Geographic Range
Hainan hares (
Lepus hainanus
) are found only on the western side of China's Hainan Dao island.
- Other Geographic Terms
- island endemic
Habitat
The natural habitat of Hainan hares is the grasslands and shrub-forests of Hainan,
China. Historically, the hares inhabited most lowland areas of the island. In 1995,
due to the loss of natural habitat, Hainan hares were found only near the ranger stations
of two deer ranches. A 1999 survey found that the species was also present in Tongtieling
Forest Area.
- Habitat Regions
- tropical
- terrestrial
- Terrestrial Biomes
- savanna or grassland
- scrub forest
- Other Habitat Features
- agricultural
Physical Description
Dorsally, the hares have a a pale brown soft coat with tinges of black and chestnut.
They have white circles around the eyes extending forward toward the muzzle and back
toward the ear. On the ventral side, the coat is white. The feet are light brown with
white markings and the tail is brownish-black on top with stripes oriented transversely,
but pale to white on the bottom. Seasonal variation has been observed in the summer
coat being less vibrant than the winter coat. This species of hare has short ears,
which tend to be less than 95 mm in length. The skull is rounded with small auditory
bullae, a broad, short rostrum, an upwardly directed suborbital process, and upper
incisors forming a Y-shaped groove that is often filled with cementum.
- Other Physical Features
- endothermic
- bilateral symmetry
- Sexual Dimorphism
- sexes alike
Reproduction
The mating system of Hainan hares has not been reported. However, like many other
common hares and jackrabbits
, they are believed polygynandrous.
- Mating System
- polygynandrous (promiscuous)
Little is known about the reproductive behavior of Hainan hares. However, other
common hares and jackrabbits
that live near the equator breed throughout the year and have approximately 8 litters
containing 1 to 2 young. Their closest relatives,
Burmese hares
, have a gestation period of 35 to 40 days.
- Key Reproductive Features
- iteroparous
- gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate)
- sexual
- viviparous
Though the parental investment of Hainan hares has not been investigated, most
hares, pikas, and rabbits
have limited parental investment compared to other mammals. Mothers typically visit
their young to allow them to nurse once a day. Weaning typically occurs at 1 or 2
months of age and sexual maturity shortly following at roughly 4 to 6 months of age.
Males are not involved in caring for the young.
- Parental Investment
- precocial
- female parental care
-
pre-fertilization
- provisioning
-
pre-hatching/birth
-
provisioning
- female
-
protecting
- female
-
provisioning
-
pre-weaning/fledging
-
provisioning
- female
-
provisioning
Lifespan/Longevity
The life span of this species has not been reported, but its closest relative,
Burmese hares
, have an estimated lifespan of 6 years.
Behavior
A shy and primarily solitary creature, Hainan hares are nocturnal with a majority
of activity occurring before midnight. Hare activity has on occasion been observed
during the day. Members of this species don't burrow.
- Key Behaviors
- saltatorial
- nocturnal
- motile
- sedentary
Home Range
Hainan hares appear to be relatively sedentary. A territory size of less than 2 sq km was recorded for individuals living near two deer ranch ranger stations.
Communication and Perception
There is little information on communication and perception of Hainan hares. The species
has external physical features associated with sight, touch, taste, and hearing. Other
hares, pikas, and rabbits
use pheromones and scent marks for perception.
Food Habits
The diet of Hainan hares has not been described. However, they are presumed to be
herbivores, in keeping with other
hares, pikas, and rabbits
.
Predation
In their natural range these hares face little predation pressure, most likely due
to low predator abundance in the region.
Ecosystem Roles
The role of Hainan hares in the ecosystem has not been described. In the past, it
may have been a significant prey species, as is the case for most
common hares and jackrabbits
. However, this is unlikely the case today, as populations have declined.
Economic Importance for Humans: Positive
Hainan hares have historically been, and to a lesser extent still are, hunted for
meat and skin.
- Positive Impacts
- food
- body parts are source of valuable material
Economic Importance for Humans: Negative
Conservation Status
Due to expansion of land use for agriculture and harvesting, this hare has lost what
is estimated to be upwards of 90% of its natural habitat, with less than 2 sq km left
of optimal habitat. It is also under pressure from poaching for pelts and meat, and
competition may exist with feral European
hares, pikas, and rabbits
. The Hainan hare is a China Key List - II protected species, but as of 1995 there
were no laws regarding the conservation of this species. The species was Red Listed
in 2008. The estimated population size is 250 to 500 individuals.
Other Comments
The species was first reported by Robert Swinhoe in 1870, but until recently was considered
a subspecies of
Burmese hares
.
Additional Links
Contributors
Annette Lundberg (author), Michigan State University, Barbara Lundrigan (editor), Michigan State University, Laura Podzikowski (editor), Special Projects.
- oriental
-
found in the oriental region of the world. In other words, India and southeast Asia.
- native range
-
the area in which the animal is naturally found, the region in which it is endemic.
- island endemic
-
animals that live only on an island or set of islands.
- tropical
-
the region of the earth that surrounds the equator, from 23.5 degrees north to 23.5 degrees south.
- terrestrial
-
Living on the ground.
- tropical savanna and grassland
-
A terrestrial biome. Savannas are grasslands with scattered individual trees that do not form a closed canopy. Extensive savannas are found in parts of subtropical and tropical Africa and South America, and in Australia.
- savanna
-
A grassland with scattered trees or scattered clumps of trees, a type of community intermediate between grassland and forest. See also Tropical savanna and grassland biome.
- temperate grassland
-
A terrestrial biome found in temperate latitudes (>23.5° N or S latitude). Vegetation is made up mostly of grasses, the height and species diversity of which depend largely on the amount of moisture available. Fire and grazing are important in the long-term maintenance of grasslands.
- scrub forest
-
scrub forests develop in areas that experience dry seasons.
- agricultural
-
living in landscapes dominated by human agriculture.
- polygynandrous
-
the kind of polygamy in which a female pairs with several males, each of which also pairs with several different females.
- iteroparous
-
offspring are produced in more than one group (litters, clutches, etc.) and across multiple seasons (or other periods hospitable to reproduction). Iteroparous animals must, by definition, survive over multiple seasons (or periodic condition changes).
- sexual
-
reproduction that includes combining the genetic contribution of two individuals, a male and a female
- viviparous
-
reproduction in which fertilization and development take place within the female body and the developing embryo derives nourishment from the female.
- young precocial
-
young are relatively well-developed when born
- female parental care
-
parental care is carried out by females
- saltatorial
-
specialized for leaping or bounding locomotion; jumps or hops.
- nocturnal
-
active during the night
- motile
-
having the capacity to move from one place to another.
- sedentary
-
remains in the same area
- visual
-
uses sight to communicate
- tactile
-
uses touch to communicate
- acoustic
-
uses sound to communicate
- chemical
-
uses smells or other chemicals to communicate
- visual
-
uses sight to communicate
- tactile
-
uses touch to communicate
- acoustic
-
uses sound to communicate
- chemical
-
uses smells or other chemicals to communicate
- food
-
A substance that provides both nutrients and energy to a living thing.
- herbivore
-
An animal that eats mainly plants or parts of plants.
- folivore
-
an animal that mainly eats leaves.
- endothermic
-
animals that use metabolically generated heat to regulate body temperature independently of ambient temperature. Endothermy is a synapomorphy of the Mammalia, although it may have arisen in a (now extinct) synapsid ancestor; the fossil record does not distinguish these possibilities. Convergent in birds.
- bilateral symmetry
-
having body symmetry such that the animal can be divided in one plane into two mirror-image halves. Animals with bilateral symmetry have dorsal and ventral sides, as well as anterior and posterior ends. Synapomorphy of the Bilateria.
References
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