Glover's pika facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Glover's pika |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Ochotona
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| Species: |
gloveri
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| Subspecies | |
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* O. g. brookei Allen, 1937
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| Glover's pika range | |
| Synonyms | |
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* O. g. kamensis Argyropulo, 1948
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The Glover's pika (Ochotona gloveri) is a small mammal from the pika family. It was first officially described in 1922 by Michael Rogers Oldfield Thomas. This pika has fur that changes color slightly with the seasons. In summer, its fur can be grayish-brown or tea-brown. In winter, it's a bit lighter.
Glover's pikas live only in China. They are found in high mountain areas of Tibet, Qinghai, Sichuan, and Yunnan. These animals are herbivores, meaning they eat plants. They are also known for building "haypiles" of dried plants. The International Union for Conservation of Nature says Glover's pika is a species of least concern. This means it is not currently at risk of disappearing.
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About Glover's Pika
Glover's pika is a type of small mammal. It belongs to the same group as rabbits and hares. These animals are known for living in rocky areas.
They are quite small, usually measuring about 16 to 22 centimeters (6 to 9 inches) long. They weigh between 140 to 300 grams (5 to 10 ounces). Their skulls are about 4.3 to 5.3 centimeters long.
What Glover's Pika Looks Like
The fur on their back in summer can be grayish-red, grayish-brown, or tea-brown. Their head is often orange or pale brown. They have large ears, about 3.1 to 3.9 centimeters long. These ears are thin and light chestnut or orange-brown.
In winter, their fur is similar but lighter in color. Their belly and the tops of their feet are dull gray or grayish-white. Their back feet are about 3.1 to 3.6 centimeters long.
Glover's pika looks a bit like the Chinese red pika. However, Glover's pika has smaller ear bones and a thinner nose. It also doesn't have the reddish "mantle" (a patch of fur) that the Chinese red pika has.
Where Glover's Pika Lives
Glover's pika is found only in China. You can find them in the high mountains of northeastern Tibet, southwestern Qinghai, western Sichuan, and northwestern Yunnan.
These pikas usually live in rocky places. They like areas with loose rocks and cracks, often near forests. Sometimes, they even live in the mud walls of old buildings in villages. They do not live in places where animals graze or where people farm.
They typically live at very high elevations. This means they are found from about 3,500 to 4,200 meters (11,500 to 13,800 feet) above sea level. In some parts of Sichuan, they can be found at lower altitudes, around 1,700 meters (5,600 feet).
Behavior and Life Cycle
We don't know a lot about how Glover's pika behaves or reproduces. We do know that they are herbivores. This means they eat a variety of plants.
One interesting thing they do is build "haypiles." They collect and dry plants to store as food for later, especially for winter.
Conservation Status
Since 1996, the Glover's pika has been listed as a species of least concern by the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species. This is good news because it means they are not currently in danger.
They live in many places, often in remote parts of China. These areas are not usually affected by human activities. However, some local pika populations face threats from being poisoned or trapped. Scientists are still studying their population numbers to understand them better.
