Corsican Hare
Encyclopedia
The Corsican Hare also known as the Apennine Hare or Italian Hare, is a species of hare
found in southern and central Italy
and Corsica
.
using specimens from Corsica. It was later regarded as a subspecies
of the European Hare
(L. europaeus) or both were treated as subspecies of the Cape Hare
(L. capensis). It is now often treated as a full species as it does not appear to hybridize with the European Hare where their ranges
overlap and studies of mitochondrial DNA
suggest that it belongs to a distinct lineage
which differentiated in isolated refuges during the last glacial period
.
, grassland, cultivated areas and dunes. It is common and widespread on Sicily
where it occurs from sea-level up to 2400 metres on Mount Etna
. On mainland Italy, its range is more fragmented, extending patchily north to Tuscany
on the west coast and Foggia
on the east coast. It was introduced
to Corsica by man, probably between the 14th and 17th centuries, and is currently rare there with only a few recent records.
" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). It is threatened by habitat loss, hunting
and competition with European Rabbit
s and introduced populations of European Hares. It is now protected from hunting but the similarity between this species and the European Hare makes protection difficult to enforce.
Hare
Hares and jackrabbits are leporids belonging to the genus Lepus. Hares less than one year old are called leverets. Four species commonly known as types of hare are classified outside of Lepus: the hispid hare , and three species known as red rock hares .Hares are very fast-moving...
found in southern and central Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
and Corsica
Corsica
Corsica is an island in the Mediterranean Sea. It is located west of Italy, southeast of the French mainland, and north of the island of Sardinia....
.
Taxonomy
It was first described as a species in 1898 by British zoologist William Edward de WintonWilliam Edward de Winton
William Edward de Winton was a British zoologist. He traveled widely, and discovered a number of previously undescribed cricetid species. His East Africa photo collection, from the late 1890s, is kept at the London Natural History Museum.-Notes:...
using specimens from Corsica. It was later regarded as a subspecies
Subspecies
Subspecies in biological classification, is either a taxonomic rank subordinate to species, ora taxonomic unit in that rank . A subspecies cannot be recognized in isolation: a species will either be recognized as having no subspecies at all or two or more, never just one...
of the European Hare
European Hare
The European hare , also known as the brown hare, Eastern Jackrabbit and Eastern prairie hare, is a species of hare native to northern, central, and western Europe and western Asia. It is a mammal adapted to temperate open country. It is related to the similarly appearing rabbit, which is in the...
(L. europaeus) or both were treated as subspecies of the Cape Hare
Cape Hare
The Cape, Common or Brown Hare is a hare natively found throughout Africa, and has spread to many parts of the Europe, Middle East and Asia. The Cape Hare is a nocturnal herbivore.They are fast...
(L. capensis). It is now often treated as a full species as it does not appear to hybridize with the European Hare where their ranges
Range (biology)
In biology, the range or distribution of a species is the geographical area within which that species can be found. Within that range, dispersion is variation in local density.The term is often qualified:...
overlap and studies of mitochondrial DNA
Mitochondrial DNA
Mitochondrial DNA is the DNA located in organelles called mitochondria, structures within eukaryotic cells that convert the chemical energy from food into a form that cells can use, adenosine triphosphate...
suggest that it belongs to a distinct lineage
Lineage (evolution)
An evolutionary lineage is a sequence of species, that form a line of descent, each new species the direct result of speciation from an immediate ancestral species. Lineages are subsets of the evolutionary tree of life. Lineages are often determined by the techniques of molecular systematics.-...
which differentiated in isolated refuges during the last glacial period
Glacial period
A glacial period is an interval of time within an ice age that is marked by colder temperatures and glacier advances. Interglacials, on the other hand, are periods of warmer climate within an ice age...
.
Description
It is similar to the European Hare in appearance, being largely brown with a cream-coloured belly. It differs in having grey rather than white bases to the hairs of the underfur. It is smaller on average than the European Hare with a head and body length of 44.1—61.2 cm, a tail length of 6.6—11.2 cm and a weight of 1.8—3.8 kg. The ears and hind legs are relatively longer, 9—12.6 cm and 11.4—13.5 cm respectively.Distribution and habitat
It is found in maquis shrublandMaquis shrubland
thumb|220px|Low Maquis in Corsica.220px|thumb|High macchia in Sardinia.Maquis or macchia is a shrubland biome in the Mediterranean region, typically consisting of densely growing evergreen shrubs such as holm oak, tree heath, strawberry tree, sage, juniper, buckthorn, spurge olive and myrtle...
, grassland, cultivated areas and dunes. It is common and widespread on Sicily
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
where it occurs from sea-level up to 2400 metres on Mount Etna
Mount Etna
Mount Etna is an active stratovolcano on the east coast of Sicily, close to Messina and Catania. It is the tallest active volcano in Europe, currently standing high, though this varies with summit eruptions; the mountain is 21 m higher than it was in 1981.. It is the highest mountain in...
. On mainland Italy, its range is more fragmented, extending patchily north to Tuscany
Tuscany
Tuscany is a region in Italy. It has an area of about 23,000 square kilometres and a population of about 3.75 million inhabitants. The regional capital is Florence ....
on the west coast and Foggia
Province of Foggia
The Province of Foggia is a province in the Apulia region of Italy.This province is also known as Capitanata, originally Catapanata, because during the Middle Ages it was governed by a catapan, as part of the Catapanate of Italy...
on the east coast. It was introduced
Introduced species
An introduced species — or neozoon, alien, exotic, non-indigenous, or non-native species, or simply an introduction, is a species living outside its indigenous or native distributional range, and has arrived in an ecosystem or plant community by human activity, either deliberate or accidental...
to Corsica by man, probably between the 14th and 17th centuries, and is currently rare there with only a few recent records.
Status and conservation
Its population appears to be declining and it is classified as "VulnerableVulnerable species
On 30 January 2010, the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species identified 9694 Vulnerable species, subspecies and varieties, stocks and sub-populations.-References:...
" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). It is threatened by habitat loss, hunting
Hunting
Hunting is the practice of pursuing any living thing, usually wildlife, for food, recreation, or trade. In present-day use, the term refers to lawful hunting, as distinguished from poaching, which is the killing, trapping or capture of the hunted species contrary to applicable law...
and competition with European Rabbit
European Rabbit
The European Rabbit or Common Rabbit is a species of rabbit native to south west Europe and north west Africa . It has been widely introduced elsewhere often with devastating effects on local biodiversity...
s and introduced populations of European Hares. It is now protected from hunting but the similarity between this species and the European Hare makes protection difficult to enforce.