Pika
Ochotona alpinus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Lagomorpha Family: Ochotonidae
Genera
Ochotona Prolagus

The name pika is used for any member of the Ochotonidae, a family within the order of lagomorphs, which also includes the Leporidae (rabbits and hares). Either one or two genera are recognised within the family, which includes about 26 species.

Pikas are also called "rock rabbits".

Pikas are native to cold climates, mostly in Asia, North America and parts of eastern Europe. It is also known as the "whistling hare" due to its high-pitched warning cry when diving into its burrow. Pikas commonly live in family groups and share duties of gathering food and keeping watch.

Pikas show their peak activity before the winter season. Pikas do not hibernate so they rely on collected hay for warm bedding and food. Pikas gather fresh grasses and lay them in stacks to dry. Once the grasses dry out the Pikas take this hay back to the burrows for storage. It is not uncommon for pikas to steal hay from other dens; the resulting disputes are usually exploited by neighboring predators like ferrets and large birds.

Species

• ORDER LAGOMORPHA
  • Family Ochotonidae: pikas
    • Genus Ochotona
      • Steppe Pika/Pallas's Pika Ochotona pusilla
      • Moupin Pika, Ochotona thibetana
      • Thomas' Pika, Ochotona thomasi
      • Large-Eared Pika/Royle's Pika, Ochotona roylei
      • Gaoligong Pika, Ochotona gaoligongensis
      • Ochotona mitchelli
      • Himalayan Pika, Ochotona himalayana
      • Ochotona lama
      • Turkestan Red Pika, Ochotona rutila
      • Chinese Red Pika, Ochotona erythrotis
      • Kam Pika, Ochotona kamensis
      • Daurian Pika, Ochotona daurica
      • Black-Lipped Pika/Plateau Pika, Ochotona curzoniae
      • Kozlov's Pika, Ochotona koslowi
      • Ladak Pika, Ochotona ladacensis
      • Ili Pika, Ochotona iliensis
      • Afghan Pika, Ochotona rufescens
      • Alpine Pika/Altai Pika, Ochotona alpina
      • Collared Pika, Ochotona collaris
      • American Pika, Ochotona princeps
      • Northern Pika/Siberian Pika, Ochotona hyperborea
      • Muli Pika, Ochotona muliensis
      • Nubra Pika, Ochotona nubrica
      • Gansu Pika/Gray Pika, Ochotona cansus
      • Hoffmann's Pika, Ochotona hoffmanni
    • Genus Prolagus
      • Sardinian Pika, Prolagus sardus (extinct)

Incidentally, the fictional Pokémon Pikachu is not a pika, but a mouse.