the collared pika ( ochotona collaris ) is a species of mammal in the pika family , ochotonidae , and part of the order lagomorpha which comprises rabbits , hares , and pikas .

it is a small ( ~ 160 gram ) alpine lagomorph that lives in boulder fields of central and southern alaska ( u.s. ) , and in parts of canada , including northern british columbia , yukon , and western parts of the northwest territories .

it is closely related to the american pika ( o. princeps ) , but it is a monotypic form containing no other recognized subspecies .

it is asocial , does not hibernate , and spends a large part of its time in the summer collecting vegetation that is stored under rocks ( " haypiles " ) as a supply of food for the winter .

some individuals have been observed collecting and consuming dead birds as sources of fat and protein .

thousands of trips are made during july and august to collect vegetation for winter .

collared pika

the collared pika is a rock dwelling pika rather than a burrowing pika . (
the collared pika is a grey , medium sized pika . ( b605 . 3 . w3 )
the collared pika is a medium - sized pika species . ( b605 . 3 . w3 )
the collared pika is a monotypic species . ( b605 . 3 . w3 )
the collared pika lives in remote mountains of western north america . ( b605 . 3 . w3 )
the collared pika’s canadian range is fairly remote and , as such , human activity has a minimal impact on the species . the main threat to the continued survival of the collared pika is climate change . the collared pika has already been extirpated in several areas over the last few decades due to changes in habitat conditions .
this dataset shows modelled habitat suitability for the collared pika ( ochotona collaris ) under current and projected future conditions .
the male ochotona princeps - american pika has a chattering long call which is lacking in the collared pika . ( b605 . 3 . w3 ; b607 . w20 )
canada has added the collared pika ( ochotona collaris ) as a species of special concern under the species at risk act .
in canada , the collared pika occurs primarily in the mountainous regions of yukon territory , extending into northern british columbia and into northwest territories west of the mackenzie river . outside canada , collared pikas occur in southern and central alaska . there is one designatable unit for collared pika in canada . ( updated 2017 / 08 / 10 )
ochotona princeps - american pika , but the collared pika is now considered a distinct species on the basis of craniometric data . ( b147 , b605 . 3 . w3 , b607 . w20 )
“ collared pika ( nps photo / jacob w . frank ) ” by denali national park and preserve is licensed under cc by 2 . 0
once close to its home territory , the collared pika may approach within several meters , if you stay very quiet and still for a few minutes .
the collared pika is a small and grey lagomorph . lagomorph is an order of gnawing herbivores closely related to rodents which include pikas , rabbits and hares .
because it lives in such remote areas , the collared pika is not a well - studied species . listing under the act will almost certainly improve that .
the ecology and behavior of the steppe pika closely resemble that of the plateau pika . the steppe pika is the only truly nocturnal pika . one of its key characteristics is the loudness of its short call , which can be heard over very long distances .
although the collared pika is a generalised herbivore , it is apparently selective of the plants that it stores in its haypiles . ( b605 . 3 . w3 )
the ecology and behavior of the gansu pika closely resembles that of the plateau pika ; it has a vocal repertoire of four calls .
franken , r . , d . hik . 2004 . interannual variation in timing of parturition and growth of collared pika ( ochotona collaris ) in the southwest yukon .
hunting and trapping of the collared pika by non - indigenous people is not allowed in yukon or british columbia and is not known to occur in the northwest territories .
the collared pika is a key species that is consumed by numerous predators ( ermines , weasels , foxes , owls , eagles ) . their hay piles could provide food for other herbivorous mammals . collared pikas impact grass and herbaceous plant species in their high elevation habitats .
rabbit information picture of rock rabbit the collared pika , or northern pika , is found in northern british columbia , yukon , alaska and western northern territories of canada . it gets its name from the grey color on its neck and shoulders .
morrsion , s . 2006 . foraging ecology and population dynamics of collared pikas in southwestern yukon . .
collared pikas sit to call with their body hunched up and their nose pointed slightly into the air .
the name pika originated from the tungus of siberia who attempted to mimic the call
peeka
of the local pika species . ( b285 . w5g )
collared pikas live in mountainous areas and commonly inhabit boulder fields found above tree lines and adjacent to alpine meadows .
moderate sized , with short ears and egg shaped body . body is 6 to 8 . 5 in ( 162–216 mm ) . buffy pelage ; it lacks the grayish collar and the white ventral pelage found on the only other north american pika ( the collared pika ) .
the afghan pika may occupy landscapes that are significantly more xeric ( dry ) .
ochotona princeps - american pika is the only other pika found in north america . the ranges of this pika and ochotona collaris are separated by an eight hundred kilometre hiatus that extends through alberta and british columbia in canada . ( b430 . w2 )
] data suggest that collared and american pikas are reciprocally monophyletic , providing no insight into the question of colonization history .
the collared pika is a small , furry mammal , with rounded ears and no tail . it looks like a mouse , and is not much bigger , but is actually related to rabbits and hares .
the collared pika ( ochotona collaris ) is a small ( ~ 160 g ) , asocial , alpine - dwelling lagomorph . it is one of two pika species in north america , along with american pika ( o . princeps ) . collared pikas are dull grey with pale grey patches on their napes and shoulders , which form a partial collar around the neck . they display no obvious sexual dimorphism . pikas have been deemed ‘harbingers of climate change’ because of their demonstrated sensitivity to climate patterns .
collared pikas are rather small in size , reaching around only 5 . 5 ounces in adulthood , and have a concealed tail and short round ears . as compared to their front limbs , their hind limbs are somewhat larger , and they have five digits on each forefoot and four on each hindfoot . when it comes to their feet , they have hairy plantar surfaces . the skull of a collared pika is relatively flat , and it does not have a spongy auditory bullae or a supraorbital process . the ventral fur of a collared pika is creamy white , whereas the dorsal fur is a bit grayish . their nape and shoulders have distinctive patches that form a collar , which is what affords the species the name of ‘collared’ pika .
the collared pika ( ochotona collaris ) is the only species of pika found in alaska . closely related to hares and rabbits , pikas are charismatic but lesser known members of the order lagomorpha . the word pika is derived from the siberian name for this animal , puka . in north america , they also are called
rock rabbits ,
coneys ,
and
little chief hares .
all but two of the 30 living species of pika occur in asia , where they probably originated . fossil pika remains and fossilized pika scats are known from several locations in alaska , including cape deceit and the uplands near fairbanks .
embryo resorption may occur if the pika encounters adverse conditions . ( b285 . w5a )
according to iucn , the collared pika is common and widespread throughout its range but no overall population estimate is available . currently this species is classified as least concern ( lc ) on the iucn red list .
as they look like small rabbits , naturalists at first called collared pikas coneys or rock rabbits .
coney
is a generic word for many small mammals that live amongst rocks , including pika and hyrax .
collared pika ventral fur is creamy white and the dorsal fur is grayish . there are distinctive patches on the nape and shoulder forming a collar thus giving them their common name . the most diagnostic characteristic of the collared pikas is the creamy - buff fur patch over the facial gland which differs from their close relative , american pikas (
despite their cute appearances , collared pikas prove to be resilient creatures , making their lives upon craggy slopes in cold climes .
most pieces ( except pika calls ) can be licensed for use through public radio exchange .
the collared pika ( ochotona collaris ) is a small ( ~ 160 g ) , asocial , alpine - dwelling lagomorph . it is one of two pika species in north america , along with american pika ( o . princeps ) . collared pikas are dull grey with pale grey patches on their napes and shoulders , which form a partial collar around the neck . they display no obvious sexual dimorphism . pikas have been deemed ‘harbingers of climate change’ because of their demonstrated sensitivity to climate patterns . ( updated 2017 / 08 / 10 )
the state of alaska recently ( 2006 ) made the collared pika a fur - bearer ; but there is no evidence that it has actually been trapped or entered into commerce as such . no similar classification exists in canada .
it does not have the chattering long call which is characteristically used by ochotona princeps - american pika and most asian pikas . however , male collared pikas use strong successive calls during the breeding season and apparently these calls play the role of the long calls used by other pika species . ( b605 . 3 . w3 )
the collared pika ( o . collaris ) of alaska and northern canada has been found on the isolated nunataks ( crags or peaks surrounded by glaciers ) in kluane national park , and o . macrotis has been recorded at 6 , 130 metres ( 20 , 113 feet ) on the slopes of the himalayas . the pika…
in canada , approximately 78 , 000 km² of the collared pika range is contained in protected areas . they are found places such as kluane national park and reserve , bc ; nahanni national park reserve , nwt ; and tatshenshini - alsek provincial park , bc . currently , the collared pika is listed as “special concern” according to both the committee on the status of endangered wildlife in canada ( cosewic ) and the species at risk act ( sara ) .
of the 30 species of pika , only two are found in north america - this species and ochotona princeps - american pika ; the rest are found across asia . ( b285 . w5a )
revealed that parasite populations associated with american pikas are paraphyletic with respect to those from collared pikas . southern monophyly was strongly rejected for these lineages (
the collared pika , which makes its home in the mountains of northwestern canada and alaska and is threatened by habitat loss due to climate change , is one of eight species heading for listing for the first time under the species at risk act .
apr 3 , 2006 ( © 2006 s . weber ) the alaska board of game recently passed a new hunting regulation allowing trapping of the collared pika ( ochotona collaris ) , a small and very specialized member of the rabbit family threatened by global warming . in march 2006 the upper tanana / fortymile advisory committee proposed pika hunting to the board of game , who then justified its adoption with bad science . the board of game claims that pika have high reproductive rates , a statement that is categorically untrue according to the scientific literature and pika experts .
people , it was considered bad luck to bother a pika as it would bring about foul weather .
the pika ( genus ochotona ) maintains a den during the winter and gives birth in the spring .
largest distribution of any pika species ; found across most of eastern siberia to sakhalin and hokkaido islands .
the diploid chromosome numbers in the similar species of ochotona alpina - alpine pika and ochotona hyperborea - northern pika are 42 and 40 respectively . ( b605 . 3 . w3 , j469 . 281 . w1 )
collared pikas exhibit an alternating male - female distribution pattern of home ranges and tend to simply mate with their nearest neighbor ( franken and hik , 2004b ; smith , 2008 ) . collared pikas are considered facultatively monogamous because most males are unable to control enough territory to gain access to multiple females .
this species is a typical rock / talus dwelling pika . ( b147 , b605 . 3 . w3 )
collared pikas will typically mate with their nearest neighbors of the opposite sex . they are characterized as being facultatively monogamous , which means males will not access multiple females due to not being able to control large enough spans of territory to do so . the collared pika breeding season reaches its peak in may and early june . females are known to deliver two litters a year , with 2 to 6 young ones being born in each litter . gestation lasts between 3 and 4 weeks . collared pikas grow rapidly from birth , reaching their mature adult sizes within about 50 days .
figure 62 . the collared pika lives in rock piles and has small round ears , short legs , a chunky body , and a
bobbed
tail . photograph taken may 20 , 1926 , savage river . m . v . z . no . 5065 .
many species of pika inhabit very restricted ranges and so may be threatened by human environmental disruption . ( b147 )
) , which can produce 9 different vocalizations , collared pikas do not have an extensive repertoire . both territorial and predator calls produced sound approximately the same ( trefry ,
unlike most pika species ( b147 ) , this species has just one moult per year . ( b430 . w2 )
smith at ( 1980 ) temporal changes in insular populations of the pika ( ochotona princeps ) ecology 61 : 8–13 .
ochotona alpina - alpine pika : both north american forms of pikas ( ochotona collaris and ochotona princeps - american pika ) and ochotona hyperborea - northern pika , were originally included in this species but they have all since been accepted as separate species on the basis of morphological and chromosomal differences . ( b147 , b605 . 3 . w3 , b607 . w20 )
franken , r . , d . hik . 2004 . influences of habitat quality , patch size , and connectivity on colonization and extinction dynamics of collared pikas ochotona collaris .
) ( broadbooks , 1965 ) . although they are primarily herbivorous , collared pikas have been recorded to consume birds as an opportunistic source of protein and fat ( krajick , 1998 ) . if insufficient hay reserves are stockpiled in the summer , collared pikas may have to resort to eating lichens and other small plants in underground snow tunnels during winter .
the iucn lists collared pikas as lower risk / least concern . while this suggests there is no concern for populations at this time , they could respond negatively to climate change . collared pikas are sensitive to high ambient temperatures and are restricted to high elevation habitats that are declining in response to climate change ( smith et al . , 2004 ) .
ochotona princeps - american pika moults twice a year whereas ochotona collaris moults just once a year . ( b430 . w2 )
collared pikas are small mammals within the same order as rabbits and hares . they resemble small rabbits with very short ears and small limbs . early naturalists called these little animals rock rabbits or conys . cony is a generic term used to describe many small rock - dwelling mammals including pika and hyrax .
due to the remote nature of its range in canada , direct disturbance to collared pika habitat and populations has been minimal and is expected to remain so in the coming decades . the greatest threat to collared pika populations is most likely to be from climate warming , the effects of which are already known to be occurring in this northern region that is characterized by a dry , subarctic climate . local extirpations and upslope range retraction of american pika has been documented in the interior great basin of the u . s . , but the extent to which this condition is applicable to collared pika is unknown , given some differences in habitat and other uncertainties . the most likely risks to collared pika persistence are related to the direct effects of temperature , moisture or weather conditions and habitat changes . pikas survive best under cool , dry conditions , and changes in either direction ( i . e . , higher temperatures , or cold wet conditions ) leave them susceptible to death through exposure . loss of suitable alpine habitat may occur through a ) changes in the species composition of alpine vegetation communities , b ) a direct loss of habitat due to treeline advance , or c ) climate becoming physiologically intolerable . a loss of alpine habitat would increase distances between suitable patches , possibly reducing gene flow , rescue effects , and regional persistence . ( updated 2017 / 08 / 10 )
is a key species that is consumed by numerous predators . their hay piles could provide food for other herbivorous mammals . collared pikas , along with other herbivorous mammals like hoary marmots (
here is very little reported data on this specific species so the many of the details below are taken from general pika information .
morrison , s . , l . barton , p . caputa , d . hik . 2004 . forage selection by collared pikas , ochotona collaris , under varying degrees of predation risk .
collared pikas , both male and female , may have multiple mates . litters are typically of two or three offspring , though there have been reports of litters with up to six offspring .
smith at , ivins bl ( 1983 ) colonization in a pika population : dispersal versus philopatry . behav ecol sociobiol 13 : 37–47 .
collared pikas live in central and southern alaska and parts of canada in boulder fields . it is the only pika found in alaska . they are lesser known but nonetheless charismatic members of the order lagomorpha and are closely related to rabbits and hares .
pika
comes from the siberian word for this animal ,
puka .
they are called
coneys ,
rock rabbits ,
and
little chief hares
in north america . all except two of the 30 species of pika alive today occur in asia , which is probably where they originated . they have stocky bodies , large round ears , short legs , and almost no tail . the
collar
from which the collared pika gets its name is a distinct grayish patch on its shoulder and neck , which is in definite contrast with the white fur on the chest and stomach . a pika has fur - covered feet , but its toe pads are bare . its sharp , curved claws help it climb easily from rock to rock . pikas are highly alert , and have excellent hearing and vision .
collared pikas live in low densities ( 2 to 15 individuals / ha ) with a home range about 25 to 30 m in diameter ( morrison and hik , 2007 ; smith , 2008 ) .
general pika information : pikas have small , rounded ears which are 12 - 36 mm in length . ( b147 ; b285 . w5g )
hay gathering starts late june / early july and occupies increasing amounts of the pika ' s time . ( j469 . 281 . w1 )
in general , the status of many species of pika is hard to assess because they inhabit such remote areas . ( b285 . w5g )
general pika information : due to their remote habitat , most pikas
rarely come into conflict with human economic activity .
( b147 )
with the warming trends that we ' re observing , some pika populations are going to be out of luck ,
he said .
the name pika ( archaically spelled pica ) is used for any member of the ochotonidae . only one extant genus , ochotona , is recognized within the family . differentiating pika species on the basis of external characters is difficult because of their close resemblance ( smith 2004 ) . while molecular techniques help in clarifying pika systematics , there remains much taxonomic uncertainly . currently , thirty species of pikas are recognized ( smith 2004 ) .
collared pikas can be easily found because of their alarm call that carries across the alpine when you walk by . although they are heard , they are not necessarily easy to see as they camouflage perfectly amongst the rocks . hone in on the call and watch for movement among the rocks , or a silhouette of the pika against the sky .
collared pikas are interesting and unique members of their alpine habitats . pika haypiles and fecal pellets may improve the chances of plant colonization on talus slopes and fertilize soils . cached winter hay piles produced by other species of pikas are collected and harvested by farmers to feed domestic cattle and sheep in siberia ( danell et al . , 1998 ) .
ochotona has a northern , holarctic , distribution . in north america , they are found primarily at high elevations throughout the inter - montane west ( american pika , o . princeps ) or in the mountains of alaska and the yukon ( collared pika , o . collaris ) . the remainder of the genus is found throughout central asia , in the himalayan massif and associated ranges , and across eastern siberia to sakhalin island and onto hokkaido island , japan . the steppe pika ( o . pusilla ) reaches west to the ural mountains , and one small population found to the west of this chain can be classified as european .
tiny collared pikas live in high alpine areas throughout alaska and northwest canada . though their populations are healthy now , the alpine environment where they thrive is at risk of changing dramatically due to global climate change .
a case in point is the collared pika , the only mammal among the eight newly added species . a mountain dweller in the canadian northwest and alaska , the pika was assessed in 2011 and found to be at risk due to habitat loss caused by climate change . a distant cousin to rabbits and hares , it survives in winter by living off of
hay piles
of vegetation that it has gathered in sheltered spaces formed by rocks and boulders , insulated by a blanket of protective snow cover .
dearing md ( 1997 ) effects of acomastylis rossii tannins on a mammalian herbivore , the north american pika , ochotona princeps . oecologia 109 : 122–131 .
collared pikas are easily found because you can hear their alarm call when you walk past them . although heard , these animals are not necessarily so easy to see because they are camouflaged perfectly amongst the rocks . you need to focus on where the call is coming from and watch out for movement among rocks , or the pika ' s silhouette against the sky .
collared pikas have no natural defense against predators besides hiding in cracks , crevices , and under large boulders in talus . they forage close to their home burrows . there are several known carnivorous predators , including ermine , foxes , weasels , lynx , and coyotes . also , numerous birds of prey such as eagles and owls will hunt collared pikas ( broadbooks , 1965 ; holmes , 1991 ; morrison et al . , 2004 ) .
general pika information : these are longer in the rock dwelling pikas such as this species , than in burrowing pikas . ( b605 . 3 . w3 )
this species is a grey pika with greyish patches on the shoulders and nape forming an indistinct collar . ventrally , the coat is a creamy white . (
has been recorded at 6 , 130 metres ( 20 , 113 feet ) on the slopes of the himalayas . the pika with the largest distribution , the
a typical rock - dwelling pika , although throughout much of its range it also is known to inhabit tree - falls , stumps , and mossy banks .
moilanen a , smith at , hanski i ( 1998 ) long - term dynamics in a metapopulation of the american pika . am nat 152 : 530–542 .
april 5 , 2014 take a journey with a parent and child as they explore the wilderness in search of their favorite mountain mammal , the american pika .
fossil remains indicate that the pika family is over 15 million years old and most likely reached north america in the miocene by crossing the bering land bridge .
on june 16 , 1932 , i visited the identical rock slide where i had found and photographed a pika on may 20 , 1926 . an individual of this species , possibly a descendant of the one which i had seen in 1926 , was found following the identical runways among the rocks which the original pika had followed . on june 12 , 1932 , at double mountain , i found a pika living in a crevice at the base of a cliff just beneath a golden eagle ' s nest containing two downy eaglets . there appeared to be no conflict between the eagle and the pika and it seemed probable that the association had been one of several years standing for both the eagle ' s nest and the pika ' s den indicated that they had seen many years of service .
collared pikas can have a relatively long lifespan , up to 6 to 7 years ( smith , 2008 ) . collared pika over - winter mortality is high and populations are continuing to decrease over time ( morrison and hik 2007 ; franken and hik , 2004b ; smith et al . , 2004 ) . adult and juvenile survival is strongly linked to environmental conditions such as climate ( franken and hik , 2004b ) . adult survival is correlated with the pacific decadal oscillation ( pdo ) , with a time lag of 1 year . the timing and amount of snowfall and snowmelt are influenced by the pdo . this , in turn , alters growing season and food availability for collared pikas . snow - pack is important in insulating pikas from temperature extremes during winter months . a low snow - pack year could expose collared pikas and their stored food to freezing ambient temperatures , but an earlier snowmelt could lengthen the growing season and allow more time to feed and store food for the next winter ( smith et al . 2004 ; morrison and hik , 2007 ) .
pika species living in areas where winter snow is common may also make tunnels in the snow to reach and harvest any nearby vegetation . ( b285 . w5g )
dobson fs , smith at , wang xg ( 1998 ) social and ecological influences on dispersal and philopatry in the plateau pika . behav ecol 9 : 622–635 .
collared pikas inhabit primarily alpine boulder fields ( talus ) that are interspersed with meadow . this talus - meadow combination offers access to forage ( meadow ) and shelter from predators and weather ( talus ) . collared pikas are behaviorally restricted to talus patches and typically remain within 10 metres of the talus edge when foraging in meadows . population densities are generally higher on south - facing slopes presumably because of their higher primary productivity . ( updated 2017 / 08 / 10 )
a collared pika is a generalist herbivore ( folivore ) , eating the leaves and stems of various grasses , small shrubs and forbs . they consume their soft fecal pellets to reduce the loss of nutritional value in their food . they sometimes eat birds , which provide them with protein and fat . they will also eat low - lying vegetation such as lichen that is under the snow during the winter .
collared pikas live in central and southern alaska and parts of canada , including in the west in the northwest territories and in northern british columbia , yukon . they live in mountainous terrain with large boulders and talus slopes , which often have rock slides . they prefer to live at the edges of talus slopes , where there are meadows and areas of high - quality vegetation immediately nearby . collared pikas also sometimes live in areas close to sea level in alaska and british columbia .
…also the less frequently encountered pika s ( family ochotonidae ) . rabbits and hares characteristically have long ears , a short tail , and strong hind limbs that provide a bounding locomotion . in contrast , the smaller pika s have shorter , rounded ears , no external tail , and less - well - developed hind limbs associated with scampering locomotion .
the close resemblance of all pika species makes it difficult to find external characters to tell them apart . even using traditional morphological measurements on skull bones and dentition has not been sufficient to stem controversy over the systematic alignment of pika species ; no two revisions of the genus are the same . some subspecies have landed in as many as four different species . molecular techniques have begun to clarify pika systematics , and a consensus is nearing , although the task is far from completed . currently , 30 species of ochotona are recognized .
common name : collared pika latin name : ochotona collaris status under sara : special concern . the 2011 cosewic assessment designated the species under special concern . range : yukon , northwest territories , british columbia life span : around 4 years size : weight is region dependent and can be anywhere from 117 g to 185 g . population estimate : relatively unknown , although estimates suggest the canadian population likely exceeds 10 , 000 mature individuals .
young collared pikas are born blind and nearly hairless . female collared pikas are responsible for most of the parental investment and bear the brunt of energetic constraints of gestation and lactation . this could lead to a gradual decrease in litter size over the reproductive season due to pre - implantation losses , resorption of embryos , or losses during weaning which results in 2 to 3 young surviving to be weaned . because it is not easy to distinguish between sexes by sight it is difficult to observe male investment in rearing offspring .
once near its home territory , you may find that the pika will approach within a few metres , if you are able to remain nearly motionless and quiet for a few minutes .
erb lp , ray c , guralnick r ( 2014 ) determinants of pika population density vs . occupancy in the southern rocky mountains . ecol appl 24 : 429–435 . pmid : 24834730
morrison , s . , d . hik . 2007 . demographic analysis of a declining pika ochotona collaris population : linking survival to broad - scale climate patterns via spring snowmelt patterns . .
smith at , harris r ( 2004 ) the plateau pika : an irreplaceable member of the tibetan plateau ecological community ( in chinese ) . chin nat geogr 2004 , 4 : 138–144 .
while there is no apparent concern for collared pikas at this time , climate change could be a threat , as they are sensitive to high temperatures in their environment , and the high elevation habitats to which they are restricted are declining as a result of climate change .
the american pika , or southern pika , is found in the mountains of north america in rocky fields and is declining rapidly due to its sensitivity of the high temperatures that keeps moving them to higher elevations . similar in appearance to the hamster with its body size and small ears , the pika is a cousin to the rabbit . unlike most rabbits though , it is active during the day and sleeps at night . the pika is identified by its brown body color and grey sides . it also has small brown ears , white belly and a tail that is so small that it cannot be seen . preferring cold climates , the pika lives in groups and does not hibernate . just before the winter season they collect hay for bedding and food to keep warm . they spend the summer collecting vegetation and grasses to be stacked and dried before being stored under rocks as winter supplies . the closer winter comes , the more aggressive and territorial the pika becomes . the hay that they collect and stack can grow up to two feet high and two feet in diameter . they use these haystacks year after year for shelter and food .
in an article in the journal of biogeography , archeologist donald grayson cautioned that human activity and global climate change appears to be pushing the american pika population to ever - higher elevations and thus possibly toward extinction ( grayson 2005 ) . grayson studied pika habitation over the past 40 , 000 years in the region between the sierra nevada ( u . s . ) and rocky mountains .
it is possible that climate change will have similar effects on collared pikas in alaska and western canada . collared pikas rely on consistent snow pack to provide insulation during the winter months , and warmer winters may cause local extirpation . aberrant mid - winter warming in the yukon territory contributed to 90 percent mortality in the only population of collared pikas being monitored over the long - term . pikas and other alpine species are particularly vulnerable to climate change since they cannot endlessly move upslope as temperatures warm without eventually running out of habitat . as they are largely restricted to small , disconnected “sky islands” of habitat in numerous mountain ranges , it will not be easy for populations to move to more northern latitudes as average temperatures increase . individuals typically do not move large distances , and may spend their entire lifespan within a one km radius .
the social behaviour of this species has not yet been fully investigated but is said to be similar to the social system of ochotona princeps - american pika ( b605 . 3 . w3 ) :
smith at , smith hj , wang xg , yin x , liang j ( 1986 ) social behavior of the steppe - dwelling black - lipped pika . nat geogr res 2 : 57–74 .
pishchukha
is the russian common name for all species of pika and some gerbils ( rhombomys opimus , meriones tamareiscinus ( muridae - ( family ) ) . ( b605 . 3 . w3 )
mains , j . , w . pigott . 2008 .
life of a pika
( on - line ) . tree of life web project . accessed march 10 , 2009 at urltoken .
one similarity between the two types of pikas is the long - call , or song , given by adult males during the breeding season . the long - call consists of many repeated elements in a distinctive pattern for each species . there are , however , clear similarities between these calls in the rock - dwelling american pika ( ochotona princeps ) and the burrowing plateau pika ( o . curzoniae ) .
general pika information : in general , the head of pikas is blunt and short , and the skull is quite flattened rather than arched . there is also a constriction between the orbits . ( b147 )
just as the habitats occupied by pallas ' s pika vary , so does the ecology of the species . the marked differences in reproduction , habitat , behavior , and vocalizations may indicate that o . p . pricei will ultimately be treated as a different species . pallas ' s pika appears to be an intermediate species ( with habitat characteristics between those of the obligate rock - dwellers and the meadow - dwelling burrowing pikas ) . in these intermediate species , and certainly true for pallas ' s pika , the life history features more closely resemble those of the burrowing forms than those of rock - dwelling pikas .
there is currently a backlog of species eligible for status amendments , like the collared pika ( ochotona collaris ) , bobolink ( dolichonyx oryzivorus ) , and western tiger salamander ( ambystoma mavortium ) . assessments for some of these species were submitted as early as 2005 , but the draft proposal doesn’t specifically address a fix for the delay in the listing process . parliament’s standing joint committee for the scrutiny for regulations described the delay in the listing process as a gap contrary to the intention of the act .
common predators of pikas are weasels and pine martens ( genus mustela ) . when a pika sees a predator , it utters an alarm call , a repetitive variant of the short call . martens must capture pikas on the surface of the talus , as they are too big to fit in the cracks and crannies of the talus . when pikas first see a marten , they burst into an alarm call designed to warn neighbors ( most of whom are close relatives ) of the looming threat . if the predator is a weasel , then the pika often waits a few minutes before first giving the call . weasels can follow pikas into their lairs in the rocks and , apparently , this latency to call allows the weasel time to clear out of the pika ' s territory before the pika alerts its neighbors of the threat .
like other pikas , collared pikas are an excellent example of an ecotone species , meaning their home and shelter are separated from their food storage ( broadbooks , 1965 ) . pikas are herbivorous and spend the summer months actively collecting a wide range of vegetation to subsist on during the winter months .
collared pikas are very vocal , with both sexes emitting calls . the call of a pika is unmistakable once it has been heard . the call is a single , piercing note that sounds like “ank” or “ink” and can be heard for several hundred yards . when calling , pikas sit with their body hunched and noses pointed slightly in the air . collared pikas vocalize frequently during hay gathering . after depositing food they will make one or two territorial calls from hay piles to neighboring pikas . other forms of communication include chattering , a continuous clicking of teeth by males during reproductive season , and estrous calls by females ( macdonald and jones , 1987 ) . another function of vocalization serves as a predator warning to neighboring pikas , territory defense , and also establishing and maintaining social structure . unlike american pikas (
researchers are hopeful the designation as a species of special concern – a species that may become threatened or endangered due to a combination of factors – will raise awareness about the pika and foster improved conservation efforts .
of northern japan . although the northern pika is considered a typical talus - dwelling species , it also is known to inhabit rocky terrain in coniferous forests , where it makes burrows under fallen logs and tree stumps .
pika ( ochotona ) sitting on rocks in north cascades national park , washington , u . s . pikas are the smallest members of the order lagomorpha , a group of mammals that also includes rabbits and hares .
morrison sf , hik ds ( 2007 ) demographic analysis of a declining pika ochotona collaris population linking survival to broad - scale climate patterns via spring snowmelt patterns . j anim ecol 76 : 899–907 . pmid : 17714268
smith at ( 1984 ) family bonds and friendly neighbors . the social organization of the north american pika . in : macdonald dw ( ed ) encyclopedia of mammals . facts on file , new york , pp 728–729 .
in terms of their diets , collared pikas are almost pure herbivores . they are the perfect example of an ecotone species , which means their homes and shelters are typically separated from their food storage caches . collared pikas , when active , collect a variety of vegetation during the summer months to subsist on during the wintertime . as an ochotona species , they produce two separate types of fecal pellets : either hard or soft . the soft pellets are re - consumed by collared pikas as a means of reducing the loss of the nutritional value of their food . they are also known to consume fecal pellets of other species , including ermine and hoary marmots . although they are herbivores , they may at times consume birds in order to fulfill their protein and fat requirements when food availability is low . they may also resort to consuming lichens and other small plants in underground snow tunnels during winter if they failed to stockpile sufficient hay reserves in the summer before .
a generalized herbivore , some do not cache vegetation in haypiles , a characteristic of most pika species ; it is felt that the lack of snow in parts of their range allowing for year - round foraging may be responsible .
the collared pika , a small mammal related to the rabbit , is found only on mountain tops in alaska and canada’s yukon and northwest territories , living in rocky areas near glacial ice . pikas do not hibernate during winter ; instead snow cover provides thermal insulation for their nests while they rely on cached food to survive . as global temperatures continue to rise , 15 years of warmer winters have led to lessened snowfall in the pikas’ habitat . with less snow , they are more exposed to cold temperatures and as a result , have experienced higher mortality rates .
dobson , f . s . , a . t . smith , and x g . wang .
social and ecological influences on dispersal and philopatry in the plateau pika .
behavioral ecology 9 ( 1998 ) : 622–635 .
collared pikas are asocial animals and constantly chase away intruders to defend their territory . they are mainly solitary , but are sometimes seen in pairs . they do not burrow but instead take shelter within their talus habitats . collared pikas are diurnal and they do not hibernate in winter . much of the day they spend grazing or gathering vegetation to store for winter , a foraging behavior called
haying .
they rarely forage further than 10 m from the talus into meadows . an individual may build several haystacks within its home range and tends to each year inhabit the same location , usually under overhanging rocks , along boulders and in crevices . both the males and females of this species are very vocal . a pika ' s call is unmistakable once you have heard it : a single , piercing note like “ank” or “ink” heard over several hundred yards . these animals vocalize often during hay gathering .
although collared pikas belong to the ochotonidae species , unlike many other of that group they do not burrow . instead , they are known to take shelter within their talus habitats . they have been characterized as being asocial , and as such are extremely defensive of their territories . in fact , they are often found chasing away intruders . although they are at times seen in pairs , they are mainly solitary creatures . they are known to spend much of their day grazing and collecting vegetation for their winter caches . collared pikas do not hibernate during the winter , and they are diurnal . they are also kleptoparasitic , which means that they steal food from one another .
ochotona princeps - american pika has the same diploid chromosome number of 68 but differentiated on the basis of craniometric data including the fact that its skull is slightly rounded in profile ; ( b605 . 3 . w3 ; b607 . w20 )
jeffress mr , rodhouse tj , ray c , wolff s , epps cw ( 2013 ) the idiosyncrasies of place : geographic variation in the climate - distribution relationships of the american pika . ecol appl 23 : 864–878 . pmid : 23865236
smith at , dobson fs ( 2004 ) social dynamics in the plateau pika . in : bekoff m ( ed ) encyclopedia of behavior , vol 3 : r - z . greenwood publishing group , westport , ct , pp 1016–1019 .
smith at , gilpin me ( 1997 ) spatially correlated dynamics in a pika metapopulation . in : hanski ia , gilpin me ( eds ) metapopulation dynamics : ecology , genetics , and evolution . academic press , london , pp 407–428 .
collared pikas live in mountainous terrain with talus slopes and large boulders , which often presents rock slides . they prefer living along the borders of talus slopes that have meadows and patches of high - quality vegetation in the immediate vicinity . collared pikas will at times also inhabit areas near sea level in british columbia and alaska . more typically , however , they are found in the mountainous regions of central and southeastern alaska , from the richardson mountains north of the arctic circle in the yukon , west of the mackenzie river in the northwest territories , and southward into northwestern british columbia . they may also be found in the yukon - tanana uplands and the chigmit mountains as well .
collared pikas most commonly live in mountainous terrain that contains rock slides with large boulders and talus slopes . they favor the borders of talus slopes that are closest to meadows and patches of high quality vegetation . collared pikas often colonize taluses that are on southwest facing slopes because they tend to have shorter period of snow cover and a longer plant growing season ( franken and hik , 2004a ) . they also have been recorded inhabiting areas near sea level in southern alaska and british columbia ( macdonald and jones , 1987 ; broadbooks , 1965 ) . their habitat is characterized as dominantly subalpine and alpine with strong seasonal variations and a short growing season for vegetation ( june to august ) .
twenty - six of the 30 pika species have been fully assessed for their iucn red list conservation status , and of these , six ( 23 % ) have been classified as threatened ( o . argentata , o . hoffmanni , o . huangensis , o . iliensis , o . koslowi , and o . pusilla ) . the first five on this list live in remote areas and are poorly known . the steppe pika ( o . pusilla ) has retreated as its habitat has been plowed under . an additional four species have one or more threatened subspecies . in nearly all cases , these forms are threatened because of habitat loss or inadvertent poisoning ( control efforts directed at other , more common , pika species ) .
results of models fit to relative american pika scat density at a subset ( n = 27 ) of wind river range ( wyoming , usa ) sites ( 2010 ) using ibutton temperature sensor data showing the best models of the full suite .
blakemore , b . 2007 .
route to extinction goes up mountains , scientists say . global warming is forcing the american pika up mountains and toward extinction .
( on - line ) . accessed april 01 , 2009 at urltoken .
young pikas grow surprisingly quickly , reaching adult size after only 40 to 50 days . young of the year experience particularly low overwinter survival , which constitutes the major source of mortality . the average natural life span for a pika is three years .
treated as a pest species for nearly four decades , it is believed that they cause rangeland degradation and eat vegetative resources that could better be utilized by local livestock ( primarily yak and sheep ) . as a result , this species has been poisoned extensively . in qinghai province alone , pikas have been poisoned over 80 , 000 mi 2 ( 200 , 000 km 2 ) , and the onslaught continues . unfortunately , loss of the plateau pika over vast expanses of the tibetan plateau has resulted in a loss of many native species that rely on the pika . most endemic native birds nest only in pika burrows , and when these collapse following poisoning , the birds disappear . most predators on the plateau ( weasels , ferrets , pallas ' s cat , tibetan fox , wolf , brown bear , upland buzzard , saker falcon , and black - eared kite ) rely almost exclusively on pikas in their diet . when the pikas are poisoned , these animals also disappear . thus , it appears that the plateau pika is a keystone species for biodiversity on the plateau and should be managed accordingly . fortunately , as of 2002 , the tide has been turning toward a policy that embraces the pika rather than one bent on destruction of the species .
all living pikas are very similar in appearance . they are small egg - shaped balls of fluff sporting thin , relatively large round ears and without a visible tail . pikas range in size from the gansu pika ( ochotona cansus ) , which weighs in at approximately 3 oz ( 80 g ) , to glover ' s pika ( o . gloveri ) , which can reach 10 oz ( 300 g ) . most pikas are a brownish gray , and accents are most often in the red spectrum .
collared pikas spend the summer months collecting plants into haystacks among the rocks to save for the winter . they do not hibernate and so must have a food supply on hand to survive the cold months . they are solitary creatures preferring to stay 20 - 75 metres away from their neighbours . pikas call ( a loud , distinctive “meeeep” ) to declare their territories .


the xeniidae are a family of soft coral in the order alcyonacea .

predatory sea slugs of the genus phyllodesmium are reported to feed on xeniidae species .

representatives of this family have been observed to provide shelter to juvenile fish .

the family contains the following genera : anthelia lamarck , 1816 asterospicularia utinomi , 1951 bayerxenia alderslade , 2001 ceratocaulon jungersen , 1892 cespitularia milne-edwards & haime , 1850 efflatounaria gohar , 1939 fasciclia janes , 2008 funginus tixier-durivault , 1987 heteroxenia koelliker , 1874 ingotia alderslade , 2001 ixion alderslade , 2001 * [ genus name " ixion " is preoccupied by reitter , 1873 ] orangaslia alderslade , 2001 ovabunda alderslade , 2001 sansibia alderslade , 2000 sarcothelia verrill , 1928 sympodium ehrenberg , 1834 xenia lamarck , 1816

xeniidae

cordeiro , r . ; van ofwegen , l . ; williams , g . ( 2018 ) . world list of octocorallia . xeniidae ehrenberg , 1828 . accessed through : world register of marine species at : urltoken ; = 125271 on 2018 - 07 - 09
the xeniidae are a major component of benthic coral reef communities in lembeh , indonesia . a two - week survey of the xeniids from this region was conducted . scuba collections were carried out to a depth of 25 meters . a total of 48 samples were examined , encompassing a variety of species found in lembeh strait . representatives of the genera anthelia , cespitularia , heteroxenia , sansibia , sympodium , and xenia were recorded using microscopic analysis . visual estimates were made of the underwater abundance and distribution of these genera . three habitats containing xeniids were identified . sand slopes , which were limited to the genera anthelia , and xenia . hard substratum patch reefs supported the greatest diversity , which included communities of anthelia , cespitularia , heteroxenia , sansibia , sympodium , and xenia . the genera cespitularia , heteroxenia and xenia were found to colonize reef walls . only one colony of sansibia and one colony of sympodium were recorded in this survey . abundant assemblages of xenia were found to occur at depths of 3 - 25 meters , primarily on sand slopes . interestingly , most colonies of cespitularia and heteroxenia were observed below 10 meters on both patch reefs and reef walls .
van ofwegen , l . ; grasshoff , m . ; van der land , j . ( 2001 ) . octocorallia ( excl . pennatulacea ) , in : costello , m . j . et al . ( ed . ) ( 2001 ) . european register of marine species : a check - list of the marine species in europe and a bibliography of guides to their identification . collection patrimoines naturels , 50 : pp . 104 - 105 ( look up in imis ) [ details ]
fabricius , k . & p . alderslade , 2001 . soft corals & sea fans : a comprehensive guide to the tropical shallow water genera of the central - west pacific , the indian ocean and the red sea . australian institute of marine science , pp . i - vii + 1 - 264 .
sorry , there are no images or audio / video clips available for this taxon .
confused by a class within a class or an order within an order ? please see our brief essay .
to cite this page : myers , p . , r . espinosa , c . s . parr , t . jones , g . s . hammond , and t . a . dewey . 2018 . the animal diversity web ( online ) . accessed at https : / / animaldiversity . org .
disclaimer : the animal diversity web is an educational resource written largely by and for college students . adw doesn ' t cover all species in the world , nor does it include all the latest scientific information about organisms we describe . though we edit our accounts for accuracy , we cannot guarantee all information in those accounts . while adw staff and contributors provide references to books and websites that we believe are reputable , we cannot necessarily endorse the contents of references beyond our control .
this material is based upon work supported by the national science foundation grants drl 0089283 , drl 0628151 , due 0633095 , drl 0918590 , and due 1122742 . additional support has come from the marisla foundation , um college of literature , science , and the arts , museum of zoology , and information and technology services .
edited and published by : the japanese coral reef society produced and listed by : soubun printing co , ltd .


diminovula margarita is a species of sea snail , a marine gastropod mollusk in the family ovulidae , the ovulids , cowry allies or false cowries .

diminovula margarita

diminovula margarita ( g . b . sowerby i , 1828 ) [ globovula ]
worms - world register of marine species - diminovula margarita ( g . b . sowerby i , 1828 )
citation :
margarita egg cowries , diminovula margarita ~ marinebio . org .
marinebio conservation society . web . accessed monday , july 9 , 2018 . < urltoken > . last update : 2 / 28 / 2012 1 : 27 : 00 am ~ contributor ( s ) : marinebio
to barcode of life ( from synonym globovula margarita g . b . sowerby i , 1828 ) to barcode of life ( 2 barcodes ) to biodiversity heritage library ( 1 publication ) to biodiversity heritage library ( 1 publication ) ( from synonym globovula margarita g . b . sowerby i , 1828 ) to biological information system for marine life ( bismal ) to biological information system for marine life ( bismal ) ( from synonym ovulum margarita g . b . sowerby i , 1828 ) to biological information system for marine life ( bismal ) ( from synonym globovula margarita g . b . sowerby i , 1828 ) to encyclopedia of life to genbank ( 1 nucleotides ; 0 proteins ) ( from synonym globovula margarita g . b . sowerby i , 1828 ) to usnm invertebrate zoology mollusca collection ( from synonym globovula margarita g . b . sowerby i , 1828 )
( of ovulum margarita g . b . sowerby i , 1828 ) lorenz f . & fehse d . ( 2009 ) the living ovulidae . a manual of the families of allied cowries : ovulidae , pediculariidae and eocypraeidae . hackenheim : conchbooks . [ details ]
( of globovula margarita g . b . sowerby i , 1828 ) lorenz f . & fehse d . ( 2009 ) the living ovulidae . a manual of the families of allied cowries : ovulidae , pediculariidae and eocypraeidae . hackenheim : conchbooks . [ details ]
( of ovulum margarita g . b . sowerby i , 1828 ) cate c . n . ( 1973 ) . a systematic revision of the recent cypraeid family ovulidae . the veliger . 15 ( supplement ) : 1 - 117 . , available online at urltoken [ details ]
( of globovula margarita g . b . sowerby i , 1828 ) cate c . n . ( 1973 ) . a systematic revision of the recent cypraeid family ovulidae . the veliger . 15 ( supplement ) : 1 - 117 . , available online at urltoken [ details ]
( of ovulum margarita g . b . sowerby i , 1828 ) petit , r . e . ( 2009 ) . george brettingham sowerby , i , ii & iii : their conchological publications and molluscan taxa . zootaxa . 2189 : 1–218 . , available online at urltoken [ details ] available for editors [ request ]
( of globovula margarita g . b . sowerby i , 1828 ) liu j . y . [ ruiyu ] ( ed . ) . ( 2008 ) . checklist of marine biota of china seas . china science press . 1267 pp . ( look up in imis ) [ details ] available for editors [ request ]
globovula margarita g . b . sowerby i , 1828 : héros et al . ( 2007 ) [ statut pour la nouvelle - calédonie ] héros , v . , lozouet , p . , maestrati , p . , von cosel , r . , brabant , d . , bouchet , p . 2007 . mollusca of new caledonia . in : payri , c . & richer de forges , b . [ eds ] . compendium of marine species of new caledonia . doc . sci . tech . ird , nouméa . ii7 ( 2 ) : 199 - 254 . [ urltoken ]
( of margovula changi ma , 1997 ) ma x . t . [ xiutong ] ( 1997 ) fauna sinica . phylum mollusca . class gastropoda . order mesogastropoda . superfamily cypraeacea . beijing : science press . 283 pp . , 12 pls . page ( s ) : 167 , 262 [ details ]
lorenz f . & fehse d . ( 2009 ) the living ovulidae . a manual of the families of allied cowries : ovulidae , pediculariidae and eocypraeidae . hackenheim : conchbooks . [ details ]
( of ovula umbilicata g . b . sowerby ii , 1848 ) cate c . n . ( 1973 ) . a systematic revision of the recent cypraeid family ovulidae . the veliger . 15 ( supplement ) : 1 - 117 . , available online at urltoken [ details ]
( of ovula umbilicata g . b . sowerby ii , 1848 ) lorenz f . & fehse d . ( 2009 ) the living ovulidae . a manual of the families of allied cowries : ovulidae , pediculariidae and eocypraeidae . hackenheim : conchbooks . [ details ]
( of margovula changi ma , 1997 ) lorenz f . & fehse d . ( 2009 ) the living ovulidae . a manual of the families of allied cowries : ovulidae , pediculariidae and eocypraeidae . hackenheim : conchbooks . [ details ]
( of margovula changi ma , 1997 ) liu j . y . [ ruiyu ] ( ed . ) . ( 2008 ) . checklist of marine biota of china seas . china science press . 1267 pp . ( look up in imis ) [ details ] available for editors [ request ]
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version 43 . 0 went live 11 / 6 / 2018 - i hope that the majority of issues have been fixed . my email address is on the home page if you see anything wrong .
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( g . b . sowerby ii in a . adams & reeve , 1848 )
ovulum concinnum g . b . sowerby ii in a . adams & reeve , 1848
primovula ( adamantia ) concinna ( g . b . sowerby ii in a . adams & reeve , 1848 )
the living ovulidae : a manual of the families of allied cowries : ovulidae , pediculariidae and eocypraeidae .
in : okutani , t . ( ed . ) , marine mollusks in japan . tokai university press , tokyo , 211 - 223 ( in japanese ) .
accessed through : world register of marine species at urltoken on 2014 - 10 - 02 .
occurrence record in darwincore format ( elements of obis schema and some of dwc1 . 4 )
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national inventory of natural heritage , website : https : / / inpn . mnhn . fr .
species of the family ovulidae fleming , 1822 are sometimes mistaken for seaslugs , especially when the shell is covered by the large colourful mantle . let me quote bill rudman :
one easy way to separate snails from slugs is to look for their eyes . if they are raised from the skin like this then they are a snail . if the eyes are embedded in the skin they are an opisthobranch .
this home page section for this species is currently being developed and will be completed asap ! if you would like to help out or know of a great video , photo or site about this species , let us know and we ' ll notify you as soon as it is finished . our current project plan is to have all marine species home pages finished before christmas this year . if you ' d like to find out more about our ongoing projects here at marinebio , check out our marinebio projects page .
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created to help individuals around the world identify tropical fish found during their scuba dive and snorkelling excursions .


heterodontosauriformes are a group of herbivorous dinosaurs within the order ornithischia .

the taxon was named by xu et al. in 2006 to group the suborder marginocephalia with the family heterodontosauridae ( previously classified as ornithopods ) , after the discovery of yinlong revealed the two to be closely related .

heterodontosauriformes

a single most parsimonious tree recovered showing the phylogenetic position of yinlong downsi and the interrelationships of the cerapoda . the proposed tree plotted against geological time indicates the timing of the major cranial changes among the ceratopsia . the marginocephalia node is supported by 22 synapomorphies and the heterodontosauriformes by nine synapomorphies ( see electronic supplementary material ) .
yinlong ' s authors posit a new taxon , the heterodontosauriformes , to include heterodontosauridae ( as the outgroup ) and marginocephalia , which still includes pachycephalosauria and ceratopsia . this is fairly heady stuff , as it would mean that a significant ghost lineage existed prior to the oxfordian stage of the late jurassic , when yinlong lived . after all , heterodontosaurs proper are known from the late triassic / early jurassic periods , and yinlong is an early ceratopsian , meaning that the marginocephalia must have split prior to the late jurassic . indeed , if the heterodontosauridae is the outgroup to the heterodontosauriformes , then we should expect to find early representatives of the marginocephalia as early as perhaps the early jurassic .
so there are still a few options . first , perhaps eocursor ' s authors are wrong , and the heterodontosaurs are not more primitive than the genasaurs . that ' s certainly a possibility , given the seemingly arbitrary reasons for demoting the heterodontosauridae ( so they ' ve got wide , grasping hands - - so what ? ) . another possibility is that the heterodontosauriformes is real , but it also primitive , as eocursor would have it . that would mean that the marginocephalia went through an incredible amount of convergence with more advanced genasaurs . it ' s also possible that yinlong ' s authors are wrong , and the marginocephalia has no connection beyond a little bit of convergence with heterodontosauridae . this would , again , leave the origins of the marginocephalia a mystery ( other than is forms a sister group to the ornithopoda ) .
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a basal ceratopsian with transitional features from the late jurassic of northwestern china . - pubmed - ncbi
warning : the ncbi web site requires javascript to function . more . . .
department of anatomical sciences , state university of new york , stony brook , ny 11794 , usa . xu @ urltoken
pmid : 16901832 pmcid : pmc1635516 doi : 10 . 1098 / rspb . 2006 . 3566
yinlong downsi ( ivpp v14530 , holotype ) . abbreviations : cev , cervical vertebrae ; cv , caudal vertebrae ; dv , dorsal vertebrae ; lf , left femur ; lh , left humerus ; lis , left ischium ; lm , left manus ; lp , left pubis ; lpe , left pes ; ls , left scapula ; lt , left tibia ; lu , left ulna ; rf , right femur ; rfi , right fibula ; rh , right humerus ; ri , right ilium ; rm , right manus ; rpe , right pes ; rs , right scapula ; rt , right tibia ; sk , skull . scale bar , 5 cm .
ivpp v14530 . ( a ) skull and mandible in lateral view . ( b ) skull in dorsal view . abbreviations : an , angular ; d , dentary ; emf , external mandibular fenestra ; en , external naris ; f , frontal ; ff , fossa on frontals ; fn , fossa on nasals ; itf , infratemporal fenestra ; j , jugal ; m , maxilla ; p , parietal ; pa , palpebral ; pd , predentary ; pm , premaxilla ; po , postorbital ; q , quadrate ; qj , quadratojugal ; r , rostral bone ; sa , surangular ; sq , squamosal ; stf , supratemporal fenestra ; tr , tubercle row ; ts , tubercle on surangular . scale bar , 2 cm .
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full reference : x . xu , c . a . forster , j . m . clark and j . mo . 2006 . a basal ceratopsian with transitional features from the late jurassic of northwestern china . proceedings of the royal society of london b 273 : 2135 - 2140
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when pigs fly returns is a paleo - themed blog featuring original art and occassional rants .
i suppose the ultimate verdict will depend entirely on where heterodontosauridae ends up on the ornithischian family tree . as i understand it , several studies are currently underway as to a further understanding of these strange beasties . perhaps in a few years , we ' ll know for sure one way or the other .
zachary miller has a ba in rhetoric from the university of alaska , but has been studying and drawing dinosaurs since he could read and hold a crayon . he currently lives near sand lake in anchorage with his wife , dog , cat , and pooh bear .