Kingdom Animalia Order Lagomorpha Genus Lepus Higher classification Hare | Phylum Chordata Family Leporidae Scientific name Lepus habessinicus Rank Species | |
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Similar Ethiopian hare, Ethiopian highland hare, Yunnan hare, Black jackrabbit, African savanna hare | ||
The Abyssinian hare (Lepus habessinicus) is a species of mammal in the family Leporidae. It is almost entirely restricted to the nations of the Horn of Africa, though it extends marginally into eastern Sudan and may also occur in far northern Kenya. It has been suggested it should be considered conspecific with the Cape hare, but is considered a separate species based on (presumed) sympatry in their distributions.
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Description
The Abyssinian hare resembles other hares in its general appearance, long limbs and large ears. It grows to a head-and-body length of between 40 and 55 cm (16 and 22 in). The fur is soft and dense. The upper parts are a grizzled silvery grey, with some black on the shoulder, back and rump. The hairs on the back are about 2 cm (0.8 in) long and have greyish-white shafts, then a black band topped by a white or pale buff band, and often a black tip. The flanks are paler, the individual hairs having white shafts. The underparts are white, the fur being less dense than on the back. A thin cinnamon band separates the flanks from the underparts. The chin is whitish, and some individuals have whitish eyerings. The ears are very large, silvery-brown externally and whitish-buff inside. There is a black margin round the tips of the ears and a white fringe round the lower parts of the margin. The tail is 8.5 cm (3.3 in) long, black above and white below.
Distribution and habitat
The Abyssinian hare is endemic to the Horn of Africa, being present in Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia and Sudan. It occurs in savannah, grassland and steppe, as well as desert and semi-arid conditions where some scrubby vegetation is present to provide cover. It occurs to altitudes of about 2,000 m (6,600 ft), and even higher in Ethiopia.