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steppe pika
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steppe pika

mammal
Also known as: Ochotona pusilla
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Quick Summary

The steppe pika (Ochotona pusilla) is a small, egg-shaped mammal found in the mountains of Asia and western North America. Despite their appearance, pikas are not rodents but lagomorphs, related to hares and rabbits. They are virtually tailless, with short legs and soft, grayish-brown fur, typically weighing between 4.5 and 7.1 ounces and measuring about 6 inches long.1

While some pikas inhabit rocky areas, others, like the steppe pika, live in steppe environments and construct burrows. Steppes are vast, treeless grasslands with hot summers and cold winters, receiving minimal rainfall. These environments support various herbivores and their predators. Unlike most pikas, steppe pikas are nocturnal and can have multiple litters per year, sometimes with as many as 13 young.12

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