Thomas's pika
Ochotona thomasi is a species of mammal of the family of pikas among lagomorphs. Its distribution area is limited to isolated mountains of eastern Qilian Shan in western China.
Features
Ochotona thomasi reaches a body length of 10.5 to 16.5 inches and is colored gray. From the sympatric living pikas Ochotona Type cansus it differs mainly by the skull dimensions and shape. The skull is the same length considerably narrower and the cranium is elliptically shaped.
Dissemination
Ochotona thomasi is endemic in the People's Republic of China. The species occurs on isolated mountains of the eastern Qilian Shan in western China in the provinces of Gansu, Qinghai and the northwestern Sichuan ago. There she lives at altitudes 3400-4020 meters.
Way of life
Over the life of this pikas are few information; it probably differs only slightly from that of Ochotona cansus, with whom he lives sympatric in some areas. As habitat it uses meadows and rich shrubbery areas in the higher elevations. It is diurnal and feeds as generalized herbivores of grasses and other plants available. He probably lives in small family groups.
System
Ochotona thomasi was assigned as an independent species the pikas ( genus Ochotona ) and the subgenus Ochotona, subspecies are not known. The scientific description was in 1948 by Argyropulo The species name honors Oldfield Thomas, who first described the family the pikas 1897.
Threats and conservation
The species is classified by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN ) due to the relatively wide distribution area as not at risk ( least concern ). In its area of distribution, however, Ochotona thomasi is rare and data is scarce about his lifestyle and population size. Potential threats cause the pest in China is considered to be directed against other small mammals.