One of the most distinctive characteristics of the steppe pika is its short, high-pitched alarm call, which gives the animal the name of the "whistling hare".

The steppe pika has been called a relict of Late Pliocene faunas on the basis of its fossil record, molar structure, karyological traits, and mtDNA sequence data.

[2] Steppe pikas can be found in Central Asia, east of the Urals throughout southern Russia and northern Kazakhstan.

Pikas feed on soft parts of juicy plants and low shrubs, near its dens.

Due to the fact it doesn't hibernate during winter, early (from June) it begins to gather grass, and dry it formed in haystacks.

Its fossil record in mountain areas is always linked to owl pellets and not indicative of the pika's past habits.

Pikas are generally regarded as an excellent indicator of the health of steppe ecosystems, as they strictly avoid human disturbance.