Ochotona macrotis

20. Large-eared Pika Ochotona macrotis French: Pika a oreilles longues / German: GroRohr-Pfeifhase / Spanish: Pica de orejas grandes Other common names: Big-eared Pika Taxonomy. Lagomys macrotis Gunther, 1875, “Doba,” Hotan County, Hotan, Xinjiang, China. According to DNA analysis, O. macrotis belongs to subgenus Conothoa. Early studies confused O. macrotis and O. rutila. Some authors included O. roylii in this species, but this point of view was not supported by morphological or DNA studies. The bigger problem was in allocation of synonyms to one of these taxa. Taxon chinensis often moved among these species; taxa angdawai and mitchelli were identified without analysis of their holotypes. Taxon auritus (belongs to O. ladacensis) was erroneously assigned to O. macrotis. Ochotona macrotis is often confused with O. royliz, although these two species are mainly allopatric. In the western Himalayan region, O. macrotis inhabits Transhimalaya (Ladakh Range), while O. roylii lives in the Himalaya. Such segregation is not absolute and single colonies of O. macrotis are known from the left bank of Indus River; these colonies are very scarce and are closely allied to the Indus Valley. Moving eastward, distributional pattern changes after the Kailash Range, separating Indus and Ganges basins. Ochotona macrotis is not known from the left bank of Brahmaputra River, moving to the highest elevations of Himalaya here. In this region, O. macrotis and O. roylii have no real sympatry since these species are elevationally parapatric. According to morphological study, O. macrotis includes angdawai, chinensis, griseus, mitchelli, sacana, and wollastoni. The subspecies recognized here need further revision. Four subspecies recognized. Subspecies and Distribution. O.m.macrotisGuiinther,1875—KunlunMtsinXinjiang,Tibet(=Xizang),andQinghai,WChina. O.m.chinensisThomas,1911—NWHengduanMtsinSEXizang,WSichuanandNWYunnan,SChina. O.m.sacanaThomas,1914—TianShanandPamir-AlayMtsfromSEKazakhstantoTajikistan. O. m. wollastoni Thomas & Hinton, 1922 — Karakoram and Ladakh ranges and Greater Himalayas E of 81° E. Descriptive notes. Head—body 150-210 mm, ear 23-36 mm, hindfoot 28-37 mm; weight 160-280 g. The Large-eared Pika is medium-sized. Dorsal furis tawny gray, with ocheroustint. Forehead is rufous. Ventralfur is light gray or light sandy. Winter fur is long and soft, dorsal pelage is gray with rufous forehead, and ventrum is whitish. Melanistic specimens are known. Ears are very large and rounded, with black margins. Skull is medium-sized, with widely confluent incisive and palatal foramens. A pair of foramensis usually situated on frontal bones, but this feature is not stable. Auditory bullae are medium-sized. Condylobasal lengths are 38-44 mm, skull widths are 21-23 mm, and skull heights are 15-18 mm. Large-eared Pikas differ from all other pikas by their very large, gray ears, with black margins; grayish head with rufous forehead is also a good identifying feature. Compared with Royle’s Pika (O. roylit), the Large-eared Pika lacks bright rufous back and flanks. Habitat. Talus and rock piles in alpine and subalpine areas at elevations of 3000-5700 m. Subspecies sacana inhabits the lowest elevations of 2500-4000 m in the Tian Shan Mountains. The Large-eared Pika is a typical rock dweller,living in hollows and crevices among stones. Food and Feeding. The Large-eared Pika feeds on plants, including some mosses and lichens. During warm periods,it eats green parts of plants and berries and otherfruits. During cold periods,it eats dry vegetation, twigs, and shoots. The Large-eared Pika does not hoard hay. Breeding. Breeding of the Large-eared Pika begins in April and lasts c¢.4 months. Subspecies sacana has 2-3 litters/year; intervals between breeding are very short. Young Large-eared Pikas become fertile in 7-10 months of age, and in some regions, young females breed late. Each female has 2-7 embryos. Gestation is ¢.30 days; neonates are covered with dense fur and born with their eyes closed. Activity patterns. The Large-eared Pika is diurnal and crepuscular; some nocturnal activity has been observed. It appears on talus surfaces before sunrise and feeds until it gets warm. Evening activity starts when temperatures fall and lasts until dark. Movements, Home range and Social organization. Large-eared Pikas move openly among and on rocks, spending time below upper layers of stones and moving along crevices among stones. Locomotion includes continuous running and leaping. Large-eared Pikas characteristically sit on rock surfaces and pose. One study found widely overlapping home ranges of c.1600 m* Large-eared Pikas are not aggressive, and home ranges are not exclusive. Densities vary from ¢.300 ind/km? in alpine zone to 2300 ind/km? in talus surrounded by productive vegetation. Vocalizations of Large-eared Pikas are rare and quiet, and their social function is doubtful. Latrines are situated under large stones or bushes. Breeding nests are lined with feathers and hairs located under rocks. Winter shelters are situated under large hanging rocks. Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. Bibliography. Bernshtein (1970), Feng Zuojian & Zheng Changlin (1985), Kawamichi (1971), Lissovsky (2014), Sokolov et al. (1994), Yu Ning et al. (2000), Zimina (1962).Published as part of Don E. Wilson, Thomas E. Lacher, Jr & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2016, Ochotonidae, pp. 28-43 in Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 6 Lagomorphs and Rodents I, Barcelona :Lynx Edicions on page 40, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.661978