The Pika

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Pika
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Adult

Baby

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General Information;

Type: Mammal
Diet: Herbivore
Size: 18-22cm (7-9in)
Weight: 75-290g (2.6-10oz)
Conservation status: Not applicable
Scientific Classification: Kingdom: Animalia, Phylum: Chordata, Class: Mammalia, Order: Lagomorpha, Family: Ochotonidae, Genus: Ochotona
Size relative to a 6-ft (2-m) man: Not applicable
Pika Range


The pika is a small mammal, with short limbs, rounded ears, and no external tail. The name pika is used for any member of the Ochotonidae, a family within the order of lagomorphs, which also includes the Leporidae (rabbits and hares). One genus, Ochotona, is recognised within the family, and it includes 30 species. It is also known as the "whistling hare" due to its high-pitched alarm call when diving into its burrow. It is also a small-sized mammal that is found across the Northern Hemisphere. Despite their rodent-like appearance, pikas are actually closely related to rabbits and hares. Pikas are most commonly identified by their small, rounded body and lack of tail.
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Physical Features;
Pikas are small mammals, with short limbs and rounded ears. They are about 6-9 in. in body length and weigh between 120 and 350 grams, depending on species. As with other lagomorphs, pikas have gnawing incisors and no canines, although they have fewer molars than rabbits. The fur colours of the Pika can range from colurs such as black, brown, grey, white, and tan.
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Mental Features;
Pikas are solitary animals and are found inhabiting piles of rocks close to meadows where there is little in the way. Pikas defend their territory by whistling to one another, and their large, rounded ears come in useful to hear the calls from competing pikas. Pikas are also diurnal or crepuscular, with higher elevation species generally being more active during the daytime. They show their peak activity just before the winter season. Pikas do not hibernate, so they generally spend time during the summer collecting and storing food they will eat over the winter. Each rock-dwelling pika stores its own "haypile" of dried vegetation, while burrowing species often share food stores with their burrow mates. Haying behavior is more prominent at higher elevations. Many of the vocalizations and social behaviors that pikas exhibit are related to haypile defense.
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Diet;
Pikas are herbivorous animals and the pika therefore has a diet based on vegetation. The pika is a diurnal animal and forages for grasses, seeds, weeds, thistles, forbs, sedges, shrub twigs, moss, lichen, and berries during the hours of daylight.
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Threats towards this animal;
The threats towards this animal excluding wolves are:

Dogs, weasels, foxes, cats, and a variety of birds of prey (such as hawks).
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Credits (c);

Images:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/50236597@N05/6002932703/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/krayker/2270126869/

Information:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pika
http://a-z-animals.com/animals/pika/
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