13.

Korean Pika

Ochotona coreana

French: Pika de Corée / German: Korea-Pfeifhase / Spanish: Pica de Corea

Taxonomy. Ochotona (Pika) coreanus J. A. Allen & Andrews, 1913,

“Pochong, Korea [= Poch’on-tp],” Poch’d6n County, Yanggang, North Korea.

According to mtDNA, O. coreana belongs to subgenus Pika. Taxonomic status of O. coreana needs additional investigation. It has morphological peculiarities and was found to be the basal taxon to all species related to O. alpina and O. hyperborea; however, study material is scarce. Monotypic.

Distribution. Paektu Mt (= Changbaishan) and the surrounding area in North Korea and NE China (Jilin).

Descriptive notes. Head-body 160-200 mm, ear 16-20 mm, hindfoot 27-33 mm; weight 144-190 g. The Korean Pika is medium-sized. Dorsal fur is brown, mixed with black hair tips along medial line. Ventral fur is ocherous. Winter dorsal fur is dull brown, mixed with lighter hair tips, and ventral fur is sandy; cheeks and muzzle are gray. Hairs above neck gland are chestnut. Ears are rounded, with white margins. Skull is medium-sized and stout, with incisive and palatal foramens separated. Auditory bullae are medium-sized. Condylobasal lengths are 39-43 mm, skull widths are 20-23 mm, and skull heights are 14-16 mm.

Habitat. Stony habitats in mixed broad-leaved and Korean pine forest, stone birch forest, and tundra belts at elevations of 700-2500 m. The Korean Pika is a typical rock dweller.

Food and Feeding. The Korean Pika feeds on green plants, seeds, and pine nuts (Pinus koraiensis). It stores hay in hay piles of 26-1200 g. Each hay pile contains 1-11 species of herbs and gymnosperms. Species composition correlates with local vegetation, but some selectivity is reported. Hay piles are usually situated in crevices among stones.

Breeding. There is no information available for this species.

Activity patterns. The Korean Pika is diurnal like most pikas.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. There is no information available for this species.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List (as O. hyperborea coreana).

Bibliography. Lissovsky et al. (2008), Sun Yandan et al. (2008).