Lepus fagani, Thomas, 1903

Don E. Wilson, Thomas E. Lacher, Jr & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2016, Leporidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 6 Lagomorphs and Rodents I, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 107-148 : 130

3b.

Ethiopian Hare

Lepus fagani

French: Liévre d'Ethiopie / German: Athiopischer Hase / Spanish: Liebre de Etiopia

Taxonomy. Lepus fagani Thomas, 1903 ,

“Zegi, Lake Tsana [= Tana] 4000 feet [1219 m],” Ethiopia.

Taxonomic status of Lepus fagani is uncertain. Formerly, it was reconsidered as a subspecies of L. victoriae or L. capensis , but because ofits unusually uniform morphological characteristics throughoutits distribution,its species status has been maintained since 1987. It is closely related to L. saxatilis and L. victoriae . This speciesis either allopatric or parapatric with L. victoriae . Because L. fagani is geographically isolated in Ethiopian mountains north of the Rift Valley from populations of L. victoriae in lowlands, it may have evolved into a highland allospecies. Monotypic.

Distribution. N & W highlands of Ethiopia (N of the Rift Valley); maybe also adjacent E South Sudan and NW Kenya.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 450-540 mm, tail 50-82 mm, ear 80-100 mm, hindfoot 90-110 mm. No specific data are available for body weight. The Ethiopian Hare is large, with dense and rather coarse fur. Dorsal fur is brownish buff and finely grizzled with black; ventral fur is white and fluffy. Flanks are buff. Forelimbs are cinnamon brown, and hindlimbs brownish buff above and white below. Head is darker than dorsal pelage and its crown blacker. Chin and throat are white. Ears are short compared to other Ethiopian Lepus such as the Abyssinian Hare ( L. habessinicus ) and the Ethiopian Highland Hare ( L. starcki ). Ears of the Ethiopian Hare are buff, with narrow black rim around inner surfaces oftips. Nuchal patch is cinnamon-ginger and extends onto sides of neck. Tail is medium-sized and fluffy. It is black above, buff on sides, and buffy white below.

Habitat. Steppes, grasslands, and scrub and forest margins including wet grasslands with scattered thickets and bushy cultivated areas. The Ethiopian Hare is considered to be an Afro-alpine/Afro-montane species becauseit inhabits elevations of 500-2500 m. Its habitatis similar to that of the African Savanna Hare (L. victoria).

Food and Feeding. There is no information available for this species.

Breeding. There is no information available forthis species.

Activity patterns. There is no information available for this species.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. There is no information available for this species.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Data Deficient on The IUCN Red List. Research is needed to understand biology, ecology, and conservation status of the Ethiopian Hare.

Bibliography. Azzaroli-Puccetti (1987a, 1987b), Boitani et al. (1999), Flux & Angermann (1990), Happold (2013c), Hoffmann & Smith (2005), Smith & Johnston (2008b), Yalden et al. (1986).

Figures

Distribution. N & W highlands of Ethiopia (N of the Rift Valley); maybe also adjacent E South Sudan and NW Kenya.