From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The American Pika (Ochotona princeps) is a diurnal species of pika that is found in the mountains of western North America, usually in boulder fields at or above tree line. A recent news article suggests that species populations are declining due to various factors. Pikas, which are very sensitive to high temperatures, are considered to be one of the best early warning systems for detecting global warming in the western United States.
[edit] References
- ^ Hoffmann, Robert S., Andrew T. Smith (November 16, 2005). Wilson, D. E., and Reeder, D. M. (eds): Mammal Species of the World, 3rd edition, Johns Hopkins University Press, 191-192. ISBN 0-801-88221-4.
- ^ Lagomorph Specialist Group (1996). Ochotona princeps. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 12 May 2006. Database entry includes a brief justification of why this species is of least concern
