Ochotona pusilla is distributed in central Eurasia from the Volga River and southern Ural Mountains in the north to the Irtysh River on the south side of its range. Two countries, Kazakhstan and the Russian Federation, contain all populations of this species. ("Ochotona pusilla", 2002; Nowak, 1995)
Steppe pikas are found in temperate steppe grasslands where they excavate burrows for shelter. The grassland vegetation consists of dense, lush grasses and occasional bushes. ("Ochotona pusilla", 2002; Nowak, 1995)
The average length of O. pusilla is 15 cm. Although the weight of this species is not reported, the members of the genus are known to be 125 to 400 g. Males and females are the same size, and the two are difficult to distinguish. They have the same fur coloring: grayish brown on the back and white on the belly. The tail is not visible. The head is short, with ears that are small and rounded. All four legs are approximately the same length, although the back are slightly longer than the front pair. The five fingers and toes on each foot are well insulated by a dense covering of fur on the bottom of the feet. They have twenty-six teeth. ("Pikas, or Conies", 2000; Nowak, 1995; Nowak, 1999)
This information is not known for this species. However, other species in the genus appear to be monogamous or polygynous, with males extending territories to overlap those of one or more females during the breeding season. Some species may be gregarious, living in colonies through much of the year. However, this information seems to be suspect, and the colonies that have been viewed may really represent family groups. (Nowak, 1999)
Steppe pika litter sizes range from one to thirteen, averaging between eight and nine. An adult female may produce three to five litters per year during the spring and summer. Male pikas reach sexual maturity at one year of age while a female can mature in four to five weeks and have up to three litters by autumn. ("Ochotona pusilla", 2002; Nowak, 1995)
Newborn picas are reported to weigh about 9 g. They are naked and helpless at birth, but grow quickly. In some species, the young are ready to disperse by approximately 30 days of age. (Nowak, 1999)
The extent of parental care in steppe pikas includes mothers nursing their offspring, and providing protection for them in the form of a burrow. After being weaned, the young will be forced to fend for themselves. (Nowak, 1995)
No information for lifespan/longevity is available on this species, but in O. princeps the maximum lifespan is 7 years. Because has a much higer reproductive rate, it is likely that they do not live as long as this other species in their genus. (Nowak, 1999)
Ochotona pusilla may be active at any time of day or night. This species is unique because unlike most other pikas, it is often nocturnal and will call throughout the night. (Nowak, 1995)
Steppe pikas do not hibernate. They are active throughout the winter. On darker days when there is a layer of snow and the wind speed is low, they will climb to the surface and forage for food which is buried by the snow. They do not rely on their cache of grass to last them through the winter. (Nikol'skii, et al., 2000)
This species is reported to be gregarious. Large colonies and family groups are common among steppe pikas. However, the extent of social interactions within the species is not known. The population densities of this species vary from 0.1/ha to 80/ha. (Nowak, 1995; Nowak, 1999)
Home range size has not been reported for this species.
The diet of a steppe pika consists primarily of different types of grasses. They will cache dried grass in "haystacks." Individuals are reported to sometimes "raid" the haystacks of others. These caches of food are not enough to sustain an individual over the winter, so these animals are forced to forage at all times of the year. (Nikol'skii, et al., 2000; Nowak, 1995; Nowak, 1999)
No information is available for rates of predation on this species. However, based on their explosive reproduction,is likely an important food item for a variety of carnivores and birds of prey.
There are no known adverse affects of O.pusilla on humans.
The steppe pika is listed on the IUCN Red List as vulnerable but it is not protected under CITES. ("Ochotona pusilla", 2002)
The history of (Erbajeva, 2001)can be traced back to the end of the Pliocene where it originated in Asia. At the end of the Pleistocene this species had a much wider range than it does today because steppes were more widespread. The species is currently restricted to steppe environments. Because of this, the species has lost a lot of habitat when humans have moved into their range.
Nancy Shefferly (editor), Animal Diversity Web.
Brianne Ordway (author), University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, Chris Yahnke (editor), University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.
living in the northern part of the Old World. In otherwords, Europe and Asia and northern Africa.
uses sound to communicate
young are born in a relatively underdeveloped state; they are unable to feed or care for themselves or locomote independently for a period of time after birth/hatching. In birds, naked and helpless after hatching.
having body symmetry such that the animal can be divided in one plane into two mirror-image halves. Animals with bilateral symmetry have dorsal and ventral sides, as well as anterior and posterior ends. Synapomorphy of the Bilateria.
uses smells or other chemicals to communicate
used loosely to describe any group of organisms living together or in close proximity to each other - for example nesting shorebirds that live in large colonies. More specifically refers to a group of organisms in which members act as specialized subunits (a continuous, modular society) - as in clonal organisms.
active at dawn and dusk
animals that use metabolically generated heat to regulate body temperature independently of ambient temperature. Endothermy is a synapomorphy of the Mammalia, although it may have arisen in a (now extinct) synapsid ancestor; the fossil record does not distinguish these possibilities. Convergent in birds.
union of egg and spermatozoan
an animal that mainly eats leaves.
Referring to a burrowing life-style or behavior, specialized for digging or burrowing.
An animal that eats mainly plants or parts of plants.
offspring are produced in more than one group (litters, clutches, etc.) and across multiple seasons (or other periods hospitable to reproduction). Iteroparous animals must, by definition, survive over multiple seasons (or periodic condition changes).
Having one mate at a time.
having the capacity to move from one place to another.
active during the night
having more than one female as a mate at one time
communicates by producing scents from special gland(s) and placing them on a surface whether others can smell or taste them
breeding is confined to a particular season
remains in the same area
reproduction that includes combining the genetic contribution of two individuals, a male and a female
associates with others of its species; forms social groups.
places a food item in a special place to be eaten later. Also called "hoarding"
uses touch to communicate
that region of the Earth between 23.5 degrees North and 60 degrees North (between the Tropic of Cancer and the Arctic Circle) and between 23.5 degrees South and 60 degrees South (between the Tropic of Capricorn and the Antarctic Circle).
Living on the ground.
A terrestrial biome. Savannas are grasslands with scattered individual trees that do not form a closed canopy. Extensive savannas are found in parts of subtropical and tropical Africa and South America, and in Australia.
A grassland with scattered trees or scattered clumps of trees, a type of community intermediate between grassland and forest. See also Tropical savanna and grassland biome.
A terrestrial biome found in temperate latitudes (>23.5° N or S latitude). Vegetation is made up mostly of grasses, the height and species diversity of which depend largely on the amount of moisture available. Fire and grazing are important in the long-term maintenance of grasslands.
uses sight to communicate
reproduction in which fertilization and development take place within the female body and the developing embryo derives nourishment from the female.
International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources. 2002. "http://www.redlist.org/search/details.php?species=15052." (On-line). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Accessed December 05, 2002 at
Geobopological Survey. 2000. "Pikas, or Conies" (On-line). GeoZoo. Accessed March 31, 2004 at http://mammals.geozoo.org/lag/och/index.php.
Erbajeva, M. 2001. New Ochotonids (Lagomorpha) from the Pleistocene of France. Geodiversitas, 23: 395-409.
Nikol'skii, A., E. Roschina, O. Soroka. 2000. Some Specialties of Winter Ecology of Bulletin of Moscow Society of Naturalists, 105: 17-24.in the Nature Protected Reserve "Orenburgskiy".
Nowak, R. 1999. Walker's Mammals of the World, Sixth Edition. Baltimore and London: The Johns Hopkins Univesity Press.
Nowak, R. 1995. "Pikas, Mouse Hares, or Conies" (On-line). Walker's Mammals of the World Online. Accessed March 31, 2004 at http://www.press.jhu.edu/books/walkers_mammals_of_the_world/lagomorpha/lagomorpha.ochotonidae.html.