Glover's pika
Ochotona gloveri is a mammal of the family of pikas ( Ochotonidae ) among lagomorphs ( Lagomorpha ). Its distribution area is located in the People's Republic of China in the southwest of Qinghai, northeastern Xizang, the Northwest of Yunnan and western Sichuan.
Features
Ochotona gloveri is a medium sized pika with a body length of 16 to 22 centimeters with a weight of 140 to 300 grams. He has in summer a tee- to gray -brown, gray- reddish or reddish fur. The belly and the top of the feet are gray - white, white or dull gray. The face is orange from the snout to the forehead or pale brown; at the subspecies O. g brookei is the tip of the nose orange - red, and above the eyes are light gray spots, at the subspecies O. g gloveri throat is dark gray and the top of the snout smoky yellow. The light chestnut brown to orange ears reach a length 31-39 mm and are hairy thin. In winter, the back color is a little brighter, but otherwise corresponds to the summer color. The hind feet are 31 to 36 millimeters long.
The incisor and palatal window in the skull can be used individually in this type or be merged. Compared to Ochotona erythrotis the snout region of the head is narrower, slightly longer, and the tympanic bubble is somewhat smaller.
Dissemination
Ochotona gloveri is endemic in the People's Republic of China. Its circulation area covers the southwestern Qinghai, the northeastern Xizang, northwestern Yunnan and western Sichuan. Thus, it takes approximately the eastern third of the Tibetan highlands.
The height distribution of animals is typically 3500-4200 meters, the type, however, can already occur at altitudes of 1700 meters in Sichuan.
Way of life
Ochotona gloveri lives in rocky slopes and crevices, he also lived in mud-brick walls of buildings and temples. He does not come, however, before on agricultural land as farmland or grazing areas. It feeds generalist plant parts and built like other species of the genus haystack.
System
Ochotona gloveri was assigned as an independent species the pikas ( genus Ochotona ) and the subgenus Conothoa. At times, the species was considered a subspecies of Ochotona erythrotis.
A total of three subspecies are distinguished, the nominate O. g gloveri and O. g calloceps and O. g brookei. After molecular biological investigations could O. g brookei a separate species represent, which would then be compared as sister species Ochotona gloveri and Ochotona muliensis.
Threats and conservation
Information about population size or population trend does not exist, Ochotona gloveri but classified by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources ( IUCN) due to its large distribution area as not at risk ( least concern ). In some regions the species is fought as a pest.