Corsican hare
The Corsica - Apennines rabbit or hare ( Lepus Corsicanus ) is a mammal of the family of hares ( Leporidae ). Despite its name, it is native only in central and southern Italy, including Sicily, Corsica, he was introduced. The IUCN classified the species as endangered ( "vulnerable ").
Mark
The Corsica bunny is slightly smaller and lighter than the similar hare, but the ears and hind legs are longer in proportion to body. The head-body length is 441-612 mm, tail length 66-112 mm, the length of the hind foot 114-135 mm and the ear length 90-126 mm. The animals weigh 1.8 to 3.8 kg. Compared with the hare 's fur is beige brown more oberseits gray and flanks, the wool fibers have a gray base. The underside is white.
Distribution and habitat
The species is endemic to Italy. The small distribution area extends from the central north -west to the south of Italy and Sicily includes a, the exact distribution is still largely obscure. On the eponymous island of Corsica Corsica bunny is believed to have been introduced between the 14th and 17th centuries and was there in mid -1980s as probably extinct again. In the years 2000 and 2001, the presence of the species, however, was there again proved beyond doubt by several dead animals.
Due to habitat destruction and competition with the hares, the species is now largely restricted to the Italian peninsula on mountainous regions and comes in the hills and plains before only where the hare is rare or - as in Sicily - is missing. The species inhabits semi-open landscapes with bushes and deciduous forests and open areas that can also be used for agriculture. It comes from sea level to 2000 m, on Etna also up at 2400 meters before. In contrast to the hares Corsica Hare also inhabit the Mediterranean maquis.
Way of life
For the habit of the species are so far only a few details. In Sicily to Corsica bunnies eat all year round from Sedge family ( Cyperaceae ), Bins family ( Juncaceae ), leguminous (Leguminosae ) and Asteraceae (Compositae). In spring and summer, grasses (Gramineae ) and mint are eaten ( Labiatae ).
Inventory and risk
On the Italian mainland of the Corsica - hare is considered endangered ( "endangered "). Populations are usually spatially isolated from each other, which probably barely held a genetic exchange and the way is there the whole rare. Existing hazards are the ongoing habitat destruction, the introduction or restocking of competing hares and hunting by the unintentional confusion with this. In Sicily, the species is, however, widespread and at least locally often. Overall, the IUCN classified the species as endangered ( "vulnerable ").