New Delhi: With a staggering 8.7 million species of animals inhabiting our planet, it’s no wonder that the forces of evolution have given rise to some truly peculiar-looking creatures. Despite their unconventional appearances, these odd animals often capture our admiration and become widely recognised and adored. While some of the animals on this list may be unfamiliar, they hold fascinating facts waiting to be discovered. This article delves into the world of a fascinating creature — the Pika — with many intriguing details and facts.
Pika: Facts to know about the lesser-known animal
History of Pikas
The word ‘Pika’ dates back to 1820 and 1830. A German naturalist used it to describe the noise made by the Russian Pika, which means ‘to squeak.’ Since Pikas make a shrill sound, the word describes the animal.
Evolution
Pikas, related to hares and rabbits, belong to the order Ochotonidae, while hares and rabbits belong to the family Leporidae. They might be descendants of the Anagaloidea, which lived 56 – 66 million years ago. Their ancestors appeared in Asia between 34 – 66 million years ago. Pikas are divided into burrowers and rock dwellers.
What is the scientific name of Pika?
The scientific name of the Pika is Ochotona Minor. They are part of the Mammalia class and the Ochotinade family. Meanwhile, the American Pikas are part of the lagomorph group and its smallest members.
Where can you find Pikas?
Pikas live in the northern hemisphere and look like rats but are closely related to hares and rabbits. They are easily recognised because they have no tails and small, round bodies. Rocky Mountain National Park has two types of Pikas, one living in the northern hemisphere and the other in the southern hemisphere. At the park, they live high in the trees.
What do Pikas look like?
Height
The Pika is a small and stout creature with oversized, circular ears. Typically, Pikas measure seven to eight inches in length, about half the height of a standard bowling pin. They weigh between 2.6 ounces and 10 ounces, which is approximately equivalent to the weight of a hamster.
Colour
Pikas have thick, black or brown fur to stay warm in the winter and blend in with their rocky environment. Their fur thins out in the summer to keep them cool, but it can still cause discomfort in extreme heat.
How do they live?
Pikas are small animals that live in colonies. Each Pika has its den within the colony. Pikas keep each other safe by warning about nearby predators with whistling sounds, which is why they have large ears.
Diet
They are herbivorous animals that mainly eat vegetables. During the day, they hunt for berries, seeds, thistles, grass, and weeds. As they live in rocky mountain places, these tiny animals collect food over the summer so they are not hungry all winter.
Threats to Pikas
As they are so small, Pikas like to live away from other animals, but these animals are still vulnerable to predators. Weasels are the most common threat, while others include cats, birds of prey, foxes, eagles, coyotes, and dogs.
It’s not just predators that Pikas have to worry about. The rising temperatures, a consequence of climate change, pose a severe threat. When the mercury hits 77 degrees Fahrenheit, Pikas can’t survive for more than six hours. This alarming fact underscores the urgent need for conservation efforts to prevent their extinction as the world continues to warm.
Reproduction
The breeding period for Pikas takes place in the earliest part of spring. It is not unusual for them to have another breeding period during the summer. When they are ready to breed, a Pika animal stays in one territory, and another Pika animal moves to another territory—the two Pikas call each other, which starts the breeding process.
Pikas carry their babies inside them for about a month before giving birth. A Pika litter usually consists of three babies, but there can be as few as two or as many as six.
Pikas stay with their mother for the first month, are considered adults at three months, and can breed at one year. Their average lifespan is six years, but some live for only half that time.
Pikas are small furry mammals with more than 30 different species. These species share similar characteristics, like round ears, short limbs, and no tail. Let’s learn more facts about the tiny animal. knowledge Knowledge News, Photos and Videos on General Knowledge
