Wildlifeof India
Large-eared Pika
Pangolins, Hares, Pikas & Shrews
Photo: (c) Jan Ebr & Ivana Ebrová, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC-BY (May be cropped or resized)
Ochotona macrotis
Basic stats
Diet
Grasses and other vegetation, twigs, lichens and mosses
Habitat
Crevices among boulders and scree; from about 2,300m to at least 6,130m in the Himalaya
Range
Mountains of Afghanistan, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Central Asia and western China
Litter size
Usually 2 litters a year of 2–3 young
Gestation period
About 30 days
Size
15–20.4cm
The large-eared pika is 15–20.4 cm long with brownish-grey fur tinged with ochre, a reddish tinge on the forehead, cheeks and shoulders that is stronger in summer, and greyish-white underparts. The four legs are about the same length and the feet, including the soles, are covered in fur. It lives in mountainous regions of Central Asia, including Bhutan, India, Nepal and Pakistan (Wikipedia, general species account).
It does not dig a burrow but lives in crevices among shattered rock and scree, from about 2,300 m up to at least 6,130 m in the Himalaya. It is diurnal and herbivorous, feeding on grasses and other vegetation, twigs, lichens and mosses, and some populations make haypiles of dried grass to last the winter. There are usually two litters a year of two or three young, after about 30 days. Carnivorous mammals and birds of prey eat it, and its life expectancy is about three years (Wikipedia, general species account).
Quick answers
- What does the Large-eared Pika eat?
- Grasses and other vegetation, twigs, lichens and mosses
- What habitat does the Large-eared Pika live in?
- Crevices among boulders and scree; from about 2,300m to at least 6,130m in the Himalaya
- Where is the Large-eared Pika found?
- Mountains of Afghanistan, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Central Asia and western China
- What is the litter size of the Large-eared Pika?
- Usually 2 litters a year of 2–3 young
- How long is the gestation period of the Large-eared Pika?
- About 30 days
- How big is the Large-eared Pika?
- 15–20.4cm