Taxonomy of the Chipmunks, Eutamias quadrivittatus and Eutamias umbrinus

by John A. White

Historical Summary

Merriam (1905) was the first to show clearly that Eutamias quadrivittatus is a distinct species, and pointed out that E. amoenus operarius (= E. minimus operarius) is a small species which resembles, and is found in some areas together with, E. quadrivittatus.

Howell (1929) placed under E. quadrivittatus the following subspecies: E. q. quadrivittatus, E. q. hopiensis, E. q. inyoensis, E. q. frater, E. q. sequoiensis, and E. q. speciosus.

Hardy (1945) placed E. adsitus under E. quadrivittatus as E. q. adsitus, and Kelson (1951) placed E. umbrinus under E. quadrivittatus as E. q. umbrinus.

Johnson (1943) re-established E. speciosus as a separate species, and in California left only E. q. inyoensis in E. quadrivittatus.

Thus, since 1943 the recognized subspecies of E. quadrivittatus have been: E. q. quadrivittatus, E. q. hopiensis, E. q. inyoensis, E. q. nevadensis, E. q. umbrinus, and E. q. adsitus.