Alpine Pika (Ochotona alpina) lives in mountain rocky terrain across Central Asian mountains. It feeds on grass and leaves. Its conservation status is Least Concern.
Fascinating facts about the Alpine Pika
- In summer the alpine pika gathers mosses, pine nuts and plant stems to build haypiles that serve as food stores for the winter. When the local density reaches ten to twelve individuals per hectare these piles can contain up to thirty kilograms of material, and the stored vegetation is sometimes shared with reindeer that graze nearby.
- The alpine pika can emit three distinct vocalisations, one of which is an alarm call that is sounded the instant a predator or human is detected. This alarm call travels farther than the calls of most other pika species, allowing neighbours to be warned over a wide area. By contrast, the short call is a harsh whistle and the long call is only used during the mating season by certain subspecies. The powerful alarm helps maintain vigilance across its rocky habitat.
- Female alpine pikas have a low reproductive output, producing fewer offspring as elevation rises. In the western Altai Mountains a female typically raises two litters per year, while in the northwestern Altai and western Sayan she averages 2.7 litters, with only ten percent managing a third litter. Seasonal peaks in offspring numbers have been recorded, and litter size diminishes at higher altitudes.
- During the early 1970s the alpine pika suffered a sudden, widespread decline across the western Sayan Mountains, wiping out many local groups at once. Researchers noted that, although an epidemic was proposed in 1977, the sheer scale of the loss made it hard to confirm a single cause.
Sources
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At a glance
RangeCentral Asian mountains
HabitatMountain rocky terrain
DietGrass and leaves
About the Alpine Pika
In the lofty, rocky outcrops of the mountain ranges, the Alpine Pika embodies a spirit of industrious solitude, its gentle eyes watchful as it busies itself collecting and drying plant material for the harsh winter ahead. With nimble ease, it navigates the treacherous terrain, its stout legs and sharp claws allowing it to dart between boulders with a quiet confidence that belies the unforgiving environment it calls home. As it moves, the pika's soft, woolly coat blends seamlessly into the surrounding landscape, a testament to the remarkable adaptability of this small, yet resilient, creature.
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