| Thomas's pika | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Lagomorpha |
| Family: | Ochotonidae |
| Genus: | Ochotona |
| Species: | O. thomasi |
| Binomial name | |
| Ochotona thomasi Argyropulo, 1948 | |
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| Thomas's pika range | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
| |
Thomas's pika (Ochotona thomasi), also known as theThomas-pika,[3] is a species of smallmammal in thepika family,Ochotonidae. Thefur on its upper body is reddish brown in summer, and mouse grey in winter. It is a generalistherbivore threatened byhabitat loss, being found on isolated peaks of the easternQilian Mountains inQinghai,Gansu, and northwesternSichuan, in China. The International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Endangered Species assessed the animal as insufficiently known in 1994, as near threatened in 1996, and as a species of least concern in 2008.
Thomas's pika is amonotypic species (having no subspecies),[4] that was firstdescribed in 1948 by the Russianzoologist A. I. Argyropulo, in the journalTrudy Zoologicheskogo Instituta.[2] He named it after the BritishmammalogistMichael Rogers Oldfield Thomas.[5] Thomas's pika is similar to the Gansu pika (Ochotona cansus), with a similar greatest skull length, but can be distinguished by its smaller skull andcheek bone width. In 1974, Feng and Kao synonymisedO. t. cilanica Bannikov 1960[6] withOchotona thomasi.[4] According toMammal Species of the World,O. ciliana Bannikov, 1940 is currently its only synonym.[2]
Thomas's pika measures 10.5 to 16.5 cm (4.1 to 6.5 in) in length, and weighs 45 to 110 g (1.6 to 3.9 oz). The fragile skull is broader anteriorly, and smaller, flatter, and narrower than other pika species. The greatest skull length is 3.3 to 3.7 cm (1.3 to 1.5 in). Theanterior palatine foramen (funnel-shaped opening in the bony plate of the skull, located in the roof of the mouth, immediately behind the incisor teeth where blood vessels and nerves pass) and the palatal foramen are attached, and there is no oval foramen above thefrontal bone.[7] The cheek bones are 3.36 to 3.55 cm (1.32 to 1.40 in) wide,[4] and the ears measure 1.7 to 2.2 cm (0.67 to 0.87 in) in length. It has elongated, convexauditory bullae. The summer dorsalpelage is reddish brown, and theunderparts are yellow tinged or light white in colour. The winter dorsal pelage is mouse grey in colour, and the hairs have noticeable black tips. The hindfeet are 2.2 to 2.9 cm (0.87 to 1.14 in) long.[7]
Endemic to China, Thomas's pika is rare,[1] and no intensive population studies have been conducted.[8] It is found on the secluded mountains of the easternQilian Mountain range inQinghai,Gansu, and northwesternSichuan.[1]
It inhabits meadows and isolated hilly, shrubby forests ofCaragana jubata, the shrubby cinquefoil (Dasiphora fruticosa),Rhododendron, and the willow species (Salix),[7] at elevations between 3,400 metres (11,200 ft) and 4,020 metres (13,190 ft) from sea level.[1]
Thomas's pika issympatric (existing in the same geographic area and thus frequently encountering) with the Gansu pika[2] which also overlaps in part of its range with the Moupin pika (Ochotona thibetana) but there is no overlap in the ranges of Thomas's and Moupin pikas.[4]
Thomas's pika is adiurnal[1] burrowing species.[4] It is a generalistherbivore, and may live in small family groups.[1] Although its ecology is not well known, it is thought to be similar to that of the Gansu pika.[7] Details about its behaviour and reproduction are also unknown.[4]
In 1994, Thomas's pika was assessed as insufficiently known on the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species. In 1996 it was warranted anear-threatened status,[1] and it nearly even met thevulnerable criteria (A2c + 3c)[7] by both theIUCN and the Red List of China's Vertebrates due to a declining population of over 30% in the last ten years, in the projected ten years, or in three generations, determined based on a decreasing extant of occurrence, area of occupancy, or quality of habitat.[9] It was re-assessed by IUCN in 2008 and rated as a species of least concern. This is because, although very little is known about its status, it is a widespread species. The current state of its population trend is unclear. It may be affected by killing due to pest control measures in its range although its effects to the species is unknown. There are no conservation measures to protect Thomas's pika.[1][8]
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There is very little reported data on this specific species so the data below is taken from general pika information.