Here's why:
* Different Species: Squirrels and chipmunks are distinct species within the same family (Sciuridae). They have different physical characteristics, behaviors, and habitats.
* Genetics: Species are defined by their genetic makeup, and a half squirrel chipmunk would imply an impossible combination of genes.
* Hybrids: While some animals can hybridize (like a mule, a cross between a horse and a donkey), squirrels and chipmunks are too genetically different for this to occur.
It's a common misconception that squirrels and chipmunks are somehow related. The similarities are superficial, and they are separate branches of the squirrel family tree.