hjacobson44's Identifications

Organ Mountains Chipmunk, along Pine Tree Trail, Organ Mts, Dona Ana Co., NM. In second photo, the chipmunk is in shadow on rock to the left of center in photo. 4 June 2008, 10:40 AM (second of two seen this day).

Along the Pine Tree trail above Aguirre Springs, Organ Mountains, Dona Ana Co., New Mexico, USA. 4 June 2008, 9:40 AM (first of two seen and photo'd).

2nd photo is of the microhabitat, which is more xeric than the species' habitat farther north.

The isolated (allopatric) subspecies T. q. australis (Organ Mountain Chipmunk) is endemic to the Organ Mountains, the southernmost limit of the species' distribution, and is the only chipmunk in this mountain range.

Another isolated population and subspecies (T. q. oscuraensis, the Oscura Mountain Chipmunk) occurs farther north in central NM in the Oscura Mountains on White Sands Missile Range, Socorro Co.