Collared Pika

Collared Pika[1]
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)[2]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Lagomorpha
Family:	Ochotonidae
Genus:	Ochotona
Species:	O. collaris
Binomial name
Ochotona collaris (Nelson, 1893)
Collared Pika range

The Collared Pika (Ochotona collaris) is small (~160 gram) alpine lagomorph that lives in boulderfields of central and southern Alaska (U.S.),^[3] and in parts of Canada, including northern British Columbia, Yukon, and western parts of the Northwest Territories. It is closely related to the American Pika (O. princeps). It is asocial, does not hibernate,^[4] and spends a large part of its time in the summer collecting vegetation that is stored under rocks ("haypiles") as a supply of food for the winter.^[5] Thousands of trips are made during July and August to collect vegetation for winter.

The Collared Pika is reproductively mature at one year and gives birth to 2-3 young each year in nests within the talus. The young remain in the nest for approximately 30 days before they are weaned and emerge to the surface. Juveniles remain on the natal territory for only a short time (a few days) before they become independent and disperse to find their own territories.

References

1. ^ Hoffman, Robert S.; Smith, Andrew T. (16 November 2005). "Order Lagomorpha (pp. 185-211". In Wilson, Don E., and Reeder, DeeAnn M., eds. Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2 vols. (2142 pp.). pp. 186-187. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494. http://www.bucknell.edu/msw3. 
2. ^ Smith, A.T. & Johnston, C.H. (2008). Ochotona collaris. In: IUCN 2008. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 10 November 2008. Database entry includes a brief justification of why this species is of least concern.
3. ^ Savage, Melissa. "Ochotona collaris". Animal Diversity Web. http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Ochotona_collaris.html. Retrieved 2007-08-22. 
4. ^ "Ochotona collaris". Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. http://www.mnh.si.edu/mna/image_info.cfm?species_id=226. Retrieved 2007-08-22. 
5. ^ "Collared Pika". Yukon Government. http://www.environmentyukon.gov.yk.ca/wildlifebiodiversity/mammals/pika.php. Retrieved 2007-08-22.