Pika, A mammal discovered

Scientists claim to have discovered a new species of Pika, a mammal belonging to the rabbit and hare family ( Lagomorpha ), in the Himalayas in Sikkim.

Details:            

After six years of research, a team of international collaborators, led by scientists from Bengaluru’s National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS) announced the discovery.

• The team published their findings in the Journal Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution in September. Discovering a new mammal in 2016 from a hotspot like the Himalayas proves that we need to conduct much more research in the region.

Pika:

Pikas are members of the rabbit family and live in the mountains or in temperate regions. The common name "pika" is used for any member of the Ochotonidae family.

• Pikas do not hibernate unlike other mammalian species inhabiting such cold climates.
• Pikas are a keystone species and ecosystem engineers, and studying their evolution can shed more light on the Himalayan ecosystem.  
• Although the animal looks similar to the Moupin Pika, genetically it is completely different.

The discovery points to the need for more research on Himalayan ecology and the importance of international collaboration in validating new research. The research began as a study of the impact of climate change on the Himalayan biota.