# Pika (*Ochotona princeps*) Pikas are small mammals that look like a mix between a rabbit and a mouse. They live in mountainous areas and are known for their loud calls and haypiles. - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 13 - **Habitat:** Mountain regions - **Also known as:** Cony, Rock Rabbit ![Pika](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771424495/objects/6308.jpg) ## Appearance The Pika is a small, stout mammal with a round body and no visible tail, resembling a tiny, tailless rabbit. It has large, round ears and dense, grayish-brown fur that helps it blend into its rocky mountain environment. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Lagomorpha - **Family:** Ochotonidae - **Genus:** Ochotona ## Interesting facts - Pikas get all the water they need from the plants they eat, rarely drinking directly! - Pikas often "sunbathe" on warm rocks to heat up their bodies after a chilly night. - These tiny mammals have teeth that grow continuously throughout their entire lives, like rodents. - They can create over 70 different types of sounds to talk with each other! ## Special abilities - **Haystack Builders:** Pika can build large 'haystacks' of dried plants that helps them store food for the harsh winter months. - **Alarm Caller:** Pika has a loud, high-pitched alarm call that helps them warn others of predators approaching their colony. - **Cold Dweller:** Pika can live in cold, rocky mountain environments because of their dense fur and high metabolism. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 16-20 cm - **Weight:** 0.12-0.17 kg - **Lifespan:** 3-7 years - **Speed:** 25 km/h - **Litter Size:** 2-6 - **Gestation:** 28-31 days ## Diet & Feeding Pikas are tiny herbivores that munch on grasses, wildflowers, and other mountain plants. - **Primary Foods:** grasses, wildflowers, sedges, moss, leaves - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [stoat](https://www.snappit.app/explore/stoat) (*Mustela erminea*) — A swift predator that hunts pikas among the rocks. - **Eaten by:** [golden eagle](https://www.snappit.app/explore/golden-eagle) (*Aquila chrysaetos*) — Soars above, snatching pikas from open areas. - **Depends on:** [Kentucky bluegrass](https://www.snappit.app/explore/kentucky-bluegrass) (*Poa pratensis*) — Essential part of their diet, stored as hay for winter. - **Shelter:** [yellow-bellied marmot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/yellow-bellied-marmot) (*Marmota flaviventris*) — Pikas sometimes use their abandoned burrows for safety. ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Thermoregulating](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/thermoregulating): Thermoregulating organisms maintain a stable internal body temperature despite fluctuations in the external environment. - [Mountain](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/mountain): This habitat trait identifies species found in mountainous regions, characterized by high elevation, steep slopes, and varying climate zones. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. - [Nocturnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nocturnal): Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Pikas are wild animals and should be observed from a safe distance without disturbing them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Pika? Compare ears, muzzle, tail, feet and coat markings. Size is hard to judge without something nearby for scale, and young mammals may not have adult coloring yet. Mammal Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Pika? 16-20 cm ### How much does Pika weigh? 0.12-0.17 kg ### How long does Pika live? 3-7 years ### How fast can Pika move? 25 km/h ### What does Pika eat? Pikas are tiny herbivores that munch on grasses, wildflowers, and other mountain plants. ### Where is Pika usually found? Mountain regions ### How does Pika hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Pasayten Wilderness](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/pasayten-wilderness) — Washington, US · Nature Reserve - [Great Sierra Mine Historic Site](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/great-sierra-mine-historic-site) — California, US · Historic Site - [Jenny Lake Boat Concession Facilities](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/jenny-lake-boat-concession-facilities) — Wyoming, US · Historic District - [Jenny Lake Ranger Station Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/jenny-lake-ranger-station-historic-district) — Wyoming, US · Historic District - [Shorty Lovelace Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/shorty-lovelace-historic-district) — California, US · Historic District - [Silverton Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/silverton-historic-district) — Colorado, US · Historic District [View all places to see Pika](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/pika) ## More Mammals - [Eastern Fox Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-fox-squirrel) (*Sciurus niger*) - [Eastern Cottontail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-cottontail) (*Sylvilagus floridanus*) - [Eastern Chipmunk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-chipmunk) (*Tamias striatus*) - [California Ground Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-ground-squirrel) (*Otospermophilus beecheyi*) --- Source: [Pika: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/pika)