The Chinese hare (Lepus sinensis) is a species of mammal in the family Leporidae.[2] It is found in China, Taiwan and Vietnam.[1]
| Chinese hare | |
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Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Lagomorpha |
| Family: | Leporidae |
| Genus: | Lepus |
| Species: | L. sinensis
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| Binomial name | |
| Lepus sinensis J. E. Gray, 1832
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| Chinese hare range | |
Taxonomy
editThe Chinese hare was first described by John Edward Gray in 1832. The Korean hare (Lepus coreanus) was at one time considered to be a subspecies of the Chinese hare but molecular studies of mtDNA have since shown that the Korean hare is in fact a separate species.[3]
Description
editThe Chinese hare is a small species growing to a length of about 40 to 76 centimetres (16 to 30 in) and a weight of 1.25 to 1.94 kilograms (2.8 to 4.3 lb) with the females being rather larger than the males. The fur is short and coarse, the back and chest being chestnut-brown and the belly whitish. The large hind feet are furred, the tail is brown and the tips of the ears bear triangular black patches. It is distinguished from other Lepus species by the shape and details of its skull and teeth.[4]
Distribution and habitat
editThe Chinese hare is native to the Chinese provinces of Anhui, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi and Zhejiang. It also occurs on Taiwan and in a small area of north-eastern Vietnam.[1] The population of Chinese hare in Taiwan is considered as a subspecies, known as the Formosan hare.[5]
Biology
editThe Chinese hare has been little studied but like other hare species, the diet consists of grasses and other green plant material, buds, twigs and bark. It is mainly nocturnal and produces two types of faeces, moist and dry pellets. It eats the moist pellets immediately so as to extract the maximum nutritional value from its food. It does not live underground in a burrow but has a form or nest in long vegetation. A litter of about three precocial young are born in this and visited by the mother once a day for a few minutes to allow them to suckle. The mother's milk is particularly rich in protein and fat and the lactation period lasts for about three weeks. Various carnivores prey on the Chinese hare and it relies on its fast running speed to escape from predators.[4]
Status
editThe IUCN lists the Chinese hare in its Red List of Threatened Species as being of "Least Concern" as it has a wide range. However, in Vietnam it occurs in a heavily populated area and is at risk from hunting. In China, its population trend is unknown.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b c d Smith, A.T.; Johnston, C.H. (2019). "Lepus sinensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T41286A45189035. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-1.RLTS.T41286A45189035.en. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
- ^ Hoffman, R.S.; Smith, A.T. (2005). "Order Lagomorpha". In Wilson, D.E.; Reeder, D.M (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 203. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
- ^ Hung Sun Koh; Kyung Hee Jang (2010). "Genetic distinctness of the Korean hare, Lepus coreanus (Mammalia, Lagomorpha), revealed by nuclear thyroglobulin gene and mtDNA control region sequences". Biochemical Genetics. 48 (7–8): 706–710. doi:10.1007/s10528-010-9353-0. PMID 20526735. S2CID 20926137.
- ^ a b "Lepus sinensis - Chinese hare". Living organisms. Wildpro. Archived from the original on 25 May 2019. Retrieved 2013-08-28.
- ^ "Forest mammal sightings up". Taipei Times. 2023-08-07. Retrieved 2024-10-11.