Turkestan Red Pika
Encyclopedia
The Turkestan Red Pika (Ochotona rutila) is a species of mammal
in the Ochotonidae family. It is found in Kazakhstan
, Kyrgyzstan
, Tajikistan
, Uzbekistan
, possibly Afghanistan
, and possibly China
. It prefers rocky habitats and is found mostly in the Pamir, Kirgiz, Gissar, and Tien Shan mountain ranges. The "red" in its common name comes from the rusty color of the back of its summer coat. It is also known as the “silent” pika because it doesn’t make an alarm whistle or other vocal noises.
Like other pikas, the Turkestan Red Pika is herbivorous. However, unlike most other pikas, it is averse to coming out into open meadows and does most of its feeding on plants growing among the rocks. Because of this, each individual’s territory is considerably bigger than that of the average rock-dwelling pika.
The Turkestan Red Pika generally has two litters of two to six offspring annually. Its mating habits may vary based on the population size in the area each year. Unusually for pikas that live in rocky habitats, its young may spend their first winter on their parents’ territory.
Mammal
Mammals are members of a class of air-breathing vertebrate animals characterised by the possession of endothermy, hair, three middle ear bones, and mammary glands functional in mothers with young...
in the Ochotonidae family. It is found in Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan , officially the Republic of Kazakhstan, is a transcontinental country in Central Asia and Eastern Europe. Ranked as the ninth largest country in the world, it is also the world's largest landlocked country; its territory of is greater than Western Europe...
, Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstan , officially the Kyrgyz Republic is one of the world's six independent Turkic states . Located in Central Asia, landlocked and mountainous, Kyrgyzstan is bordered by Kazakhstan to the north, Uzbekistan to the west, Tajikistan to the southwest and China to the east...
, Tajikistan
Tajikistan
Tajikistan , officially the Republic of Tajikistan , is a mountainous landlocked country in Central Asia. Afghanistan borders it to the south, Uzbekistan to the west, Kyrgyzstan to the north, and China to the east....
, Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan , officially the Republic of Uzbekistan is a doubly landlocked country in Central Asia and one of the six independent Turkic states. It shares borders with Kazakhstan to the west and to the north, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan to the east, and Afghanistan and Turkmenistan to the south....
, possibly Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
, and possibly China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. It prefers rocky habitats and is found mostly in the Pamir, Kirgiz, Gissar, and Tien Shan mountain ranges. The "red" in its common name comes from the rusty color of the back of its summer coat. It is also known as the “silent” pika because it doesn’t make an alarm whistle or other vocal noises.
Like other pikas, the Turkestan Red Pika is herbivorous. However, unlike most other pikas, it is averse to coming out into open meadows and does most of its feeding on plants growing among the rocks. Because of this, each individual’s territory is considerably bigger than that of the average rock-dwelling pika.
The Turkestan Red Pika generally has two litters of two to six offspring annually. Its mating habits may vary based on the population size in the area each year. Unusually for pikas that live in rocky habitats, its young may spend their first winter on their parents’ territory.
Sources
- Grzimek, Bernhard, ed. "Turkestan red pika". Grzimek's Animal Life Encyclopedia. 2nd ed. Vol. 16. Detroit, MI: Gale, 2003. 499.