Ochotona erythrotis (Büchner, 1890)

Don E. Wilson, Thomas E. Lacher, Jr & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2016, Ochotonidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 6 Lagomorphs and Rodents I, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 28-43 : 42-43

27.

Chinese Red Pika

Ochotona erythrotis

French: Pika a oreilles rouges / German: RotohrPfeifhase / Spanish: Pica roja de China

Other common names: Red-eared Pika

Taxonomy. Lagomys erythrotis Büchner, 1890 ,

“Burchan-Budda; Ganssu; fl. Dy-Tschju; Chuan-che sup., pr. Gui-dui.” Restricted by G. M. Allen in 1938 to “Burchan-Budda,” part of Kunlun Mountain chain in Northern Tibet, China.

According to mtDNA, O. erythrotis belongs to subgenus Conothoa and represents the outer branch in this clade. It was synonymized with O. rutila by some authors, but that point of view has not been supported by further analysis. Sister species and the closest one in morphology, O. glover: was sometimes included in O. erythrotis . Moreover, the type series of O. erythrotis includes a number of O. glover: specimens. Potential confusion was ended by lectotype designation by G. M. Allen in 1938. According to morphological study,it includes vulpina. Ochotona erythrotis and O. gloveri are allopatric. Monotypic.

Distribution. Upper Yellow (= Huang He) River Basin and Qilian Mts in Qinghai and Gansu, China.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 170-230 mm, ear 26-39 mm, hindfoot 32-40 mm; weight 160-290 g. The Chinese Red Pika is a large pika. Dorsalfur is bright red. Ventral fur is whitish. In winter, body is covered with long gray hairs, some with brown tips. Ears are red in all seasons, big, and rounded, with faint white margins. Skull is large, with incisive and palatal foramens separated. Pair of foramens is usually situated on frontal bones; this feature is not stable. Auditory bullae are medium-sized. Condylobasal lengths are 43—47 mm, skull widths are 22-24 mm, and skull height is 16-17 mm. It is difficult to confuse the Chinese Red Pika with other pika species other than Glover's Pika ( O. gloveri ). Potential for confusion lies in identity of winter pelages and similar color patterns during shedding. Shedding occurs during all warm seasons: spring shedding takes place at different times for males and females (demands of gestation cause females to shed later). Juveniles have a “gray phase.” The Chinese Red Pika has red cheeks in all seasons except winter, which can be a clue to its identification.

Habitat. Rock cliffs with holes, crevices, and piles of stones in arid zones at elevations of 2000-3300 m. The Chinese Red Pika was reported from Burkhan Buddha Range at elevations up to 4800 m. It inhabits loesscliffs of the north-eastern edges of the Tibetan Plateau. The Chinese Rock Pika is a cliff-associated species.

Food and Feeding. The Chinese Red Pika feeds on green plants and hoards hay. Hay hoarding was observed in mid-July; plants were dried under the sun before being stored. Chinese Red Pikas probably store hay in rock crevices because no hay piles are ever seen aboveground.

Breeding. Breeding of the Chinese Red Pika lasts at least from April to August. Young were recorded in July-September; subadults were recorded from early May to October.

Activity patterns. The Chinese Red Pika is diurnal and avoids midday heat. In winter, it emerges aboveground on sunny days.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Chinese Red Pikas move along rock ledges or among boulders by leaping or running. They often move inside rock gaps with legs apart. Chinese Red Pikas often sit motionless, especially when disturbed by humans. A singular observation in mid-July suggested that Chinese Red Pikas lived in compact family groups. Rocks inhabited by Chinese Red Pikas have scarce traces of dry vegetation or pellets; however, they have long-term scent-marking points situated at cliffs edges, comprising pyramids of packed droppings and black primary excrements. Vocalizations are unknown. Burrows are simple and 1-2 m in length with several branches.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List.

Bibliography. Allen (1938), Buchner (1890), Lissovsky (2014), Yu Ning et al. (2000), Zheng Changlin (1989).

Figures

15. Kazakh Pika (Ochotona opaca), 16. Silver Pika (Ochotona argentata), 17. American Pika (Ochotona princeps), 18. Collared Pika (Ochotona collaris), 19. Steppe Pika (Ochotona pusilla), 20. Large-eared Pika (Ochotona macrotis), 21. Royle’s Pika (Ochotona roylu), 22. Afghan Pika (Ochotona rufescens), 23. Forrest's Pika (Ochotona forrest), 24. Ladak Pika (Ochotona ladacensis), 25. Turkestan Red Pika (Ochotona rutila), 26. Kozlov’s Pika (Ochotona koslowi), 27. Chinese Red Pika (Ochotona erythrotis), 28. Glover’s Pika (Ochotona gloveri), 29. Ili Pika (Ochotona iliensis)

Distribution. Upper Yellow (= Huang He) River Basin and Qilian Mts in Qinghai and Gansu, China.