Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Mammal
- Order
- Lagomorpha
- Family
- Ochotonidae
- Genus
- Ochotona
Habitat
Daurian pikas primarily inhabit steppe grasslands, rocky slopes, and alpine meadows in northern Asia, including Mongolia, China, and Russia. They prefer areas with loose soil for burrowing and ample vegetation for cover, often at elevations up to 3,000 meters. These habitats provide both foraging opportunities and protection from predators.
Diet
Daurian pikas mainly eat grasses, herbs, and sedges, which they forage during the day. They exhibit hoarding behavior, collecting and drying vegetation to store as haypiles for winter sustenance. Feeding peaks in the morning and late afternoon when they are most active.
Behavior
Daurian pikas are social animals that live in colonies with interconnected burrow systems, communicating through high-pitched calls to warn of predators. They are diurnal, spending much of their time foraging and maintaining haypiles for winter food storage, and exhibit territorial behavior by defending their burrow entrances. These pikas are agile and quick to retreat into burrows when threatened, making them elusive in the wild.
Conservation Status
The Daurian pika is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, with a stable population trend across its range. Major threats include habitat loss from overgrazing and climate change, but it is not currently facing significant conservation challenges.