About Ochotona hyperborea (Pallas, 1811)
The northern pika, Ochotona hyperborea (Pallas, 1811), is a small species. Adults grow to a body length between 12.5 and 18.5 centimeters (4.9 and 7.3 in), with a tail measuring 0.5 to 1.2 centimeters (0.20 to 0.47 in). It has small rounded ears, short legs, five toes on each foot, and fur-covered foot soles. Its fine, long fur is reddish-brown in summer, and turns much greyer in winter. Its underparts are white with a reddish-brown tint, and males and females look identical. Size and colouring vary across the species' extensive range. The northern pika inhabits mountainous regions of eastern Asia. Its range stretches from the Urals and the Putorana Plateau, through eastern and southern Siberia including Sakhalin Island, to northern Mongolia, Manchuria, North Korea, and Hokkaido. It can be found on scree, rocky mountain slopes, boulder fields, damp areas among coniferous trees, and dry alpine meadows. In large rock expanses, it is mostly found near the edge, and digs shallow burrows in the adjacent turf. It occurs at altitudes between 400 and 2,000 metres (1,300 and 6,600 ft). Overall, it is restricted to higher altitudes than the alpine pika.
