Alpine Pika vs Mourning Cloak

Ochotona alpina compared with Nymphalis antiopa

Key Differences

• Alpine Pika is Least Concern while Mourning Cloak is Critically Endangered.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Alpine Pika	Mourning Cloak
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum	Chordata (Chordates)	Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class	Mammalia (Mammals)	Insecta (Insects)
Order	Lagomorpha (Rabbits & Hares)	Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths)
Family	Ochotonidae	Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)
Genus	Ochotona	Nymphalis
Species	Ochotona alpina	Nymphalis antiopa

Evolutionary Relationship

Alpine Pika and Mourning Cloak share a common ancestor at the Kingdom level: Animalia. (Animals)

Conservation Status

Alpine Pika

LC — Least Concern

Mourning Cloak

CR — Critically Endangered

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Alpine Pika	Mourning Cloak
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Alpine Pika

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Mourning Cloak

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including temperate broadleaf and mixed forests, temperate coniferous forests, and boreal forests and taiga, among 9 distinct biome types within the Palearctic biogeographic realm. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Found across Europe (39 countries) and North America (Canada, United States). Currently classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

Alpine Pika

The Alpine Pika (Ochotona alpina) is a species in the genus Ochotona. It is currently classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Mourning Cloak

Mourning Cloak (Nymphalis antiopa) is classified as Critically Endangered (CR) on the IUCN Red List. Facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild due to severe population decline and habitat loss.