Tamiops minor is known from fossils unearthed in Inner Mongolia, China.{{Cite journal |author1=Z.-D. Qiu |author2=Q. Li |year=2016 |title=Neogene rodents from central Nei Mongol, China |journal=Palaeontologia Sinica |volume=198, New Series C30 |pages=1–684 |isbn=978-7030491459}}