Ochotona himalayana

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

Bibliography

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	MAMMALIA	LAGOMORPHA	OCHOTONIDAE

Scientific Name:

Ochotona himalayana

Species Authority:

Feng, 1973

Common Name/s:

English

–

Himalayan Pika

Taxonomic Notes:

There are no known subspecies of Ochotona himalayana (Hoffmann and Smith 2005). This species was formerly included as a synonym of O. roylei (Hoffmann and Smith 2005). Species status was confirmed by molecular studies (Yu et al. 2000).

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Least Concern ver 3.1

Year Assessed:

2008

Assessor/s:

Smith, A.T. & Johnston, C.H.

Reviewer/s:

Boyer, A.F. & Johnston, C.H. (Lagomorph Red List Authority)

Justification:
This is a widespread species without any known threats; however, more data are needed to determine the population status of this species.

History:

1996

–

Lower Risk/least concern (Baillie and Groombridge 1996)

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	Ochotona himalayana is endemic to China (Smith and Xie 2008). The geographic distribution of Ochotona himalayana occurs along the northern length of the Himalayan Mountains in Xizang province (Smith and Xie 2008). CAMP (Chakraborty et al. 2005) speculate that the form may cross the Himalayan crest and enter Nepal; there currently is no evidence to support this claim. O. himalayana occurs at elevations of 2,400-4,200 m (Feng et al. 1986).
Countries:	Native: China (Tibet [or Xizang]) Presence uncertain: Nepal
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	There is currently no information regarding the population status of Ochotona himalayana (Smith et al. 1990).
Population Trend:	Unknown

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	Ochotona himalayana occupies talus piles, walls, and precipices (Smith and Xie 2008). These areas border coniferous forests of the Himalayan range in Xizang, China (Smith and Xie 2008). This species is active from 08.00 - 09.00 and again at dusk (Smith et al. 1990). This species of pika is a generalized herbivore (Smith and Xie 2008). O. himalayana produces litters of three to four young (Feng et al. 1986). The total length of this species is 14.0-18.6 cm (Smith and Xie 2008).
Systems:	Terrestrial

Habitat and Ecology:

Ochotona himalayana occupies talus piles, walls, and precipices (Smith and Xie 2008). These areas border coniferous forests of the Himalayan range in Xizang, China (Smith and Xie 2008). This species is active from 08.00 - 09.00 and again at dusk (Smith et al. 1990). This species of pika is a generalized herbivore (Smith and Xie 2008). O. himalayana produces litters of three to four young (Feng et al. 1986). The total length of this species is 14.0-18.6 cm (Smith and Xie 2008).

Systems:

Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	The threats to this species are not known.

Major Threat(s):

The threats to this species are not known.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	There are little data regarding the ecology, reproduction, and population status for Ochotona himalayana (Smith et al. 1990). Research in these areas is needed. This species occurs in Zhumulangmafeng Nature Reserve in China (CSIS 2008). In China, this species has been regionally Red Listed as Least Concern (Wang and Xie 2004).

Conservation Actions:

There are little data regarding the ecology, reproduction, and population status for Ochotona himalayana (Smith et al. 1990). Research in these areas is needed. This species occurs in Zhumulangmafeng Nature Reserve in China (CSIS 2008). In China, this species has been regionally Red Listed as Least Concern (Wang and Xie 2004).

Bibliography [top]

	Chakraborty, S., Bhattacharyya, T. P., Srinvasulu, C., Venkataraman, M., Goonatilake, W. L. D. P. T. S. de A., Sechrest, W. and Daniel, B. A. 2005. Ochotona himalayana. In: S. Molur, C. Srinivasulu, B. Srinivasulu, S. Walker, P. O. Nameer and L. Ravikumar (eds), Status of South Asian Non-volant Small Mammals: Conservation Assessment and Management Plan (C.A.M.P.) Workshop Report, pp. 618 pp.. Coimbatore, India. China Species Information Service. 2008. Ochotona himalayana. Available at: http://www.chinabiodiversity.com; http://www.baohu.org. (Accessed: May 28). Feng, Z. J., Cai, G. Q. and Zheng, C. L. 1986. The Mammals of Xizang. The Comprehensive Scientific Expedition to the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau. Science Press, Academia Sinica, Beijing, China. Hoffmann, R. S. and Smith, A. T. 2005. Order Lagomorpha. In: D. E. Wilson and D. M. Reeder (eds), Mammal Species of the World, pp. 185-211. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, Maryland, USA. Smith, A. and Xie, Y. 2008. The Mammals of China. Princeton University Press, Princeton, New Jersey. Smith, A. T., Formozov, N. A., Hoffmann, R. S., Changlin, Z. and Erbajeva, M. A. 1990. The Pikas. In: J. A. Chapman and J. C. Flux (eds), Rabbits, Hares and Pikas: Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan, pp. 14-60. The World Conservation Union, Gland, Switzerland. Wang, S. and Xie, Y. 2004. China Species Red List. Vol. 1 Red List. Higher Education Press, Beijing, China. Yu, N., Zheng, C., Zhang, Y. and Li, W. 2000. Molecular systematics of pikas (Genus Ochotona) inferred from mitochondrial DNA sequences. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 16: 85-95.

Chakraborty, S., Bhattacharyya, T. P., Srinvasulu, C., Venkataraman, M., Goonatilake, W. L. D. P. T. S. de A., Sechrest, W. and Daniel, B. A. 2005. Ochotona himalayana. In: S. Molur, C. Srinivasulu, B. Srinivasulu, S. Walker, P. O. Nameer and L. Ravikumar (eds), Status of South Asian Non-volant Small Mammals: Conservation Assessment and Management Plan (C.A.M.P.) Workshop Report, pp. 618 pp.. Coimbatore, India.

China Species Information Service. 2008. Ochotona himalayana. Available at: http://www.chinabiodiversity.com; http://www.baohu.org. (Accessed: May 28).

Feng, Z. J., Cai, G. Q. and Zheng, C. L. 1986. The Mammals of Xizang. The Comprehensive Scientific Expedition to the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau. Science Press, Academia Sinica, Beijing, China.

Hoffmann, R. S. and Smith, A. T. 2005. Order Lagomorpha. In: D. E. Wilson and D. M. Reeder (eds), Mammal Species of the World, pp. 185-211. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.

Smith, A. and Xie, Y. 2008. The Mammals of China. Princeton University Press, Princeton, New Jersey.

Smith, A. T., Formozov, N. A., Hoffmann, R. S., Changlin, Z. and Erbajeva, M. A. 1990. The Pikas. In: J. A. Chapman and J. C. Flux (eds), Rabbits, Hares and Pikas: Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan, pp. 14-60. The World Conservation Union, Gland, Switzerland.

Wang, S. and Xie, Y. 2004. China Species Red List. Vol. 1 Red List. Higher Education Press, Beijing, China.

Yu, N., Zheng, C., Zhang, Y. and Li, W. 2000. Molecular systematics of pikas (Genus Ochotona) inferred from mitochondrial DNA sequences. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 16: 85-95.

Citation:	Smith, A.T. & Johnston, C.H. 2008. Ochotona himalayana. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 10 February 2012.
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