Pallas's pika

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Pallas's pika [1]
Ochotona pallasi.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Lagomorpha
Family: Ochotonidae
Genus: Ochotona
Species:
O. pallasi
Binomial name
Ochotona pallasi
(J. E. Gray, 1867)
Pallas's Pika area.png
Pallas's pika range (the Kazakhstan part is now assigned to Kazakh pika, O. opaca [2] )

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.

Contents

Description

Pallas's pika can range from anywhere between 175 and 200 grams (6.2 and 7.1 oz) in weight and can grow up to 25 centimetres (9.8 in) long. [3] Pallas's pikas have round bodies, very short limbs, and small rounded ears. They will also have different pelage coloration depending on the time of the year. They become lighter in the summer and much darker in the winter. [4]

Ecology

Distribution and habitat

O. p. pallasi can be geographically separated from the other three subspecies. O. p. pallasi is largely distributed in Kazakhstan and the other large group O. p. pricei, are distributed along Mongolia and bordering territories. [5] The range for both these groups extends all the way between the Betpak Dala Desert located in Kazakhastan to the Helan Shan Range. The remaining two, which have been little-studied, O. p. argentata collected mostly at the Helan Shan Range and the O. p. sunidica found mostly near the Chinese-Mongolian border, both of which found in rocky habitats with very restricted ranges. [5]

Diet

Pallas's pikas are much smaller in body size than other herbivores that usually share the same environment. Their body size allows them to consume more of the lower level vegetation, giving them more of an advantage over larger herbivores, such as livestock. [3] Like other pikas, Pallas's pika is herbivorous and saves grass in the summer to eat in the winter. They often construct haypiles with this stash, but some populations prefer to keep their stores under rocks. Their diet consists mostly of grasses, however their diet does range in flowers as well as stems. [3] Like all lagomorphs (rabbits, hares, pikas), Pallas's pika creates, expels & eats cecotropes (cecotrophy) to get more nutrition from its food. [3]

Ecosystem roles

Pallas's pika mostly are found in more arid type climates. They have shown to play a role in not only seed dispersal and vegetation, but the alteration of site conditions. [6] This alteration through burrowing, has led to plant growth and increased soil nutrients. This is a clear representation of allogenic ecosystem engineering. [6]

Mating and reproduction

Pallas's pikas form monogamous pairs. The averages litter size is 5, with 2.7 litters per year; reproduction however only occurs in the summer. [3] The young wean at 19 days and are sexually mature at 4 weeks.

Physiology

The Pallas's pika and many other subspecies show a mechanism called microbial nitrogen fixation. [7] This is a very important mechanism consisting of an isolation of a bacterial community in the cecum and colon of the Pika called the nifH gene. [7] Since Pallas's pika's diet consist of such poor feed, they need to have an adaptation such as this in order to provide the essential amino acids to their diet. These essential amino acids are supplied by the microorganisms produced by microbial nitrogen fixations. [7]

Phylogeny and taxonomy

There are four defined taxa: O. p. pallasi, O. p. pricei, O. p. sunidica, and O. argentata. [4] Mitochondrial studies show that the two larger defined taxa of O. pallasi are paraphyletic to O. argentata. [4] However, morphometric data shows that the taxa O. p pricei and O. p. pallasii show similar traits to one other than to O. argentata. O. argentata differ in that they show a rufous type coloration in the summer and a more silver type coloration in the winter. [4]

As a species, Pallas's pika is common. However, O. p. hamica, O. p. helanshanensis and O. p. sundica are rated as "critically endangered" and "endangered", respectively, on the IUCN Red List.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pika</span> Genus of mountain-dwelling mammal

A pika is a small, mountain-dwelling mammal native to Asia and North America. With short limbs, a very round body, an even coat of fur, and no external tail, they resemble their close relative, the rabbit, but with short, rounded ears. The large-eared pika of the Himalayas and nearby mountains lives at elevations of more than 6,000 m (20,000 ft).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sardinian pika</span> Extinct species of mammal

The Sardinian pika is an extinct species of lagomorph that was endemic to the islands of Sardinia, Corsica and neighbouring Mediterranean islands until its extinction likely in Roman times. It was last surviving member of Prolagus, a genus of lagomorph once widespread throughout Europe during the Miocene and Pliocene epochs, whose closest living relatives are pikas of the genus Ochotona.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Collared pika</span> Species of mammal

The collared pika 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 alpine lagomorph that lives in boulder fields of central and southern Alaska (U.S.), and in parts of Canada, including northern British Columbia, Yukon, and western parts of the Northwest Territories. It is closely related to the American pika, but it is a monotypic form containing no recognized subspecies. It is asocial, does not hibernate, and spends a large part of its time in the summer collecting vegetation that is stored under rocks ("haypiles") as a supply of food for the winter. Some individuals have been observed collecting and consuming dead birds as sources of fat and protein. Thousands of trips are made during July and August to collect vegetation for winter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alpine pika</span> Species of mammal

The alpine pika 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 tinge during the winter. The alpine pika is found in western Mongolia, eastern Kazakhstan, and Russia, as well as in China, in very cold, mountainous regions. It is a generalist herbivore, and mainly forages on mosses, tree branches, pine nuts, and plant stems. It can emit three series of different vocalizations: a long call, a short call, and an alarm call. It is rated as a species of least concern on the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Helan Shan pika</span> Species of mammal

The Helan Shan pika or silver pika 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 List of Threatened Species as of 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Daurian pika</span> Species of mammal

The Daurian pika is a small relative of rabbits and hares in the order Lagomorpha. It is well known for its “barking” alarm call, and for its peculiar habit of making hay to help survive the winter. There are 4 recognized subspecies, Ochotona dauurica annectens, O.d. bedfordi, O.d. dauurica, and O.d. mursavi. Daurian pikas, like other lagomorphs, are characterized by a secondary set of incisor teeth. They are sexually monomorphic, with thick reddish coats. Pikas have no external tail, and their ears are large and rounded. The auditory bullae, a feature of the skull of daurian pikas are small in comparison to many other pikas. This is thought to be related to their fairly low altitude habitat preference. They are considered keystone species within their habitat.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chinese red pika</span> Species of mammal

The Chinese red pika 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 Chinese pika typically lives in rocky terrain at altitudes between 600 and 1200 meters. and is endemic to the East Qinghai, West Gansu and Northern Sichuan provinces of China and Eastern Tibet.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Glover's pika</span> Species of mammal

Glover's pika is a species of mammal in the family Ochotonidae. It was first described in 1922, by Michael Rogers Oldfield Thomas. The summer dorsal pelage is grayish rufous, grayish brown, or tea brown in colour. The winter pelage is similar to the summer pelage, but is lighter in tone. Endemic to China, it is found in high altitudes of northeastern Tibet, southwestern Qinghai, western Sichuan, and northwestern Yunnan. It is a generalist herbivore, and is known to construct haypiles. It is rated as a species of least concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. It is also regionally red listed as least concern in China.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hoffmann's pika</span> Species of mammal

Hoffmann's pika is a species of mammal in the pika family, Ochotonidae, that is endemic to Mongolia. It is currently listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ladak pika</span> Species of mammal

The Ladak pika, 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 plateau pika. Named for the Ladakh region, they are commonly found in valleys of the mountain ranges spanning from Pakistan through India to China at an elevation between 4,300 and 5,450 m and are herbivores.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Large-eared pika</span> Species of mammal

The large-eared pika is a species of small mammal in the family Ochotonidae. It is found in mountainous regions of Afghanistan, Tibet, Bhutan, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Nepal, Pakistan and Tajikistan where it nests among boulders and scree.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steppe pika</span> Species of mammal

The steppe pika is a small mammal of the pika family, Ochotonidae. It is found in the steppes of southern Russia and northern Kazakhstan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Royle's pika</span> Species of mammal

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Turkestan red pika</span> Species of mammal

The Turkestani red pika is a species of mammal in the family Ochotonidae. The summer fur at its back is bright rufous and the ventral fur is white or ochraceous. The winter dorsal fur is pale brown and the ventral fur is white or light ochraceous in colour. It is found in the mountains of western Xinjiang in China, and sporadically also in the central Asian mountains in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. The female has a low fertility rate, and gives birth to offspring during the breeding season from spring to summer. She generally produces two litters each year, with two to six young. It is rated as a species of least concern on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Endangered Species, but it is considered to be near-threatened within the China part of its range.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Moupin pika</span> Species of mammal

The Moupin pika, also known as Ribetischer Pika, Moupin-Pika, Pika del Tibet, and Manipuri pika, is a species of mammal in the pika family, Ochotonidae. It has many subspecies, some of which may be distinct species. Its summer pelage is dark russet-brown with some light spots on the dorsal side, and ochraceous buff tinged on the belly. In winter it is lighter, with buff to dull brown dorsal pelage. A generalist herbivore, it is found in the mountains of the eastern Tibetan Plateau in China, Bhutan, India (Sikkim), and northern Myanmar. Both the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Endangered Species and the Red List of China's Vertebrates classify it as a species of least concern; although one subspecies may be endangered.

<i>Prolagus</i> Extinct genus of mammals

Prolagus is an extinct genus of lagomorph. Over 20 species have been named, and the genus was abundant and widespread in Europe during the Neogene. However, by the end of the Middle Pleistocene, it was confined to a single species, the Sardinian pika, on the Corsica, Sardinia, and surrounding islands, where it survived into historical times. In North Africa and Western Asia, the genus is known from the Miocene and Pliocene. The scientific name may mean "before hares" or "primitive hares". Its taxonomy is disputed, with it either being considered a member of the family Ochotonidae, which includes living pikas, or the only member of the family Prolagidae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Black pika</span> Species of mammal

The black pika or silver pika is a species of mammal in the family Ochotonidae. It was thought to be common to the Yunnan Province of China where it was first discovered in 2000, it is only known from four specimens. The validity of the species has been questioned, with some studies suggesting that the known specimens represent melanistic individuals of Forrest's pika.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tsing-ling pika</span> Species of mammal

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References

  1. Hoffman, R.S.; Smith, A.T. (2005). "Order Lagomorpha". In Wilson, D.E.; Reeder, D.M (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 191. ISBN   978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC   62265494.
  2. 1 2 Lissovsky, A.; Smith, A.T. (2016). "Ochotona pallasii". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016: e.T99890206A45184094. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T99890206A45184094.en . Retrieved 11 February 2022.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Retzer, V. (2007). "Forage competition between livestock and Mongolian pika (Ochotona pallasi) in Southern Mongolian mountain steppes". Basic and Applied Ecology. 8 (2): 147–157. doi:10.1016/j.baae.2006.05.002.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Lissovsky, A., A.; Ivanova, N., V.; Borisenko, A., V. (2007). "Molecular phylogenetics and taxonomy of the subgenus Pika (Ochotona, Lagomorpha)". Journal of Mammalogy. 88 (5): 1195–1204. doi: 10.1644/06-mamm-a-363r.1 .
  5. 1 2 Lissovsky, A, A (2014). "Taxonomic revision of pikas Ochotona (Lagomorpha, Mammalia) at the species level". Mammalia. 78 (2). doi:10.1515/mammalia-2012-0134. S2CID   88418246.
  6. 1 2 Wesche, K.; Nadrowski, K.; Retzer, V. (2007). "Habitat engineering under dry conditions: The impact of pikas (Ochotona pallasi) on vegetation and site conditions in southern Mongolian steppes". Journal of Vegetation Science. 18 (5): 665. doi:10.1658/1100-9233(2007)18[665:heudct]2.0.co;2.
  7. 1 2 3 Naumova, E., I.; Zharova, G., K.; Chistova, T., Y.; Formozav, N., A. (2014). "The structure of the epithelial surface of the gastrointestinal tract of pikas (Ochotona pallasi and O. dauurica, Lagomorpha, Ochotonidae): functional and species specificity". Biology Bulletin. 41 (4): 1147–157. doi:10.1134/s1062359014040098. S2CID   13339979.