Red Pika.
The largest among modern species. Body length is 215—230 mm. This animal externally resembles a hare, but is much smaller. With large ears, it differs in fur color, which is reddish-orange in summer and gray in winter; the fur is dense with a well-developed undercoat. Behind the ear flaps, there is a relatively wide yellowish-white collar.
In Kyrgyzstan, it is found everywhere in high-altitude areas. It is a mountain species. It inhabits forests and ascends to subalpine meadows and juniper thickets at altitudes of 2300—2900 m above sea level, where the highest density of settlements has been recorded. Above the tree and shrub vegetation line, despite the abundance of rocky habitats, it is very rarely encountered. Above 3000 m above sea level, it has been found only at two points on the northern slope of the Kungey-Alatoo range. Both settlements were located in morainic debris surrounded by subalpine meadows.
The penetration into the alpine zone is hindered by a lack of food during the winter period. The sparse alpine vegetation does not allow the animals to make significant food reserves, and the dense snow cover, characteristic of these areas, prevents the use of food under the snow. In different parts of the range and at different altitudes, the population varies and fluctuates by years and seasons. In the Zailiyskiy Alatau, it reaches the highest density in vegetated debris, where by the end of the breeding season, there are at least 12—20 animals per hectare. It is active year-round, although activity decreases with the onset of winter. In the summer, it is active throughout the day, spending the longest time on the surface in the morning and evening hours. The activity of adults especially increases during the food storage period in the second half of summer.
It settles among rocky debris, not avoiding areas occupied by forests, at an altitude of 2000–3000 m above sea level. It usually makes its shelters under large stones in natural niches, voids, and cracks. It apparently does not dig burrows, as evidenced by its weak, blunt, and short claws. Food reserves and numerous "latrines" are often located in niches under the stones. Nesting chambers are situated under the same stone where the reserves are stored. The shelters and storage places are used for several years.
It feeds exclusively on plant food. It does not dig earth burrows and lives in voids among the stones. It stores food reserves for winter in the same places. It begins to stockpile food in June, most intensively in July and August. The total mass of plants stored in one place reaches 5–8 kg.
They live in families and stay in pairs; even during the mating season, they are not aggressive. Breeding begins in March, especially intensively occurring from April to June, and ceases in August. The duration of pregnancy is 30—32 days. Usually, the female gives birth to 2—3 litters a year, with 2—6 young in each. They reach sexual maturity by the following spring. New arrivals do not breed.
Red Book