Ochotona collaris
collared pika

Ochotona collaris is found in the mountains of central and southern Alaska (U.S.) and northwestern Canada (Smith et al., 1990).

The collared pika inhabits a cold, mountainous terrain. O. collaris typically lives in talus slopes, rock slides, or among huge boulders far above timberline that are surrounded by vegetation (MacDonald and Jones, 1987).

Ochotona collaris is a medium sized pika averaging 17.8 - 19.8cm in length (MacDonald and Jones, 1987). O. collaris, otherwise known as the collared pika, is usually gray and has grayish patches on the neck and shoulders. These patches seem to resemble a collar, after which the species is named. While very similar in appearance to the American pika, O. princeps, the collared pika's creamy-buff coloration on the side of the face over the facial gland (MacDonald and Jones, 1987) and white ventral coloration help to differentiate the two. Like other pikas, O. collaris has short ears, slightly larger hindlimbs than forelimbs, and a hardly noticeable tail. The collared pika has a relatively broad, flat skull, no supraorbital process, and no fenestrae in the frontals (Smith et al, 1990). The dental formula is: i 2/1, c 0/0, p 2/3, m 2/3.

O. collaris is a diurnal species that forms colonies in their mountainous terrain (MacDonald and Jones, 1987). Usual activities of the collared pika include feeding and gathering vegetation, haypile making, and occasionally sunning on rocks. Adult collared pikas are individually territorial and make their own haypiles, often making several haypiles within their home range (Smith et al, 1990, MacDonald and Jones, 1987). These haypiles remain in the same location year after year, and are usually made under overhanging rocks, embankments, or near boulders (MacDonald and Jones, 1987). The collared pika, like other talus-dwelling pikas, seems to be fairly asocial (Smith et al, 1990). O. collaris is also known for its distinct vocal behavior. Both males and females of all ages emit many different short calls. Descriptions of the collared pika's call include a "nasal bleat," a "short, sharp bark," or a "yink" or "enk" sound with a metallic twang. Other types of vocalizations by O. collaris include teeth clicking and chattering by excited males in the reproductive season, estrous calls by females, and submission calls (MacDonald and Jones, 1987).

Typical of other pikas, the collared pika stores its food in caches (Smith et al., 1990). O. collaris is herbivorous and is fairly selective of the plants it brings back to its "haypile" (Osgood, 1909; Rausch 1962). The collared pika forages throughout the year, but it caches vegetation in its haypile during the summer months in preparation for the cold winter. If not enough food is cached for the winter, the pika must rely on lichen and cushion plants accessible from underground "snow tunnels."

O. collaris has no known negative effect on humans.

O. collaris contributes positively to the eco-system by creating haypiles. The organic remains of pika haypiles stored on talus may increase plant colonization, and the accumulation of pika pellets under their shelters creates areas of nitrophylic vegetation (Smith et al, 1990).

Currently, the collared pika is not listed as endangered or significantly threatened on any national list of endangered wildlife. Because the collared pika lives in such exclusive, remote, and inaccessible areas, it is unlikely to have been influenced much by human activities (Smith et al, 1990).