Pika
Ochotona
Living individuals or members of this group exist today. This does not mean they are safe from extinction.
Pikas are small rabbit relatives with rounded ears and no conspicuous tail. This account follows the American pika, which lives among rocks in western North America and stores plants for winter.
American pika (Ochotona princeps), the representative described here, among mountain rocks.
At a glance
- Location
- The representative here is the American pika, Ochotona princeps. It lives in western North American mountains, especially broken rock slopes beside meadows. Rock crevices provide shelter, while nearby vegetation supplies food; suitable cool sites also occur at lower elevations in parts of its range.
- Habitat
- Mountains
- Diet
- Herbivore
- Food
- American pikas eat grasses, leafy plants and other vegetation.
Classification
- Common name
- Pika
- Browse group
- Mammals
- Scientific name or taxon
- Ochotona
- Taxon rank
- genus
- Order
- Lagomorpha
- Family
- Ochotonidae
- Genus
- Ochotona
- Source classification
- Mammalia
Taxonomy checked against GBIF. For breeds and hybrids, this describes the listed parent taxon.
Three things to know
- American pikas shelter in gaps between rocks.
- They gather plants into stored haypiles.
- Their rounded ears are shorter than a rabbit's.
Habitat and range
The representative here is the American pika, Ochotona princeps. It lives in western North American mountains, especially broken rock slopes beside meadows. Rock crevices provide shelter, while nearby vegetation supplies food; suitable cool sites also occur at lower elevations in parts of its range.
Appearance and adaptations
A compact body, rounded ears and dense greyish or brown fur distinguish this pika. The tail is not conspicuous. Fur becomes longer in winter, and the feet are well furred, including much of the soles.
Diet and behaviour
American pikas eat grasses, leafy plants and other vegetation. During the growing season they gather and dry plants in haypiles that help supply winter food. Individuals maintain territories around shelter and feeding areas and use calls while watching for danger.
Sources
- Animal Diversity Web: Ochotona princeps
- A–Z Animals: Pika · Directory entry
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