The Chinese red pika (''Ochotona erythrotis'') is a species of
mammal
Mammals () are a group of vertebrate animals constituting the class Mammalia (), characterized by the presence of mammary glands which in females produce milk for feeding (nursing) their young, a neocortex (a region of the brain), fur or ...
in the family
Ochotonidae. Typical of a
pika it has short limbs, a small tail and round ears. Specific to the Chinese red pika has distinctive red color in its pelt. The Chinese pika typically lives in rocky terrain at altitudes between 600 and 1200 meters.
[Smith, Andrew T. "Pika". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 2013-08-15] and is
endemic to the East Qinghai, West Gansu and Northern Sichuan
provinces of
China
China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country, with a population exceeding 1.4 billion, slightly ahead of India. China spans the equivalent of five time zones and ...
and Eastern
Tibet.
Description
The Chinese red pika is one of the largest
pika species,
[Ochotona erythrotis – Chinese Red pika. ]
Wildpro – The Electronic Encyclopaedia and Library for Wildlife.
averaging a length of 18 to 29 cm.
This pika has both a winter and summer pelt. The winter pelt is thicker for the cooler weather, and is a grey color with a slight tint of red in the ear region. In the summer, this species has a coat that is a rusty-red color at the head and chest and progressively becomes more grey at the tail end of the animal. The stomach region of ''O. erythrotis'' is a white color in both pelts.
Speciation
The Chinese red pika was formerly regarded as a subgenus of Pika, included first with
''Ochotona gloveri'' and later with
''Ochotona rutila'' until they were determined to be separate species (mammal species). The pika species ''O. gloveri'' is believed to be the closest relative to ''O. erythrotis''. The two species are considered to have an
allopatric
Allopatric speciation () – also referred to as geographic speciation, vicariant speciation, or its earlier name the dumbbell model – is a mode of speciation that occurs when biological populations become geographically isolated from ...
relationship.
Differences between ''O. erythrotis'', ''O. gloveri'', and ''O. rutila'' are primarily seen in the shape of the skull and in fur color. The Chinese Red Pika has larger auditory bullae, a shorter nasals cavity, and a broader rostrum than ''O. gloveri''.
It has a smaller, and more arched skull than ''O. rutila'' and additionally has frontal fenestrae.
Additionally, these subspecies have different fur colorations. ''O. gloveri'' has darker fur than ''O. erythrotis''. Its summer fur is darker with more of a brown tint with a distinct rusty red color on the nose, forehead and ear region. In the winter, its coat is much lighter than ''O. erythrotis''.
[Yu, N. Zheng, C. Shi, L. (1997). ]
Variation in Mitochondrial DNA and Phylogeny of Six Species of Pikas (OCHOTONA).”
Journal of Mammalogy, American Society of Mammalogists.
Reproduction
''O. erythrotis'' have an average of two litters per year, usually averaging 3–7 young per litter.
Their reproductive season is between May and August.
Geography
''O. erythrotis'' is found in China and East Tibet. Specifically in China, ''O. erythrotis'' can be found in East Qinghai, West Gansu and Northern Sichuan.
Habitat
The Chinese red pika is primarily a rock-dwelling pika. It can be found in cliff and rock terrain
or in the alpine shrubland and meadows near rock formations
primarily at an altitude of .
This species has been observed to be adaptable and opportunistic in where it lives. This pika species is a burrowing species, which makes burrows that are 1–2 meters in length.
References
{{Taxonbar, from=Q311593
Mammals of China
Pikas
Mammals described in 1890
Taxonomy articles created by Polbot