Ochotona hyperborea yesoensis detail.jpg
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A pika ( or ; archaically spelled pica) is a small, mountain-dwelling
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 ...
found in Asia and North America. With short limbs, very round body, an even coat of fur, and no external tail, they resemble their close relative, the
rabbit Rabbits, also known as bunnies or bunny rabbits, are small mammals in the family Leporidae (which also contains the hares) of the order Lagomorpha (which also contains the pikas). ''Oryctolagus cuniculus'' includes the European rabbit speci ...
, but with short, rounded ears. The large-eared pika of the Himalayas and nearby mountains is found at heights of more than , among the highest of any mammal. Pikas prefer rocky slopes and graze on a range of plants, mostly grasses, flowers and young stems. In the autumn they pull hay, soft twigs and other stores of food into their burrows to eat during the long, cold winter. The pika is also known as the whistling hare because of its high-pitched alarm call when diving into its burrow. The name ‘pika’ appears to be derived from the Tungus ''piika'', and the scientific name ''Ochotona'' is from the Mongolian word ''ogutun-a, оготно'', which means pika. It is used for any member of the Ochotonidae, a family within the
order Order, ORDER or Orders may refer to: * Categorization, the process in which ideas and objects are recognized, differentiated, and understood * Heterarchy, a system of organization wherein the elements have the potential to be ranked a number of d ...
of lagomorphs which also includes the Leporidae (rabbits and
hare Hares and jackrabbits are mammals belonging to the genus ''Lepus''. They are herbivores, and live solitarily or in pairs. They nest in slight depressions called forms, and their young are able to fend for themselves shortly after birth. The ge ...
s). Only one genus, ''Ochotona'', is extant within the family, covering 37 species, though many fossil genera are known. Another species, the Sardinian pika, belonging to the separate genus '' Prolagus'', has become extinct within the last 2000 years owing to human activity. The two species found in North America are the American pika, found primarily in the mountains of the western United States and far southwestern Canada, and the collared pika of northern British Columbia, the Yukon, western
Northwest Territories The Northwest Territories (abbreviated ''NT'' or ''NWT''; french: Territoires du Nord-Ouest, formerly ''North-Western Territory'' and ''North-West Territories'' and namely shortened as ''Northwest Territory'') is a federal territory of Canada. ...
and Alaska.


Habitat

Pikas are native to cold climates in Asia and
North America North America is a continent in the Northern Hemisphere and almost entirely within the Western Hemisphere. It is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by South America and the Car ...
. Most species live on rocky mountainsides, where numerous crevices are available for their shelter, although some pikas also construct crude burrows. A few burrowing species are native to open
steppe In physical geography, a steppe () is an ecoregion characterized by grassland plains without trees apart from those near rivers and lakes. Steppe biomes may include: * the montane grasslands and shrublands biome * the temperate grasslands, ...
land. In the mountains of Eurasia pikas often share their burrows with snowfinches, which build their nests there. Pikas require cold temperatures to live, and can die if exposed to temperatures above . Changing temperatures have forced some pika populations to restrict their ranges to even higher elevations.


Characteristics

Pikas are small mammals, with short limbs and rounded ears. They are about in body length and weigh between , depending on species. Like rabbits, after eating they initially produce soft green
feces Feces ( or faeces), known colloquially and in slang as poo and poop, are the solid or semi-solid remains of food that was not digested in the small intestine, and has been broken down by bacteria in the large intestine. Feces contain a relati ...
, which they eat again to take in further nutrition before producing the final solid fecal pellets. Collared pikas have been known to store dead birds in their burrows for food during winter and eat the feces of other animals. These animals are
herbivore A herbivore is an animal anatomically and physiologically adapted to eating plant material, for example foliage or marine algae, for the main component of its diet. As a result of their plant diet, herbivorous animals typically have mouthpart ...
s and feed on a wide variety of plant matter, including forbs, grasses, sedges, shrub twigs, moss and lichens. As with other lagomorphs, pikas have gnawing incisors and no
canine Canine may refer to: Zoology and anatomy * a dog-like Canid animal in the subfamily Caninae ** '' Canis'', a genus including dogs, wolves, coyotes, and jackals ** Dog, the domestic dog * Canine tooth, in mammalian oral anatomy People with the ...
s, although they have fewer molars than rabbits; they have a dental formula of: . Another similarity that pikas share with other lagomorphs is that the bottom of their paws are covered with fur and therefore lack paw pads. Rock-dwelling pikas have small litters of fewer than five young, whilst the burrowing species tend to give birth to more young and to breed more frequently, possibly owing to a greater availability of resources in their native habitats. The young are born after a
gestation Gestation is the period of development during the carrying of an embryo, and later fetus, inside viviparous animals (the embryo develops within the parent). It is typical for mammals, but also occurs for some non-mammals. Mammals during pregna ...
period of between 25 and 30 days.


Activity

Pikas are active during daylight ( diurnal) or twilight hours (
crepuscular In zoology, a crepuscular animal is one that is active primarily during the twilight period, being matutinal, vespertine, or both. This is distinguished from diurnal and nocturnal behavior, where an animal is active during the hours of daylig ...
), with higher-elevation species generally being more active during the daytime. They show their peak activity just before the winter season. Pikas do not
hibernate Hibernation is a state of minimal activity and metabolic depression undergone by some animal species. Hibernation is a seasonal heterothermy characterized by low body-temperature, slow breathing and heart-rate, and low metabolic rate. It most ...
so they generally spend time during the summer collecting and storing food for the winter. Each rock-dwelling pika stores its own ‘haypile’ of dried vegetation, whilst burrowing species often share food stores with their burrow mates. Haying behavior is more prominent at higher elevations. Many of the vocalizations and social behaviors that pikas exhibit are related to haypile defense. The impact of human activity on the tundra ecosystems where pikas live has been recorded dating back to the 1970s. Rather than hibernate during winter, pikas forage for grasses and other forms of plant matter and stash these findings in protected dens in a process called 'haying' which they sustain themselves with during winter seasons. Sometimes pikas think that humans are predators, so they sometimes respond to humans as they do to other species that may actually be preying on the pikas. Such interactions with humans have been linked to pikas having reduced amounts of foraging time, consequentially limiting the amount of food they can stockpile for winter months. Pikas are unable to withstand surrounding temperatures above so they must spend their time in shaded regions and out of direct sunlight when temperatures are high. A link has also been found between temperature increases and lost foraging time, where for every increase of 1°C to the ambient temperature in alpine landscapes home to pikas those pikas lose 3% of their foraging time. Eurasian pikas commonly live in family groups and share duties of gathering food and keeping watch. Some species are territorial. North American pikas ('' O. princeps'' and ''
O. collaris The collared pika (''Ochotona collaris'') is a species of mammal in the pika family, Ochotonidae, and part of the order Lagomorpha, which comprises rabbits, hares, and pikas. It is a small (about 160 g) alpine lagomorph that lives in bo ...
'') are asocial, leading solitary lives outside the breeding season.


Dialects

Pikas have distinct calls, which vary in duration. The call can be short and quick, a little longer and more drawn out or long songs. The short calls are an example of geographic variation. The pikas determine the appropriate time to make short calls by listening for cues for sound localization. The calls are used for individual recognition, predator warning signals, territory defense, or as a way to attract the opposite sex. There are also different calls depending on the season. In the spring the songs become more frequent during the breeding season. In late summer the vocalizations become short calls. Through various studies, the acoustic characteristics of the vocalizations can be a useful taxonomic tool.


Lifespan

The average lifespan of pikas in the wild is roughly seven years. A pika's age may be determined by the number of adhesion lines on the periosteal bone on the lower jaw. The lifespan does not differ between the sexes.


Species

The 34 species currently recognized are: * Order Lagomorpha ** Family Ochotonidae: pikas *** Genus ''Ochotona'' **** Subgenus ''Conothoa'': mountain pikas *****
Chinese red pika The Chinese red pika (''Ochotona erythrotis'') is a species of mammal 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 Chi ...
, ''O. erythrotis'' *****
Forrest's pika The Forrest's pika (''Ochotona forresti'') is a species of mammal in the pika family, Ochotonidae. It is found in Bhutan, China, India, and Myanmar. The summer dorsal pelage and ventral pelage are dark rufous or blackish brown, and the winter d ...
, ''O. forresti'' ****** Gaoligong pika (''O. gaoligongensis'') and black pika (''O. nigritia'') are now thought to be conspecific with ''O. forresti'' ***** Glover's pika, ''O. gloveri'' ******
Muli pika The Muli pika (''Ochotona muliensis'') is a species of mammal in the family Ochotonidae. It is endemic to China. Its natural habitat is temperate grassland. It is threatened by habitat loss. It is a rarely found, one of the six pika species ...
(''O. muliensis'') is now thought to be conspecific with ''O. gloveri'' ***** Ili pika, ''O. iliensis'' *****
Koslov's pika Koslov's pika or Kozlov's pika (''Ochotona koslowi'') is a species of mammal in the family Ochotonidae. It is endemic to China. Its natural habitat is tundra. It is threatened by habitat loss. Kozlov's pika are herbivores, they are known as "eco ...
, ''O. koslowi'' *****
Ladak pika The Ladak pika (''Ochotona ladacensis''), also known as the Ladakh pika, is a species of mammal in the family Ochotonidae found in China, India, and Pakistan. Prior to identification as a separate species, specimens were thought to be of the ...
, ''O. ladacensis'' ***** Large-eared pika, ''O. macrotis'' *****
Royle's pika Royle's pika (''Ochotona roylei''), also called the Himalayan mouse hare or hui shutu, is a species of pika. It is found in Bhutan, China, India, Nepal, and Pakistan. Description The most common pika species in the Himalayas, it has a length of ...
, ''O. roylei'' ******
Himalayan pika The Himalayan pika (''Ochotona himalayana'') is a species of small mammal in the pika family (''Ochotonidae''). It is found at high altitudes in remote areas of Ladakh, Uttarakhand and possibly also in Nepal &Tibet. The IUCN has listed this spe ...
(''O. himalayana'') is now thought to be conspecific with ''O. roylei'' ***** Turkestan red pika, ''O. rutila'' ****Subgenus ''Alienauroa'' *****
Yellow pika Yellow is the color between green and orange on the spectrum of light. It is evoked by light with a dominant wavelength of roughly 575585 nm. It is a primary color in subtractive color systems, used in painting or color printing. In the RG ...
, ''O. huanglongensis'' *****
Sacred pika Sacred describes something that is dedicated or set apart for the service or worship of a deity; is considered worthy of spiritual respect or devotion; or inspires awe or reverence among believers. The property is often ascribed to objects (a ...
, ''O. sacraria'' ***** Flat-headed pika, ''O. flatcalvariam'' ****Subgenus ''Ochotona'': shrub-steppe pikas *****
Gansu pika The Gansu pika (''Ochotona cansus'') or gray pika is a species of mammal in the pika family, Ochotonidae. It is endemic to China. References External links

* Pikas Mammals of China Endemic fauna of China Mammals described in 1907 Taxa ...
or gray pika, ''O. cansus'' *****
Plateau pika The plateau pika (''Ochotona curzoniae''), also known as the black-lipped pika, is a species of mammal in the pika family, Ochotonidae. It is a small diurnal and non-hibernating mammal weighing about 140 g when fully grown. The animals are ...
or black-lipped pika, ''O. curzoniae'' ***** Daurian pika, ''O. dauurica'' *****
Nubra pika The Nubra pika (''Ochotona nubrica'') is a species of mammal of the pika family, Ochotonidae. It is found in Bhutan, China, India, Nepal, and Pakistan Pakistan ( ur, ), officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan ( ur, , label=none), ...
, ''O. nubrica'' ***** Steppe pika, ''O. pusilla'' *****
Qionglai pika Qionglai could refer to the following locations in Sichuan Province, China: *Qionglai City (邛崃市), county-level city under the administration of Chengdu *Qionglai Mountains Qionglai Mountains () is a mountain range in the Sichuan Province o ...
, ''O. qionglaiensis'' *****
Afghan pika The Afghan pika (''Ochotona rufescens'') is a species of small mammal in the pika family, Ochotonidae. It is found in Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan and Turkmenistan and the IUCN lists it as being of "least concern". Taxonomy The Afghan pika was ...
, ''O. rufescens'' *****
Sijin pika Al-Mazraa ( ar, المزرعة, alternatively spelled ''al-Mazra'a'' or ''al-Mezra'ah''), also known as as-Sijn ( ar, السجن alternatively spelled ''Es-Sijine'', ''Sijne'' or ''Sijni'') is a village in southeastern Syria, administratively part ...
, ''O. sikimaria'' *****
Tsing-ling pika The Tsing-ling pika (''Ochotona syrinx'') is a species of pika endemic to the mountains in Central China. It inhabits mountainous forests and shrublands. It is a poorly known species. It is a rarely found, one of the six pika species Endemism, e ...
, ''O. syrinx'' *****
Moupin pika The Moupin pika (''Ochotona thibetana''), also known as Ribetischer Pika, Moupin-Pika, Pika del Tibet, and Manipuri pika,Molur, S., Srinivasulu, C., Srinivasulu, B., Walker, S., Nameer, P. O., & Ravikumar, L. (2005)Status of south Asian non-vol ...
, ''O. thibetana'' *****
Thomas's pika Thomas's pika (''Ochotona thomasi''), also known as the Thomas-pika, is a species of small mammal in the pika family, Ochotonidae. The fur on its upper body is reddish brown in summer, and mouse grey in winter. It is a generalist herbivore thr ...
, ''O. thomasi'' ****Subgenus ''Pika'': northern pikas *****
Alpine pika The alpine pika (''Ochotona alpina'') is a species of small mammal in the pika family, Ochotonidae. The summer pelage of different subspecies varies drastically but, in general, it is dark or cinnamon brown, turning to grey with a yellowish tin ...
or Altai pika, ''O. alpina'' *****
Helan Shan pika The Helan Shan pika or silver pika (''Ochotona argentata'') is a species of mammal in the pika family, Ochotonidae. It is endemic to China where it is found in a small region of the Helan Mountains. It is listed as "Endangered" in the IUCN Red L ...
or silver pika, ''O. argentata'' ***** Collared pika, ''O. collaris'' *****
Korean pika Korean may refer to: People and culture * Koreans, ethnic group originating in the Korean Peninsula * Korean cuisine * Korean culture * Korean language **Korean alphabet, known as Hangul or Chosŏn'gŭl **Korean dialects and the Jeju language ** ...
, ''O. coreana'' ***** Hoffmann's pika, ''O. hoffmanni'' *****
Northern pika The northern pika (''Ochotona hyperborea'') is a species of pika found across mountainous regions of northern Asia, from the Ural Mountains to northern Japan and south through Mongolia, Manchuria and northern Korea. An adult northern pika has a b ...
or Siberian pika, ''O. hyperborea'' *****
Manchurian pika Manchurian may refer to: * Manchuria, a region in Northeast Asia ** Manchurian people, a Tungusic people who originated in Manchuria (today's Northeastern China) ** Manchurian language, a Tungusic language spoken in Northeast China * Manchurian ( ...
, ''O. mantchurica'' *****
Kazakh pika Kazakh, Qazaq or Kazakhstani may refer to: * Someone or something related to Kazakhstan *Kazakhs, an ethnic group *Kazakh language *The Kazakh Khanate *Kazakh cuisine *Qazakh Rayon, Azerbaijan *Qazax, Azerbaijan *Kazakh Uyezd, administrative distr ...
, ''O. opaca'' *****
Pallas's pika Pallas's pika (''Ochotona pallasi''), also known as the Mongolian pika, is a species of small mammals in the pika family, Ochotonidae. It is found mainly in the mountains of western Mongolia. Description Pallas's pika can range from anywhere be ...
, ''O. pallasii'' ***** American pika, ''O. princeps'' *****
Turuchan pika The Turuchan pika (''Ochotona turuchanensis'') is a species of pika found in isolated regions in the Central Siberian Plateau. It is a small (16–19 cm) rock dwelling species that is active during the day due to the low temperature at night. ...
, ''O. turuchanensis''


Extinct species

Many fossil forms of ''Ochotona'' are described in the literature, from the Miocene epoch to the early Holocene (
extinct Extinction is the termination of a kind of organism or of a group of kinds (taxon), usually a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and ...
species) and present (16.4-0 Ma). They lived in Europe, Asia, and North America.Some species listed below are common for Eurasia and North America (''O. gromovi'', ''O. tologoica'', ''O. zazhigini'', and probably ''O. whartoni''). * Eurasia ** large forms *** †''
Ochotona chowmincheni A pika ( or ; archaically spelled pica) is a small, mountain-dwelling mammal found in Asia and North America. With short limbs, very round body, an even coat of fur, and no external tail, they resemble their close relative, the rabbit, but wi ...
'' (
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 ...
: Baode area, late Miocene) *** †''
Ochotona gromovi A pika ( or ; archaically spelled pica) is a small, mountain-dwelling mammal found in Asia and North America. With short limbs, very round body, an even coat of fur, and no external tail, they resemble their close relative, the rabbit, but wi ...
'' ( Asia, Pliocene, see also North America) *** †''
Ochotona gudrunae A pika ( or ; archaically spelled pica) is a small, mountain-dwelling mammal found in Asia and North America. With short limbs, very round body, an even coat of fur, and no external tail, they resemble their close relative, the rabbit, but wi ...
'' (China:
Shanxi Shanxi (; ; formerly romanised as Shansi) is a landlocked province of the People's Republic of China and is part of the North China region. The capital and largest city of the province is Taiyuan, while its next most populated prefecture-lev ...
, early Pleistocene) *** †''
Ochotona guizhongensis A pika ( or ; archaically spelled pica) is a small, mountain-dwelling mammal found in Asia and North America. With short limbs, very round body, an even coat of fur, and no external tail, they resemble their close relative, the rabbit, but ...
'' ( Tibet, late Miocene) *** †''
Ochotona lagreli A pika ( or ; archaically spelled pica) is a small, mountain-dwelling mammal found in Asia and North America. With short limbs, very round body, an even coat of fur, and no external tail, they resemble their close relative, the rabbit, but ...
'' (China: Inner Mongolia, late Miocene to late Pliocene) *** †''
Ochotona magna A pika ( or ; archaically spelled pica) is a small, mountain-dwelling mammal found in Asia and North America. With short limbs, very round body, an even coat of fur, and no external tail, they resemble their close relative, the rabbit, but wi ...
'' (China, early Pleistocene) *** †''
Ochotona tologoica A pika ( or ; archaically spelled pica) is a small, mountain-dwelling mammal found in Asia and North America. With short limbs, very round body, an even coat of fur, and no external tail, they resemble their close relative, the rabbit, but wi ...
'' ( Transbaikalia, Pliocene, see also North America) *** †''
Ochotona transcaucasica A pika ( or ; archaically spelled pica) is a small, mountain-dwelling mammal found in Asia and North America. With short limbs, very round body, an even coat of fur, and no external tail, they resemble their close relative, the rabbit, but ...
'' ( Transcaucasia: eastern Georgia and Azerbaijan, Transbaikal and probably southern Europe, early to late Pleistocene) *** †''
Ochotona ursui A pika ( or ; archaically spelled pica) is a small, mountain-dwelling mammal found in Asia and North America. With short limbs, very round body, an even coat of fur, and no external tail, they resemble their close relative, the rabbit, but wi ...
'' ( Romania, Pliocene) *** †''
Ochotona zasuchini A pika ( or ; archaically spelled pica) is a small, mountain-dwelling mammal found in Asia and North America. With short limbs, very round body, an even coat of fur, and no external tail, they resemble their close relative, the rabbit, but wi ...
'' (Transbaikalia, Pleistocene) *** †''
Ochotona zazhigini A pika ( or ; archaically spelled pica) is a small, mountain-dwelling mammal found in Asia and North America. With short limbs, very round body, an even coat of fur, and no external tail, they resemble their close relative, the rabbit, but wi ...
'' (Asia, Pliocene, see also North America) *** †''
Ochotona zhangi A pika ( or ; archaically spelled pica) is a small, mountain-dwelling mammal found in Asia and North America. With short limbs, very round body, an even coat of fur, and no external tail, they resemble their close relative, the rabbit, but wi ...
'' (China, Pleistocene) **medium-sized forms *** †''
Ochotona agadjianiani A pika ( or ; archaically spelled pica) is a small, mountain-dwelling mammal found in Asia and North America. With short limbs, very round body, an even coat of fur, and no external tail, they resemble their close relative, the rabbit, but wi ...
'' (Asia, Pliocene) *** †''
Ochotona antiqua A pika ( or ; archaically spelled pica) is a small, mountain-dwelling mammal found in Asia and North America. With short limbs, very round body, an even coat of fur, and no external tail, they resemble their close relative, the rabbit, but wi ...
'' ( Moldavia, Ukraine, and the Russian Plain, Caucasus, and probably Rhodes, late Miocene to Pliocene) *** †''
Ochotona azerica A pika ( or ; archaically spelled pica) is a small, mountain-dwelling mammal found in Asia and North America. With short limbs, very round body, an even coat of fur, and no external tail, they resemble their close relative, the rabbit, but wi ...
'' (Transcaucasia: Azerbaijan, middle Pliocene) *** †''
Ochotona lingtaica A pika ( or ; archaically spelled pica) is a small, mountain-dwelling mammal found in Asia and North America. With short limbs, very round body, an even coat of fur, and no external tail, they resemble their close relative, the rabbit, but wi ...
'' (Asia, Pliocene) *** †''
Ochotona dodogolica A pika ( or ; archaically spelled pica) is a small, mountain-dwelling mammal found in Asia and North America. With short limbs, very round body, an even coat of fur, and no external tail, they resemble their close relative, the rabbit, but wi ...
'' (Asia: western Transbaikalia, Pleistocene) *** †''
Ochotona nihewanica A pika ( or ; archaically spelled pica) is a small, mountain-dwelling mammal found in Asia and North America. With short limbs, very round body, an even coat of fur, and no external tail, they resemble their close relative, the rabbit, but wi ...
'' (China: Hebei, early Pleistocene) *** †''
Ochotona plicodenta A pika ( or ; archaically spelled pica) is a small, mountain-dwelling mammal found in Asia and North America. With short limbs, very round body, an even coat of fur, and no external tail, they resemble their close relative, the rabbit, but ...
'' (Asia, Pliocene) *** †''
Ochotona polonica A pika ( or ; archaically spelled pica) is a small, mountain-dwelling mammal found in Asia and North America. With short limbs, very round body, an even coat of fur, and no external tail, they resemble their close relative, the rabbit, but ...
'' (Europe: Poland, Germany, France, Pliocene) ** small-sized forms *** †''
Ochotona bazarovi A pika ( or ; archaically spelled pica) is a small, mountain-dwelling mammal found in Asia and North America. With short limbs, very round body, an even coat of fur, and no external tail, they resemble their close relative, the rabbit, but wi ...
'' (Asia, upper Pliocene) *** †''
Ochotona dehmi A pika ( or ; archaically spelled pica) is a small, mountain-dwelling mammal found in Asia and North America. With short limbs, very round body, an even coat of fur, and no external tail, they resemble their close relative, the rabbit, but wi ...
'' (Germany:
Schernfeld Schernfeld is a municipality in the district of Eichstätt in Bavaria in Germany Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, a ...
, Pleistocene) *** †''
Ochotona filippovi A pika ( or ; archaically spelled pica) is a small, mountain-dwelling mammal found in Asia and North America. With short limbs, very round body, an even coat of fur, and no external tail, they resemble their close relative, the rabbit, but wi ...
'' ( Siberia, Pleistocene) *** †''
Ochotona gracilis A pika ( or ; archaically spelled pica) is a small, mountain-dwelling mammal found in Asia and North America. With short limbs, very round body, an even coat of fur, and no external tail, they resemble their close relative, the rabbit, but wi ...
'' (Asia, Pliocene) *** †''
Ochotona horaceki A pika ( or ; archaically spelled pica) is a small, mountain-dwelling mammal found in Asia and North America. With short limbs, very round body, an even coat of fur, and no external tail, they resemble their close relative, the rabbit, but wi ...
'' ( Slovakia:
Honce Honce ( hu, Kisgencs) is a village and municipality in the Rožňava District in the Košice Region of eastern Slovakia. Genealogical resources The records for genealogical research are available at the state archive "Statny Archiv in Kosice, S ...
, Pleistocene) *** †''
Ochotona minor A pika ( or ; archaically spelled pica) is a small, mountain-dwelling mammal found in Asia and North America. With short limbs, very round body, an even coat of fur, and no external tail, they resemble their close relative, the rabbit, but wi ...
'' (China, late Miocene) *** †''
Ochotona sibirica A pika ( or ; archaically spelled pica) is a small, mountain-dwelling mammal found in Asia and North America. With short limbs, very round body, an even coat of fur, and no external tail, they resemble their close relative, the rabbit, but wi ...
'' (Asia, Pliocene) *** †''
Ochotona valerotae A pika ( or ; archaically spelled pica) is a small, mountain-dwelling mammal found in Asia and North America. With short limbs, very round body, an even coat of fur, and no external tail, they resemble their close relative, the rabbit, but wi ...
'' ( France: Valerots site, Pleistocene) *** †''
Ochotona youngi A pika ( or ; archaically spelled pica) is a small, mountain-dwelling mammal found in Asia and North America. With short limbs, very round body, an even coat of fur, and no external tail, they resemble their close relative, the rabbit, but wi ...
'' (Asia, Pliocene)
and others. ** other examples *** †''
Ochotona agadzhaniani A pika ( or ; archaically spelled pica) is a small, mountain-dwelling mammal found in Asia and North America. With short limbs, very round body, an even coat of fur, and no external tail, they resemble their close relative, the rabbit, but wi ...
'' (Transcaucasia: Armenia, Pliocene) *** †''
Ochotona alaica A pika ( or ; archaically spelled pica) is a small, mountain-dwelling mammal found in Asia and North America. With short limbs, very round body, an even coat of fur, and no external tail, they resemble their close relative, the rabbit, but wi ...
'' (Asia: Kyrgyzstan, Pleistocene) *** † ''Ochotona'' (''Proochotona'') ''eximia'' ( Moldova, Ukraine, Russia, Kazakhstan, Miocene to Pliocene) *** † ''Ochotona'' (''Proochotona'') ''gigas'' (Ukraine, Pliocene) *** †''
Ochotona gureevi A pika ( or ; archaically spelled pica) is a small, mountain-dwelling mammal found in Asia and North America. With short limbs, very round body, an even coat of fur, and no external tail, they resemble their close relative, the rabbit, but wi ...
'' (Transbaikalia, middle Pliocene) *** †''
Ochotona hengduanshanensis A pika ( or ; archaically spelled pica) is a small, mountain-dwelling mammal found in Asia and North America. With short limbs, very round body, an even coat of fur, and no external tail, they resemble their close relative, the rabbit, but wi ...
'' (China, Pleistocene) *** †''
Ochotona intermedia A pika ( or ; archaically spelled pica) is a small, mountain-dwelling mammal found in Asia and North America. With short limbs, very round body, an even coat of fur, and no external tail, they resemble their close relative, the rabbit, but wi ...
'' (Asia, Pliocene) *** † ''Ochotona'' (''Proochotona'') ''kalfaense'' (Europe: Moldova, Miocene) *** † ''Ochotona'' (''Proochotona'') ''kirgisica'' (Asia: Kyrgyzstan, Pliocene) *** †''
Ochotona kormosi A pika ( or ; archaically spelled pica) is a small, mountain-dwelling mammal found in Asia and North America. With short limbs, very round body, an even coat of fur, and no external tail, they resemble their close relative, the rabbit, but wi ...
'' ( Hungary, Pleistocene) *** † ''Ochotona'' (''Proochotona'') ''kurdjukovi'' (Asia: Kyrgyzstan, Pliocene) *** †''
Ochotona largerli A pika ( or ; archaically spelled pica) is a small, mountain-dwelling mammal found in Asia and North America. With short limbs, very round body, an even coat of fur, and no external tail, they resemble their close relative, the rabbit, but wi ...
'' (Georgia, Pleistocene) *** †''
Ochotona lazari A pika ( or ; archaically spelled pica) is a small, mountain-dwelling mammal found in Asia and North America. With short limbs, very round body, an even coat of fur, and no external tail, they resemble their close relative, the rabbit, but wi ...
'' (Ukraine, Pleistocene) *** †''
Ochotona mediterranensis A pika ( or ; archaically spelled pica) is a small, mountain-dwelling mammal found in Asia and North America. With short limbs, very round body, an even coat of fur, and no external tail, they resemble their close relative, the rabbit, but ...
'' ( Turkey, Pliocene) *** †''
Ochotona ozansoyi A pika ( or ; archaically spelled pica) is a small, mountain-dwelling mammal found in Asia and North America. With short limbs, very round body, an even coat of fur, and no external tail, they resemble their close relative, the rabbit, but wi ...
'' (Turkey, Miocene) *** †''
Ochotona pseudopusilla A pika ( or ; archaically spelled pica) is a small, mountain-dwelling mammal found in Asia and North America. With short limbs, very round body, an even coat of fur, and no external tail, they resemble their close relative, the rabbit, but wi ...
'' (Ukraine and Russian Plain, Pleistocene) *** †''
Ochotona spelaeus A pika ( or ; archaically spelled pica) is a small, mountain-dwelling mammal found in Asia and North America. With short limbs, very round body, an even coat of fur, and no external tail, they resemble their close relative, the rabbit, but wi ...
'' (Ukraine, late Pleistocene) *** †''
Ochotona tedfordi A pika ( or ; archaically spelled pica) is a small, mountain-dwelling mammal found in Asia and North America. With short limbs, very round body, an even coat of fur, and no external tail, they resemble their close relative, the rabbit, but ...
'' (China:
Yushe Basin Yushe County () is a county in the east of Shanxi province, China. It is under the administration of the prefecture-level city of Jinzhong. Cao Shui, a famous poet, novelist, screenwriter, was born here. It is a predominantly rural county. Climate ...
, late Miocene) *** †'' Ochotona cf. whartoni'' ( Irkutsk Oblast and Yakutia, Pleistocene, see also North America) *** †''
Ochotona zabiensis A pika ( or ; archaically spelled pica) is a small, mountain-dwelling mammal found in Asia and North America. With short limbs, very round body, an even coat of fur, and no external tail, they resemble their close relative, the rabbit, but wi ...
'' (southern Poland, early Pleistocene) *** †''Ochotona'' sp. ( Greece: Maritsa, Pliocene) *** †''Ochotona'' sp. (Hungary: Ostramos, Pleistocene) *** †''Ochotona'' sp. (Siberia, Pleistocene) *** †''Ochotona'' sp. (Yakutia, Pleistocene) * North America ** †''
Ochotona gromovi A pika ( or ; archaically spelled pica) is a small, mountain-dwelling mammal found in Asia and North America. With short limbs, very round body, an even coat of fur, and no external tail, they resemble their close relative, the rabbit, but wi ...
'' ( US: Colorado, Pliocene, see also Eurasia) ** †''
Ochotona spanglei ''Ochotona spanglei'' is an extinction, extinct species of pika (mammal in the family Ochotonidae), known from Late Miocene - Early Pliocene fossil from Oregon (United States, USA). Fossils were also found in Nebraska referred to as ''Ochotona'' ...
'' (US, late Miocene or early Pliocene) ** †''
Ochotona tologoica A pika ( or ; archaically spelled pica) is a small, mountain-dwelling mammal found in Asia and North America. With short limbs, very round body, an even coat of fur, and no external tail, they resemble their close relative, the rabbit, but wi ...
'' (US: Colorado, Pliocene, see also Eurasia) ** †''Ochotona whartoni'' (
giant pika The giant pika or Wharton's pika (''Ochotona whartoni'') is an extinct mammal species in the family Ochotonidae. It lived during the Pleistocene and early Holocene in northern parts of North America (Alaska, US and Canada). Very similar forms ha ...
, US, Canada, Pleistocene to early Holocene, see also Eurasia) ** †''
Ochotona wheatleyi A pika ( or ; archaically spelled pica) is a small, mountain-dwelling mammal found in Asia and North America. With short limbs, very round body, an even coat of fur, and no external tail, they resemble their close relative, the rabbit, but wi ...
'' (US: Alaska, Pliocene, late Pleistocene) ** †''
Ochotona zazhigini A pika ( or ; archaically spelled pica) is a small, mountain-dwelling mammal found in Asia and North America. With short limbs, very round body, an even coat of fur, and no external tail, they resemble their close relative, the rabbit, but wi ...
'' (US: Colorado, Pleistocene, see also Eurasia) ** extinct small pikas similar to the '' O. pusilla'' group (Pleistocene) Paleontologists have also described multiple forms of pika not referred to specific species (''Ochotona'' indet.) or not certainly identified (''O.'' cf. ''antiqua'', ''O.'' cf. ''cansus'', ''O.'' cf. ''daurica'', ''O.'' cf. ''eximia'', ''O.'' cf. ''gromovi'', ''O.'' cf. ''intermedia'', ''O.'' cf. ''koslowi'', ''O.'' cf. ''lagrelii'', ''O.'' cf. ''nihewanica''). The statuses of ''Ochotona'' (''Proochotona'') ''kirgisica'' and ''O. spelaeus'' are uncertain. The "''pusilla''" group of pikas is characterized by archaic (
plesiomorphic In phylogenetics, a plesiomorphy ("near form") and symplesiomorphy are synonyms for an ancestral character shared by all members of a clade, which does not distinguish the clade from other clades. Plesiomorphy, symplesiomorphy, apomorphy, and ...
) cheek teeth and small size. The North American species migrated from Eurasia. They invaded the New World twice: * ''O. spanglei'' during the latest Miocene or early Pliocene, followed by a roughly three-million-year-long gap in the known North American pikas record *''O. whartoni'' (giant pika) and small pikas via the Bering Land Bridge during the earliest Pleistocene ''Ochotona'' cf. ''whartoni'' and small pikas of the ''O. pusilla'' group are also known from Siberia. The extant, endemic North American species appeared in the Pleistocene. The North American collared pika (''O. collaris'') and American pika (''O. princeps'') have been suggested to have descended from the same ancestor as the steppe pika (''O. pusilla''). The range of ''Ochotona'' was larger in the past, with both extinct and extant species inhabiting Western Europe and Eastern North America, areas that are currently free of pikas. Pleistocene fossils of the extant steppe pika ''O. pusilla'' currently native to Asia have been found also in many countries of Europe from the United Kingdom to Russia and from Italy to Poland, and the Asiatic extant northern pika ''O. hyperborea'' in one location in the middle Pleistocene United States. Other
genera Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial nomenclat ...
of ochotonids (currently living only Ochotonidae) include except ''Ochotona'' (pika) extinct †'' Albertona'', †'' Alloptox'', †'' Amphilagus'', †'' Australagomys'', †'' Austrolagomys'', †'' Bellatona'', †'' Bellatonoides'', †'' Bohlinotona'', †'' Cuyamalagus'', †'' Desmatolagus'', †'' Eurolagus'', †'' Gripholagomys'', †'' Gymnesicolagus'', †'' Hesperolagomys'', †'' Heterolagus'', †'' Kenyalagomys'', †'' Lagopsis'', †'' Marcuinomys'', †'' Ochotonoides'', †'' Ochotonoma'', †'' Oklahomalagus'', †'' Oreolagus'', †'' Paludotona'', †'' Piezodus'', †'' Plicalagus'', †'' Pliolagomys'', †'' Prolagus'', †'' Proochotona'' (
syn. The Botanical and Zoological Codes of nomenclature treat the concept of synonymy differently. * In botanical nomenclature, a synonym is a scientific name that applies to a taxon that (now) goes by a different scientific name. For example, Linnae ...
''Ochotona''), †'' Pseudobellatona'', †'' Ptychoprolagus'', †'' Russellagus'', †'' Sinolagomys'' and †'' Titanomys''. The earliest one is ''Desmatolagus'' (middle Eocene to Miocene, 42.5–14.8 Ma), usually included in the Ochotonidae, sometimes in Leporidae or in neither ochotonid nor leporid stem-
lagomorphs The lagomorphs are the members of the taxonomic order Lagomorpha, of which there are two living families: the Leporidae ( hares and rabbits) and the Ochotonidae (pikas). The name of the order is derived from the Ancient Greek ''lagos'' (λα ...
. Ochotonids appeared in Asia between the late Eocene and the early Oligocene, and continued to develop along with increased distribution of C3 grasses in previously forest dominated areas under the "climatic optimum" from the late Oligocene to middle Miocene. They thrived in Eurasia, North America, and even Africa. The peak of their diversity occurred during the period from the early Miocene to middle Miocene, most of them became extinct during the transition from the Miocene to Pliocene, what was accompanied by diversity increase in the ''
leporids Leporidae is the family of rabbits and hares, containing over 60 species of extant mammals in all. The Latin word ''Leporidae'' means "those that resemble ''lepus''" (hare). Together with the pikas, the Leporidae constitute the mammalian order ...
''. It has been proposed that this switch between ochotonids and larger leporids was caused by expansion of C4 plants (particularly the
Poaceae Poaceae () or Gramineae () is a large and nearly ubiquitous family of monocotyledonous flowering plants commonly known as grasses. It includes the cereal grasses, bamboos and the grasses of natural grassland and species cultivated in lawns an ...
) related to global cooling in the late Miocene, since extant pikas reveal a strong preference for C3 plants ( Asteraceae,
Rosaceae Rosaceae (), the rose family, is a medium-sized family of flowering plants that includes 4,828 known species in 91 genera. The name is derived from the type genus ''Rosa''. Among the most species-rich genera are ''Alchemilla'' (270), ''Sorbus ...
, and
Fabaceae The Fabaceae or Leguminosae,International Code of Nomenc ...
, many of them C3). Replacement of large areas of forests by open grassland first started probably in North America and is called sometimes "nature's green revolution".


Notes


References


Additional references of the Paleobiology Database


Further reading

*


External links


The trek of the pika
by Michael Morris, Parks Canada, Mount Revelstoke and Glacier National Parks. (includes sound file) {{Authority control Extant Burdigalian first appearances