Ochotona alpina (Pallas, 1773)

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 : 32-33

8.

Alpine Pika

Ochotona alpina

French: Pika de ‘Altai / German: Altai-Pfeihase / Spanish: Pica de Altai

Other common names: Altai Pika; Eastern Sayan Pika (sayanica), Eversmann'’s Altai Pika (atra), Middle-Altai Pika (alpina), Tuva Pika (nanula)

Taxonomy. Lepus alpinus Pallas, 1773 ,

“langst dem Tigerak bis fast auf das hochste Gebtirge... von der unten zu erwahnenden Sinaja Sopka” (= along Tigerek nearly to the highest Mountains... from the mentioned Sinyaya Sopka), Altai Territory, Russia. Restricted by A. A. Lissovsky in 2003 to “upper Inya River, Tigeretskii Range, Charych District, Altai Territory, Russia.”

According to mtDNA and nDNA, O. alpina belongs to subgenus Pika. It was treated as separate, or included O. hyperborea and all other related species, until zone of sympatry between these two species and differences in chromosomes were described. Different authors also included svatoshi (now belongs to O. hyperborea ) and scorodumovi (now belongs to O. mantchurica ). Subsequent studies of morphology, DNA, and bioacoustics resulted in the definition of O. alpina as considered here. Ochotona turuchanensis may belong to this species because DNA studies showed it to be an internal branch in O. alpina variation. Striking difference in morphology, however, prevents aggregation of these two species together until comprehensive genetic study. Ochotona alpina is sympatric with O. hyperborea within Western Sayan and Eastern Sayan Mountains, Khangai Upland, and Tannu Ola Range (Tuva, Russia). According to morphological studies, it includes atra, changaica, nanula, nitida, sayanica, and sushkini. Three subspecies recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution.

O.a.alpinaPallas,1773—AltaiMtsincludingMongolianAltai,KuznetskAlatau,WesternSayan,andSWTuvaMtsinSRussia,EKazakhstan,WMongolia,andNWChina(NXinjiang).

O.a.changaicaOgnev,1940—KhangaiMtsandGobi-AltaiinCMongolia.

O. a. sayanica Yakhontov & Formozov, 1992 — Eastern Sayan Mts in S Russia (Irkutsk Region, Buryatia) and NC Mongolia.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 190-250 mm, ear 20-30 mm, hindfoot 26-39 mm; weight 150-360 g. The Alpine Pika is one of the largest pikas. Pelage color is very variable. Dorsal fur is brown, ocherous brown, or reddish brown. Ventral fur is ocherous or reddish. Winter fur is longer and softer than during other seasons. Dorsal fur is ocherous gray to brown, and belly is sandy to ocherous. Hairs above neck gland are chestnut. Melanistic Alpine Pikas are known. Ears are rounded, with whitish margins. Skull is medium to very large in size and stout with incisive and palatal foramens separated. Auditory bullae are medium-sized. Condylobasal lengths are 39-52 mm, skull widths are 21-26 mm, and skull heights are 15-17 mm. Morphological separation of the Alpine Pika from the Northern Pika ( O. hyperborea ) and the Turuchan Pika ( O. turuchanensis ) is difficult. In general, the Alpine Pika is larger in size—a feature applicable in zones of sympatry.

Habitat. Talus and rock streams in forest and subalpine areas at elevations of 400-3100 m. The Alpine Pika is a typical rock dweller, living in hollows and crevices among stones, and it avoids unsteady screes. Stones can be open or overgrown with vegetation, but obligatory condition for the Alpine Pika is presence of green plants at edges of talus. It avoids highest barren alpine rock streams. In years of high density, Alpine Pikas live in trunks of fallen trees. Siberian cedar/ pine (Pinus sibirica) forests, growing on overgrown talus, are a preferred habitat.

Food and Feeding. The Alpine Pika feeds on green plants, and its diet includes the majority of species in its local habitat, including some mushrooms and lichens. The Alpine Pika also eats buds, berries, and seeds if available. It eats dry vegetation such as leaves of bushes and trees throughout a year. It stores hay in hay piles, and hay hoarding starts in June, with most active hoarding in August and ending when snow cover is stable. Hay piles are 0.6-10 kg. Composition of hay piles generally matches local vegetation, but some species avoided. Hay pile is usually situated in hollows between big stones; niches under big flat stones are preferred. Hollow stems of fallen trees also are used to store hay. Very big hay piles are stored under old cedar pines. During cold periods, the Alpine Pika uses hay, but it also feeds on bark and shoots of trees and bushes.

Breeding. Breeding of the Alpine Pika starts in April or May, depending on region, and lasts c.3 months. Adult females can breed twice per year; interval between breeding is very short. Each female has 2-6 embryos, and gestation is ¢.30 days. Neonates have well-developed fur but are blind.

Activity patterns. Alpine Pikas are diurnal, and activity patterns depend on weather. They avoid midday heat and windy periods. During active mating or hoarding, they remain active at dusk and for first part of the night. During winter, Alpine Pikas spend most part of the time under snow where they dig snow tunnels between hay piles and shelters. In general, Alpine Pikas are easily seen on the surface; their activity can also be traced by load calls.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Alpine Pikas move aboveground by running and leaping openly. Sunbathing on stones is very common. Home ranges vary widely from 150-360 m? in one location to 570-3040 m? in another. Another long-term study revealed home ranges of 400-8170 m? for males and 450-5800 m*for females. Young Alpine Pikas have smaller home ranges than adults; males have larger home ranges than females. Home ranges of males and females widely overlap. Large summer home ranges shrink in autumn. Alpine Pikas form monogamous spatial groups that do not reflect mating structure. Home range has core area and peripheral zone, usually used for feeding. Core area has well-marked trails, latrines situated under big stones, and hay piles. Latrines of the Alpine Pika are often very big. Densities depend on region and habitat and are generally 100-6000 ind/km*. Populations of Alpine Pikas have experienced long periods of decline and complete disappearance in some regions. Alpine Pikas have well-developed vocalizations; some acoustic signals serve social structure and mating. Vocalization includes roll calls between pikas, and songs function in territorial marking and reflect hormonal status. Nests of Alpine Pikas were found under stones at depths of c.1 m. Bowl-shaped nests were made of dry grass and moss and had diameters of 14-25 cm. Spherical winter nests were made of hay with diameters of 25-30 cm and were found under snow.

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

Bibliography. Lissovsky (2003a, 2003b), Lissovsky et al. (2007), Melo-Ferreira et al. (2015), Nikol'skii & Mukhamediev (1995, 1997 1998), Ognev (1940), Potapkina (1975), Shubin (1971), Sludskiy et al. (1980), Sokolov et al. (1994), Yakhontov & Formozov (1992).

Figures

On following pages: 3. Tsing-ling Pika (Ochotona syrinx); 4. Gansu Pika (Ochotona cansus); 5. Nubra Pika (Ochotona nubrica); 6. Plateau Pika (Ochotona curzoniae); 7. Thomas's Pika (Ochotona thomasi); 8. Alpine Pika (Ochotona alpina); 9. Turuchan Pika (Ochotona turuchanensis): 10. Northern Pika (Ochotona hyperborea); 11. Manchurian Pika (Ochotona mantchurica); 12. Hoffmann's Pika (Ochotona hoffmanni); 13. Korean Pika (Ochotona coreana), 14. Pallas's Pika (Ochotona pallasii).

Subspecies and Distribution. O.a.alpinaPallas,1773—AltaiMtsincludingMongolianAltai,KuznetskAlatau,WesternSayan,andSWTuvaMtsinSRussia,EKazakhstan,WMongolia,andNWChina(NXinjiang). O.a.changaicaOgnev,1940—KhangaiMtsandGobi-AltaiinCMongolia. O. a. sayanica Yakhontov & Formozov, 1992 — Eastern Sayan Mts in S Russia (Irkutsk Region, Buryatia) and NC Mongolia.