Large-eared pika
Ochotona macrotis is a mammal of the family of pikas ( Ochotonidae ) among lagomorphs ( Lagomorpha ). Their range extends from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan to the People's Republic of China.
Features
Ochotona macrotis is a medium sized pika with a body length of 15 to 20.4 centimeters weighing 142-190 grams. He has a pale brown - gray fur with an ocher tint in the summer. In the subspecies O. m. macrotis occur on the shoulders and the head smoke and yellow - brown spots, O. m. contrast wollastoni has no stains. The belly is white to off-white and the feet are white with bare foot pads. In winter, the back color is pale gray with smoky - yellow areas. Ears reach a length from 27 to 36 mm and are therefore relatively large. They are equipped compared to O. roylei slightly wider and on the inside with long hair. The hind feet are 30 to 33 millimeters long.
The incisor and palatal window in the skull fuse in this type into a single window. In size and shape of the skull corresponds to the roylei of Ochotona. The genome consists of 2n = 62 chromosomes.
Dissemination
Ochotona macrotis is spread over a relatively large area in Central Asia in the mountain ranges of the Himalayas, the Pamir, and the Hindu Kush of the Tian Shan. The distribution area extends from southeastern Kazakhstan and eastern Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan on the north-eastern Pakistan and Afghanistan, northern India, Nepal, and Bhutan to the mountain regions of the provinces of Xizang, Sichuan, Xinjiang, Yunnan, Qinghai and Gansu in the People's Republic of China.
The height distribution of animals reaches 2300-6400 meters, with the nature at common occurrence with Ochotona roylei higher altitudes preferred.
Way of life
Ochotona macrotis lives in rocky mountain ranges and pine forests. It is largely diurnal and feeds generalist parts of plants such as grasses, leaves, twigs, mosses and lichens, where he often creates different than other types no hay bales. The animals live a little sociable in family groups in low densities with territories that are occupied by a breeding pair and their offspring. The vocal communication is weak.
Compared to other species, the reproduction rate is low and dependent on regional conditions. The females have a gestation period of about 30 days and bring from April to mid-August, two litters per year with an average of two to three pups born. The animals reach an age of up to three years, after one year they produce their own offspring.
System
Ochotona macrotis was assigned as an independent species the pikas ( genus Ochotona ) and the subgenus Conothoa. At times, the kind Ochotona roylei was slammed as a subspecies, due to morphological and ecological differences in the regions where both species occur in sympatry, the species status of Ochotona macrotis was confirmed. On the basis of molecular biological data, it is assumed that O and O. Macrotis are sister roylei species.
Five subspecies are described. This is in addition to the nominate O. m. macrotis to O. m. auritus, O. m. chinensis, O. m. sacana and O. m. wollastoni.
Threats and conservation
The species is classified by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources ( IUCN) due to their large distribution area as not at risk ( least concern ). Although no precise data are available for the stock size, it is assumed that there is a regularly occurring species.