Scientists Confirm Two New Species Of Pika In The Himalayas After 20 Years Of Research

Scientists Confirm Two New Species Of Pika In The Himalayas After 20 Years Of Research

Scientists Confirm Two New Species Of Pika In The Himalayas After 20 Years Of Research It’s taken over 20 years, but researchers at the Sichuan Academy of Forestry, in Chengdu, China, have finally confirmed two new species of pika in the Himalayan region.  Using data collected from 2003, 2023, and 2024, researchers Pan Xuan and Wang Xuming were able to delineate previously unidentified species as Ochotona galunglaensis and O. legbona. “Our findings highlight the previously underestimated diversity within Conothoa and contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of pika diversity in the Himalayan region,” Xuan and Xuming observed in their study, which was published in Ecology and Evolution.  Pint-sized pikas, which resemble hamsters in appearance, are not rodents but lagomorphs, meaning that they are closely related to rabbits and hares.  They're known for their chirps, squeaks, and screams, which they use to attract mates and scare off mountain predators.  (A) O. legbona sp. nov. in…