Wildlifeof China
Plateau Pika
Pangolins, Treeshrews, Shrews & Gymnures
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Ochotona curzoniae
Basic stats
Diet
Grasses, sedges and other alpine meadow plants
Habitat
Well-drained alpine meadow and steppe with silty or sandy soil
Range
Tibetan Plateau and adjoining highlands
Litter size
1–8
Gestation period
21–24 days
Weight
100–200g
The plateau pika is a compact, short-limbed lagomorph with no conspicuous external tail. It has characteristic dark lips, thick brown to reddish-tan fur above and a light grey underside. Males and females are similar in size and colour and weigh 100–200g. Its rounded body and dense coat suit the cold, windswept grasslands of the Tibetan Plateau. (Animal Diversity Web)
Plateau pikas excavate branching burrows in well-drained alpine meadows and steppes, favouring flat or gently sloping ground with silty or sandy soil. They live in family groups whose members groom, call and defend their shared area. Several entrances provide rapid shelter while the animals forage on meadow vegetation. Females can breed repeatedly during summer, producing one to eight young after a gestation of 21–24 days. (Animal Diversity Web)
Quick answers
- What does the Plateau Pika eat?
- Grasses, sedges and other alpine meadow plants
- What habitat does the Plateau Pika live in?
- Well-drained alpine meadow and steppe with silty or sandy soil
- Where is the Plateau Pika found?
- Tibetan Plateau and adjoining highlands
- What is the litter size of the Plateau Pika?
- 1–8
- How long is the gestation period of the Plateau Pika?
- 21–24 days
- How much does the Plateau Pika weigh?
- 100–200g