Ethiopian hare
| Ethiopian hare | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Lagomorpha |
| Family: | Leporidae |
| Genus: | Lepus |
| Species: | L. fagani
|
| Binomial name | |
| Lepus fagani | |
| |
| Ethiopian hare range | |
TheEthiopian hare(Lepus fagani) is a species ofmammalin the familyLeporidae.It was firstdescribedin 1903, by the BritishmammalogistOldfield Thomas.The dorsalpelageis brownish buff, and is finely grizzled with black. The ventral pelage is fluffy and white in colour.EndemictoEthiopia,it is found in theAfromontane Biozoneof Ethiopia, and in the borders of theSudanian Savanna Biozone.It is rated as aleast concernspecies by theInternational Union for Conservation of Nature.
Taxonomy
[edit]The Ethiopian hare is a species of the familyLeporidae,and has no recognized subspecies.[3][4]It belongs to the subgenusSabanalagus.[3]It was firstdescribedin 1903 by the BritishmammalogistOldfield Thomasin theProceedings of the Zoological Society of London.He named itLepus fagani,after Charles E. Fagan, who was the Assistant Secretary of theBritish Museum of Natural History.[5][2]Describing the hare's taxonomy in 1986,Derek Yaldenand colleagues wrote "its nomenclatural history has been very confused".[6]
In 1959 and 1964 respectively,Francis Petterand A. A. Gureev classified it as a subspecies ofL. crawshayi,now regarded as a junior synonym ofL. microtis,theAfrican savanna hare.[3][7]In 1972,Gordon Barclay CorbetandDerek Yaldensuggested it might be a synonym ofL. whytei,now a subspecies ofL. microtis.[8]Petter then classified it as a subspecies of theAbyssinian hare(Lepus habessinicus), in 1963.[9]In 1987,Maria Luisa Azzaroli Puccettireinstated its status as an independent species, because it has a uniform character throughout its distribution.[10]It has been listed as a separate species in various works published since then.[3][11][4]North of theRift Valley,on the Ethiopian mountains, the population of the Ethiopian hare is geographically isolated from that of the Cape hare in the surroundinglowlands.Flux and Angermann suggested that this isolation in population probably lead to the evolution of the Ethiopian hare as a different species.[10]In 1990, Flux and Angermann wrote it is "probably" a subspecies of the African savanna hare or of thescrub hare(Lepus saxatilis).[10]It is usually considered to be a part of the African savanna hare-scrub hare complex.[10][4]The Kingdon Field Guide to African Mammalsalso treats it as a subspecies of theCape hare(Lepus capensis).[12]A genetic study suggests that the Ethiopian hare recently descended from the Abyssinian hare.[13]
Itschromosome numberis likely the same as other species of its genus.[4]Theholotypewas collected by Edward Degen and itstype localityis theZege Peninsula,Lake Tana,Ethiopia at an elevation of 4,000 ft (1,200 m).[a][5]
Description
[edit]The Ethiopian hare is a medium-sized, dark coloured hare,[5]which measures 45 to 54 cm (18 to 21 in) in length. It has a medium-sized, 5 to 8.2 cm (2.0 to 3.2 in) long, fluffy tail which is buff-white below, black above, and buff coloured at the sides. The skull measures 8.33 to 9 cm (3.28 to 3.54 in) in length.[4]The supraorbital wings are weak and small. The anterior shoulders of thecheek boneare large.[5]It has long, dense, coarsepelage.The dorsal hairs are 2 to 2.5 cm (0.79 to 0.98 in) long. They are brownish buff, and are finely grizzled with black. The fur is pale grey at the base, and have buff terminal bands, whitish subterminal bands, and generally black tips. Theunderfuris whitish grey. The head is darker than the dorsal pelage, and thecrown(top of the head) is blacker.[4]The chin, belly, and throat are white.[4][10]It has grey below the chin.[10]The ventral pelage is fluffy and white in colour.[4]The upperparts are buff ochraceous brown. The colour of the chest and thenape(back of the neck) are tawny.[10]The rich cinnamon-ginger colour of thenuchalpatch, extends on to the neck-sides.[4]The ears are medium-sized,[5]buff coloured, and measure 8.1 to 9.5 cm (3.2 to 3.7 in) in length. The lower outer-margins of the ears have buff or white fringe, the upper outer-margins have buff fringe, and the inner surfaces of the tip of the ears have narrow, black rims. The principalincisorteeth have deep grooves filled completely with cement. The dorsal parts of the upper incisor teeth are sloped laterally, forming an angled anterior surface. The forefeet are cinnamon-brown and have blackish brown furs at the soles. The hindfeet are white below, brownish buff above, and measure 9 to 11 cm (3.5 to 4.3 in) in length. The soles of the hindfeet have ginger-brown or blackish brown fur.[4]
The Abyssinian hare is similar to the Ethiopian hare, but it has soft dorsal pelage, longer ears, and a longer tail. TheEthiopian highland hare(Lepus starcki) is also a similar species, but it has longer ears, a longer tail, and its grooves of the principal upper incisor teeth are not filled with cement. The Cape hare is also similar to the Ethiopian hare, but has longer ears, grizzled-greyish pelage, and brownish pink nuchal patch.[4]
Distribution and habitat
[edit]The Ethiopian hare isendemictoAfrica,and is found in theAfromontane Biozoneof Ethiopia, and in the borders of theSudanian Savanna Biozone;it also occurs west of the Rift Valley, in theEthiopian Highlands,[4]and abundantly found around theLake Tanain Ethiopia.[10][14]It has also been possibly recorded in southeastern Sudan and in extreme northwestern Kenya.[4]
It has taken over the habitat that was occupied by the Abyssinian hare.[15]It inhabits grasslands,steppes,grassy parts of forests,[1]and forest peripheries. It prefers a relatively less open habitat than that of the Abyssinian hare, and similar to the preference by the African savanna hare in Kenya.[4]It is found at elevations of 500 to 2,500 m (1,600 to 8,200 ft) above sea level. Its distribution isallopatricorparapatricwith that of the African savanna hare.[1]
Behaviour and ecology
[edit]
No data regarding its behaviour, ecology, or reproduction has been recorded.[10]Thespotted hyena(Crocuta crocuta) is a predator of the Ethiopian hare.[16]The tickRhipicephalus pulchellushas been observedparasitizingthe Ethiopian hare.[17]
Status and conservation
[edit]Since 1996, the status of the Ethiopian hare has beendata deficienton theIUCN Red List of Endangered Species.This is because even though it is widespread species, very little is known about its status and ecology. The current state of its population trend is unclear. There are no known threats to the species. It occurs in theAbijatta-Shalla National Parkand theGambella National Park.It is currently rated as aleast concernspecies by theInternational Union for Conservation of Naturesince 2019.[1]
Notes
[edit]- ^Thomas wrote it as: "Zegi, Lake Tsana".
References
[edit]- ^abcdJohnston, C.H.; Tolesa, Z. (2019)."Lepus fagani".IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.2019:e.T11798A45178437.doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-1.RLTS.T11798A45178437.en.Retrieved18 November2021.
- ^abBeolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2009),"Fagan",The Eponym Dictionary of Mammals,Baltimore: JHU Press, p. 131,ISBN978-0-8018-9533-3
- ^abcdeHoffman, R.S.; Smith, A.T. (2005)."SpeciesLepus (Sabanalagus) fagani".InWilson, D.E.;Reeder, D.M (eds.).Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference(3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 199.ISBN978-0-8018-8221-0.OCLC62265494.
- ^abcdefghijklmnHappold, D. C. D. (2013)."Lepus faganiEthiopian Hare ".In Happold, David C. D. (ed.).Rodents, Hares and Rabbits.Mammals of Africa. Vol. 3. London: Bloomsbury. pp. 701–702.ISBN978-1-4081-8992-4.
- ^abcdeThomas, Oldfield (1903)."On a Collection of Mammals from Abyssinia, including some from Lake Tsana, collected by Mr. Edward Degen".Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London.1902(2): 315–316.
- ^Yalden, D. W.; Largen, M. J.; Kock, D. (1986)."Catalogue of the Mammals of Ethiopia, 6. Perissodactyla, Proboscidea, Hyracoidea, Lagomorpha, Tubulidentata, Sirenia and Cetacea".Monitore Zoologico Italiano.N. S. Supplemento.21(4): 59.doi:10.1080/03749444.1986.10736707.
- ^Petter, Francis (1959). "Éléments d'une révision des lièvres africains du sous-genreLepus".Mammalia.23(1): 53.doi:10.1515/mamm.1959.23.1.41.S2CID83593496.
- ^Corbet, Gordon Barclay; Yalden, Derek William (1972)."Recent records of mammals (other than bats) from Ethiopia".Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History).Zoology.22(8): 213–252.
- ^Petter, Francis (1963). "Nouveaux éléments d'une révision des lièvres africains".Mammalia.27(2): 238–255.doi:10.1515/mamm.1963.27.2.238.S2CID85403363.
- ^abcdefghiFlux, John E. C.; Angermann, Renate (1990)."The Hares and Jackrabbits".In Chapman, Joseph A.; Flux, John E. C. (eds.).Rabbits, Hares and Pikas: Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan.Gland, Switzerland: IUCN. p. 78.ISBN9782831700199.
- ^Alves, Paulo C.; Hackländer, Klaus (2008). "Lagomorph Species: Geographical Distribution and Conservation Status". In Alves, Paulo C.; Ferrand, Nuno; Hackländer, Klaus (eds.).Lagomorph Biology: Evolution, Ecology, and Conservation.Berlin: Springer.ISBN978-3-540-72445-2.
- ^Kingdon, Jonathan (2015),"Cape HareLepus capensis(includesL. faganiandL. habessinicus",The Kingdon Field Guide to African Mammals(2nd ed.), London: Bloomsbury Publishing, p. 309,ISBN978-1-4729-2135-2
- ^Tolesa, Zelalem; Bekele, Endashaw; Tesfaye, Kassahun; Ben Slimen, Hichem; Valqui, Juan; Getahun, Abebe; Hartl, Günther B.; Suchentrunk, Franz (2017)."Mitochondrial and nuclear DNA reveals reticulate evolution in hares (Lepusspp., Lagomorpha, Mammalia) from Ethiopia ".PLOS ONE.12(8): e0180137.Bibcode:2017PLoSO..1280137T.doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0180137.PMC5540492.PMID28767659.
- ^Aynalem, Shimelis; Mengistu, Abebe Ameha (2017). "Herpetofauna and Mammals". In Stave, Krystyna; Goshu, Goraw; Aynalem, Shimelis (eds.).Social and Ecological System Dynamics: Characteristics, Trends, and Integration in the Lake Tana Basin, Ethiopia.Cham, Switzerland: Springer. pp. 219, 228.doi:10.1007/978-3-319-45755-0_14.ISBN978-3-319-45755-0.
- ^Leach, Katie; Montgomery, W. Ian; Reid, Neil (2015)."Biogeography, macroecology and species' traits mediate competitive interactions in the order Lagomorpha"(PDF).Mammal Review.45(2): 92, 97.doi:10.1111/mam.12035.S2CID53457541.
- ^Yirga, Gidey; Ersino, Wondimu; De Iongh, Hans H.; Leirs, Herwig; Gebrehiwot, Kindeya; Deckers, Jozef; Bauer, Hans (2013-04-01). "Spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) coexisting at high density with people in Wukro district, northern Ethiopia ".Mammalian Biology – Zeitschrift für Säugetierkunde.78(3): 193–197.doi:10.1016/j.mambio.2012.09.001.
- ^Walker, Jane B.; Keirans, James E.; Horak, Ivan G. (2000)."Rhipicephalus pulchellus(Gerstäcker, 1873) ".The GenusRhipicephalus(Acari, Ixodidae) A Guide to the Brown Ticks of the World.Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. p. 373.doi:10.1017/CBO9780511661754.008.ISBN9780511661754.