Taxonomic status of the Helan-Shan pika, Ochotona argentata, from the Helan-Shan Ridge (Ningxia, China) [Russian]

摘要

Ochotona argentata (Howell 1928) from the Helan-Shan Ridge was described as a subspecies of the Alpine pika, Ochotona alpina. This form differs from the Alpine pika in its karyotype (2n = 38), plumage color, some features of the skull's structure, and vocalization. Therefore, it should be described as a separate species. Ochotona helanshanensis Zheng 1990 is the youngest synonym of Ochotona argentata. The types of these forms are identical in size and color of fur; their type localities are only 5-10 kin apart. The range of Ocotona argentata has shrunk dramatically as a result of catastrophic deforestation of the Helan-Shan Ridge at the turn of the 20th century. For the last thirty years all specimens of this species have been collected in the same forest (2 x 1.5 km area) near the village of Su-i-kou. The Helan-Shan pika, Ochotona argentata, should be classified as a Critically Endangered species according to the IUCN RedList categories (2001).