Ochotona curzoniae (Hodgson, 1858)

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

6.

Plateau Pika

Ochotona curzoniae

French: Pika a lévres noires / German: Schwarzlippen-Pfeifhase / Spanish: Pica de altiplano

Other common names: Black-lipped Pika

Taxonomy. Lagomys curzoniae Hodgson, 1858 ,

“district of Chumbi,” Yadong County, Shigatse, Tibet Autonomous Region, China.

According to mtDNA, O. curzoniae belongs to subgenus Ochotona . It was described from southernmost edge of its distribution. Taxon melanostoma was described by | E. Buchner in 1890 from the northernmost edge of its distribution. This led to some confusion in early studies that treated melanostoma as synonym of O. dauurica . Taxon seiana was described by O. Thomas in 1922 on the basis of a specimen sent to him from the Calcutta Museum that originated in Seistan, Afghanistan. Because O. curzoniae is absent in Seistan, the specimen was probably mislabeled. Studies of mtDNA suggested existence of four lineages of O. cur zoniae. These studies, however, were not confirmed by nuclear or morphological data. According to results of DNA analysis, O. curzoniae hybridizes with O. nubrica , eliminating mtDNA ofthe latter species. Morphological studies include melanostoma and seiana in this species. Provisional subspecies are recognized here, but intraspecific taxonomy needs further revision. Two subspecies recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution.

O.c.curzoniaeHodgson,1858—S&EpartsofTibetanPlateau(China)andadjoiningNIndia(Sikkim);probablyalsoinextremeNNepal.

O. c. melanostoma Buchner, 1890 — N & W parts of Tibetan Plateau, E to Mts adjoining Qinghai Lake (China).

Descriptive notes. Head—body 140-210 mm, ear 18-27 mm, hindfoot 26-36 mm; weight 90-210 g. The Plateau Pika is medium-sized. Dorsal fur is dull ocherous to sandy brown, with light patches behind ears. Ventral fur is yellowish gray or sandy; back and chest are the same color. Winterfuris longer, softer, and more yellowish than during other seasons. Ears are rounded and gray with white margins. Nose tip and lips are usually black. Claws are long, and pads of toes are hidden in dense fur. The Plateau Pika has a greatly arched skull of medium size, with widely confluent incisive and palatal foramens and angular zygomatic arches. Auditory bullae are smaller and more widely separated than in the Daurian Pika ( O. dauurica ). Condylobasal lengths are 36-42 mm, skull widths are 20-23 mm, and skull heights are 15-16 mm. The Plateau Pika can be distinguished from all other pikas by its greatly arched skull. It has a much narrower skull with smaller height and narrower space between auditory bullae than the Ladak Pika ( O. ladacensis ) and Kozlov’s Pika ( O. koslowi ). The Ladak Pika has longer rufous hairs on backsides of ears, and Kozlov’s Pika has white lips—both unlike the Plateau Pika.

Habitat. Plateau alpine meadows, steppe, and deserts at elevations of 3200-4800 m. The Plateau Pika is a true burrowing species.

Food and Feeding. The Plateau Pika feeds on green plants and stores hay in hay piles, starting in July. Hay piles are 150-1000 g. Each pile consists of 3-10 plant species. Plateau Pikas usually eat dominant plants, but some species are preferred. Hay is usually stored inside the burrow. During cold periods, Plateau Pikas actively feed on surrounding vegetation; hay plays a supplementary role.

Breeding. Breeding of the Plateau Pika lasts ¢.2 months (April-May). Each adult female can breed 3-5 times at intervals of c.21 days. Most copulations (81-89%) take place within family groups. Young pikas become fertile at c.1 year old, but they participate in copulations during their first summer. Each female produce 3-7 young/litter.

Activity patterns. The Plateau Pika is diurnal. It is most active in morning and evening; winter activity shifts to daytime. Specific activity patterns depend on sex and age, but in summer, Plateau Pikas spend more than 70% of their time on the surface and more than 50% ofthis time feeding.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Plateau Pikas move openly by running and leaping. They live in monogamous, polygynous, polyandrous, or promiscuous groups. Average family home range is ¢.1375 m?; adult males have average home ranges of ¢.1100 m? and adult females ¢.970 m?*. Short-distance dispersal of young occurs in winter. Densities vary seasonally from 100-3000 ind/km?in April to 1000-5000 ind/km?*and even 30,000 ind/km?in autumn. Winter mortality is very high, only 1-5% of adults breed for two years, and as few as only two individuals might survive from a family group. One family group inhabits one burrow system, with multiple entrances. Burrow system has several branches and a breeding chamber; depths are 10-80 cm. Areas occupied are marked with high digging activity and latrines. Digging activity of the Plateau Pika often leads to soil erosion. The Plateau Pika has well developed vocalizations; several types ofcalls serve social, mating, and alarm behavior.

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

Bibliography. Blichner (1890), Dobson et al. (2000), Lissovsky (2014), Liu Wei et al. (2009), Pech et al. (2007), Smith & Wang Xuegao (1991), Sun Feida et al. (2015), Thomas (1922), Yu Fahong et al. (2012), Yu Ning et al. (2000), Zeng Xianhai & Lu Xin (2009), Zong Hao & Xia Wuping (1987).

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.c.curzoniaeHodgson,1858—S&EpartsofTibetanPlateau(China)andadjoiningNIndia(Sikkim);probablyalsoinextremeNNepal. O. c. melanostoma Buchner, 1890 — N & W parts of Tibetan Plateau, E to Mts adjoining Qinghai Lake (China).