The most playful animals in the world enjoy hide-and-seek, swinging on branches, and scaring one another. Can you guess who they are?

Our planet is home to an enormous variety of life: some animals are well-studied, while we still know too little about others. Even with some of the most well-known creatures in the world, such as dolphins, there is much we do not understand — recently, scientists shared a rare instance when a mammal killed a human. Now, researchers have revealed information about another intriguing animal — the Turuchan pika, as reported by Live Science.

The Turuchan pikas (Ochotona turuchanensis) are found only in the mountains of Central Siberia, which is why there is limited knowledge about them. Although this region can be a harsh and challenging habitat, it does not prevent the Turuchan pika from having fun: these petite mammals are particularly known for their love of various games — from swinging on branches to chasing one another.

These animals reside on rocky terrains in the areas of the Central Siberian Plateau. This region is quite unique and isolated, resulting in little information about it and its local inhabitants. Nevertheless, scientists have plenty to share about the Turuchan pika: it is believed that these animals are a subspecies of the northern pika (Ochotona hyperborea), which can be found in Northern Asia.

It is known that Turuchan pikas can grow up to 20 centimeters in length and are covered with thick dark fur, which helps them survive in cold habitats and provides camouflage from predators in rocky areas. They possess strong hind legs, making them well-adapted for climbing, jumping, and importantly, playing.

From 2020 to 2021, researchers studied the local population of Turuchan pikas to understand how and why they jump. The team observed the animals as they leaped and grabbed branches with their teeth, swung on bushes and shrubs, and rolled from side to side on their backs. Scientists also documented a female and an adult male taking turns hiding behind rocks and then leaping at each other. Others chased one another in a game of tag.

The researchers also managed to document a behavior they termed "leaping and lifting." The animals would suddenly spring onto their hind legs, throw their heads back, and stretch their front paws forward, often with leaves or lichen in their mouths. It is not precisely known why they did this, but it appears they were playing with their food before consuming it.

Interestingly, this playful behavior was observed in both adults and young individuals. This suggests that Turuchan pikas enjoy playing at any age. Scientists also believe that members of this species seem to play simply for the sake of enjoyment.

Researchers state that this is the first instance where any animal from the order Lagomorpha has been observed engaging in all three types of play behavior (locomotor, object, and social) in the wild.