A small, round relative of the rabbit that lives in large family colonies on the grasslands.
- Group: Mammal
- Habitats: Alpine meadow, alpine steppe
- Regions: Ü Tsang, Kham, Amdo
Habitat
Open meadows and steppe with short grass.
Diet
Grasses and herbs.
Ecological role
A keystone species: its burrows house birds and lizards, its digging increases plant diversity, and it is the main food of foxes, cats, bears and birds of prey.
Threats
Large-scale poisoning campaigns by Chinese authorities, which treat it as a pest that competes with livestock; scientists Smith and Foggin warn that this harms the whole grassland ecosystem.
Conservation
Listed as Least Concern by the IUCN.