten feet long and three feet deep . there are separate tunnels for storing food , sleeping , and keeping empty shells and feces . the eastern chipmunk will defend up to fifty feet around its den and has been known to burrow in stone walls and rotting logs . when together in a group , they can cause damage to stone walls , patios , stairs and foundations by burrowing under them . this type of damage as well as damage that is sometimes done to gardens and landscaping are reasons why chipmunks are often considered a pest ( nuisance wildlife . )
we used radiotelemetry to examine the effects of spring prescribed fire for preharvest oak ( quercus spp . ) shelterwood management on eastern chipmunk ( tamias striatus ) home - range attributes and burrow use on the fernow experimental forest in the central appalachian mountains of west virginia . results for 21 chipmunks showed that prescribed fire had little discernable . . .
we report the first voucher of the cliff chipmunk ( neotamias dorsalis ) and observations of brazilian free - tailed bats ( tadarida brasiliensis ) from the huachuca mountains , arizona , where these species had not been documented . while presence of t . brasiliensis was expected on fort huachuca , n . dorsalis was a surprise after a century . . .
the diets of a fungal specialist , northern flying squirrel ( glaucomys sabrinus ( shaw , 1801 ) ) , and a dietary generalist , lodgepole chipmunk ( neotamias speciosus ( merriam , 1890 ) ) , were examined in the old - growth , mixed - conifer forest at the teakettle experimental forest in california ' s southern sierra nevada . spores of fungi . . .
chipmunks ( tamias spp . ) in western north america are important for their numerical abundance , their role in pathogen transmission , and the composition and structure of food webs . as such , land management agencies ( e . g . , u . s . forest service ) often conduct field surveys to monitor the diversity and abundance of chipmunk species as a measure . . .
twice a year when the female adult eastern chipmunk is ready to mate , she produces a series of calls called chips . these sounds entice the males who gather and compete for a chance to mate . females will often mate with several males . after mating , the males have no further contact with the female or the babies that are produced . three to five young are delivered in the nesting burrows and are born blind and hairless . they open their eyes after thirty days and emerge from their burrow after six weeks .
though they are commonly depicted with their paws up to the mouth , eating peanuts , or more famously their cheeks bulging out on either side , chipmunks eat a variety of foods . their omnivorous diet consists of grain , nuts , birds ' eggs , fungi , worms , and insects . at the beginning of autumn , many species of chipmunk begin to stockpile these goods in their burrows , for winter . other species make multiple small caches of food . these two kinds of behavior are called larder hoarding and scatter hoarding . larder hoarders usually live in their nests until spring .
tamias cinereicollis spends much of its day collecting and storing seeds , which are its most important source of food . they often forage on the ground and they easily climb trees and shrubs to harvest nuts and fruits . the diet of these chipmunks consists of various kinds of nuts , berries and seeds , but they also eat mushrooms , cherry and plum pits , insects , worms and carrion . rare instances of t . cinereicollis preying on birds or small mammals have been observed . when the chipmunk prepares its food for storage , it holds the seeds in its dexterous front paws and with its specialized incisors .
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patterson , b . d . and norris , r . w . 2016 . towards a uniform nomenclature for ground squirrels : the status of the holarctic chipmunks . mammalia 80 ( 3 ) : 241–251 . doi : 10 . 1515 / mammalia - 2015 - 0004 .
justification : listed as least concern because it is relatively widespread , common , there are no major threats , and its population is currently stable .
this species occurs in the mountains of central and eastern arizona and central and southwestern new mexico in the united states ( hoffmann et al . in wilson and reeder 1993 ) , at elevations of 1 , 950 - 3 , 440 m asl ( most common at 2 , 100 - 3 , 300 m asl ) ( hilton and best 1993 ) .
this species is considered common . population density in arizona was estimated at 5 / ha in may , 12 . 5 / ha in august ( hoffmeister 1986 ) .
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department of zoology and wildlife science and alabama agricultural experiment station , 331 funchess hall , auburn university , alabama 36849 - 5414 .
clayton d . hilton , troy l . best ; tamias cinereicollis , mammalian species , issue 436 , 23 april 1993 , pages 1–5 , urltoken
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i thought you might be interested in this item at urltoken title : mammal species of the world : a taxonomic and geographic reference author : don e wilson ; deeann m reeder publisher : baltimore : johns hopkins university press , ©2005 . isbn / issn : 0801882214 9780801882210 0801882389 9780801882388 0801882397 9780801882395 oclc : 57557352
wilson and reeder ' s mammal species of the world is the classic reference book on the taxonomic classification and distribution of the more than 5400 species of mammals that exist today . the third edition includes detailed information on nomenclature and , for the first time , common names . each concise entry covers type locality , distribution , synonyms , and major reference sources . the systematic arrangement of
information indicates evolutionary relationships at both the ordinal and the family level . this indispensable reference work belongs in public and academic libraries throughout the world and on the shelf of every biologist who works with mammals .
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this indispensable reference work belongs in public and academic libraries throughout the world and on the shelf of every biologist who works with mammals .
a uniquely valuable compendium of taxonomic and distributional data on the world ' s living and historically extinct mammalian species . contributors and editors alike deserve the thanks of all
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wilson and reeder ' s mammal species of the world is the classic reference book on the taxonomic classification and distribution of the more than 5400 species of mammals that exist today . the third edition includes detailed information on nomenclature and , for the first time , common names . each concise entry covers type locality , distribution , synonyms , and major reference sources . the systematic arrangement of information indicates evolutionary relationships at both the ordinal and the family level . this indispensable reference work belongs in public and academic libraries throughout the world and on the shelf of every biologist who works with mammals .
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is found all throughout central and eastern arizona and central and southwest new mexico in the united states ( findley , 1986 ; nowak , 1991 ) .
these chipmunks are found primarily in coniferous forests at elevations between 1 , 950 abd 3 , 440 meters . they prefer mature woodlands and woodlot edges , but they also inhabit areas in and around suburban and rural homes such as around ornamental plantings , rockpiles , outbuildings and below patios and building foundations . although they are mostly burrowing rodents , they regularly climb oak trees to gain access to rooftops ( best , 1999 ; corrigan , 1997 ; grzimek , 1990 ; sheppard , 1990 ) .
is one of the smaller chipmunks . it has a total length between 208 and 242 mm , with males measuring slightly smaller than females . weights range between 55 and 70 g . it has a relatively long tail , comprising from 90 to 109 mm of the total length of the animal ( best , 1999 ; grzimek , 1990 ; sheppard , 1990 ) .
mating occurs two times a year , during early spring and again during the summer or early fall . there is a 30 to 31 day gestation period . two to five young are born in the spring ( early may ) and again between august and october . they are born naked and blind . young can eat solid foods by the age of 36 to 40 days , and are weaned by the age of 41 to 45 days . the young are sexually mature within one year and adults may live for up to three years . young appear for the first time above ground when they are 2 / 3 full size . the babies are reared by the mother without any help from the fathers ( best , 1999 ; corrigan , 1997 ; sheppard , 1990 ) .
breeding season this species breeds in the spring as well as in summer or early fall .
is most active during the early morning and late afternoon . these chipmunks are generally solitary and protect their territories except during courtship , or when the young are developing . populations of chipmunks average between 2 and 4 animals per acre . the home ranges often overlap among individuals , and the home ranges of adults are larger than those of juveniles . the home ranges of females tend to be smaller than those of males .
are the first to emerge in the spring . the females emerge one or two weeks later . once females emerge , breeding takes place near a female ' s burrow . competition occurs between males for females , and a male may mate with more than one female during a mating season .
are well - hidden near buildings ( such as basements and garages ) , gardens , stumps , woodpiles or brushpiles . the burrow entrance is usually about 2 inches in diameter . there are no obvious mounds around the burrow entrance because these chipmunks carry the dirt in their cheek pouches and scatters it on the ground away from the burrow to make the burrow entrance less conspicuous .
spends much of its day collecting and storing seeds , which are its most important source of food . these chipmunks often forage on the ground and they easily climb trees and shrubs to harvest nuts and fruits .
consists of various kinds of nuts , berries , and seeds . mushrooms , cherry and plum pits , insects , worms and carrion are also consumed . rare instances of
may eat young leaves and shoots until new fruit and seeds become available ( corrigan , 1997 ; schultz , 1995 ; sheppard , 1990 ) .
depends on this food during the winter when it doesn ' t have access to seeds that are covered by snow , etc . ( shepppard , 1990 ) .
assist in the spread of shrubs , trees , and other plants . as a prey species , populations of
may have some impact upon predator populations . ( corrigan , 1997 ; sheppard , 1990 ) .
, have also been associated as being carriers of the hantavirus in the southwestern united states . human infection may occur when infective saliva or excreta are inhaled as aerosols produced directly from the animal . persons have also become infected after being bitten by rodents ( corrigan , 1997 ; healthtouch , 1997 ; sheppard , 1990 ) .
populations occurs during periods of food shortage such as when there is seed crop failure and chipmunks doesn ' t have enough food stored for hibernation .
depends on stored food during the winter when it doesn ' t have access to seeds that are covered by snow , etc . ( shepppard , 1990 ) .
candace t . smith ( author ) , university of michigan - ann arbor .
living in the nearctic biogeographic province , the northern part of the new world . this includes greenland , the canadian arctic islands , and all of the north american as far south as the highlands of central mexico .
having body symmetry such that the animal can be divided in one plane into two mirror - image halves . animals with bilateral symmetry have dorsal and ventral sides , as well as anterior and posterior ends . synapomorphy of the bilateria .
animals that use metabolically generated heat to regulate body temperature independently of ambient temperature . endothermy is a synapomorphy of the mammalia , although it may have arisen in a ( now extinct ) synapsid ancestor ; the fossil record does not distinguish these possibilities . convergent in birds .
forest biomes are dominated by trees , otherwise forest biomes can vary widely in amount of precipitation and seasonality .
referring to a burrowing life - style or behavior , specialized for digging or burrowing .
the state that some animals enter during winter in which normal physiological processes are significantly reduced , thus lowering the animal ' s energy requirements . the act or condition of passing winter in a torpid or resting state , typically involving the abandonment of homoiothermy in mammals .
offspring are produced in more than one group ( litters , clutches , etc . ) and across multiple seasons ( or other periods hospitable to reproduction ) . iteroparous animals must , by definition , survive over multiple seasons ( or periodic condition changes ) .
this terrestrial biome includes summits of high mountains , either without vegetation or covered by low , tundra - like vegetation .
the area in which the animal is naturally found , the region in which it is endemic .
places a food item in a special place to be eaten later . also called
hoarding
that region of the earth between 23 . 5 degrees north and 60 degrees north ( between the tropic of cancer and the arctic circle ) and between 23 . 5 degrees south and 60 degrees south ( between the tropic of capricorn and the antarctic circle ) .
living in cities and large towns , landscapes dominated by human structures and activity .
reproduction in which fertilization and development take place within the female body and the developing embryo derives nourishment from the female .
findley , j . s . 1987 . the natural history of new mexican mammals . university of new mexico press , albuquerque .
grzimek , b . 1990 . encyclopedia of mammals . mcgraw - hill publishing , co . vol 3 . pp . 78 - 82
hantavirus infection - southwest united states .
healthtouch online . urltoken ( 1 dec . 1997 )
nowak , r . m . 1991 . walker ' s mammals of the world . fifth edition . johns hopkins university press , baltimore . pp . 586 - 589
) . pp . 362 - 363 in d wilson , s ruff , eds .
to cite this page : smith , c . 1999 .
tamias cinereicollis
( on - line ) , animal diversity web . accessed july 09 , 2018 at urltoken
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allen , j . a . , 1890 . a review of some of the north american ground squirrels of the genus tamias , p . 94 . bulletin of the american museum of natural history , 3 : 45 - 116 .
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is found mainly in the southwestern united states of america . its range inludes the states of nevada , utah , arizona , and new mexico as well as the northern portion of mexico .
cliff chipmunks spend much of their time near cliffs . dens , particularly winter dens , are in rocky outcroppings . in summer , chipmunks will stay overnight in cliffs , but much of their diurnal activity is away from the den area .
generally inhabits elevations of 1500 to 3700 m with scrub - type habitat . the tendency is toward occupying patches of juniper (
) . cliff chipmunks have been found in lava fields and deserts at lower elevations .
adults of this species average 70 g . females are larger than males , weighing between 70 and 74 g . the smaller males weigh between 61 and 64 . 5 g .
ranges between 217 and 249 mm , with the hind foot measuring between 34 and 37 mm . they have 22 teeth . eight mammae are present on the females .
there are several subspecies reported , and these subspecies are reported to have clinal variation which intergrades them phenotypically . the subspecies may be defined mainly by differences in body and skull dimensions , pelage characters , dental characeters , and differences in the baculum .
the species is diagnosed by its baculum . this has a thin shaft , ranging in length from 2 . 64 to 3 . 69 mm . the distal half of the shaft is somewhat laterally compressed . the keel , which is 20 % of the length of the tip , is low . the tip of the baculum is between 20 % and 40 % the length of the shaft , and forms an angle of 140 degrees with the shaft .
details on the reproductive system of this species are scant . however , one estrus female was the center of attention of as many as 14 males , indicating that there is probably some competition among males for access to these females . it is not known whether the female in this report mated with more than one of the males .
males are reproductively active from january through june although most breeding occurs in march . a study of
in the mountains of arizona suggests that copulation does not occur until may with birth in late june and early july . these discrepancies can be attributed to the duration of winter and the quantity of food available .
does not gain weight before winter , but will loose some over the winter . february through april are lean months and may play a crucial role in the copulation and breeding success of
cliff chipmunks have only one litter per year , with an approximate size of 4 to 6 young . parturition normally occurs in the months of april to july with the young emerging from burrows about a month later .
although details on the development of this species are lacking , cliff chipmunks are probably like other members of their genus .
young are reported to nurse for 41 to 45 days . they are capable of eating solid foods at 36 to 40 days of age .
the young spend their early days in the den of their mother , and are presumed to be altricial . as mammals , females of this species provide their young with milk , grooming , and protection . mature females in arizona have been recorded in transport of half - grown young which are carried in the mouth . males are not reported to be involved in the care of the young .
has been described as shy . generally , cliff chipmunks are diurnal with activity mainly in the mornings and then again from the late afternoon until dusk .
was recorded to have 57 % of its activity foraging and 3 % as grooming behavior .
takes dust baths by lowering its belly into a dry , powdery soil and alternately writhing its head or tail end . it then flips over and throws its hindquarters around in the soil also .
grooms its head with the forepaws and will groom its tail end as well by biting into the fur .
can be territorial and will chase others if the minimum individual distance has been violated . however , these territorial encounters apparently occur mainly in the area around dens . away from dens , most encounters result in mutual nosings or chases . females can be somewhat gregarious , and form feeding aggregations during the morning feeding . as many as 10 chipmunks may gather at a food source , and slowly travel together through the food sources , keeping a distance of 3 to 10 meters betwen individuals . individuals in these aggregations may vocalize to identify themselves , or to maintain spacing .
is typically found close to refugia . although it may take cover in trees , the species is most likely to climb steep rocks when it is alarmed .
cliff chipmunks usually make their dens and nests in rocky bluffs and cliffs . sometimes underground burrows and tree nests are used . there may be different use of habitat in summer versus winter , with different nesting sites used in different seasons . also , seasonal migrations may occur , and if they do , they appear to be related to availability of food sources .
home ranges have been reported to range between 0 . 4 and 2 hectares . individuals of this species are reported to typically maintain home ranges with a greatest dimension of about 100 m .
has three different calls that characterize different meanings . a bark emitted during standing , resting , or squatting suggests normal activity . a sharp
whsst
or
psst
chirp from an upright , alert position and tail twitching indicates excitement . a mixture of high - pitched sounds represents being surprised or threatened .
in addition to its vocal communications , it is likely that this diurnal species uses other visual signals to communicate with conspecifics . for example , body posture may indicate friendly or hostile intentions when two individuals come together .
tactile communication is undoubtedly important between mates as well as rivals , and also occurs between a mother and her young . although specific scent based communication has not been reported for this species , it may occur .
forages for juniper berries , pine seeds , and acorns . these make up a large portion of the diet of this species .
is an opportunistic forager and will eat available plant material . seeds are gathered during prime availability and are carried in cheek pouches and are transported to temporary caches . seeds and vegetation are generally cached within 100 m of the home cliff , with many of these caches being retrieved later . use of plants as food sources seems to influence both daily and seasonal movements . females have been noted to spend more time foraging than males .
is mainly herbivorous although these chipmunks have been noted to eat a wide variety of insects , herps , birds , and eggs in utah .
remains close to the cliff faces and rocks for easily available cover . the indistinctness of their stripes is also supposed to serve as an anti - predator adaptation . potential predators in different regions include cooper ' s hawks (
cliff chipmunks are food for a variety of carnivores and raptors . they also cache seeds , and so may be an important means of seed dispersal . they compete with other species of chipmunks and ground squirrels for seeds . bot - fly larva (
these animals are not reported to have any positive economic impact on humans . however , as a prey species , they do provide food for some of the larger predatory species that humans enjoy watching . also , because they are themselves sort of cute , they may provide entertainment for tourists in natural areas .
, the possibility of crop damage is present although it has not been documented .
(
the iucn red list of threatened species
, 2002 ;
cites appendices
, 2002 ;
endangered species information , u . s . fish and wildlife service
, 2002 )
has kidney specializations that are adaptive to dry habitats . a number of subspecies exist and contribute to the differences noted in each category . differences between subspecies also contributes to the reported shyness or lack of shyness in different regions . synonym :
louise venne ( author ) , university of wisconsin - stevens point , chris yahnke ( editor , instructor ) , university of wisconsin - stevens point .
young are born in a relatively underdeveloped state ; they are unable to feed or care for themselves or locomote independently for a period of time after birth / hatching . in birds , naked and helpless after hatching .
having markings , coloration , shapes , or other features that cause an animal to be camouflaged in its natural environment ; being difficult to see or otherwise detect .
( as keyword in perception channel section ) this animal has a special ability to detect heat from other organisms in its environment .
cites . 2002 .
cites appendices
( on - line ) . accessed 12 / 05 / 02 at urltoken .
u . s . fish & wildlife service . 2002 .
endangered species information , u . s . fish and wildlife service
( on - line ) . accessed 12 / 05 / 02 at urltoken .
university of new mexico . 1998 .
sevilleta lter data
( on - line ) . accessed 12 / 06 / 02 at urltoken .
iucn . 2002 .
the iucn red list of threatened species
( on - line ) . accessed 12 / 05 / 02 at urltoken .
) . pp . 363 - 365 in d wilson , s ruff , eds .
dunford , c . 1974 . annual cycle of cliff chipmunks in the santa catalina mountains , arizona .
to cite this page : venne , l . 2004 .
tamias dorsalis
( on - line ) , animal diversity web . accessed july 09 , 2018 at urltoken
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like all rodents , members of sciuridae are noted for their teeth . they have a pair of large incisors on the upper and one on the lower jaw that grow continuously and need to be kept short and sharpened by frequent gnawing . ( the word
rodent
comes from the latin word for
gnawing .
) the second pair of incisors , the canines , and the first premolars are missing in rodents , creating a gap between the incisors and the grinding teeth .
eastern chipmunks mate in early spring and again in early summer , producing litters of four or five young twice each year . western chipmunks only breed once a year . the young emerge from the burrow after about six weeks and strike out on their own within the next two weeks .
chipmunks construct expansive burrows , which can be more than 3 . 5 meters in length with several well - concealed entrances . the sleeping quarters are kept extremely clean as shells and feces are stored in refuse tunnels .
chipmunks fulfill several important functions in forest ecosystems . their activities harvesting and hoarding tree seeds play a crucial role in seedling establishment . they consume many different kinds of fungi , including those involved in symbiotic mycorrhizal associations with trees , and are an important vector for dispersal of the spores of subterranean sporocarps ( truffles ) , which have co - evolved with these and other mycophagous mammals and thus lost the ability to disperse their spores through the air .
these small squirrels play an important role as prey for various predatory mammals and birds , but are also opportunistic predators themselves , particularly with regard to bird eggs and nestlings . in oregon , mountain bluebirds ( siala currucoides ) have been observed energetically mobbing chipmunks that they see near their nest trees .
howell , a . h . 1929 . revision of the american chipmunks . washington , d . c . : u . s . department of agriculture , bureau of biological survey . no . 52 .
myers , p . , r . espinosa , c . s . parr , t . jones , g . s . hammond , and t . a . dewey . 2006 . genus tamias ( chipmunks ) animal diversity webs ( online ) . retrieved january 3 , 2008 .
nadler , c . f . , r . s . hoffmann , j . h . honacki , and d . pozin . 1977 . chromosomal evolution in chipmunks , with special emphasis on a and b karyotypes of the subgenus neotamias . am . mid . nat . 98 : 343–353 .
nichols , j . d . , and e . nyholm . 1995 . a concise dictionary of minnesota ojibwe . minneapolis : university of minnesota press . isbn 0816624275 .
piaggio , a . j . , and g . s . spicer . 2001 . molecular phylogeny of the chipmunks inferred from mitochondrial cytochrome b and cytochrome oxidase ii gene sequences . molecular phylogenetics and evolution 20 ( 3 ) : 335 - 350 .
whitaker , j . o . , and r . elman . 1980 . the audubon society field guide to north american mammals , 2nd edition . new york : knopf . isbn 0394507622 .
white , j . a . 1953 . the baculum in the chipmunks of western north america . univ . kansas publ . mus . nat . hist . 5 ( 35 ) : 611–631 .
wilson , d . e . , and d . m . reeder . 2005 . mammal species of the world : a taxonomic and geographic reference . baltimore : johns hopkins university press . isbn 0801882214 .
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justification : this species is listed as least concern in view of its wide distribution , presumed large population , tolerance of a broad range of habitats , and because it does not appear to be under threat and is unlikely to be declining at nearly the rate required to qualify for listing in a threatened category . subspecies sonoriensis and carminis have very restricted distributions and merit attention .
it occurs in southwestern united states and northcentral mexico . in the united states , from idaho south through the mountains of arizona and western new mexico . in mexico , from sonora and western chihuahua to northeastern sinaloa and northwestern durango . there are three disjunct population segments ( wilson and ruff 1999 ) .
there are no known conservation measures specific to this species . however , there are several protected areas within its range .
this errata assessment has been created because the map was accidentally left out of the version published previously .
( errata version published in 2017 ) . the iucn red list of threatened species 2016 : e . t42571a115190634 .
nests are most commonly built on the ground but can occasionally be found in trees . in late spring to early summer , female chipmunks have litters of 3 or 4 pups which are born hairless . after a month or so , the pups have developed a smooth fur coat and begin to move in and out of the nest . at about 6 weeks old , the pups have moved to a mostly solid food diet .