although these animals can exhibit slight variations in coloration in different geographic regions, they possess several common characteristics. typically the siberian chipmunk has 4 white stripes and 5 dark stripes along the back. it is 18–25 cm long, a third of which is the tail. the weight of adults depends on the time of year and food availability. even though the siberian chipmunk normally grows to 50–150 grams, this species is relatively small compared to other sciuridae, such as the red squirrel. the siberian chipmunks are not known to exhibit sexual dimorphism, and size and body proportions are the only way to distinguish younger chipmunks from older ones. their small size may contribute to their relatively short lives, which tend to range from 2 to 5 years in the wild. however, when placed in captivity, as seen in europe in the 1960s, they have the potential to live anywhere from 6 to 10 years.