Nubra pika
Ochotona nubrica is a mammal of the family of pikas among lagomorphs. Its distribution area is on the highlands of Tibet and the Ladakh region limited in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir.
Features
Ochotona nubrica is a medium sized pika with a body length of 14 to 18.4 centimeters. It is similar in sandy brown coloration both Ochotona roylei and Ochotona thibetana as well as other related species and is only safe to be distinguished from those due to skull characteristics. Compared to Ochotona thibetana he is somewhat lighter colored, with the animals from the region of Kashmir have the brightest coloration.
Dissemination
The distribution area of Ochotona nubrica is in the range of the Himalayas. The species lives in the highlands of Tibet in the province of Xizang ( Tibet Autonomous Region ), in northern Nepal and in the region of Ladakh in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. It occurs at altitudes of 3000-4500 meters.
Way of life
The habitat of Ochotona nubrica is dominated by scrub land of the desert region and the steppes of the high mountains. Over the life of this pikas are few information. He lives like other pikas of China and feeds generalist plants. The animals lay likely to residential buildings in the ground. He is territorial and form family groups.
System
Ochotona nubrica was assigned as an independent species the pikas ( genus Ochotona ) and the subgenus Ochotona. With the nominate Ochotona nubrica nubrica and Ochotona nubrica lhasaensis two subspecies are described.
The first scientific description was made by the zoologist Oldfield Thomas in 1922. The Pika was temporarily as a subspecies of Ochotona pusilla, Ochotona roylei and Ochotona thibetana, but was in 1990 by Smith et al. and 1992 described by Yu and Zheng basis of morphological data as a separate species. As next of kin apply depending on the source Ochotona thibetana or Ochotona curzoniae.
Threats and conservation
The species is classified by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources ( IUCN) due to their very large distribution area and the comparatively large population as not at risk ( least concern ). A decline in populations is not known.