Large-eared Pika

About the Large-eared Pika

The large-eared pika (Ochotona macrotis) is a species of small mammal in the family Ochotonidae. It is found in mountainous regions of Afghanistan, Tibet, Bhutan, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Nepal, Pakistan and Tajikistan where it nests among boulders and scree.

The large-eared pika has brownish-grey fur tinged with ochre. The forehead, cheeks and shoulder region have a reddish tinge which is more obvious in summer. The underparts are greyish-white. The four legs are all about the same length and the feet, including the soles, are covered with fur. An adult large-eared pika is 15 to 20.4 cm (6 to 8 in) long.

The large-eared pika is native to mountainous regions of Central Asia. Its range includes Afghanistan, Bhutan, India, Pakistan, Nepal, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan and the provinces of Gansu, Qinghai, Sichuan, Tibet, Xinjiang and Yunnan in China. Its minimum altitude is about 2,300 metres (7,500 ft) and it has been recorded at altitudes of 6,130 metres (20,113 feet) in the Himalayas.

The large-eared pika does not make a burrow but lives in crevices among the shattered rock and scree found in mountainous regions. ��2... Wikipedia →