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Russian J. Theriol. 1 (1): 3742 © RUSSIAN JOURNAL OF THERIOLOGY, 2002 Diagnostics of pikas (Lagomorpha, Ochotonidae, Ochotona) from the Putorana Plateau, Eastern Siberia Andrey A. Lissovsky & Elena V. Lissovskaya ABSTRACT. Body and skull measurements, frontopariteal suture, palatal opening, pelage coloration, and alarm calls in two sympatric races of the pikas from the Putorana Plateau were investigated. These data confirms that characters distinguishing these two races are of the species level. A key characters to distinguished these races are discussed. KEY WORDS: Ochotona, taxonomy, morphology, acoustic signals, Putorana Plateau. Andrey A. Lissovsky [[email protected]], Zoological Museum of the Moscow State University, Bolshaya Nikitskaya 6, Moscow 103009 Russia; Elena V. Lissovskaya, Hematological Scientific Center RAMN, Novozy- kovsky proezd 4a, Moscow 125167 Russia. Äèàãíîñòèêà ïèùóõ (Lagomorpha, Ochotonidae, Ochotona) ïëàòî Ïóòîðàíà, Âîñòî÷íàÿ Ñèáèðü À.À. Ëèñîâñêèé, Å.Â. Ëèñîâñêàÿ ÐÅÇÞÌÅ. Èññëåäîâàíû ðàçìåðû ÷åðåïà è òåëà, ñòðîåíèå âåíå÷íîãî øâà è íåáíîãî îòâåðñòèÿ ÷åðåïà, îêðàñêà øåðñòè, ñòðóêòóðà ïðåäóïðåæäàþùèõ îá îïàñíîñòè ñèãíàëîâ ïèùóõ ïëàòî Ïóòîðàíà. Ïîäòâåðæäàåòñÿ âèäîâîé óðîâåíü ðàçëè÷èé ìåæäó äâóìÿ îáèòàþùèìè çäåñü ôîðìàìè. Ïðèâîäÿòñÿ îïðåäåëèòåëüíûå ïðèçíàêè. ÊËÞ×ÅÂÛÅ ÑËÎÂÀ: Ochotona, òàêñîíîìèÿ, ìîðôîëîãèÿ, çâóêîâûå ñèãíàëû, Ïëàòî Ïóòîðàíà. Introduction Taimyr Peninsula. Altogether a sample of 60 complete skulls was investigated. These specimens come from seven different sites of the Putorana Plateau (Glubokoe Lake, Kutaramakan The Putorana Plateau, situated to the south of the Lake, Lama Lake, Keta Lake, Khantai Lake, Sebyaki Lake, and Taimyr Peninsula, Eastern Siberia in the northern Rus- Mikchanda River) and housed in the collections of the Zoolog- sia, has been traditionally referred to the geographic ical Museum, Moscow State University in Moscow (abbreviat- range of the northern pika, Ochotona hyperborea (Pal- ed ZMMU), of the Institute of Systematics and Ecology of the las 1811) (Ognev, 1940; Sokolov et al., 1994). Howev- Animals, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Scienc- er, recently there two sympatric races of the pikas, es in Novosibirsk (ISEA), and of the Zoological Institute, differing in body and skull measurements, pelage color- Russian Academy of Sciences in St.-Petersburg (ZIN). ation, alarm calls structure, and karyologic characters The palatal opening and frontoparietal suture were studied were detected (Formozov, 1991; Formozov et al., 1999). in a sample of 34 skulls, personally collected by the authors in One race, having larger size and diploid number of 42 the Putorana Plateau. All discovered characters were checked on the museum specimens; among latter only specimens chromosomes, was tentatively assigned to the alpine, or having both skull and skin, with linear body measurements Altai pika, Ochotona alpina (Pallas, 1773) (Formozov and weight indicated on the label, were considered. et al., 1999). Our work presents results of the future Only adult wintered specimens were investigated. The investigation of the characters distinguishing these two individual age was determined by the state of development of races. Based on newly collected materials, we discuss the crests for masticatory muscles attachment in the dentary the utility of all reliable characters to distinguish these (Khmelevskaya, 1961). In comparison purposes we investigat- sympatric races of pikas, both in the field and in the ed a sample of 320 skulls of northern pika and 250 skulls of museum collections. Altai pika, all coming from areas outside the Putorana Plateau. The body measurements were taken from a sample of 39 specimens, personally collected by the authors in the Putorana Materials and methods Plateau. The acoustic signals were recorded by the portable tape The pikas were collected between June 4 and August 6, recorder Casio TP-6 and microphone LOMO UM 51-01U1.1. 1996, in the valley of the Lake Kutaramakan (the State The alarm calls of the Putorana pikas were analyzed on the Putorana Zapovednik), Taimyr Autonomous Region, Russia. basis of signal registration in 102 specimens, 54 of northern An additional excursion was performed in the Norilsk Moun- pika and 48 of Altai pika. The acoustic signals of the Altai tains (the Zub Mountain), vicinity of the Norilsk City in pikas from the Altai-Sayany population were recorded by us 38 Andrey A. Lissovsky & Elena V. Lissovskaya TABLE 1. MEASUREMENTS (IN mm) OF THE BODY AND THE SKULL IN THE PUTORANA PIKAS. Altai pika Northern pika Measurements Sample Standard Sample Standard Average Minimum Maximum Average Minimum Maximum size deviation size deviation Condylobasal length 39 39.63 37.3 42.9 1.30 27 35.09 33.5 36.7 0.84 Length of nasales 38 12.76 11.5 13.8 0.51 29 11.50 10.3 12.7 0.63 Interorbital 39 5.02 4.4 5.8 0.35 30 4.86 4.4 5.5 0.28 constriction Zygomatic breadth 3720.44 18.3 21.5 0.78 30 19.02 17.8 20.1 0.83 Diastemal length 39 8.56 7.5 9.9 0.60 30 7.15 6.0 8.8 0.72 Alveolar length of 39 7.96 7.5 8.6 0.26 30 7.35 6.8 8.2 0.32 maxillary toothrow Skull height 38 14.26 13.4 16.1 0.54 2713.15 11.7 14.4 0.67 Alveolar length of 37 7.35 6.5 8.1 0.38 27 6.73 6.1 7.9 0.42 mandibular toothrow Body mass, in g 20 141.05 113.00 171.00 17.03 15 86.40 52.00 102.00 15.32 Body length 31 173.48 158.00 190.00 7.97 25 148.64 132.00 165.00 9.18 Foot length 31 27.37 25.00 30.00 1.34 25 22.48 21.00 25.00 1.09 Ear length 30 19.5716.00 24.00 1.94 26 15.88 13.00 20.00 1.42 in the June 1997 and May 1999 in the central part of the spicuous, that these races could be easily diagnosed in Zapadnyi Sayan Range (Olenya River). The sound records the field using a field glass. were analyzed with the sonograph Avisoft-SASLab Light for In the summer pelage the Putorana Altai pika has Windows, version 3.0. back ochraceous-red and a dark blurred band on the back The pikas were shot by a smooth-bore gun of the 12 and nape formed by the hairs with black tips. The sides calibre or catch by traps N 0. When possibly, the voice of animal to be collected was recorded. The sound signal was and belly are conspicuous ochraceous-red. There are attributed to the animal collected only if the latter was still small chestnut-red spots on the neck sides, which are visible during all time between sound recording and shooting. poorly distinguishable on the common red background. Altogether, 12 northern pikas and 12 Altai pikas were collect- The foots are dark-brown. The ears are fringed with a ed with the acoustic signals recorded. narrow light stripe. All statistic calculations were performed using the Statis- In the winter the Putorana Altai pika changes the red tica for Windows, version 5 software. Data on the minimal and coloration into the yellow-brown, or yellow-gray. The maximal values, the mean value ± standard error, standard principal color is produced by the graphite-gray under- deviation (s), sample size (n) for variables investigated are coat visible through the long hairs. On the gray back- presented in the text. ground the chestnut-red spots on the neck sides are well emphasized. Results In the summer pelage the Putorana northern pika has a back ochraceous-brown. The two colored hairs with As was envisaged earlier, the pikas from the Putora- dark base and tip and ochraceous middle make up a na Plateau are falling into two discrete sympatric races. dense stroked pattern. On the sides the hairs lack black For the descriptive purposes, we shall name a race with tips. The belly is gray, often with a sandy-yellow tinge. diploid number of 42 chromosomes (Formozov et al., There are two ochraceous spots on the neck sides. There 1999) the Putorana Altai pika, and another race, having is a dark path on the nape and top of the head. The foots 40 chromosomes (Formozov et al., 1999), the Putorana are light-gray. The ears are fringed with a narrow white northern pika. Below we shall discuss the reliability of stripe. The vibrissae are black. some characters investigated for separation of these In the winter coloration of the Putorana northern pika two races. the gray-brown tinges are predominate. The fur around Pelage coloration. Differences between two pikas ears is gray. races on the Putorana Plateau were supposed earlier Size variation. The size variation of the body and (Formozov, 1991). Our investigation is in accordance skull in the Putorana pikas is summarized up in the Table with this supposition. All pikas from the Putoran Pla- 1. The size differences between the two races of Putora- teau, collected or watched by authors, or housed in the na pikas discussed are statistically reliable for all mea- museum collections, could be referred to one from two surements involved, except the interorbital breadth (Stu- colored races. Differences in the coloration are so con- dent criterion, t<0.05). Pikas from the Putorana Plateau 39 Figure 1. THE SHAPE OF THE FRONTOPARITEAL SUTURE IN THE PUTORANA PIKAS (ae northern pika, fj Altai pika). The ZMMU collection numbers are indicated. Figure 2. THE SHAPE OF THE PALATAL OPENING IN THE PUTORANA PIKAS (ae northern pika, fj Altai pika). The ZMMU collection numbers are indicated. Frontoparietal suture. For the Putorana Altai pika ter is more variable and both states can be found in both a U-shaped (trough-shaped) frontopariteal suture is char- species, the northern and Altai pikas.