Pika

A pika is a small, mountain-dwelling mammal native to Asia and North America. They have short limbs, a round body, and fur all over, looking a bit like a rabbit but with short, rounded ears. The large-eared pika lives in the Himalayas and nearby mountains at heights of more than 6,000 m (20,000 ft).

The name pika comes from the Tungusic word piika. Its scientific name Ochotona comes from the Mongolian word ogotno (оготно), meaning 'pika'. Pikas belong to the Ochotonidae, a family in the order of lagomorphs, which also includes the Leporidae (rabbits and hares). They are the smallest animals in this group.

Pikas live on rocky slopes and eat grasses, flowers, and young stems. In the autumn, they gather food like hay and soft twigs to store under rocks for the winter. They are called the whistling hare because of their high-pitched alarm call when they feel danger. North America has two species: the American pika, found in the western United States and far southwestern Canada, and the collared pika of northern British Columbia, the Yukon, western Northwest Territories, and Alaska.

Habitat

Pikas live in cold places in Asia and North America. Most of them stay on rocky mountain sides where they can hide in small cracks. Some pikas dig simple holes for homes, and a few live on open steppe land. In the mountains of Eurasia, pikas sometimes share their homes with birds called snowfinches. Because of changing temperatures, some pikas now live at even higher mountains.

Characteristics

Pikas are small animals with short legs and rounded ears. They are about 15 to 23 cm (5.9 to 9.1 in) long and weigh between 120 and 350 g (4.2 and 12.3 oz), depending on the type.

These animals eat many kinds of plants, such as leaves, grasses, and shrubs. They also eat moss and lichens. Like rabbits, pikas have special teeth for chewing and their paws are covered in fur.

Activity

Pikas are active during the day or at dawn and dusk, especially in colder areas. They stay busy all winter long, moving through tunnels under rocks and snow, eating plants they saved earlier. They gather food in two ways: eating right away or storing it in special piles called "haypiles."

Pikas don't sleep through the winter like bears. Instead, they collect grasses and plants, storing them in safe spots to eat later. When they think humans might be dangerous, they act careful and cautious. This can mean less time to gather food for winter. Pikas like cooler weather, staying in the shade when it's too hot. Warmer temperatures can cut down on their time to find food. Some pikas live in family groups, sharing tasks, while others live alone outside of breeding time.

Vocalization

Pikas make different sounds to talk to each other. These sounds can be short, long, or even songs. They use these calls to know each other, warn of danger, protect their area, or call friends. The sounds change with the seasons—more songs in spring and shorter calls in late summer. Scientists study these sounds to learn more about pikas.

Lifespan

Pikas that live in the wild usually live about seven years. Scientists can guess a pika's age by looking at special lines on a bone in its lower jaw. Both male and female pikas tend to live about the same length of time.

Taxonomy

Main article: List of ochotonids

Pikas are small mammals that live in the mountains. They have short legs, round bodies, and fur all over. They look a bit like rabbits but have short, rounded ears and no tail. There are 29 kinds of pikas today, in three main groups:

• Mountain pikas: These include the Chinese red pika, Forrest's pika, and the large-eared pika.
• Shrub-steppe pikas: This group has the Gansu pika, Plateau pika, and Daurian pika.
• Northern pikas: These include the Alpine pika, Collared pika, and American pika.

Scientists have found many old pika fossils. These fossils show that pikas once lived in places like Europe and North America, long ago.