A pika (/ˈpaɪkə/PEYE-kə[3]) is a small, mountain-dwelling mammal native to Asia and North America. With short limbs, a very round body, an even coat of fur, and no external tail, they resemble their close relative, the rabbit, but with short, rounded ears.[4] The large-eared pika of the Himalayas and nearby mountains lives at elevations of more than 6,000 m (20,000 ft).
The name "pika" appears to be derived from the Tungus pika,[5] and the scientific name Ochotona is derived from the Mongolian word ogotno, оготно, which means pika.[6] It is used for any member of the Ochotonidae (/ɒkətoʊnɪdeɪ/),[7] a family within the order of lagomorphs, the order which also includes the Leporidae (rabbits and hares). They are the smallest animal in the lagomorph group.[8] Only one genus, Ochotona[7] (/ɒkəˈtoʊnə/ or /ɒtʃəˈtoʊnə/), is extant within the family, covering 37 species, though many fossil genera are known. Another species, the Sardinian pika, belonging to the separate genus Prolagus, has become extinct within the last 2000 years owing to human activity.
Pikas prefer rocky slopes and graze on a range of plants, primarily grasses, flowers, and young stems. In the autumn they pull hay, soft twigs, and other stores of food under rocks to eat during the long, cold winter.[9] The pika is also known as the whistling hare because of its high-pitched alarm call it gives when alarmed. The two species found in North America are the American pika, found primarily in the mountains of the western United States and far southwestern Canada, and the collared pika of northern British Columbia, the Yukon, western Northwest Territories and Alaska.
^Cite error: The named reference Ge13 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^Hoffman, R.S.; Smith, A.T. (2005). "Order Lagomorpha". In Wilson, D.E.; Reeder, D.M (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 185–193. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
^"Pika". Collins Dictionary online. Harper-Collins. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
^Breyer, M. (2 September 2016). "Meet the 'mouse-bunny' that could vanish from the US". treehugger.
A pika (/ˈpaɪkə/ PEYE-kə) is a small, mountain-dwelling mammal native to Asia and North America. With short limbs, a very round body, an even coat of fur...
dictionary. Pikapika or pikapika may refer to: "PikaPika" (Steve Aoki song), a 2018 song by Steve Aoki, see Steve Aoki discography "PikaPika" (Japanese:...
The American pika (Ochotona princeps), a diurnal species of pika, is found in the mountains of western North America, usually in boulder fields at or...
PikaPika Fantajin (ピカピカふぁんたじん, PikaPika Fantajin, lit. "Sparkling Fantasy Person") is the third studio album by Japanese singer Kyary Pamyu Pamyu, officially...
The Pika Fire was a wildfire near North Dome in Yosemite National Park. It began at about 3:00 PM PT on June 28, 2023. The fire burned 841 acres (340 ha)...
The giant pika or Wharton's pika (Ochotona whartoni) is an extinct mammal species in the family Ochotonidae. It lived during the Pleistocene and early...
The Kazakh pika (Ochotona opaca) is a species of pika endemic to Kazakhstan. It is found at the elevation of 400–1,000 m (1,300–3,300 ft) in semi-desert...
living families: the Leporidae (rabbits and hares) and the Ochotonidae (pikas). There are 110 recent species of lagomorph of which 109 are extant, including...
The collared pika (Ochotona collaris) is a species of mammal in the pika family, Ochotonidae, and part of the order Lagomorpha, which comprises rabbits...
The Ili pika (Ochotona iliensis) is a species of mammal in the family Ochotonidae, endemic to northwest China. After its discovery in 1983, it was studied...
Pika Peak is a mountain located between Mount Richardson and Ptarmigan Peak in Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada The mountain was named in 1928 after...
The Sardinian pika (Prolagus sardus) is an extinct species of lagomorph that was endemic to the islands of Sardinia, Corsica and neighbouring Mediterranean...
The Himalayan pika (Ochotona himalayana) is a species of small mammal in the pika family (Ochotonidae). It is found at high altitudes in remote areas...
The plateau pika (Ochotona curzoniae), also known as the black-lipped pika, is a species of mammal in the pika family, Ochotonidae. It is a small diurnal...
Kaddon pika is a Chamorro dish where chicken is stewed in soy sauce, vinegar, donne' (hot pepper), garlic, and onions in one pot. It can also contain coconut...
The northern pika (Ochotona hyperborea) is a species of pika found across mountainous regions of northern Asia, from the Ural Mountains to northern Japan...
The Gansu pika (Ochotona cansus) or gray pika is a species of mammal in the pika family, Ochotonidae. It is endemic to China. Smith, A.T.; Liu, S. (2016)...
The Pika Lake is a fresh body of water constituting the main head lake of the Pika River on the watershed of the Saguenay River. Lac Pika is located in...
The Muli pika (Ochotona muliensis) is a species of mammal in the family Ochotonidae. The species' natural habitat is the palearctic, specifically the Yunnan...
The Nubra pika (Ochotona nubrica) is a species of mammal of the pika family, Ochotonidae. It is found in Bhutan, China, India, Nepal, and Pakistan. Smith...
The Ladak pika (Ochotona ladacensis), also known as the Ladakh pika, is a species of mammal in the family Ochotonidae found in China, India, and Pakistan...
Global Information
