Royle's pika

Royle's pika (Ochotona roylei), also called the Himalayan hare or hui shutu, is a species of pika. It is found in Bhutan, China, India, Nepal, and Pakistan.

Royle's pika
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Lagomorpha
Family:	Ochotonidae
Genus:	Ochotona
Species:	O. roylei
Binomial name
Ochotona roylei Ogilby, 1839
Subspecies
O. r. nepalensis O. r. himalayana O. r. wardi O. r. roylei
Royle's pika range
Synonyms
Ochotona himalayana Feng, 1973

Taxonomy

Royle's pika was first described in 1839 as Lagomys roylei by Willam Ogilby, with the type locality being Choor Mountain in Himachal Pradesh.^[2]

The subspecies O. r. himalayana, the Himalayan pika, was considered a distinct species for a brief period, but was reclassified as a subtaxon of O. roylei in 2014.^[3]

Description

The most common pika species in the Himalayas, it has a length of 17-22 centimeters. Royle's pika has a slightly arched head, with a rufous-grey body and chestnut-colored head, as well as sparse hair in front of its ears.

Distribution and habitat

This is the most common pika species in the Himalayas, and can be confused with the sympatric large-eared pika. These species are mostly seen in the open rocky mountain edges or slopes, or on ground covered with conifer trees, such as pine, deodar and rhododendron forests. Royle's pika are a crepuscular foraging species, as they tend to be inactive during midday hours. Reduction of activity during the midday is also contributed to increasing temperatures, which causes heat stress on the species.^[4] During monsoon season, foraging is encouraged due to greater food availability. The species has also been found near human habitation. It does not make its own nest; rather, it takes narrow creeks and existing burrow systems as its nest, filling it with hay piles and pine leaves. It also uses the rocky areas on the mountains to take refuge and escape from predators.

Conservation status

Though their conservation status according to IUCN Red List is "Least Concern", habitat loss and human habitation in hilly areas are the indirect cause of conservation threats towards them.

References

1. Smith, A.T. and Bhattacharyya, S. (2016). "Ochotona roylei". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T41268A45184591. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T41268A45184591.en. Retrieved 14 November 2021.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
2. Lissovsky, A.A. (2016). Wilson, D.E.; Lacher, T.E.; Mittermeier, R.A. (eds.). Handbook of the Mammals of the World. Vol. 6. Lagomorphs and Rodents I. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. p. 57. ISBN 978-84-941892-3-4.
3. Lissovsky, A.A. (2014). "Taxonomic revision of pikas Ochotona (Lagomorpha, Mammalia) at the species level". Mammalia. 78 (2): 199–216. doi:10.1515/mammalia-2012-0134.
4. Bhattacharyya, S., Adhikari, B. S., & Rawat, G. S. (2014). "Influence of microclimate on the activity of Royle's pika in the Western Himalaya", India. Zoological Studies, 53(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40555-014-0073-8

• Bhattacharyya, Sabuji (December 12, 2018). "Noninvasive sampling reveals population genetic structure in the Royle's pika,Ochotona roylei, in the western Himalaya". Ecology and Evolution. 9 (1). Retrieved October 15, 2020.
• Smith, A.T.; Boyer, A.F. (2008). "Ochotona roylei". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2008. Retrieved 10 April 2009. Database entry includes a brief justification of why this species is of least concern.