However, the Gaoligong pika is specifically characterized by unique physical characteristics, including a red-brown colored crown around the neck and black behind the ears.

[4] There are evolutionary appearances that have been connected to each specific group of pikas within the family, during the Pliocene and Pleistocene periods.

Ochotonids share very similar physical characteristics, which have made it nearly impossible to order them according to their taxonomy.

The Gaoligong pika shares a range of general physical characteristics as those of the family Ochotonidae.

Its locality includes, Gaoligong Mountains,[7] located northwest of the Yunnan Province, China,[8] where their name derives.

Primarily, due to this type of habitat of the Gaoligong pikas, there is a limited amount of information about their group.

Within the family Ochotonidae however, there is a total of 24 species of pikas found also in China, generally in steppe and alpine environments.

However, Ochotonids were once also found in a range of other locations, such as Asia, Europe, North America and northern Africa.

It is a rarely found, one of the six pika species endemic to central China, with no true population studies.

[11] The absences of information known about Gaoligong Pikas may be due to the range of access their habitat has to offer.

[14] Additionally, Pikas do not hibernate during the winter, making them highly dependent on environmental and habitat factors.

Information available about the Gaoligong pika group is restrictive and has therefore not been assigned to a threat category under The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

[13] Factors that have contributed to the endangerment of pikas include: climate change, loss of habitat, as well as, on several occasions, poisoning.

Because of the climate change, especially during warming summers, the mortality rate of Ochotonids has drastically increased over the years.

There is no information in regards to the reproduction phase of the Gaoligong Pika group, due to the accessibility of their habitat, in order to be observed and studied further.