Ochotona hyperborea (Pallas, 1811)

Don E. Wilson, Thomas E. Lacher, Jr & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2016, Ochotonidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 6 Lagomorphs and Rodents I, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 28-43 : 33-34

10.

Northern Pika

Ochotona hyperborea

French: Pika de Sibérie / German: Nordlicher Pfeifhase / Spanish: Pica de Siberia

Other common names: Anadyr Northern Pika (minima), Chukchi Northern Pika (hyperborea), Lower Indigirka Northern Pika (shaman), Northern Baikal Northern Pika (davanica), Rusty Northern Pika (ferruginea), Tuva Northern Pika (stenorostrae), Ural Northern Pika (uralensis)

Taxonomy. Lepus hyperboreus Pallas, 1811 ,

“terris Tschuktschicis [= lands of Chukchee],” Chukotka Autonomous Okrug, Russia.

According mtDNA and nDNA, O. hyperborea belongs to subgenus Pika. Taxonomic status of O. hyperborea as a species and of some taxa included herein was discussed for a long time. Ochotona hyperborea was included in O. alpina by several authors. Taking into account sympatry between these species and difference in chromosomes, two species were separated; however, svatoshi was listed as a subspecies of O. alpina in several checklists. Ochotona turuchanensis also was separated from O. hyperborea . The nominate subspecies of O. mantchurica again was considered a subspecies of O. hyperborea . Modern studies of morphology, genetics, and bioacoustics support composition of the species considered here. All of this taxonomic confusion required careful attention to published data on ecology. Ochotona hyperborea is closely related species to O. mantchurica and O. hoffmanni ; these three species correspond to allospecies. One of the best taxonomical markers, correlated with genetic variation is bioacoustics. Several types of calls have distinct geographical variation. According to morphological study it includes cinereoflava, cinereofusca, davanica, ferruginea, kolymensis, litoralis, minima, naumouvi, normalis, shamani, stenorostrae, svatoshi, uralensis, yesoensis, and yoshikurai. Ochotona hyperborea is sympatric with O. alpina within Western and Eastern Sayan Mountains, Khangai Upland, and Tannu Ola Range (Tuva, Russia); sympatric with O. turuchanensis in the Putorana Plateau and adjacent regions of the central Siberian Plateau in the Nizhnyaya Tunguska River Basin. Eight subspecies recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution.

O. h. hyperboreaPallas, 1811 — ChukchiPeninsulaandislandsintheBeringStrait (ArakamchechenandYttyrganIs), extremeNERussianFarEast.

O. h. cinereoflavaSchrenk, 1858 — Aldanskyuplands, EpartofStanovoyRangeandDzhugdzhurMts, CRussianFarEast.

O. h. cinereofuscaSchrenk, 1858 — SWoftherange, fromSayanMts, Tuva, andKhangaiUplandthroughBaikalregionEtoZeyaRiverinSRussiaandNMongolia.

O. h. ferrugineaSchrenk, 1858 — NEoftherangeinNERussia, CherskogoandSuntar-Hayataranges, Kolymskoye, Anadyr, andKoryakuplands, KamchatkaPeninsula, andYakutia; alsoinsmallcoastalislandsoftheSeaofOkhotsk (ZavyalovaI).

O. h. naumoviFormozov & Yakhontov, 2003 — fromPutoranaPlateautoVerkhoyanskRangeandAldanRiver, NCRussia.

O. h. uralensisFlerov, 1927 — NofUralMts, WRussia.

O. h. yesoensisKishida, 1930 — Hokkaido (NJapan).

O. h. yoshikura: Kishida, 1932 — Russian Primorye and the left bank of Amur River E than Zeya River on the mainland and Sakhalin I, S Russian Far East.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 130-180 mm, ear 15-28 mm, hindfoot 21-27 mm; weight 52-165 g. The Northern Pika is medium-sized; however, nominate subspecies is the smallest species of pikas. Pelage color is very variable. Dorsal fur is sandy gray to rufous and brown. Ventral fur is gray, sandy, or ocherous. Winter fur is longer, softer, and grayer than during other seasons. Hairs above neck gland are chestnut or rufous. Melanistic specimens are known. Ears are rounded, with white margins. Skull is small-sized to medium-sized and stout, with incisive and palatal foramens separated. Auditory bullae are medium-sized. Condylobasal lengths are 32-45 mm, skull widths are 17-22 mm, and skull heights are 12-16 mm. The Northern Pika can be distinguished from sympatric Alpine Pikas ( O. alpina ) and Turuchan Pikas ( O. turuchanensis ) by its smaller size and jagged shape of suture between maxillary and premaxillary bones. Mandible of the Northern Pika is smaller than the Manchurian Pika ( O. mantchurica ).

Habitat. Stony habitats with hollows and crevices among stones, allowing locomotion and providing stable temperature regimes, at elevations of 200-2000 m. The Northern Pika avoids unsteady screes; talus is its main habitat. Typical rock dweller,it accepts different kinds of open and overgrown talus in different stages of succession. Northern Pikas also occupy crumbling cliffs and buried stone accumulations of various origins. As a local peculiarity, Northern Pikas in middle Amur Basin, Russia, inhabit upland swamps. In years of high density, the Northern Pika inhabits all available hollow ground, trunk heaps, and even driftwood mounds that collect across rivers.

Food and Feeding. The Northern Pika feeds on green plants and also eats some berries, mushrooms, lichens, needles, and shoots. Pine nuts ( Pinus sibirica or P. pumila, Pinaceae ) play important role in diets in some regions. The Northern Pika stores hay; hoarding starts in July and lasts ¢.3 months. Hay piles are 0.2-8 kg; they are small in northern regions. Northern Pikas usually harvest and store dominant plants, but some individual or regional selectivity occurs. Hay piles are situated in niches under or between stones, in fallen hollow tree trunks, or at bases of trees. During cold periods, the Northern Pika eats hoarded hay but also eats bark and shoots of bushes.

Breeding. Depending on the region, breeding of Northern Pikas starts in April-May and lasts c.3 months. Females usually have one litter per year; some females have two litters. Young become fertile in their year of birth, but they rarely breed then. Each female has 1-11 embryos, more often 3-7. Gestation is c¢.28 days; neonates are born covered with dense fur and with their eyes closed. Eyes open at 7-8 days old. At 14 days old, neonates leave their nest and start feeding on herbs.

Activity patterns. The Northern Pika is diurnal and avoids midday heat and windy periods. During polar days, the Northern Pika is not active at night. The Northern Pika is easily visible, having high acoustic activity. During winter, Northern Pikas emerge aboveground only on sunny, calm days; they spend remainder of their time under snow.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. The Northern Pika moves aboveground by running and leaping openly. Its sunbaths for shorter periods of time than the Alpine Pika or the Turuchan Pika; in general, the Northern Pika is more anxious than the other two species. Home ranges are 2100-5500 m?. Home ranges of males and females overlap. Densities are 300-2500 ind/km?, but can be as low as ¢.5-50 ind/km?® in peripheral settlements. Areas occupied are marked with old hay piles and latrines. The Northern Pika has well-developed vocalizations. Along with alarm calls, it has a song, and some of its elements are used in roll calls. Calls have clear social implications.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List.

Bibliography. Formozov & Emelyanova (1999), Gashev (1971), Krivosheev & Krivosheeva (1991), Lissovsky (2003a, 2005), Lissovsky, Ivanova & Borisenko (2007), Lissovsky, Yang Qisen & Pil'nikov (2008), Melo-Ferreira et al. (2015), Nikol'skii & Srebrodolskaya (1989), Ognev (1940), Sokolov et al. (1994).

Figures

Subspecies and Distribution. O. h. hyperboreaPallas, 1811 — ChukchiPeninsulaandislandsintheBeringStrait (ArakamchechenandYttyrganIs), extremeNERussianFarEast. O. h. cinereoflavaSchrenk, 1858 — Aldanskyuplands, EpartofStanovoyRangeandDzhugdzhurMts, CRussianFarEast. O. h. cinereofuscaSchrenk, 1858 — SWoftherange, fromSayanMts, Tuva, andKhangaiUplandthroughBaikalregionEtoZeyaRiverinSRussiaandNMongolia. O. h. ferrugineaSchrenk, 1858 — NEoftherangeinNERussia, CherskogoandSuntar-Hayataranges, Kolymskoye, Anadyr, andKoryakuplands, KamchatkaPeninsula, andYakutia; alsoinsmallcoastalislandsoftheSeaofOkhotsk (ZavyalovaI). O. h. naumoviFormozov & Yakhontov, 2003 — fromPutoranaPlateautoVerkhoyanskRangeandAldanRiver, NCRussia. O. h. uralensisFlerov, 1927 — NofUralMts, WRussia. O. h. yesoensisKishida, 1930 — Hokkaido (NJapan). O. h. yoshikura: Kishida, 1932 — Russian Primorye and the left bank of Amur River E than Zeya River on the mainland and Sakhalin I, S Russian Far East.