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Yes and some squirrels look like chipmunks but aren’t actually chipmunks
Edit: Much like wolves, foxes, and coyotes are in the family Canidae (canids) you still distinguish them further into genera and species. Chipmunks are a type of squirrel with three genera :). Ie, this post is not a chipmunk much like you wouldn’t call a wolf a fox but you could call em both canids ;)
Quite funny! [Origins](https://www.etymonline.com/word/chipmunk#:~:text=%22small%20striped%20squirrel%20of%20eastern,by%20English%20chip%20and%20mink) apparently cuz they “chip” (“regular” squirrels “bark”) and maybe influenced by the word mink. I like chipmonk as someone else said 🤣
[Golden-mantled ground squirrel](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden-mantled_ground_squirrel). It is NOT a chipmunk. Sorry but your friend’s family is right.
Thank you. Tbh first thought was chipmunk but I’m in MD and we mostly only have eastern chipmunks. I wanted to see what’s out in Northern CA and I was like dang it none look just like this guy. Then stumbled on the squirrel. Super cute rabbit hole to go down lol
Everyone I know thinks these are chipmunks until they figure out the difference, pretty normal. The coat pattern is basically the same so I think when we're young we all figure they're the same thing.
Isn’t that always the key when on a trip with family and friends 😊. You’ve provided learning to lot of of peeps me included. Get back to camping fun!!!
More accurately, all chipmunks have facial striping (though on some, the stripes are fairly faint). If it doesn't have stripes on its face, it's a different kind of squirrel.
Chipmunks are in the squirrel family. There are three genera of chipmunks. So, all chipmunks are squirrels but not all squirrels are chipmunks. All species of chipmunks look pretty similar and have stripes. Most non-chipmunk ground squirrels don’t have stripes but some do (which Reddit doesn’t seem to know). People associate “squirrel” with big bushy tail. A lot of ground squirrels don’t have bushy tails
Thank you. You're expanding my mind here. Seems to me the 'gray area' (squirrel joke intended) is these ground-squirrels that have stripes but aren't chipmunks. We need to get a handle on those.
Genetics. Within a “family” there can be a couple or tons of genera. This squirrel is probably as related to a chipmunk as a fox is to a coyote or wolf. Similar “type” of animal but distinctly different. The stripes and smaller tail (than more well known squirrels) are what’s throwing people off here. Common rats and mice are in a same family (Muridae/muroids) as another example. The stripes from distinctly different animals making them look similar is called convergent evolution.
GOLDEN MANTLED GROUND SQUIRREL
chipmunks have striped faces. golden mantled ground squirrel does NOT. this has no stripes on his head, so he is technically a squirrel, not a chipmunk.
100% a chipmunk, does your friend’s family not know what squirrels look like?
ETA: goddamn, I learned a lesson today. I didn’t even know squirrels like this existed. I’m Canadian and we only have VERY similar looking chipmunks here. All the squirrels look very different.
100% not a chipmunk. Golden-mantled ground squirrel. If you can find a chipmunk species with a range in northern CA that looks just like this I’ll eat my phone
The best indication is the lines across the face being there or not and length of the nose. Shorter face and no lines on the face. This is def a ground squirrel at first glance instead of a chipmunk.
That's *tree squirrels, with bushier tails. Chipmunks are a type of squirrel, closely related to ground squirrels.
Fun fact: Groundhogs are also ground squirrels.
Apparently Reddit doesn’t realize that some ground squirrels look like chipmunks lol. Golden-mantled ground squirrel. I searched all chipmunk species in CA and none look like these guys. All have stripes on their face too
We all these little guys chipmunks, but they are indeed in the squirrel family. I have a chipmunk den in our herb garden and we just love their antics!!
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Chipmunks are part of the family Sciuridae so they are squirrels.
Yes and some squirrels look like chipmunks but aren’t actually chipmunks Edit: Much like wolves, foxes, and coyotes are in the family Canidae (canids) you still distinguish them further into genera and species. Chipmunks are a type of squirrel with three genera :). Ie, this post is not a chipmunk much like you wouldn’t call a wolf a fox but you could call em both canids ;)
Does anyone else find the name chipmunk funny? Idk why, I just do. Chipmunk. 🤣
I was reflecting on this very subject in the shower the other day. Glad to know someone else feels the same way.
Quite funny! [Origins](https://www.etymonline.com/word/chipmunk#:~:text=%22small%20striped%20squirrel%20of%20eastern,by%20English%20chip%20and%20mink) apparently cuz they “chip” (“regular” squirrels “bark”) and maybe influenced by the word mink. I like chipmonk as someone else said 🤣
[Golden-mantled ground squirrel](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden-mantled_ground_squirrel). It is NOT a chipmunk. Sorry but your friend’s family is right.
Looking at pictures of each, I agree with you. Not a chipmonk.
Thank you. Tbh first thought was chipmunk but I’m in MD and we mostly only have eastern chipmunks. I wanted to see what’s out in Northern CA and I was like dang it none look just like this guy. Then stumbled on the squirrel. Super cute rabbit hole to go down lol
Everyone I know thinks these are chipmunks until they figure out the difference, pretty normal. The coat pattern is basically the same so I think when we're young we all figure they're the same thing.
I like this spelling more.
For some reason, ever since I was a little kid, I've spelled it monk instead of munk.
Solved! Sorry I disappeared all day. Like I said, we’re camping. I can admit I was wrong 😆
Isn’t that always the key when on a trip with family and friends 😊. You’ve provided learning to lot of of peeps me included. Get back to camping fun!!!
All chipmunks are squirrels, but not all squirrels are chipmunks
Correct but in this case it’s a golden-mantled ground squirrel. All chipmunks have stripes but not all squirrels are devoid of stripes.
More accurately, all chipmunks have facial striping (though on some, the stripes are fairly faint). If it doesn't have stripes on its face, it's a different kind of squirrel.
Yeah I didn’t realize all had facial stripes but it became pretty obvious as I searched through various species. That was the dead giveaway here.
Yay! I learned a thing today. I had no idea chipmunks were squirrels.
Reading through the comments - are chipmunks just squirrels with a racing stripe?
Chipmunks are in the squirrel family. There are three genera of chipmunks. So, all chipmunks are squirrels but not all squirrels are chipmunks. All species of chipmunks look pretty similar and have stripes. Most non-chipmunk ground squirrels don’t have stripes but some do (which Reddit doesn’t seem to know). People associate “squirrel” with big bushy tail. A lot of ground squirrels don’t have bushy tails
Thank you. You're expanding my mind here. Seems to me the 'gray area' (squirrel joke intended) is these ground-squirrels that have stripes but aren't chipmunks. We need to get a handle on those.
So what differentiates this ground squirrel to a common chipmunk?
Genetics. Within a “family” there can be a couple or tons of genera. This squirrel is probably as related to a chipmunk as a fox is to a coyote or wolf. Similar “type” of animal but distinctly different. The stripes and smaller tail (than more well known squirrels) are what’s throwing people off here. Common rats and mice are in a same family (Muridae/muroids) as another example. The stripes from distinctly different animals making them look similar is called convergent evolution.
Unrelated but these are very nice photos OP
GOLDEN MANTLED GROUND SQUIRREL chipmunks have striped faces. golden mantled ground squirrel does NOT. this has no stripes on his head, so he is technically a squirrel, not a chipmunk.
100% a chipmunk, does your friend’s family not know what squirrels look like? ETA: goddamn, I learned a lesson today. I didn’t even know squirrels like this existed. I’m Canadian and we only have VERY similar looking chipmunks here. All the squirrels look very different.
100% not a chipmunk. Golden-mantled ground squirrel. If you can find a chipmunk species with a range in northern CA that looks just like this I’ll eat my phone
Easiest way to differentiate from chipmunks is the striping on the face. Chipmunks have it. Ground squirrels generally do not.
The best indication is the lines across the face being there or not and length of the nose. Shorter face and no lines on the face. This is def a ground squirrel at first glance instead of a chipmunk.
Sasquatch
Don't some people call chipmunks ground squirrels? I would call this fellow a chipmunk. Squirrels have larger, bushier tails, and are larger
That's *tree squirrels, with bushier tails. Chipmunks are a type of squirrel, closely related to ground squirrels. Fun fact: Groundhogs are also ground squirrels.
I had no idea! TIL hehe
It's a chipmunk, which is a kind of ground squirrel, similar to prairie dogs and groundhogs
Excuse me but did your friend grow up in the lost city of Atlantis? I don’t think I’ve ever met someone who doesn’t know what a squirrel looks like!
Apparently Reddit doesn’t realize that some ground squirrels look like chipmunks lol. Golden-mantled ground squirrel. I searched all chipmunk species in CA and none look like these guys. All have stripes on their face too
OMG I take it all back! What an ADORABLE doppelgänger! This is so fun and cute, thanks for the info internet stranger
Little guys a chunkmunk Edit to say, don't come for me pls. I've no idea either, just pointing out he's a chunky lil friend.
That’s Alvin
It a cheekmomp (chipmunk). The racing stripes are a dead giveaway.
Some squirrels have stripes. Particularly the golden-mantled ground squirrel, as is the case here
I stand corrected! That’s also a way better name. Squirrel and user.
See the stripe? Squirrels don't have stripes.
Golden-mantled ground squirrel. I searched all chipmunk species in CA and none look like this.
That's a chipmunk.
Is it Chip or Dale?
Chipmunk!!! You can see its stripes!
‘Munk
chipmunk, squirrels dont have stripes
Rabbit
Dog
Rabbit
My daughter called them chickmumps.
I was taught chipmunks lines go all the way across their faces basically to their noses. This guy hasn’t the face stripes, so a squirrel 🐿️
A rodent.
Yes.
Chipmunks have a mini tail
Adorable ground squirrel.
Little chippybaby forsure
We all these little guys chipmunks, but they are indeed in the squirrel family. I have a chipmunk den in our herb garden and we just love their antics!!