Large-eared Pika

About this species

Size

15–20.4cm

Diet

Grasses and other vegetation, twigs, lichens and mosses

Habitat

Crevices among boulders and scree; from about 2,300m to at least 6,130m in the Himalaya

Range

Mountains of Afghanistan, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Central Asia and western China

Litter size

Usually 2 litters a year of 2–3 young

Gestation

About 30 days

The large-eared pika is 15–20.4 cm long with brownish-grey fur tinged with ochre, a reddish tinge on the forehead, cheeks and shoulders that is stronger in summer, and greyish-white underparts. The four legs are about the same length and the feet, including the soles, are covered in fur. It lives in mountainous regions of Central Asia, including Bhutan, India, Nepal and Pakistan (Wikipedia, general species account).

It does not dig a burrow but lives in crevices among shattered rock and scree, from about 2,300 m up to at least 6,130 m in the Himalaya. It is diurnal and herbivorous, feeding on grasses and other vegetation, twigs, lichens and mosses, and some populations make haypiles of dried grass to last the winter. There are usually two litters a year of two or three young, after about 30 days. Carnivorous mammals and birds of prey eat it, and its life expectancy is about three years (Wikipedia, general species account).

Description: Wildlife of India guide, Wildlife of Everywhere (wildlifeofeverywhere.com); general species information paraphrased from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA)