Lepus townsendii Bachman 1839
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 townsendii

description: 56.
White-tailed Jackrabbit
Lepus townsendii
French: Liévre de Townsend / German: Prariehase / Spanish: Liebre de cola blanca
Other common names: Prairie Hare
Taxonomy. Lepus townsendii Bachman, 1839,
“on the Walla-walla ... river.” Restricted by E. W. Nelson in 1909 to “old Fort Walla Walla,” near the present town of Wallula, Walla Walla Co., Washington.
Formerly, L. townsendii was placed as L. campestris in the subgenera Proeulagus or FEulagus. 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. Two subspecies recognized.
Subspecies and Distribution.
L.t.townsenditBachman,1839—WoftheContinentalDivideinSWCanada(SBritishColumbia)andWUSA(fromNCWashingtontoWWyoming,NWColorado,Utah,NENevada,andECCalifornia).
L. t. campanius Hollister, 1915 — E of the Continental Divide in SC Canada (from S Alberta to extreme SW Ontario) and NC USA (from W Montana to E Wisconsin and S to NC New Mexico, N Nebraska, and NW Missouri).
Descriptive notes. Head—body 570-660 mm, tail 66-102 mm, ear 100-110 mm, hindfoot 145-165 mm; weight 2-5—4-4 kg. Female White-tailed Jackrabbits are larger and heavier than males. Fur is yellowish (campanius) or grayish brown (townsendii) above and white or pale gray below, excluding darker throat. Where snowfall is regular in mountains and northern parts of its distribution, individuals have white pelage in winter. In southern parts of its distribution, White-tailed Jackrabbits might not change color or undergo a partial change, with sides of body and rump whitish and back pale buffy gray. Tail is white throughout the year, with dusky or buffstripe on top. Ear tips are black. Winter molt starts in October in Colorado or November in Iowa; summer molt starts in April in Colorado or March in Iowa.
Habitat. Open plains and prairies, and sometimes taking shelter in forests during severe winter weather, at elevations of 30-4319 m. Distribution of the White-tailed Jackrabbit extends into the badlands of South Dakota and montane pastures among scattered evergreens in Colorado. White-tailed Jackrabbits use shallow forms at bases of bushes or besides rocks. In winter, they use cavities connected by tunnels dug c.l m into snow or use shrubs and trees for cover. When White-tailed Jackrabbits and Black-tailed Jackrabbits (L. californicus) are sympatric, they use different habitats. White-tailed Jackrabbits occur in open flats and fields of ryegrass (Lolium, Poaceae) in Oregon and bunchgrass and rabbitbrush in Washington; Black-tailed Jackrabbits inhabit predominantly sagebrush (Artemisia, Asteraceae). In California, the White-tailed Jackrabbit was recorded more often on higher slopes and ridges, and the Black-tailed Jackrabbit more frequently on valley floors.
Food and Feeding. The White-tailed Jackrabbit feeds primarily on succulent grasses and forbs. Shrubs are eaten in winter after grasses and forbs have become dry. When feeding on shrubs, woody stems are favored over leaves. Diet selection is influenced by age of White-tailed Jackrabbits, season, and availabilities of plant species. Abundant plant species in diets ofthis species are alfalfa (Medicago sativa, Fabaceae), creambush (Holodiscus discolor, Rosaceae), sagebrush, clover (Trifolium sp., Fabaceae), common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale, Asteraceae), dryland sedge (Carex obtusata, Cyperaceae), Indian paintbrush (Castilleja integra, Orobanchaceae), goosefoot (Chenopodium sp.), and winterfat (Ewrotia lanata), both Amaranthaceae. One study in Colorado recorded 67 plant species in stomachs of White-tailed Jackrabbits. Pregnant or lactating females usually feed alone; males feed in groups of 2-5 individuals. After feeding, White-tailed Jackrabbits groom their heads and ears with their forepaws and lick their bodies. When sympatric, the White-tailed Jackrabbit seems to be a more selective feeder than the Black-tailed Jackrabbit and therefore has a competitive disadvantage.
Breeding. Reproductive season starts in late February and ends in September. Breeding condition and environmental factors affect number oflitters born in a year. In the southern part of the distribution, a maximum of fourlitters are produced per year: the first in late April, the second in earlyJune, the third in middle July, and the fourth in late August or early September. In the northern parts of the distribution, only one litter is produced per year between May and early July. Gestation lasts 30-43 days and might be influenced by elevation and latitude. Litter sizes are 1-11 young, with an average of 4-5 young. The White-tailed Jackrabbit is polygamous. Courtship behavior involves a series of circling, jumping, and chasing activities that last 5-20 minutes and end in copulation. Normally, groups of 3-5 males chase one female during the evening hours. Subspecies campanius has breeding synchrony, and postpartum estrus allows conception immediately after parturition. Expected reproductive potential was estimated at 23 young/year, but due to prenatal mortality, it averaged 15 young/year. Nests for young are made of dry leaves and grasses, densely lined with fur from mothers, and well hidden in bushes or vegetation; alternately, they might only be a form on bare ground. Young are born fully furred, with open eyes and mobile to a limited extent. They start to forage at c.15 days old and are completely weaned at c.1 month old. Individuals have the potential to breed as early as c¢.7 months of age, but there is no evidence ofjuvenile breeding.
Activity patterns. White-tailed Jackrabbits are nocturnal and forage mainly between sunset and sunrise. A study in summer revealed that they start feeding at 15:00-16:00 h, peak activity was at 22:00-01:00 h, and most activity stopped by 03:00-04:00 h. They hide in forms during the day.
Movements, Home range and Social organization. Distance, duration, and frequency of movements of White-tailed Jackrabbits increase in early breeding season (March/ April) and decline during warm summer months. Home range size is as small as 10 ha but usually 300-700 ha. White-tailed Jackrabbits might migrate considerable distances in winter to sheltered areas. They tend to be solitary, but during the reproductive season, 3—4 individuals might group together. Aggregations of ¢.50 individuals have been observed diurnally, with a maximum of 110 individuals during winter. These observations were attributed to an abundance of food in the area. When pursued by a predator, White-tailed Jackrabbits sometimes enter water and swim with forefeet paddling. They also demonstrate tonic immobility behavior that is believed to serve as defensive function similar to feigned death.
Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. The WhitetailedJackrabbit is widespread. Since the early 1900s, there was a gradual distributional expansion to the north and east as favorable habitats (e.g. agricultural land) were created. Since about the 1950s, there has been a gradual reduction in the distribution of the White-tailed Jackrabbit coupled with distributional expansion of the Black-tailed Jackrabbit in the north-western part ofits distribution where habitats have been altered to favor the latter. The White-tailed Jackrabbit does not occur in most of Nebraska and Kansas anymore, and existence in Missouriis debated. Population status of the White-tailedJackrabbit across its entire distribution is currently unknown, but declines have been observed in two national parks in Wyoming. Populations in Grand Teton and Yellowstone national parks decreased to only a few individuals in 1978 and 2008. Causes for these declines are currently unknown. Research is needed to understand factors operating when the White-tailed Jackrabbit and the Black-tailed Jackrabbit occur in sympatry and factors contributing to the decline of the White-tailed Jackrabbit in Wyoming.
Bibliography. Angermann (2016), Anthony (1913), Armstrong (1972), Bailey (1926), Banfield (1974), Berger (2008a, 2008b), Blackburn (1973), Brown (1947), Couch (1927), Dalquest (1948), De Vos (1964), Dieter & Schaible (2012), Dunn et al. (1982), Flinders & Chapman (2003), Flux & Angermann (1990), Hall (1951, 1981), Hoeman (1964), Hoffmann & Smith (2005), Jackson (1961), James (1967), James & Seabloom (1969), Jones (1964), Kline (1963), Lim (1987 1999), Lissovsky (2016), Nelson (1909), Orr (1940), Peterson (1966), Rogowitz (1992, 1997), Rogowitz & Wolfe (1991), Seton (1928), Severaid (1950), Smith & Johnston (2008k), Soper (1973), Warren (1910).
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 143-144, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.6625539