Ochotona argentata

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Cladus: Unikonta
Cladus: Opisthokonta
Cladus: Holozoa
Regnum: Animalia
Subregnum: Eumetazoa
Cladus: Bilateria
Cladus: Nephrozoa
Superphylum: Deuterostomia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Infraphylum: Gnathostomata
Megaclassis: Osteichthyes
Cladus: Sarcopterygii
Cladus: Rhipidistia
Cladus: Tetrapodomorpha
Cladus: Eotetrapodiformes
Cladus: Elpistostegalia
Superclassis: Tetrapoda
Cladus: Reptiliomorpha
Cladus: Amniota
Cladus: Synapsida
Cladus: Eupelycosauria
Cladus: Sphenacodontia
Cladus: Sphenacodontoidea
Cladus: Therapsida
Cladus: Theriodontia
Cladus: Cynodontia
Cladus: Eucynodontia
Cladus: Probainognathia
Cladus: Prozostrodontia
Cladus: Mammaliaformes
Classis: Mammalia
Subclassis: Trechnotheria
Infraclassis: Zatheria
Supercohors: Theria
Cohors: Eutheria
Infraclassis: Placentalia
Cladus: Boreoeutheria
Superordo: Euarchontoglires
Ordo: Lagomorpha

Familia: Ochotonidae
Genus: Ochotona
Species: Ochotona argentata
Name

Ochotona argentata Howell, 1928
Synonyms

Ochotona helanshanensis Zheng, 1987

References

Ochotona argentata in Mammal Species of the World.
Wilson, Don E. & Reeder, DeeAnn M. (Editors) 2005. Mammal Species of the World – A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference. Third edition. ISBN 0-8018-8221-4.
IUCN: Ochotona argentata Howell, 1928 (Critically Endangered)

Vernacular names
English: Helan Shan Pika

The Helan Shan pika or silver pika (Ochotona argentata) is a species of mammal in the pika family, Ochotonidae. It is endemic to China where it is found in a small region of the Helan Mountains. It is listed as "Endangered" in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as of 2016.
Description

Like other pikas, the Helan Shan pika has long, soft grayish-brown fur. It is related to rabbits and hares but unlike those animals, the limbs are all about the same length. The ears are small and rounded and the feet are covered with fur.[2] It grows to a length of about 22 cm (9 in).[1]
Distribution and habitat

The Helan Shan pika is known only from the Helan Mountains in the Inner Mongolian Autonomous Region of China which lie between the semi-arid Ordos Desert and the Yellow River Valley to the east and the Badain Jaran Desert to the west. Upland areas are clad in coniferous forests of dragon spruce (Picea asperata) with a lower layer of birch (Betula spp.) and poplar (Populus spp.). On the more exposed, open slopes, scrub species include the Manchu rose (Rosa xanthina), Caragana spp., the Gansu elm (Ulmus glaucescens), the hazel-hornbeam (Ostryopsis davidiana), the yellowhorn (Xanthoceras sorbifolia) and the temple juniper (Juniperus rigida).[3] The Helan Shan pika occupies rocky outcrops among the trees and scrub and has been found up to 20 metres (66 ft) deep in the entrances of disused mines.[1]
Biology

The Helan Shan pika lives among boulders and scree and makes its home deep in the crevices between stones. It is a herbivore and feeds on grass and other vegetation which it gathers in meadow areas adjoining the scree. It does not hibernate and, to help provide for the winter when food is scarce, it makes "haypiles" of dried grass and foliage during the summer and stores them underground.[2]
Status

The Helan Shan pika is known only from a high altitude site of 3 square kilometres (1.2 sq mi) in a single mountain range in China. Its population size is unknown but is likely to be decreasing as a result of logging activities within its range resulting in loss of habitat. It cannot tolerate high temperatures and any warming of the climate is likely to have negative impacts on the species. For these reasons, the IUCN in its Red List of Threatened Species lists this animal as being "Endangered".[1]
See also

List of endangered and protected species of China

References

Smith, A.T.; Li, W. (2016). "Ochotona argentata". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T41986A45194521. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T41986A45194521.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
Smith, Andrew T. "Pika". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 2013-08-22.
Carpenter, Chris (2013). "Helanshan montane conifer forests". Ecoregions. World Wildlife Fund. Retrieved 2013-08-22.