Ochotona ladacensis (Günther, 1875)

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 : 41-42

24.

Ladak Pika

Ochotona ladacensis

French: Pika du Ladak / German: Ladakh-Pfeifhase / Spanish: Pica de Ladakh

Taxonomy. Lagomys ladacensis Gunther, 1875 ,

“Chagra, 14000 feet above the sea,” Leh District, Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir, India.

According to mtDNA, O. ladacensis belongs to subgenus Conothoa. Morphological study showed that it includes auritus, which was described by W. T. Blanford in 1875 only one month after ladacensis was described. Due to the great ambiguity in nomenclature of pikas that time, Blanford synonymized auritus with O. macrotis , although the type series was available for comparison. Thus the name auritus is listed as a synonym of O. macrotis in all checklists. Monotypic.

Distribution. Kunlun Mts in SW China (S Xinjiang, NW Tibet (=Xizang), and E Qinghai) and Ladakh (NW India).

Descriptive notes. Head-body 150-240 mm, ear 22-33 mm, hindfoot 32-40 mm; weight 100-320 g. The Ladak Pika is a large pika. Dorsal fur is wooly, light rufous, or sandy, mixed with light hairs. Forehead is rufous. Ventral fur is gray and sandy. Winter fur is grayish and longer and woolier than during other seasons. Hairs above neck gland are yellow. Ears are rounded and sandy inside, with dense and long reddish hairs on rearsides. Lips are black. Skull is large, arched with very big orbits, narrow interorbital constriction, and small and very widely spaced auditory bullae. Incisive and palatal foramens can be confluent or separated. Condylobasal lengths are 41-50 mm, skull widths are 24-26 mm, and skull heights are 16-18 mm. The Ladak Pika differs from Kozlov’s Pika ( O. koslowi ) by reddish hairs on rear sides of ears; black lips (turn pale in collections); less arched, longer, and narrower skull; and widely spaced auditory bullae. Compared with the Ladak Pika, the Plateau Pika ( O. curzoniae ) has different color pattern and gray ears, with white margins;it is notably smaller;its skull is less arched and notably narrower; and its auditory bullae are not widely spaced.

Habitat. Alpine deserts, with almost barren landscapes and scarce vegetation, at elevations of 4400-5500 m. Although Ladak Pikas are a borrowing species, they dig burrows in flat open landscapes, usually associated with stones. Single stones and screes are used as shelters and cover for burrows.

Food and Feeding. The Ladak Pika feeds on green plants, including xeric alpine species. There is no evidence of hay hoarding.

Breeding. Breeding of the Ladak Pika starts in late June to early July. Young pikas are recorded in July-August and subadults in July-September.

Activity patterns. The Ladak Pika is diurnal. Most active periods are in morning and evening; midday heat and windy periods are avoided. Ladak Pikas are active during winter. Vocalizations are infrequent.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. L.adak Pikas move by leaping and running openly around their burrows, but they sit motionless for most of their time aboveground. Most activity takes place in a small patch of ¢.400 m* around a burrow. Although burrows are numerous in occupied areas, density is low and did not reach 300 ind/km? at one area. Areas occupied have well marked burrows and piles of pellets under stones. Ladak Pikas dig small pits and deposit their pellets in them. They vocalize to indicate alarm and excitement. LL.adak Pikas live in colonies, but their social structure is unclear.

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

Bibliography. Blanford (1875, 1891), Blchner (1894), 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. Kunlun Mts in SW China (S Xinjiang, NW Tibet (=Xizang), and E Qinghai) and Ladakh (NW India).