Lepus comus G. M. Allen 1927
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 comus

description: 44.
Yunnan Hare
Lepus comus
French: Lievre du Yunnan / German: Yunnan-Hase / Spanish: Liebre de Yunnan
Taxonomy. Lepus comus G. M. Allen, 1927,
“Teng-yueh [Tengueh], Yunnan Province, China, 5,500 feet [1676 m] altitude.”
It was formerly included in L. oiostolus but received species status due to morphological and ecological differences. It might be allopatric or parapatric with L. oiostolus. Molecular phylogenetics indicate sister relationship between L. comus and L. oiostolus. Existence of three subspecies (comus, pena, and pygmaeus) is often mentioned but not supported by low variation of mtDNA. Monotypic.
Distribution. NE Myanmar and CS China (Yunnan, except the part SW of the Mekong River, SW Sichuan, and W Guizhou).
Descriptive notes. Head-body 320-480 mm, tail 95-110 mm, ear 100-140 mm, hindfoot 98-130 mm; weight 1.8-2.5 kg. The Yunnan Hare is small, with soft long and flat grayish brown dorsal fur. Posterior parts of hips are vaguely gray. Flanks, forelegs, and outer sides of hindlegs are bright ocherous, mixed with yellow. Ventral fur is white. Whitish band extends from mouth to bases of ears, including arches over eyes. Ear tops are black, and insides are pale gray. Tail is dark brown above and light gray tinged with yellow below. Small size and bright fur coloring are considered to be diagnostic.
Habitat. High montane pastures at elevations of 1300-3200 m. Habitat preferences of the Yunnan Hare are thought to be similar to those of the Woolly Hare (L. oiostolus) in the Tibetan Plateau.
Food and Feeding. The Yunnan Hare feeds on forbs and shrubs.
Breeding. Reproductive season of the Yunnan Hare normally starts in April, with the first litter appearing in May. Litter sizes are 1-4 young, with an average of two, and females have 2-3 litters/year.
Activity patterns. The Yunnan Hare forages primarily at night, but it is also active during the day.
Movements, Home range and Social organization. There is no information available for this species.
Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. The Yunnan Hare is widespread and occurs in protected areas. It is reported to be very common by local inhabitants of the region. Remote habitat of the Yunnan Hare is unlikely to be threatened but increasing agricultural development in valleys might isolate mountain populations. More data are needed to fully understand population trends, behavior, habitat, and taxonomy.
Bibliography. Cai Guiquan & Feng Zuojian (1982), Corbet (1978), Flux & Angermann (1990), Hoffmann & Smith (2005), Smith (2008c), Smith & Johnston (2008g), Wu Chunhua, Li Haipeng et al. (2000), Wu Chunhua, Wu Jianping 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 page 134, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.6625539