Tolai Hare
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Mammalia |
| Order | Lagomorpha |
| Family | Leporidae |
| Genus | Lepus |
| Species | Lepus tolai |
| Species synonyms | – |
| taxonomy: Smithsonian Institution |
The Tolai Hare is a little bit smaller than hares in Europe. The body length varies between
40 and 55 cm and the animal weighs between 1.5 and 2.5 kg. The ears are long and bent forward.
The color is brownish-grey or ocher-grey. This color does not significantly change with seasons.
The only exceptions are the hares living in the high mountains and other cold areas where the color
will brighten a little in winter time. The tail has the same shape as with normal hares, with a black
upper side.
The tolai hare is quite common in Central Asia and can be found from Russia in the north to India
in the south. Also the deserts of Arabia and Northeast Africa are part of the habitat of this animal,
but most of the time it preffers places with bushes or high grass.
It is adapted to harsh environment and has been found on mountain slopes above 3000 meter. Even
the lack of water is not a problem as this hare can live without water for a long time.
In summertime the tolai hare eats grass and cereals. The food changes to bark of trees and bushes
in the autumn. Because of this diet, larger populations of hares can be
quite destructing for the environment as the prefer the younger sprouts. The tolai hare prefers
to eat at night, but at high altitutes it is possible to see them in the afternoon or in twilight.
Most tolai hares in Central Asia do not dig holes, except for those living in the desert areas.
The holes are about 50 cm in length. The quite often look for holes dug by other animals like
marmots.
Pregnancy of the tolai hare lasts for 45 to 48 days. Three or four litters per year are not uncommon,
but in Central Asia the number of litter is often limited to 2. The first litter in the mountain
areas is often in May and reproduction stops in September. Litter size varies between 1 or 2 for
the first litter, to often much more than 5 for the third and following litters.
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