Lepus oiostolus Hodgson 1840
Creators: name: Don E. Wilson
name: Thomas E. Lacher, Jr
name: Russell A. Mittermeier
Publisher: name: Lynx Edicions
Year: 2016
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Chordata
Mammalia
Lagomorpha
Leporidae
Lepus
Lepus oiostolus

description: 45.
Woolly Hare
Lepus oiostolus
French: Lievre laineux / German: Tibet-Wollhase / Spanish: Liebre lanuda
Taxonomy. Lepus oiostolus Hodgson, 1840,
“the snowy region of the Hemalaya, and perhaps also Tibet.” Restricted by Kao Yuehting and Feng Tsochien in 1964 to “Southern Tibet” [Xizang, China].
It was formerly placed in the subgenus Proeulagus and Eulagos. Subspecies przewalsku was assigned to L. capensis (= L. tolai) but was later placed in L. oiostolus. Existence of several more subspecies have been proposed, but they appear to be continuously distributed throughout the distribution. Molecular analysis suggested sister relationship between L. oiostolus and L. comus. As taxonomists are still trying to clarify the species differentiation in Lepus, the subspecific taxonomy is not elaborated yet. The original descriptions of the subspecies are often not very helpful as they are mostly based on few exterior characteristics and small numbers of individuals. It has been shown that the variability is clinal in more careful investigations. Hence, the distinction in subspecies might be arbitrary and unreasonable. Four subspecies recognized.
Subspecies and Distribution.
L.o.owostolusHodgson,1840—WTibetanPlateau(79°Eto92°E).
L.o.hypsibiusBlanford,1875—JammuandKashmir(NWIndia),UpperSutlejValley(SWXizang,China).
L.o.pallipesHodgson,1842—C&ETibetanPlateau,NNepal,Sikkim(NEIndia);possiblyalsoinNBhutan.
L. o. przewalskii Satunin, 1907 — NE & E Tibetan Plateau to Qinghai, Gansu, Sichuan, and N Yunnan (China).
Descriptive notes. Head—body 400-580 mm, tail 65-125 mm, ear 110-160 mm, hindfoot 102-140 mm; weight 2.4-3 kg. The Woolly Hare is medium-sized to large, with stocky stature. Fur is thick and soft, with long curly hairs. Fur color varies widely between populations from dark grayish brown to pale sandy yellow. Rump is paler and grayer than dorsal pelage. Eye rings are whitish. Bushy tail is white, with narrow brown stripe above. Ears have dark tips. The Woolly Hare probably molts only once per year so it does not change color in winter.
Habitat. Upland grasslands of various types, alpine and montane meadows, shrub meadows, dry arid plains, and alpine cold deserts and also montane coniferous and broad-leafed mixed forests in the south-eastern parts ofits distribution, generally at elevations above 2500 m to as high as 5400 m. The Woolly Hare is more abundant in habitats with intermediate cover, and habitats with dense cover are less frequented at high elevations on the Tibetan Plateau. Individuals rest in quiet low areas exposed to the sun and sheltered from wind during rest. They may also take cover in marmot (Marmota) burrows and shelter among rocks.
Food and Feeding. Diet of the Woolly Hare includes grasses and herbaceous plants.
Breeding. Reproductive season of the Woolly Hare starts in April, and females produce two litters per year with 4-6 young each. At high elevations on the Tibetan Plateau, Woolly Hares may only be reproductively active in May-July, with an average litter size of 1-8 young. Annual production of young by a female in high elevations is estimated to be 2-9.
Activity patterns. The Woolly Hare is primarily nocturnal but can be active during the day.
Movements, Home range and Social organization. The Woolly Hare is reported to have restricted areas during active periods where individuals can be seen night after night. It lives alone but might forage in small groups during the mating season.
Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. The Woolly Hare is widespread and occurs in protected areas. Nevertheless, there are no available data on population status. In India, it has been assessed as endangered due to restricted distribution, fragmentation, and habitat loss. In Nepal and China, it is listed as least concern. Major threats to the Woolly Hare are decreases in quality and total area of habitat due to destruction and harvesting of fuel wood. This decrease was estimated to be less than 20% since 1995 but was expected to continue at a similar rate until 2015. In India, habitat destruction has resulted in population fragmentation and thus risk of genetic isolation. The Woolly Hare is hunted for local subsistence and fur trade.
Bibliography. Angermann (1967b, 2016), Chakraborty, Bhattacharyya, Srinivasulu, Venkataraman, Sechrest & Daniel (2005), Flux & Angermann (1990), Hoffmann & Smith (2005), Indian CAMP Workshop & Johnston (2008), Kao Yuehting & Feng Tsochien (1964), Lissovsky (2016), Lu Xin (2010, 2011), Smith (2008c), Srinivasulu & Srinivasulu (2012), Wu Chunhua et al. (2005).
description: Published as part of Don E. Wilson, Thomas E. Lacher, Jr & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2016, Leporidae, pp. 107-148 in Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 6 Lagomorphs and Rodents I, Barcelona :Lynx Edicions on pages 134-135, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.6625539