Collared pikas are one of several species of Ochotonidae that do not burrow; rather they take shelter in their talus habitats. It has a small rounded body and brownish fur. Due to these talus sites, the species’ range distribution is broken up into several condensed areas. [16] Upon finding some asynchronous breeding among pikas, it was suggested that due to not being able to predict snowmelt, this type of breeding could ensure some success in breeding. A pika, archaically spelt pica, is a small-sized mountain-dwelling mammal native to Asia and North America. [14] However, the pinnacle of the mating season arises in the summer in May and early June. The peak of the breeding season occurs in May and early June. Parental Investment: altricial ; pre-fertilization (Provisioning, Protecting: Female); pre-hatching/birth (Provisioning: Female, Protecting: Female); pre-weaning/fledging (Provisioning: Female, Protecting: Female). [8] As observed, collared pikas are likely to use whatever is near the rockslides such as leaves, flowering plants, berries, or anything else they can find to add to their food caches; there have even been feces of other animals found within the haystacks of collared pikas. Rausch, Robert L., "Notes on the Collared Pika, Ochotona collaris (Nelson), in Alaska" (1961). In addition, an interesting characteristic about the male collared pika is that it has no scrotum and the location of its testis is not visibly apparent. The days grow shorter until the sun doesn’t come out at all. Their sharp, curved claws help them climb from rock to rock with ease. They also have been recorded inhabiting areas near sea level in southern Alaska and British Columbia (MacDonald and Jones, 1987; Broadbooks, 1965). Breeding interval: Collared pikas breed once yearly. [16], Collared pikas are a fairly vocal species. Lagomorph is an order of gnawing herbivores closely related to rodents which include pikas, rabbits and hares. Collared pikas reach adult size in 40 to 50 days. This, in turn, alters growing season and food availability for collared pikas. [13] When gathering food, it is rare to find a pika that would travel more than 10 m away from its talus site. In relation to the location of distribution of the American pika, O. collaris is located farther north of those regions and is separated by 800 km. They favor the borders of talus slopes that are closest to meadows and patches of high quality vegetation. In Oregon, American pikas are celebrated residents of Crater Lake National Park, as well as other mountainous areas of central and eastern Oregon. There are a variety of species, all of which come in different shapes and sizes. “PHYLOGEOGRAPHY, ECOGEOGRAPHIC VARIATION, AND EVOLUTIONARY HISTORY OF THE COLLARED PIKA [OCHOTONA COLLARIS.”, MacDonald, Stephen O. and Jones, Clyde. The skull of a collared pika is relatively flat, and it does not have a spongy auditory bullae or a supraorbital process. Their common name comes from the pale patches on their napes and shoulders which form a partial collar around their neck. Download file | Play in new window | Duration: 26:55. When calling, pikas sit with their body hunched and noses pointed slightly in the air. 36), Zgurski, Jessie Marie. This strategy allows full advantage of the best conditions for growth of young. The monogeneric family Ochotonidae comprises about one third the diversity of the Order Lagomorpha. [13] Collared pikas have also been found to be the victims of parasitism to fleas and parasitic helminthes such as Sarcocystis species which have been examined in their striated muscles. [12] Consequently, collared pikas are one of the pika species that has been recognized as an indicator species for the effect of climate change on alpine ecosystems. It is asocial, does not hibernate, and spends a large part of its time in the summer collecting vegetation that is stored under rocks ("haypiles") as a supply of food for the winter. [8] The studies of the size variation of the fossils showed that the morphology of Pleistocene pikas was flexible with the alteration of environments from early to middle Pleistocene in both Alaska and Yukon. [2] Due to these talus sites, the species’ range distribution is broken up into several condensed areas. Skip to content. Trefry, Sarah A. Collared pikas have no natural defense against predators besides hiding in cracks, crevices, and under large boulders in talus. [8] Parturition timing for northern alpine herbivores is vital due to the brief snow-free timeframe and lack of food sources. [3] Collared pikas, like most other pikas choose to live around rock slides in order to use the rocks as protection against the high temperatures they must endure throughout the day, and this is why they are referred to as cold-adapted lagomorphs. “Variation in pika ( Ochotona collaris, O. princeps) vocalizations within and between populations.”, Franken, Renee J., Hik, David S.. 2004. [8], In central Alaska, within the Pleistocene deposits, preserved specimens of collared pika were found along with some dung pellets; in addition to central Alaska, the Yukon territory also contained some fossilized specimens. I found no evidence that environmental adaptation caused call variation between species. [8] Collared pikas, both male and female, are reproductively developed at one year of age and give birth to 2–3 young each year in their nests within the talus. [12], The lifespan of Ochotona collaris can be up to 6 or 7 years in the wild. Female collared pikas are responsible for most of the parental investment and bear the brunt of energetic constraints of gestation and lactation. Adaptations: To live through the alpine winter, because they do not hibernate, the pikas gather food, grasses mostly, to store for the winter. “Interannual Variation in Timing of Parturition and Growth of Collared Pikas (Ochotona collaris) in the Southwest Yukon.”, Kukka, Piia M., McCulley, Alice, Suitor, Mike, Eckert, Cameron D. and Jung, Thomas S.. 2014. Providing one of the best Barber services, by the best Italians barbers crew in Malta. Collared pika (O. collaris) is found in northern BC and throughout YT and Alaska. Another function of vocalization serves as a predator warning to neighboring pikas, territory defense, and also establishing and maintaining social structure. Some individuals have been observed collecting and consuming dead birds as sources of fat and protein. Most species have thick fur, which comes in handy living in old mountain peaks. Their winter pelts are similar to O. princeps, but during the other seasons, O. collaris' fur is a darker gray and is less thick than in the winter; consequently, they only have one annual molt. Collared pikas are sensitive to high ambient temperatures and are restricted to high elevation habitats that are declining in response to climate change (Smith et al., 2004). They are mainly solitary, although they may be seen in pairs occasionally. Juvenile pikas can achieve the size of an adult around 40 to 50 days. Two species are known in Canada; 18 worldwide. Paper 345. When it comes to their feet, they have hairy plantar surfaces. Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male): 1 years. Lanier, Hayley C.S.. 2010. Although they are primarily herbivorous, collared pikas have been recorded to consume birds as an opportunistic source of protein and fat (Krajick, 1998). As they do not hibernate, pikas gather cuttings of preferred plants, cure them in sheltered, sunny places, and store … The ventral fur of a collared pika is creamy white, wher… [8] In 1973, it was suggested that during the isolation of the Wisconsin glaciation, O. collaris became its own species separate from O. [9] One of the main predators of the collared pika found in south-central Alaska is the ermine,[10] but also include martens, weasels, foxes, eagles, coyotes, and other various birds. A pika is a very vocal animal. [9] The female’s gestation period lasts about 30 days and produces a litter of blind and almost hairless offspring. [2] Around 60% of collared pikas are found in regions of Canada with most of them being in Yukon. [8] This process of gathering and foraging for vegetation to add to their caches is referred to as “haying” which is what they spend most of the day doing. [11] They have a constricted, flat skull with no supraorbital processes, a slender zygomatic arch, and 26 teeth. princeps. They are also known in some communities as “rock rabbits,” “whistling hare,” or “coonies”. Accessed October 03, 2014 at. [2] Due to collared pikas being a cold-adapted species, their resilience to climate change is limited, and therefore, have a high risk of extirpation of any populations that are found in lower altitudes and even lower in geographic locations in terms of latitude. Comparative demography of pikas (Ochotona): Effect of spatial and temporal age-specific mortality. [3] This gap encompasses both British Columbia and Alberta, Canada. Foraging Behavior: stores or caches food. Collared pikas often colonize taluses that are on southwest facing slopes because they tend to have shorter period of snow cover and a longer plant growing season (Franken and Hik, 2004a). Rocky Mountain pika (Ochotona princeps) is found throughout the Rocky Mountains in BC and Alberta. “Mammalian Species: Ochotona collaris.”, Leininger, C. 2009. Sexing is done by investigating their pseudo-cloaca opening for evidence of genetalia. Parturition tends to be synchronous. [8], They are petite in size with longer hind-limbs than their forelimbs; their hind-limbs being about 2.9 to 3.1 cm. There are no known negative effects of collared pikas on humans. [10] The food caches have been seen to be similar to the size of location of storage. Females have up to two litters a year that range between 2 to 6 young each and average 2.2 individuals weaned. To survive the desolate Alaskan winter one little botanist will turn to an unlikely tool to maintain the balance of life, death, and Taxonomy. MAINTENANT DISPONIBLE EN FORMAT CARTE DE SOUHAIT! [8] Some features that are helpful in identifying O. collaris from O. princeps are the creamy-colored fur over the facial gland which is brown in O. princeps; and in addition, the skull size of O. collaris is broader with a shorter nasal area, a greater tympanic bullae, and different teeth morphology than that of O. Collared pikas, Ochotona collaris, are found in the mountainous regions of central and southeastern Alaska, in the Yukon-Tanana uplands to the Chigmit Mountains, and from the Richardson Mountains north of the Artic circle in the Yukon, west of the Mackenzie River in the Northwest Territories, and south into northwestern British Columbia (MacDonald and Jones, 1987). The American Pika looks like a little mouse. Key Reproductive Features: iteroparous ; seasonal breeding ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); sexual ; viviparous. Step 2, specify recipient of certificate. Learn more here! The collared pika is an amazingly cute animal that uses a form of pesticides to protect its food during the long Alaskan winters. Perception Channels: visual ; tactile ; acoustic ; chemical. Ochotona dauurica: information (1) Species Ochotona hyperborea northern pika. [15] No population trend is known; however, studies have shown that the population of collared pikas has experienced a decline since 1995 in the Yukon area, and is proposed to have a higher probability of extinction within that specific area in 10 to 15 years. Step 1, select a quantity. A pika (/ ˈ p aɪ k ə / PY-kə; archaically spelled pica) is a small mountain-dwelling mammal found in Asia and North America. [14] The young remain in the nest for approximately 30 days before they are weaned and emerge to the surface. Species Ochotona collaris collared pika. The collared pika (O. collaris) of Alaska and northern Canada has been found on the isolated nunataks (crags or peaks surrounded by glaciers) in Kluane National Park, and O. macrotis has been recorded at 6,130 metres (20,113 feet) on the slopes of the Himalayas. [9], Collared pikas are defenseless against predators and can only hide within cracks or crevices in the mountainous areas that they live in; the rocks of the terrain are their only shelter. [3] Therefore, the collared pika is seen as an asocial species and prefers solitude. [8], Collared pika colonies are mainly found in the mountain regions and they typically inhabit rock slides near areas of vegetation and fields of meadows. [8] Each individual within this species will preserve its own territory and its own vegetation cache or haypile, and defend it with full force. Pika haypiles and fecal pellets may improve the chances of plant colonization on talus slopes and fertilize soils. 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