Ochotona nubrica, Thomas, 1922

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 : 31-32

5.

Nubra Pika

Ochotona nubrica

French: Pika du Nubra / German: Nubra-Pfeifhase / Spanish: Pica de Nubra

Taxonomy. Ochotona nubrica Thomas, 1922 ,

“Tuggur, Nubra Valley, alt. 10000 ft,” Leh District, Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir, India.

According to mtDNA, O. nubrica belongs to subgenus Ochotona . Taxonomic status of O. nubrica was unstable for a long time. Different authors placed it into O. pusilla or O. thibetana . Ochotona nubrica was elevated to full species status after morphological revision in 1992. Although its mtDNA variation is entirely within variation of O. curzoniae , its nDNA genes confirm taxonomic singularity of O. nubrica . It hybridize with O. curzoniae , eliminating its own mtDNA. According to morphological study, it includes aliensis, lama, and lhasaensis. Two subspecies recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution.

O.n.nubricaThomas,1922—LadakhandupperIndusValley(NIndia)andwaterdivideofupperGangesandBrahmaputrariversinNNepalandSTibetanPlateau.

O. n. lhasaensis Feng Zuojian & Kao Yuehting, 1974 — E Tibetan Plateau, in the left bank of middle Brahmaputra River, E Xizang, China.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 150-180 mm, ear 21-25 mm, hindfoot 28-35 mm; weight 108-135 g. The Nubra Pika is medium-sized. Dorsal fur is sandy or ocherous, with a light collar. Ventral fur and throat are whitish, with ocherous band on chest and along belly.

Winterfur is longer, softer, and gray than during other seasons. Ears are gray, mediumsized, and round with sharp white margins. Skull is medium-sized, with rounded zygomatic arches and widely confluent incisive and palatal foramens. Auditory bullae are relatively small. Condylobasal lengths are 36-39 mm, skull widths are 18-20 mm, and skull heights are 13-15 mm. The Nubra Pika has greater skull heights, wider zygomatic breadth, and paler pelage color than the Moupin Pika ( O. thibetana ); it has notably flatter skull with rounded zygomatic arches than the Plateau Pika ( O. curzoniae ).

Habitat. High mountain deserts at elevations of 3100-4600 m. The Nubra Pika is a shrub dweller that digs burrows near shrub stems under dense cover of thorny vegetation and uses rocks as sheltersif available.

Food and Feeding. There is no specific information available for this species, but the Nubra Pika feeds on green, xeric plants in its habitats.

Breeding. Young Nubra Pikas were recorded from June to August; subadults from August to early October.

Activity patterns. The Nubra Pika is diurnal and very secretive. It usually hides under cover of thorny vegetation and can be seen for only a moment when runs between bushes.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. The Nubra Pika runs very quickly or sits motionless under bushes. It lives in groups, and home range sizes probably depend on sizes of shrub patches. Spatial distribution is very patchy and confined to shrubby areas in deserts. Piles of pellets (latrines) and trails gnawed through shrubs reveal occupied areas. The Nubra Pika digs simple burrows.

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

Bibliography. Ellerman & Morrison-Scott (1951), Feng Zuojian & Zheng Changlin (1985), Lissovsky (2014), Mitchell & Punzo (1975), Yu Ning & Zheng Changlin (1992), Yu Ning et al. (2000).

Figures

On following pages: 3. Tsing-ling Pika (Ochotona syrinx); 4. Gansu Pika (Ochotona cansus); 5. Nubra Pika (Ochotona nubrica); 6. Plateau Pika (Ochotona curzoniae); 7. Thomas's Pika (Ochotona thomasi); 8. Alpine Pika (Ochotona alpina); 9. Turuchan Pika (Ochotona turuchanensis): 10. Northern Pika (Ochotona hyperborea); 11. Manchurian Pika (Ochotona mantchurica); 12. Hoffmann's Pika (Ochotona hoffmanni); 13. Korean Pika (Ochotona coreana), 14. Pallas's Pika (Ochotona pallasii).

Subspecies and Distribution. O.n.nubricaThomas,1922—LadakhandupperIndusValley(NIndia)andwaterdivideofupperGangesandBrahmaputrariversinNNepalandSTibetanPlateau. O. n. lhasaensis Feng Zuojian & Kao Yuehting, 1974 — E Tibetan Plateau, in the left bank of middle Brahmaputra River, E Xizang, China.