| Indian hare | |
|---|---|
| |
| Conservation status | |
 Least Concern (IUCN 3.1) | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Lagomorpha |
| Family: | Leporidae |
| Genus: | Lepus |
| Species: | L. nigricollis |
| Binomial name | |
| Lepus nigricollis F. Cuvier, 1823 | |
| |
| Indian hare range (green – native, red – introduced, dark grey – origin uncertain) | |
The Indian hare (Lepus nigricollis), also known as the black-naped hare, is a common species of hare native to the Indian subcontinent, and Java. Its habitat in Java is in rocky highlands.
Description
The Indian hare has a head and body length of 40–60 cm (16–24 in), long ears, large, well-furred hind feet, and a rather long tail of about 10 cm (3.9 in) and weighs up to 6 kg (13 lb).
Distribution and habitat
The Indian hare inhabits open grassy areas, cultivated plains, semi-arid and arid plains, and hills throughout the Indian subcontinent and Sri Lanka.
Behaviour and ecology
Its activity pattern has been defined as crepuscular and nocturnal.
Introductions
It has been introduced to Madagascar, Comoro Islands, Andaman Islands, Western New Guinea, Papua New Guinea, Seychelles, Mayotte, Mauritius and Réunion.
Taxonomy
There are seven recognized subspecies of Indian hare.
- Lepus nigricollis aryabertensis
- Lepus nigricollis dayanus
- Lepus nigricollis nigricollis
- Lepus nigricollis ruficaudatus
- Lepus nigricollis sadiya
- Lepus nigricollis simcoxi
- Lepus nigricollis singhala
References
- Hoffman, R.S.; Smith, A.T. (2005). "Order Lagomorpha". In Wilson, D.E.; Reeder, D.M (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 201. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
- Nameer, P.O. & Smith, A.T. (2019). "Lepus nigricollis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T41282A45188041. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-1.RLTS.T41282A45188041.en. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
- Suchentrunk, F & Mihajla Davidovic (2004). "Evaluation of the classification of Indian hares (Lepus nigricollis) into the genus Indolagus Gureev, 1953 (Leporidae, Lagomorpha)" (PDF). Mammalian Biology. 69 (1): 46–57. doi:10.1078/1616-5047-115. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2006-06-12.
- Long, J.L. (2003). Introduced Mammals of the World: Their History, Distribution and Influence. Cambridge: Cabi Publishing. doi:10.1071/9780643090156. ISBN 9780851997483.
| Taxon identifiers | |
|---|---|
| Lepus nigricollis | |