Manchurian hare[1]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Lagomorpha
Family: Leporidae
Genus: Lepus
Species:
L. mandshuricus
Binomial name
Lepus mandshuricus
Radde, 1861
Manchurian hare range
Synonyms[3]
  • Lepus melainus Li and Luo, 1979

The Manchurian hare (Lepus mandshuricus) is a species of hare found in northeastern China and Russia, the Amur River basin, and the higher mountains of northern North Korea. It lives in forests and the IUCN has assessed its conservation status as being of "least concern".

Description

The adult Manchurian hare weighs about 2 kilograms, and has a body length of 40–48 centimeters (16–19 in), in addition to a tail of 4.5–7.5 centimeters (1.8–3.0 in). The ears are typically 7.5–10.4 centimeters in length. Compared to the Korean hare, its hind legs are relatively short and its ears relatively small. A melanistic morph exists, and has been described as the separate species Lepus melainus.[3]

Distribution and habitat

The Manchurian hare is native to eastern Russia and northeastern China. Its range extends eastwards from the Ussuri River region of Russia, through the Chinese provinces of Heilongjiang, Jilin, Liaoning and Inner Mongolia and possibly extends as far as North Korea, where its range may overlap with that of the Korean hare (Lepus coreanus). It is found in forests and has a preference for mixed woodlands over coniferous forest. It tends to avoid open areas and keeps away from human settlements. It occurs at altitudes of up to 900 m (2,953 ft).[2]

Status

The Manchurian hare has a wide range and is present in a number of reserves. Its chief threat is the degradation of its forest habitat and the consequent spread of the tolai hare (Lepus tolai) which breeds prolifically and with which it is unable to compete. Its present population size and population trend are unknown, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed its conservation status as being of "least concern".[2]

References

  1. ↑ 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. pp. 200–201. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
  2. 1 2 3 Smith, A.T.; Johnston, C.H. (2019). "Lepus mandshuricus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T41281A45187882. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-1.RLTS.T41281A45187882.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  3. 1 2 Liu, Jiang; Chen, Peng; Yu, Li; Wu, Shi-Fang; Zhang, Ya-Ping; Jiang, Xuelong (31 August 2011). "The taxonomic status of Lepus melainus (Lagomorpha: Leporidae) based on nuclear DNA and morphological analyses". Zootaxa (3010): 47–57.
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