Indian hare

Indian hare
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1) [1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Lagomorpha
Family:	Leporidae
Genus:	Lepus
Species:	L. nigricollis [2]
Binomial name
Lepus nigricollis [2] F. Cuvier, 1823
Indian hare range (green – native, red – introduced, dark grey – origin uncertain)

The Indian hare (Lepus nigricollis), also known as the black-naped hare, is a common species of hare native to the Indian subcontinent, ^[3] and Java. Its habitat in Java is in rocky highlands.

Description

The Indian hare is of medium size compared to other hares. Towards the southern parts of its range, individuals are notably larger. Its fur color is a mix of black and rufous, with the rufous color being especially present on the legs and breast of the hare. The hare's underside, including that of its tail, is white. The tail is brown on top. It has a head and body length of 33 to 53 cm (13 to 21 in), 8 to 12 cm (3.1 to 4.7 in)-long ears, large, well-furred hind feet that measure from 8.5 to 11.5 cm (3.3 to 4.5 in), and a rather long tail of about 6.4 centimetres (2.5 in). Adults can weigh up to 3.6 kg (7.9 lb), and may weigh as little as 1.8 kg (4.0 lb). ^[4]

The subspecies of Indian hare may display some distinguishing features. The nominate subspecies, L. n. nigricollis, has a black rather than brown tail, and the back of its neck has a distinctive black patch of fur. The fur of L. n. dayanus is paler, tending towards yellow. L. n. ruficaudatus is very similar to L. n. nigricollis, but the tail and neck patch are rufous and dark brown rather than black. ^[4]

Distribution and habitat

The Indian hare inhabits open grassy areas, cultivated plains, semi-arid and arid plains, and hills throughout the Indian subcontinent and Sri Lanka.^{[ citation needed ]}

Behaviour and ecology

Its activity pattern has been defined as crepuscular and nocturnal.^{[ citation needed ]}

Introductions

Indian hare in Rajkot

It has been introduced to Madagascar, Comoro Islands, Andaman Islands, Western New Guinea, Papua New Guinea, Seychelles, Mayotte, Mauritius and Réunion. ^[5]

Taxonomy

There are seven recognized subspecies of Indian hare.

• Lepus nigricollis aryabertensis
• Lepus nigricollis dayanus
• Lepus nigricollis nigricollis
• Lepus nigricollis ruficaudatus
• Lepus nigricollis sadiya
• Lepus nigricollis simcoxi
• Lepus nigricollis singhala

References

1. Nameer, P.O. & Smith, A.T. (2019). "Lepus nigricollis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2019: e.T41282A45188041. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-1.RLTS.T41282A45188041.en . Retrieved 18 February 2022.
2. Hoffmann, 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. 201. ISBN   978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC   62265494.
3. Suchentrunk, F & Mihajla Davidovic (2004). "Evaluation of the classification of Indian hares (Lepus nigricollis) into the genus Indolagus Gureev, 1953 (Leporidae, Lagomorpha)" (PDF). Mammalian Biology. 69 (1): 46–57. Bibcode:2004MamBi..69...46S. doi:10.1078/1616-5047-115. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2006-06-12.
4. Molur, Sanjay; Nameer, P. O. (2018). "Lepus nigricollis (F. Cuvier, 1823) Indian hare". In Smith, Andrew T.; Johnston, Charlotte H.; Alves, Paulo C.; Hackländer, Klaus (eds.). Lagomorphs: Pikas, Rabbits, and Hares of the World. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 201. doi:10.1353/book.57193. ISBN   978-1-4214-2341-8. LCCN   2017004268.
5. Long, J.L. (2003). Introduced Mammals of the World: Their History, Distribution and Influence. Cambridge: Cabi Publishing. doi:10.1071/9780643090156. ISBN   9780851997483.

​