Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Mammal
- Order
- Lagomorpha
- Family
- Ochotonidae
- Genus
- Ochotona
Habitat
Glover's pika primarily inhabits rocky alpine meadows and talus slopes in the eastern Himalayas, at elevations between 3000 and 5000 meters. They prefer areas with loose rocks for burrows and nearby vegetation for foraging. This terrain provides protection from predators and extreme weather conditions.
Diet
Glover's pika feeds mainly on grasses, herbs, and other alpine plants, which they forage during the day. They exhibit haymaking behavior, collecting and drying vegetation to store for winter survival. Feeding is most active in the morning and late afternoon when temperatures are milder.
Behavior
Glover's pika is diurnal and lives in small family groups within rocky territories, which they defend with high-pitched alarm calls. They are solitary outside of breeding season and spend much of their time foraging and building haypiles for food storage. These animals are agile climbers on rocks and communicate through vocalizations to warn of threats.
Conservation Status
Glover's pika is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, with a stable population trend overall. Major threats include habitat loss from climate change and human development in the Himalayas.