Black-necked hare
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Black-necked hare ( Lepus nigricollis ) |
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| Lepus nigricollis | ||||||||||||
| F. Cuvier , 1823 |
The black-necked hare or Indian hare ( Lepus nigricollis ) is a species of mammal belonging to the genus of the real hare within the hare-like species . Its distribution area extends over India and neighboring areas as well as Sri Lanka , in addition it was introduced on various islands in the Indian Ocean.
features
The black-necked hare is medium-sized with a body length of 33 to 53 centimeters and a body weight of 1.8 to 3.5 kilograms, an average of 2.5 kilograms. The animals in the south of India tend to be larger than in the north. The fur is reddish-brown with black parts on the back and face. The chest and legs are reddish brown, the chin and belly are white.
The southern subspecies L. n. Nigricollis is characterized by a dark spot on the neck and a black upper side of the tail, in the northern subspecies L. n. Ruficaudatus these areas are gray and brown. L. n. Dayanus , the desert form of this species, on the other hand, has a lighter, sand-colored body color and the females, with an average body weight of 2.2 kilograms, are significantly heavier than the males with 1.8 kilograms.
distribution
The distribution area of the black-necked hare extends over parts of South Asia. It occurs throughout India with the exception of the high elevations of the Himalayas and the mangrove areas of the Sundarbans in West Bengal . In addition, the area of the species extends as far as Bangladesh (also here with the exception of the Sundarbans), Pakistan and northern Nepal . He can also be found in Sri Lanka . Distribution is assumed for Bhutan , but it is not certain.
In addition, it has been introduced to various islands in the Indian Ocean , mainly Mauritius , Gunner's Quoin , Agalega , Réunion and Cousin ( Seychelles ). According to the IUCN, observations of the black-necked hare on the Indonesian island of Java are considered unsafe. After Chapman & Flux 1990, however, it occurs here in the extreme west and was probably introduced.
The black-necked hare inhabits numerous different habitats, including deserts, grasslands, agricultural areas and forest areas with the exception of mangrove forests. It occurs at heights of 50 to 4,500 meters. In the Nilgiri Mountains it lives at altitudes over 2,000 meters and in the Himalayas over 2,400 meters.
Way of life
The black-necked hare is primarily crepuscular and nocturnal and is described as very shy. For Nepal, the action area was given as one to ten hectares and a settlement density of 0.25 animals per hectare, for Cousin Island, an island without predators, the action area is 0.7 to 1.6 hectares and the density 5.6 rabbits per hectare Hectares. In more open landscapes and in deserts, the action area will be significantly larger.
It feeds mainly on shrubs and grasses. The animals rest in hollows under bushes and in other hiding places, whereby the individual individuals use several seats. In the Thar desert in Sindh , the animals spend the day under bushes and come out at night. Here they feed on Panicum , Capparis , Crotalaria and Zizyphus . In rainy areas, grasses represent over 70% of the diet. For black-necked hares in Sri Lanka, in addition to grasses and young leaves, sweet potatoes and lettuce from gardens were identified as food, and excrement analyzes on Cousin Island revealed Achyrantes aspera and Ficus reflexa .
The mating season extends throughout the year and pregnant females have also been found throughout the year. The highest litter rates are during the rainy season, the monsoon . The females give birth to one to four, rarely more young animals per litter.
Young animals in particular are preyed on by carnivorous mammals, including dogs and cats kept as pets, as well as by birds.
Systematics
The black-necked hare is assigned to the real hare (genus Lepus ) as an independent species . There is a close relationship with the Burmese hare ( L. peguensis ), which has been confirmed, among other things, by examining tooth features. It could be demonstrated that these two species are very closely related, but that both represent separate species including the subspecies under consideration. There is a greater distance to the Tibetan woolly hare ( L. oiostolus ) and the Chinese hare ( L. sinensis ), whose distribution areas connect to the north of the black-necked hare and the Burmese hare.
Several subspecies of the black-necked hare have been described in different regions and habitats for India . Currently eleven subspecies are recognized, including: Lepus nigricollis aryabertensis , L. n dayanus. , L. n nigricollis. , N L. ruficaudatus. , L. n Sadiya. , L. n simcoxi. And L. n Sinhala. .
Hazard and protection
The species is classified by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) as not endangered (least concern) due to the size of the population and the large distribution area. It is common in the areas where it occurs. However, due to agricultural use and deforestation, its habitat is regionally highly fragmented, especially in India. The main threat comes from habitat destruction through intensification of agriculture and the conversion of primary habitats into agricultural areas. In addition, the species is mainly hunted regionally as a source of meat.
In India, the species is protected by Appendix IV of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972, but there is no specific species protection. However, numerous individuals live in protected areas and are therefore protected from human influence.
On the island of Gunnera Quoin, where the hare was introduced, attempts are being made to exterminate it, as well as other introduced mammals. For this purpose, poison baits are laid out, which are accepted by the hares.
supporting documents
- ↑ a b c d e f g h i j k l Lepus nigricollis in the endangered species Red List of IUCN 2011. Published by: G. Maheswaran, M. Jordan, 2008. Retrieved on February 8, 2012 found.
- ↑ a b c d e f g h Joseph A. Chapman, John EC Flux (eds.): Rabbits, Hares and Pikas. Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan. (PDF; 11.3 MB) International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN), Gland 1990; Pp. 82-83. ISBN 2-8317-0019-1 .
- ↑ a b F. Suchentrunk: Phylogenetic relationships between Indian and Burmese hares (Lepus nigricollis and L. peguensis) inferred from epigenetic dental characters. ( Memento of the original from November 26, 2015 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Mammalian Biology 69, 2004; Pp. 28-45.
- ^ PD Bell: The eradication of alien mammals from five offshore islands, Mauritius, Indian Ocean. ( Memento of the original from January 24, 2013 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. (PDF; 49 kB) In: C.. Veitch, MN Clout (Ed.): Turning the tide: the eradication of invasive species. IUCN SSC Invasive Species Specialist Group at IUCN, Gland and Cambridge 2002; Pp. 40-45.
literature
- Joseph A. Chapman, John EC Flux (Eds.): Rabbits, Hares and Pikas. Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan. (PDF; 11.3 MB) International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN), Gland 1990; Pp. 82-83. ISBN 2-8317-0019-1 .
Web links
- Lepus nigricollis in the endangered Red List species the IUCN 2011. Posted by: G. Maheswaran, M. Jordan, 2008. Accessed February 8, 2012th