Lepus brachyurus Temminck 1844
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 brachyurus

description: 60.
Japanese Hare
Lepus brachyurus
French: Liévre du Japon / German: Japan-Hase / Spanish: Liebre de Japon
Taxonomy. Lepus brachyurus Temminck, 1844,
“tout I'Empire mais surtout dans I'lle de Jezo” (= Nagasaki, Kyushu, Japan).
Formerly, L. brachyurus was placed in the genus Caprolagus. Lepus mandshuricus was recognized as a subspecies of L. brachyurus but received species status. 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.b.brachyurusTemminck,1845—PacificsideofSHonshu,Shikoku,Kyushu,andsurroundingIs(Awaji,Shodo,Goto,Amakusa,andShimokoshiki).
L.b.angustidensHollister,1912—NHonshuandSonSeaofJapanside.
L.b.lyoniKishida,1937—SadoI(offWHonshu,WJapan).
L. b. okiensis Thomas, 1906 — Oki Is (off SW Honshu, WJapan).
Descriptive notes. Head—body 490-540 mm, tail 37-41 mm, ear 70-80 mm, hindfoot 132-165 mm; weight 2:4.2-7 kg. The Japanese Hare is small, with compact stature and short ears and tail. Fur is dense and soft. Pelage is umber to tawny brown, with variable amounts of white on head and legs. Chest and sides are cinnamon. Throat and ventral fur are white, occasionally with dark hair tips. Ears are dorsally white or cinnamon, with small brown-black patches at tips. Tail is darker above and lighter below than dorsal fur. Japanese Hares inhabiting north-eastern Hondos and mountain regions have white winter fur. On Oki Island, melanistic morph that does not turn white in winter despite deep snow cover may indicate relatively recent introduction of a subspecies. Color varies geographically, with several distinct color forms. A recent genetic study showed that there is no association between winter coat color and genetic population structure in the Japanese Hare.
Habitat. Fields, grasslands, and open forests from lowlands to alpine zones from sea level to elevations of more than 3000 m. Most common in low montane and montane zones. Land use and agriculture in Japan have remained stable for many centuries, and 68% ofJapan is covered by forest, providing stable habitat for the Japanese Hare. It prefers young forest stands, where open canopy allows greater herbaceous production and shrubs occur with high branch and stem densities. The Japanese Hare rests in bushes, under rocks or fallen trees, or in shallow burrows that they dig themselves.
Food and Feeding. Summerdiets of theJapanese Hare mainly consist of grasses (48%), agricultural legume seeds, Stellaria (Caryophyllaceae), Polygonum (Polygonaceae), and grain. Winter diets include leaves and bark of young trees, especially Cryptomeria japonica (Cupressaceae), Acer (Sapindaceae), Paulownia (Paulowniaceae), Acanthopanax and Aralia (both Araliaceae), and legumes. Japanese Hares cause some damage to plantation forests and fruit trees. They seem to prefer branches and stems with large amounts of protein.
Breeding. Reproductive season of the Japanese Hare occurs in February—July. Young are born in April-August but mostly in May/June when litter size is largest (2-5 young). The Japanese Hare has 2-3 litters/year;litter sizes are 1-6 young, with an average of 1-9 young. Young are born in a shallow nest dug by the mother and can run around one hour after birth. Young are nursed once per night for c¢.2 minutes at about midnight. They start feeding on plants c.8 days after birth but nurse until c.1 month after birth. Females are sexually mature at c.10 months of age.
Activity patterns. The Japanese Hare is nocturnal. In captivity, activity starts at ¢.19:00 h and ends at 07:00-08:00 h after a period of restless running. During rest, individuals often close their eyes for 1-3 minutes for ¢.20 minutes/day. They groom before and after activity.
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 Japanese Hare is common across most of its distribution. Total population size in Japan is unknown but shows a stable trend. There has been recent concern regarding population decline of the Japanese Hare on Sado Island where it used to be common but is now rare, presumably due to predation by introduced Japanese Martens (Martes melampus). The Japanese Hare is an important game animal with ¢.400,000-800,000 individuals harvested each year. Recommendations are to determine population trends, densities, and current distribution.
Bibliography. Abe, H. et al. (2005), Abe, S. et al. (2005), Angermann (1966, 1983, 2016), Flux & Angermann (1990), Hoffmann & Smith (2005), Horino & Kuwahata (1984), Imaizumi (1970), Lissovsky (2016), Nunome et al.
(2014), Otsu (1965), Shimano et al. (2006), Shimizu & Shimano (2010), Tachibana et al. (1970), Yamada & |sagi (1988), Yamada & Smith (2008), Yamada et al. (1988).
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 147, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.6625539