Abyssinian hare

The Abyssinian hare ( Lepus habessinicus ) is a mammal in the genus of the Real hares among lagomorphs. The distribution is restricted to a part of East Africa in the Horn of Africa.

Features

The Abyssinian Hare is small to medium in size with a head-body length of 40 to 55 centimeters and a weight of about 2 kg. The back color is cinnamon brown with black or mottled black drawings. The tail is black on the upper side, lower side white. The ears are not very long and have a slight black shading, borders. Compared to other hares of the genus Lepus, the kind in her skull an isolated Interparietalknochen, which is merged with the other species with the parietal bone.

Dissemination

The distribution area of the Abyssinian hare confined to a part of East Africa in the Horn of Africa. It includes Somalia, with the exception of the south, eastern Ethiopia, Djibouti, Eritrea, and a small proportion of the Sudan and possibly Kenya. It expands in regions that are affected by overgrazing. The altitudinal distribution ranges from sea level to about 2000 or even 2500 meters.

Way of life

The Abyssinian hare lives in open grasslands, grasslands and savannas up in desert-like areas where shrubbery is present as a protective vegetation. In these areas, he prevails against the Kaphasen (L. capensis ), while regions with denser vegetation of other species such as the rabbit bush (L. saxatilis ), the Ethiopian hare ( L. fagani ) or the Ethiopian highland hare ( L. starcki ) are populated. Probably the Abyssinian hare is nocturnal.

System

The species status of the Abyssinian hare is controversial and it is considered by some scientists as a subspecies of Kaphasen (Lepus capensis ) is considered; However, their autonomy is assumed due to the sympatric occurrence with the Kaphasen.

Within the species, no subspecies are distinguished addition to the nominate form.

Threats and conservation

The species is classified by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources ( IUCN) due to the large distribution area and the high inventory levels as not at risk ( " least concern "). Larger threats to Artbestand are not known, it is generally assumed that increases the range and the populations due to over-grazing and associated habitat change in favor of this kind.