22 March 2025

Pika ID in Ladakh

Just as almost everybody I run into ID difficulties with Pika’s in Ladakh! For me the challenge was to distinguish between Ladak and Plateau Pika. Maybe somebody with more knowledge or experience can help me out!? The distribution of these little mammals is well described in the Indian Mammals book but I am not sure how accurate it is. According to the book around the Tso Kar region only Ladakh Pika is found but in the Hanle area both species may occur (Ladak and Plateau).

I have observed one individual above Hanle at 4830 meter asl in a valley with large rocks where one individual was under a big rock (image1). I though this individual is a Ladak Pika as cannot really see dark lips (I know not all Plateau Pika has black lips) and the insdie of the ears was really pale. The head shape on both species seems to be similar though looking at images maybe Ladak Pika is more prominently peaked above eye?

 

Image 1

Later the same day slightly higher at around 4950 meter asl I have seen 3-4 individuals in a ‘colony’ at a flat bottomed valley in more like a ‘wetland’ habitat. It does look very similar (image2) but somehow I still think this can be Plateau Pika with a hint of dark lips and darker inside of the ears? Any suggestions?

Image 2

Thanks! Janos

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MarbledPolecat

I am a professional bird tour guide (Birdquest) as well as founder and managing director of the ecotour company called Sakertours Eastern Europe. We do birdwatching, mammal watching and wildlife photography tours in Eastern Europe: www.sakertour.com

I am based in Debrecen (Hungary).

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