Lepus americanus Erxleben, 1777

Robert S. Hoffmann, 1993, Order Lagomorpha, Mammal Species of the World (2 nd Edition), Washington and London: Smithsonian Institution Press, pp. 807-827 : 814-815

Lepus americanus Erxleben, 1777 . Syst. Regni Anim., 1:330.

TYPE LOCALITY: "in America boreeli, ad fretum Hudsonis copiosissimus." Restricted by Nelson (1909:87) to Fort Severn, Ontario, Canada .

DISTRIBUTION: S and C Alaska ( USA) to S and C coasts of Hudson Bay to Newfoundland and Anacosti Isl (introduced) ( Canada), south to S Appalachians, S Michigan, North Dakota, NC New Mexico, SC Utah, and EC California ( USA).

STATUS: Although population densities fluctuate greatly, status secure nearly everywhere ( Keith and Windberg, 1978; Sinclair et al., 1988).

SYNONYMS: bairdii Hayden, 1869 ; bishopi J. Allen, 1899; borealis Schinz, 1845; cascadensis Nelson, 1907; columbiensis Rhoads, 1895; dalli Merriam, 1900; hudsonius Pallas, 1778; klamathensis Merriam, 1899 ; macfarlani Merriam, 1900; nanus Schreber, 1790; niediecki Matschie, 1907; oregonus Orr, 1934; pallidus Cowan, 1938 ; phaeonotus J. Allen, 1899; pinetus Dalquest, 1942; saliens, Osgood, 1900; seclusus Baker and Hankins, 1950; struthopus Bangs, 1898; tahoensis Orr, 1933; virginianus Harlan, 1825 ; wardi Schinz, 1825 ; washingtoni Baird, 1855.

COMMENTS: Distinctive small species, but subgeneric separation ( Poecilolagus Lyon, 1904 ) not supported; see Hall (1981:314); but see also Gureev (1964:188).