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Order : LAGOMORPHA
Family : Leporidae
Species : Lepus peguensis
Head-Body Length : up to 50 cm
Tail Length : up to 8 cm
The Burmese Hare is one of
just three species of hare occurring in Southeast Asia, the others being the
Chinese Hare Lepus sinensis and the Indian Hare Lepus nigricollis.
This species inhabits dry forest, grassland and disturbed areas in lowland
and hilly areas. By day they shelter in shaded areas, often hiding in dense
grass, but by dusk they become active and remain so for much of the night.
Like other species of hare, the Burmese Hare typically does not make use of burrows. They feed on vegetation such as
grass, low shrubs and tree bark.
Adults are large, with a head-body length of up to 50 cm and probably weigh
around 1.5 kg. Their hind feet and legs are long and powerful: they
typically flee from danger at great speed.
Their ears are long, measuring up to 8.5 cm, with a distinctive black tip.
Their body fur is grizzled black, brown and fawn, with reddish-orange fur on
the nape, and the underside is mainly white. The tail measures up to 8 cm:
this is brownish-black on top and white underneath.
Around 3 or 4 young hares are typically born, several times a year: their
fur colour gives them excellent camouflage in areas of dry grass.
The Burmese Hare is known from Myanmar, Thailand (excluding the
south), Cambodia, Laos and southern Vietnam.
Fig 1 : A young Burmese Hare, also known as a leveret, crouches amongst
dried grass in an uncultivated field overgrown with wild grasses and thorn
bush in Kaeng Krachan District, Phetchaburi
Province, Thailand.
Fig 2 : Abandoned, overgrown agricultural land: habitat of the Burmese Hare
in Figure 1.
All photos thanks to Charles Currin.
References :
Francis, C.M. 2019. A Field Guide to the Mammals of South-east Asia. Second
Edition. New Holland. 416 pp.
Lekagul, B., McNeely, J., 1977. Mammals of Thailand. Association for the
Conservation of Wildlife, Thailand. 758 pp.
Smith, A. T. & Johnston, C. H. (2008).
Lepus peguensis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. (Accessed 29
March
2018).
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