Woolly hare
Tibetan wool rabbit, illustration by Joseph Smit (1836-1929)
The Tibetan wool hare ( Lepus oiostolus ) is a species of hare rights within the lagomorphs. Its range extends from northern India and Nepal over the Tibetan Plateau to central China.
Features
The Tibetan wool rabbit is a medium to large rabbit dwelling and reaches a body length of about 40 to 50 centimeters. Here are the females with an average of 45.6 centimeters and a weight of about 2400 grams on average slightly larger and heavier than the males with an average of 44.6 centimeters body length and an average weight of 2150 grams. The head and muzzle are slightly longer than that of the related Kaphasen (Lepus capensis ). The back color ranges from brown, yellowish- brown to yellowish- white, while the coat is slightly wavy on the back. The body is brown - gray to silver-gray, the white tail or white with gray or gray- black stripes. The belly is white, sometimes with a light brown line in the middle abdomen. The legs are brown and white, with the fur in the paws can be dark brown. The juveniles are completely brown - yellow.
Distribution and habitat
The Tibetan wool rabbit lives in the steppes and semi- desert areas in the highlands of Tibet. Its range extends from the north of the Indian provinces of Jammu and Kashmir and Sikkim and Nepal over the entire Tibet Autonomous Region, and parts of the adjacent Chinese provinces of Xinjiang, Qinghai, Gansu, Sichuan and Yunnan.
The habitat of the Tibetan wool rabbit lies at altitudes 2500-5200 meters, in China generally above 3500 meters. He lives in semi-arid to arid grasslands, to alpine meadows, dry meadows to dry cold deserts of the Tibetan highlands.
Way of life
The Tibetan wool bunny is primarily nocturnal, but can also be observed during the day. It feeds mainly on grasses and herbaceous plants. The rutting season begins in April and the hares throw usually twice per year, with the union includes four to six pups.
System
The Tibetan wool rabbit is assigned the rights hares of the genus Lepus. On the basis of molecular biological research of the Yunnan hare ( L. comus ) was confirmed as sister species.
A total of four subspecies of the Tibetan wool rabbits are described: Lepus oiostolus Hypsibius, L. oiostolus o, o L. pallipes And L. o przewalskii, the latter being originally the widespread Kaphasen (L. capensis ) has been assigned.
Threats and conservation
Data on the population size of the Tibetan wool rabbits are not available. It is estimated, however, by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources ( IUCN) due to the large distribution area and population size as " not at risk " ( Least concern ). In India, due to habitat loss and declining stocks he was regarded as being at risk ( endangered ) against. For China and Nepal also a decrease in total volume known, here he is, however, not considered to be at risk.