Hispid Hare
Encyclopedia
The Hispid hare Caprolagus hispidus, also called Assam rabbit is a leporid native to South Asia
, whose historic range extended along the southern foothills of the Himalayas
. Today, the habitat of hispid hares is highly fragmented with an area of occupancy of less than 500 km² (193.1 sq mi) extending over an estimated area of 5000 to 20000 km² (1,930.5 to 7,722 sqmi). Populations experience a continuing decline in suitable habitat due to increasing agriculture
, flood control
, and human development.
. The tail is brown and about 30 mm (1.2 in) long. In body weight males range from 1810 to 2610 g (4 to 5.8 lb) with a mean of 2248 g (5 lb). Females weigh in average 2518 g (5.6 lb), including a heavily pregnant female weighing 3210 g (7.1 lb) in this statistical mean weight.
Frontal bone
s are very wide. Occipito-nasal
length generally exceeds 85 mm (3.3 in). There is no clear notch in front of postorbital process
es.
In average, it is 476 mm (18.7 in) long from head to tail.
through southern Nepal
, the northern region of West Bengal
to Assam
and into Bangladesh
. Today, distribution is sporadic in Bangladesh
, India
, Nepal
and possibly Bhutan
. They occupy tracts of early successional tall grasslands and take refuge in marshy areas or grasses adjacent to river banks during the dry season, when these areas are susceptible to burning.
The population in the extensive grasslands of Sukla Phanta Wildlife Reserve
may be of international significance. Researchers camera trap
ped the first hispid hares in an area of 38 km² (14.7 sq mi) in the reserve in April 2010.
South Asia
South Asia, also known as Southern Asia, is the southern region of the Asian continent, which comprises the sub-Himalayan countries and, for some authorities , also includes the adjoining countries to the west and the east...
, whose historic range extended along the southern foothills of the Himalayas
Himalayas
The Himalaya Range or Himalaya Mountains Sanskrit: Devanagari: हिमालय, literally "abode of snow"), usually called the Himalayas or Himalaya for short, is a mountain range in Asia, separating the Indian subcontinent from the Tibetan Plateau...
. Today, the habitat of hispid hares is highly fragmented with an area of occupancy of less than 500 km² (193.1 sq mi) extending over an estimated area of 5000 to 20000 km² (1,930.5 to 7,722 sqmi). Populations experience a continuing decline in suitable habitat due to increasing agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
, flood control
Flood control
In communications, flood control is a feature of many communication protocols designed to prevent overwhelming of a destination receiver. Such controls can be implemented either in software or in hardware, and will often request that the message be resent after the receiver has finished...
, and human development.
Characteristics
The hispid hare has a harsh and bristle coat. Ears are very short and not projecting beyond the fur. The coat is dark brown on the back due to a mixture of black and brown hairs; brown on the chest and whitish on the abdomenAbdomen
In vertebrates such as mammals the abdomen constitutes the part of the body between the thorax and pelvis. The region enclosed by the abdomen is termed the abdominal cavity...
. The tail is brown and about 30 mm (1.2 in) long. In body weight males range from 1810 to 2610 g (4 to 5.8 lb) with a mean of 2248 g (5 lb). Females weigh in average 2518 g (5.6 lb), including a heavily pregnant female weighing 3210 g (7.1 lb) in this statistical mean weight.
Frontal bone
Frontal bone
The frontal bone is a bone in the human skull that resembles a cockleshell in form, and consists of two portions:* a vertical portion, the squama frontalis, corresponding with the region of the forehead....
s are very wide. Occipito-nasal
Occipital bone
The occipital bone, a saucer-shaped membrane bone situated at the back and lower part of the cranium, is trapezoidal in shape and curved on itself...
length generally exceeds 85 mm (3.3 in). There is no clear notch in front of postorbital process
Postorbital process
The Postorbital Process marks the rear, upper edge of the eye socket and is a projection from the frontal bone....
es.
In average, it is 476 mm (18.7 in) long from head to tail.
Distribution and habitat
The historic range of hispid hares extended from Uttar PradeshUttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh abbreviation U.P. , is a state located in the northern part of India. With a population of over 200 million people, it is India's most populous state, as well as the world's most populous sub-national entity...
through southern Nepal
Nepal
Nepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India...
, the northern region of West Bengal
West Bengal
West Bengal is a state in the eastern region of India and is the nation's fourth-most populous. It is also the seventh-most populous sub-national entity in the world, with over 91 million inhabitants. A major agricultural producer, West Bengal is the sixth-largest contributor to India's GDP...
to Assam
Assam
Assam , also, rarely, Assam Valley and formerly the Assam Province , is a northeastern state of India and is one of the most culturally and geographically distinct regions of the country...
and into Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
. Today, distribution is sporadic in Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, Nepal
Nepal
Nepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India...
and possibly Bhutan
Bhutan
Bhutan , officially the Kingdom of Bhutan, is a landlocked state in South Asia, located at the eastern end of the Himalayas and bordered to the south, east and west by the Republic of India and to the north by the People's Republic of China...
. They occupy tracts of early successional tall grasslands and take refuge in marshy areas or grasses adjacent to river banks during the dry season, when these areas are susceptible to burning.
The population in the extensive grasslands of Sukla Phanta Wildlife Reserve
Sukla Phanta Wildlife Reserve
Sukla Phanta Wildlife Reserve is a protected area in the Terai of the Far-Western Region, Nepal, covering of open grassland, forests, riverbeds and tropical wetlands at an altitude of . It was gazetted in 1973 as Royal Sukla Phanta Wildlife Reserve...
may be of international significance. Researchers camera trap
Camera trap
A camera trap is a remotely activated camera that is equipped with a motion sensor or an infrared sensor, or uses a light beam as a trigger. Camera trapping is a method for capturing wild animals on film when researchers are not present, and has been used in ecological research for decades...
ped the first hispid hares in an area of 38 km² (14.7 sq mi) in the reserve in April 2010.