A small, tailless rabbit relative that lives high on the world’s roof. It has a round body, short legs, and neat, rounded ears that make it look more like a living plush toy than a typical rabbit. Its fur is usually sandy-brown to grayish, a practical palette that blends into the dry grass, soil, and scattered stones of high plateaus. Unlike rabbits that flash a white tail when they run, a plateau pika has no visible tail at all, and it moves in quick, low dashes between burrow entrances rather than in long, open sprints.

Plenty of pika species are famous for living in rock piles, using cracks as ready-made shelters. The plateau pika is different: it digs extensive burrow systems in open alpine meadows and steppe, creating a network of tunnels, side chambers, and multiple exits. That underground “apartment complex” allows it to live in busy groups and to escape predators quickly. It also shapes the land around it in visible ways—mounds of soil, clipped vegetation, and well-worn runways connecting favorite feeding spots. In a place that can look empty from a distance, a healthy plateau pika area can feel like a small city once you start noticing the holes and the movement.

The plateau pika also stands out for its ability to survive extreme seasons without hibernating. Winters on high plateaus can be long, windy, and bitterly cold, yet plateau pikas stay active. Instead of sleeping through the hardest months, they rely on steady foraging and on the relative warmth and safety of their burrows. In some areas, they store food, but more often, they keep eating whatever they can find, even as plants become sparse and tough. Their compact bodies and thick fur help reduce heat loss, and their social, colony-style living means many eyes are watching for danger.

Distribution

Country

Population est.

Status

Year

Comments

China

2016

India

2016

Sikkim

Nepal

2016