The Zoochat Photographic Guide to Colugos, Treeshrews and Lagomorphs

Something of a mopping-up exercise here, comprising three groups of mammals which we are yet to look at in this series of photographic guides and which are all somewhat close kin.

It seems reasonably clear that these groups belong within a larger monophyletic clade - termed the Euarchontoglires - along with two other groups which have already been dealt with elsewhere; however, the precise interrelationships between the various lineages within the Euarchontoglires are still rather less clear. Certain aspects of the overall taxonomy seem reasonably sound; the lagomorphs (Lagomorpha) belong within a clade termed "Glires" alongside the Rodentia, whilst the colugos (Dermoptera) belong within a clade termed "Euarchonta" alongside the Primates. However, there are multiple competing theories about the placement of the treeshrews (Scandentia).

The traditional view - and the one which, for the sake of parsimony, we will follow here - is that the Scandentia also belongs within the Euarchonta, in a position basal to the primates and colugos. However, genetic and morphological studies have proposed a number of alternate hypotheses:

• Tree shrews represent a sister group to the colugos, forming a clade within Euarchonta distinct from the Primates.
• Tree shrews belong not in the Euarchonta, but within the Glires in a position basal to the rodent/lagomorph clade.
• Tree shrews are basal to all members of the Euarchontoglires, and arose prior to the split between Euarchonta and Glires.

Given the fact that it seems clear that they are morphologically similar to the common ancestor of the Euarchontoglires, and doubtless arose early within the history of this clade, regardless of where they belong taxonomically it may well be impossible to conclusively determine the correct state of affairs.

 

GLIRES



This clade comprises two extant orders, of which only one (containing two extant families) will be considered within this thread:


RODENTIA

(Not covered in this thread)


LAGOMORPHA

OCHOTONIDAE - Pikas (1 genus, 29 species)

LEPORIDAE - Hares and Rabbits (11 genera, 63 species)



EUARCHONTA



This clade comprises three extant orders, of which two will be considered within this thread:


PRIMATES

(Not covered in this thread)


SCANDENTIA

PTILOCERCIDAE - Pen-tailed Treeshrew (1 monotypic genus)

TUPAIIDAE - True Treeshrews (3 genera, 22 species)


DERMOPTERA

CYNOCEPHALIDAE - Colugos (2 genera, 2 species)

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OCHOTONIDAE


This family comprises 29 species within a single genus, as follows:

Ochotona - Pikas (29 species)
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Ochotona


Daurian Pika (Ochotona dauurica)

The range of this species extends throughout southwest Siberia, Mongolia and northeast China, and south into central China.

Three subspecies are recognised:

O. d. dauurica - photo by @Dormitator



O. d. huangensis
O. d. latibullata


Moupin Pika (Ochotona thibetana)

The range of this species comprises a pair of disjunct populations; in the western Himalayas of northeast India, western Bhutan and adjacent regions of the Tibetan Plateau; and in south-central China and northern Myanmar.

Three subspecies are recognised:

O. t. thibetana - photo by @baboon



O. t. nanggenica
O. t. sikimaria


Tsing-ling Pika (Ochotona syrinx)

The range of this species extends patchily across south-central China in a number of disjunct populations.

Two subspecies are recognised:

O. s. syrinx
O. s. xunhuaensis

No photographs of this species are present in the Zoochat gallery.


Gansu Pika (Ochotona cansus)

The range of this species extends throughout much of south-central China and adjacent regions of the Tibetan Plateau.

Three subspecies are recognised.

O. c. cansus - photo by @Chlidonias



O. c. morosa - photo by @Deer Forest



O. c. stevensi


Nubra Pika (Ochotona nubrica)

The range of this species extends patchily throughout the central Himalayas and adjacent regions of the Tibetan Plateau, from northwest India in the wesrm through northern India, Nepal and the southern Tibetan Plateau to south-central China in the east.

Two subspecies are recognised:

O. n. nubrica
O. n. lhasaensis

No photographs of this species are present in the Zoochat gallery.


Plateau Pika (Ochotona curzoniae)

The range of this species extends throughout the Tibetan Plateau and adjacent regions of Nepal and northwest India,

Two subspecies are recognised:

O. c. curzoniae - photo by @Chlidonias



O. c. melanostoma


Thomas' Pika (Ochotona thomasi)

The range of this species is restricted to the northeast Tibetan Plateau.

Monotypic; no photographs of this species are present in the Zoochat gallery.


Alpine Pika (Ochotona alpina)

The range of this species extends throughout the Altai Mountains of south-central Siberia, Mongolia, northwest China and northeast Kazakhstan.

Three subspecies are recognised:

O. a. alpina
O. a. changaica
O. a. sayanica

No photographs of this species are present in the Zoochat gallery.


Turuchan Pika (Ochotona turuchanensis)

The range of this species extends throughout much of central Siberia.

Monotypic; no photographs of this species are present in the Zoochat gallery.


Northern Pika (Ochotona hyperborea)

The range of this species extends patchily throughout much of central and eastern Siberia, the Russian Far East and Sakhalin, and into northern Japan; a disjunct population exists in northwest Siberia, north of the Ural Mountains.

Eight subspecies are recognised:

O. h. hyperborea
O. h. cinereoflava
O. h. ferruginea
O. h. naumovi
O. h. uralensis
O. h. yesoensis
O. h. yoshikurai

No photographs of this species are present in the Zoochat gallery.


Manchurian Pika (Ochotona mantchurica)

The range of this species is restricted to a small region of northeast Mongolia, northeast China and adjacent southeast Siberia.

Three subspecies are recognised:

O. m. mantchurica
O. m. scorodumovi
O. m. loukashkini

No photographs of this species are present in the Zoochat gallery.


Hoffmann's Pika (Ochotona hoffmanni)

The range of this species is restricted to a pair of tiny disjunct populations in northeast Mongolia and adjacent southeast Siberia.

Monotypic; no photographs of this species are present in the Zoochat gallery.


Korean Pika (Ochotona coreana)

The range of this species is restricted to a small region of northern North Korea and immediately-adjacent northeast China.

Monotypic; no photographs of this species are present in the Zoochat gallery.


Pallas' Pika (Ochotona pallasii)

The range of this species extends patchily throughout the Altai of Mongolia, south-central Mongolia and adjacent regions of northern China.

Monotypic.

Photo by @Chlidonias

 

Kazakh Pika (Ochotona opaca)

The range of this species extends throughout the uplands of northern Kazakhstan.

Monotypic; no photographs of this species are present in the Zoochat gallery.


Silver Pika (Ochotona argentata)

Endemic to the central Helan Mountains of north-central China, where it is now restricted to a single locality.

Monotypic; no photographs of this species are present in the Zoochat gallery.


American Pika (Ochotona princeps)

The range of this species extends patchily throughout the mountain ranges of western USA and immediately-adjacent regions of southwestern Canada.

Five subspecies are recognised:

O. p. princeps
O. p. fenisex
O. p. saxatilis - photo by @savethelephant



O. p. schisticeps
O. p. uinta


Collared Pika (Ochotona collaris)

The range of this species extends throughout southeast Alaska and adjacent northwest Canada.

Monotypic.

Photo by @Gondwana




Steppe Pika (Ochotona pusilla)

The range of this species extends throughout the steppes of southwest Siberia, northern Kazakhstan and the western foothills of the Altai Mountains.

Monotypic; no photographs of this species are present in the Zoochat gallery.


Large-eared Pika (Ochotona macrotis)

The range of this species extends patchily throughout the Himalayas and southern Tibetan Plateau, Tian Shan and southern Xinjiang in western China.

Four subspecies are recognised:

O. m. macrotis
O. m. chinensis
O. m. sacana
O. m. wollastoni - photo by @Chlidonias




Royle's Pika (Ochotona roylii)

The range of this species extends throughout the Himalayas from northeast Pakistan and northwest India in the west to northeast Nepal and adjacent northeast India in the east.

Two subspecies are recognised:

O. r. roylii
O. r. nepalensis

No photographs of this species are present in the Zoochat gallery.


Afghan Pika (Ochotona rufescens)

The range of this species extends patchily throughout much of the Middle East and adjacent regions of southern Central Asia, from northwest Iran in the west, through southern Turkmenistan and Afghanistan, to the mountains of northeast Pakistan in the east.

Three subspecies are recognised:

O. r. rufescens
O. r. regina
O. r. shukurovi

Photo by @bongorob




Forrest's Pika (Ochotona forresti)

The range of this species is restricted to the Gaoligong Mountains and immediately-adajcent areas of southern China and northeast Myanmar.

Two subspecies are recognised:

O. f. forresti
O. f. duoxionglaensis

No photographs of this species are present in the Zoochat gallery.


Ladakh Pika (Ochotona ladacensis)

The range of this species extends throughout the Kunlun Mountains and adjacent regions of northwest India and western China.

Monotypic; no photographs of this species are present in the Zoochat gallery.


Turkestan Red Pika (Ochotona rutila)

The range of this species extends patchily throughout much of Tien Shan and adjacent regions of Central Asia.

Monotypic; no photographs of this species are present in the Zoochat gallery.


Kozlov's Pika (Ochotona koslowi)

The range of this species represents a highly-fragmented distribution of disjunct populations throughout the Kunlun Mountains.

Monotypic; no photographs of this species are present in the Zoochat gallery.


Chinese Red Pika (Ochotona erythrotis)

The range of this species extends throughout much of south-central China.

Monotypic; no photographs of this species are present in the Zoochat gallery.


Glover's Pika (Ochotona gloveri)

The range of this species extends throughout much of central China and the southeast Tibetan Plateau.

Two subspecies are recognised:

O. g. gloveri - photo by @Deer Forest



O. g. calloceps


Ili Pika (Ochotona iliensis)

The range of this species is restricted to a handful of tiny disjunct populations in the northeast Tien Shan Range of northwest China.

Monotypic; no photographs of this species are present in the Zoochat gallery.

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LEPORIDAE


This family comprises 63 species within 11 genera, as follows:

Pentalagus - Amami Rabbit (monotypic)

Pronolagus - Red Rock Hares (4 species)

Romerolagus - Volcano Rabbit (monotypic)

Bunolagus - Riverine Rabbit (monotypic)

Brachylagus - Pygmy Rabbit (monotypic)

Nesolagus - Striped Rabbits (2 species)

Sylvilagus - New World Rabbits (17 species)

Caprolagus - Hispid Hare (monotypic)

Poelagus - Bunyoro Rabbit (monotypic)

Oryctolagus - European Rabbit (monotypic)

Lagus - True Hares (32 species)
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What are you using as your source for subspecies distributions? According to (e.g.) Menon's Indian Mammals and Srinivasulu's South Asian Mammals, only the nominate is found in India (e.g. at Ladakh where the photo was taken). O. m. wollastoni is from about Nepal eastwards.

 

HBW, which cites the following ranges (transcribed verbatim)

O. m. macrotis - Kunlun Mts in Xinjiang, Tibet {=Xizang) , and Qinghai, W China
O. m. chinensis - NW Hengguan Mts in SE Xizang, W Sichuan and NW Yunnan, SW China
O. m. sacana - Tian Shan and Pamir-Alay Mts from SE Kazakhstan to Tajikistan
O. m. wollastoni - Karakoram and Ladakh ranges and Greater Himalayas E of 81° E

 

Hah muscle memory from all the bird threads I have done lately. I meant HMW naturally.

 

That's interesting. I wonder if they have transposed something.

The type locality for O. macrotis is given by Wilson and Reeder as being at 31EN, 87EE in Tibet, which places it just above western Nepal and just east of Ladakh (i.e. directly within HMW's range for wollastoni and well south of their range for macrotis). The type locality for wollastoni seems to be the Mt Everest area, which is well to the east of there (above eastern Nepal).

In other sources sacana may be merged with macrotis (so in that case macrotis would cover the whole western part of the range (in Central Asia)).

It seems like HMW has just extended wollastoni well westwards, leaving sacana / macrotis only in Central Asia / northern Tibet, but in the process have put the range directly through the type locality of macrotis itself which cannot be accurate.

 

Another option, of course, is the Omani/Humes/Desert Owl situation where the population generally assigned to the type subspecies turns out to be a different ssp to the type specimen, and the population the type specimen applied to turns out to be synonymous with a subsequently-described taxon.

Not sure if there's any easy way of discovering whether a neotype has been assigned however, which would be how to check said theory.

 

Pentalagus


Amami Rabbit (Pentalagus furnessi)

Endemic to Amami Ōshima and Toku-no-Shima in the Ryukyu Islands of southern Japan.

Monotypic; no photographs of this species are present in the Zoochat gallery.
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Pronolagus


Jameson's Red Rock Hare (Pronolagus randensis)

The range of this species comprises a pair of widely-disjunct populations in southern Africa; from Zimbabwe and western Mozambique in the north to eastern Botswana and northeast South Africa in the south; and throughout central and northwest Namibia and into adjacent southwest Angola.

Three subspecies are recognised:

P. r. randensis
P. r. caucinus
P. r. whitei

No photographs of this species are present in the Zoochat gallery.


Natal Red Rock Hare (Pronolagus crassicaudatus)

The range of this species extends throughout southeast South Africa and into adjacent southern Mozambique, Swaziland and eastern Lesotho.

Two subspecies are recognised:

P. r. crassicaudatus
P. r. ruddi

No photographs of this species are present in the Zoochat gallery.


Smith's Red Rock Hare (Pronolagus rupestris)

The range of this species comprises a pair of widely-disjunct populations in eastern and southern Africa; throughout northern and northwest South Africa and adjacent southern Namibia; and from southwest Kenya and central Tanzania in the north to eastern Zambia and northern Malawi in the south.

Four subspecies are recognised:

P. r. rupestris
P. r. curryi
P. r. nyikae
P. r. vallicola

No photographs of this species are present in the Zoochat gallery.


Hewitt's Red Rock Hare (Pronolagus saundersiae)

The range of this species extends throughout southern and eastern South Africa, Lesotho and into western Swaziland.

Monotypic.

Photo by @Giant Eland


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Romerolagus


Volcano Rabbit (Romerolagus diazi)

Endemic to four volcanos within the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt, to the southeast of Mexico City.

Monotypic.

Photo by @RatioTile


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Bunolagus


Riverine Rabbit (Bunolagus monticularis)

The range of this species extends throughout the central Karoo of South Africa.

Monotypic.

Photo by @Giant Eland


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Brachylagus


Pygmy Rabbit (Brachylagus idahoensis)

The range of this species extends throughout much of the Great Basin of western USA, from southeast Oregon and adjacent northeast California in the west, through central and northern Nevada into southern Idaho, western Utah and Wyoming, to southwest Montana in the east; a disjunct population is present in west-central Washington.

Monotypic; no photographs of this species are present in the Zoochat gallery.
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Nesolagus


Sumatran Striped Rabbit (Nesolagus netscheri)

The range of this species is restricted to the Barisan Mountains of western Sumatra.

Monotypic; no photographs of this species are present in the Zoochat gallery.


Annamite Striped Rabbit (Nesolagus timminsi)

The range of this species extends throughout the northern and central Annamite Mountains of Laos and Vietnam.

Monotypic; no photographs of this species are present in the Zoochat gallery.
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