Red pika [1] ( lat. Ochotona rutila ) is a species of rabbit-like from the family Pika.
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| Ochotona rutila ( Severtzov , 1873) | ||||||||||||||
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Security status IUCN 3.1 Least Concern : 41270 |
Description
Body length from 19.6 to 23 centimeters, ears from 27 to 29 mm, hind feet from 36 to 39 mm, weight 220-320 grams. It has bright reddish-brown fur in the summer. The belly is white, with rusty red horizontal stripes in the throat. The ears are gray-black on the outside, the neck has white spots behind the ears, which can form a yellowish-white collar. In winter, the back is light brown.
Distribution
The species is common in China ( Xinjiang ), Kazakhstan , Kyrgyzstan , Tajikistan , Uzbekistan . Typical habitats are rocky slopes with vegetation from spruce forests to subalpine meadows at an altitude of 2000 to 3000 m above sea level.
Lifestyle
Asocial and territorial view. Animals live in pairs or family groups, but never form large clusters or colonies. Territories are usually supported by couples, not individual individuals. Individuals, couples, families or groups are kept at a distance of 50 to 100 m from their neighbors. Active at relatively high body temperature (40.1 ° C), and have a low tolerance to fever. As a result, pikas regulate their body temperature by changing behavior. On hot summer days, pikas can become inactive to minimize fever. Red pika can generally avoid activity in the daytime and is most active at dusk. In the summer months and early fall, pikas collect food for the winter.
The species is herbivore, feeds on flowers, green leaves and young shoots of herbs and other plants, if any. The natural enemies are the canids and cuns (especially the ermine ).
Reproduction
They breed seasonally in the spring and summer months. Usually from 2 to 3 broods per year from 2 to 6 cubs each. Cubs are born covered in wool. Hearing appears after 9 days, and vision on 13-14 days. Young individuals become independent from their parents after 20 days. They can stay with their parents for the first year. Puberty occurs at the age of about one year. They live about 3 years. About 22% survive the second winter.
Notes
- ↑ Sokolov V.E. The pagan dictionary of animal names. Mammals Latin, Russian, English, German, French. / edited by Acad. V. E. Sokolova. - M .: Rus. lang., 1984. - S. 204. - 10,000 copies.