Indian hare
Black neck hare ( Lepus nigricollis )
The black neck hare or Indian Hare ( Lepus nigricollis ) is a mammal in the genus of the Real hares among lagomorphs. Its distribution extends over India and adjacent areas as well as in Sri Lanka, also he was introduced to various islands in the Indian Ocean.
Features
The Black Rabbit neck is medium in size with a body length of 33-53 cm and a body weight of 1.8 to 3.5 kg, an average of 2.5 kilograms. The animals tend to be larger than in the north to the south of India. The coat is reddish- brown with black components on the back and face. The chest and the legs are reddish brown, the chin and belly are white.
The southern subspecies L. nigricollis n is characterized by a dark patch in the neck and a black top of the tail, at the northern subspecies L. n ruficaudatus these parts are gray and brown. L. n dayanus, the desert form of this kind, however, has a brighter, sand-colored body coloration and the females are significantly heavier than the males with 1.8 kg with an average of 2.2 kg of body weight.
Dissemination
The distribution area of the black neck hare extends over parts of South Asia. He comes across India before with the exception of the high altitudes of the Himalayas and the mangrove forests of the Sundarbans in West Bengal. In addition, the area of the type sufficient to Bangladesh ( again with the exception of the Sundarbans ), to Pakistan and northern Nepal. Even in Sri Lanka, he is to be found. For Bhutan, a distribution is assumed, which is not backed up.
In addition, he was introduced to various islands in the Indian Ocean, especially Mauritius ( Gunnera Quoin ), Analega, Réunion and Cousin ( Seychelles). Observations of Black neck hare on the Indonesian island of Java apply IUCN as unsafe. After Chapman & Flux 1990 he comes here, however, in the extreme west before and was probably introduced.
The Black Rabbit neck colonized many different habitats, including deserts, grasslands, agricultural land and forest areas with the exception of mangrove forests. It occurs at altitudes of 50-4500 meters. In the Nilgiri mountains he lives at altitudes above 2,000 meters and 2,400 meters in the Himalayas over.
Way of life
The black neck hare is primarily crepuscular and nocturnal and is described as very shy. For Nepal the action space of one to ten hectares and a population density of 0.25 animals per hectare was specified for Cousin Iceland, an island without predators, the action space 0.7 to 1.6 acres and the density is 5.6 hares per hectares. In open landscapes and deserts in the action area will be significantly greater.
It feeds mainly on herbaceous plants and grasses. The animals rest in hollows under bushes and other hiding places, where the individuals use several Sassen. In the Tharwüste in Sindh, the animals spend the day under bushes and come out at night. Here they feed on Panicum, Capparis, Zizyphus Crotalaria and. In rainy areas make grasses more than 70 % of the food dar. For black neck hare on Sri Lanka have been identified in addition to grasses and young leaves and sweet potatoes and salad gardens as food and Kotanalysen cousin to Iceland revealed Achyrantes aspera and Ficus reflexa.
The mating season extends throughout the year and pregnant females were also observed throughout the year. The highest discard rates there during the rainy season, the monsoon. The females give birth to a litter of one to four, rarely more pups.
Especially young animals are captured by carnivorous mammals, including held as pets dogs and cats, and birds.
System
The Black Rabbit neck is assigned as an independent species the genuine rabbit ( genus Lepus ). Here is a close relationship with the Burmese hares (L. peguensis ), which was confirmed, among others, through the study of dental features. It could be shown that these two species are very closely related, but both including each of the considered sub-species represent distinct species. A greater distance is to the Tibetan wool hare ( L. oiostolus ) and the Chinese hare ( L. sinensis), connect their distribution areas to the north of the black neck of the hare and Burmese hares.
For India, several subspecies of the black neck hares in different regions and habitats have been described. Currently eleven subspecies are recognized, including: Lepus nigricollis aryabertensis, L. n dayanus, L. nigricollis n, n ruficaudatus L., L. Sadiya n, n simcoxi L. and L. Sinhala n.
Threats and conservation
The species is classified by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN ) due to the population size and the large distribution area as not at risk ( least concern ). In the areas where it occurs, it is common. Due to the agricultural use and deforestation its habitat is, however, regionally fragmented, especially in India. The main risk is accordingly of habitat destruction by the intensification of agriculture and the conversion of primary habitats into agricultural land. In addition, the species is regionally hunted primarily as a source of meat.
In India, the species is protected by the Annex IV of the Indian Wildlife ( Protection) Act 1972, however, a specific type of protection does not exist. However, numerous individuals live in protected areas and are thus protected from human influence.
On the island of Gunnera Quoin, where the rabbit was introduced, it will try him as well as other mammals eradicate entrained again. To this end, poison baits are designed to be adopted by the hare.