Tolai Hare (Lepus tolai) lives in temperate grasslands across Central Asia. It feeds on grasses and plants. Its conservation status is Least Concern.
Fascinating facts about the Tolai Hare
- Tolai hares can raise up to three litters a year, each holding two to six kits, but later litters tend to be smaller. Breeding usually kicks off in late February and can stretch for five months depending on locale. Their diploid chromosome count of 48.
- Humans have long harvested Tolai hares for food and fur, but fur yields fell more than tenfold in southern Uzbekistan between 1959 and 1977. In eastern Mongolia, hunters consistently take about 1,000 hares each year. Archaeological finds at the Neolithic Yangjiesha site even reveal early taming attempts, hinting at a millennia-old commensal relationship between people and these hares.
- The Tolai hare enjoys a wide range and a large, stable population, earning it a Least Concern rating from the IUCN and regional lists in China and Mongolia. About 12 % of its habitat falls within protected zones like Hustai National Park. This broad distribution and legal safeguard mean the hare currently faces low extinction risk, though ongoing habitat loss could alter that balance if left unchecked.
- A Tolai hare can tip the scales at up to 2.7 kg (6 lb) and stretch 59 cm (23 in) from nose to rump. Its ears can span 120 mm (4.7 in), its tail 110 mm (4.3 in) and its hind feet reach 127 mm (5 in).
- While most Tolai hares live between 600 m and 900 m (2 000-3 000 ft) above sea level, one individual was documented at a staggering 4 900 m (16 100 ft), higher than many mountain peaks.
Sources
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At a glance
RangeCentral Asia
HabitatTemperate grasslands
DietGrasses and plants
About the Tolai Hare
In the vast, sun-scorched steppes of Eurasia, the Tolai Hare embarks on a solitary journey, its oversized hind legs propelling it forward with incredible agility, as it weaves through a tapestry of tall grasses and wildflowers. With eyes ever-vigilant for the lurking presence of predators, this remarkable creature moves with a quiet confidence, its tawny coat blending seamlessly into the surrounding landscape. As it runs, the Tolai Hare's very existence is a testament to the enduring power of adaptation, its resilient spirit thriving in one of the most unforgiving environments on Earth.
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