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NRLD - 329880 | Lepus capensis

Assessment ID
329880
Taxon name
Lepus capensis
Linnaeus, 1758
Uploaded by
National Red List Database
Taxonomic information
Scientific name
Lepus capensis
Linnaeus, 1758
Assessed taxon level
Species
Higher level taxonomic groupings
Vertebrates
Mammals
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
chordata
Class
mammalia
Order
lagomorpha
Family
leporidae
Genus
Lepus
Species
capensis
Species authority
Linnaeus, 1758
Taxonomic notes and synonyms listed
The entire taxonomy of Lepus capensis throughout its range is unclear. Taxonomic review of the species is urgently needed; otherwise, it is possible that some forms may go extinct before they are formally identified. Hoffmann and Smith (2005) restricted L. capensis to the South African distribution, citing no evidence of gene flow between the southern and northern ranges. A list of synonyms is provided based on four geographic locations (South Africa, East Africa, Arabia and Near East, and northwest Africa), which are informal subdivisions of L. capensis sensu lato. The authors suggested that these four groups might represent distinct species. In the Near East and Arabia L. c. arabicus; in South Africa L. c. capensis; L. c. aquilo, L. c. carpi, L. c. granti; East Africa L. c. aegyptius, L. c. hawkeri, L. c. isabellinus, L. c. sinaiticus; and L. c. atlanticus, L. c. schulmbergeri, L. c. whitakeri in northwest Africa (Hoffmann and Smith 2005, Schai-Braun and Hackländer 2018). According to Harrison and Bates (1991) there are eight subspecies in Arabia: L. c. syriacus (Syria, Lebanon, northern Israel); L. c. sinaiticus (southern Israel, Sinai); L. c. connori (east of the Euphrates in Iraq); L. c. arabicus (western Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Yemen); L. c. cheesmani (Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE, Yemen, Oman); L. c. omanensis (UAE, Oman); L. c. atallahi (Bahrain, Qatar?); L. c. jefferyi (Masirah Island, Oman). The taxonomic status of L. c. jefferyi needs clarification, as it may represent a good species. Hares present in Qatar also require taxonomic investigation. The taxonomic position of the Sardinian Hare is unresolved. Hoffmann and Smith (2005) include the Sardinian Hare as one of the unassigned synonyms of L. mediterraneus Wagner, 1841 or typicus Hilzheimer, 1906, in L. granatensis. Analysis of the mtCR-1 sequence indicated that Sardinian Hares form a monophyletic clade with North African Hares (Scandura et al. 2007). A genetic and morphometric analysis supports the hypothesis that the Sardinian Hare was introduced from North Africa (Canu et al. 2012). A phylogenetic analysis of mtCR-1 sequences from Tunisian and Egyptian Hares characterized them as monophyletic and separate from L. capensis (Ben Slimen et al. 2006). However, a study of the nuclear gene pool of L. capensis, L. europaeus and the North African Hare indicated that the North African Hare as well as L. europaeus belong to L. capensis (Ben Slimen et al. 2005), supporting Petter's (1959, 1961) hypothesis of the inclusion of L. europaeus in capensis. Ben Slimen et al. (2008a) suggest that in a case such as the genus Lepus, where evolution is ""rapid and to some extent reticulate"", species designation based solely on mtDNA is misleading without examination of the nuclear gene pool. Ben Slimen et al. (2008a) has shown that genetic differentiation between L. capensis and L. europaeus could be attributed to geographic distance rather than divergence. They speculate that gene flow may be occurring in the Near East where distributions meet resulting in the potential for intergraded populations. However, Ben Slimen et al. (2008b) propose that ""a combined phylogenetic, phylogeographic, and population genetic approach, based on various nuclear and mitochondrial markers and including other biological characters, such as phenotypic and morphometric data,"" is needed for conclusive evidence of a single species complex. A recent study looking at a partial transferrin nuclear gene and phylogenetic relationship of hares in Tunisia showed shared ancestral polymorphism between North African and Chinese hares (Awadi et al. 2016). It also concluded that the Tunisian Hare is well differentiated from hares considered belonging to brown hares L. europaeus from central Europe (Awadi et al. 2016). In light of this continuing uncertainty regarding the taxonomic status of the Sardinian and North African Hares, both will remain included in capensis and L. europaeus retains its taxonomic status as a distinct species. Many treatments indicate that the range of L. capensis extends into China, Mongolia and Russia; however, recognition of L. tibetanus and L. tolai as distinct species removes consideration of L. capensis as occurring in this region (Hoffmann and Smith 2005).
Location and scope
Specific locality or subnational name or regional name
United Arab Emirates (the)
Scope (of the Assessment)
National
Countries included within the scope of the assessment
United Arab Emirates (the)
Country ISO code(s)
ARE
Does the assessment cover a marine EEZ area(s)?
Not_assigned
Conservation Status
Assessed as
Least concern
Abbreviated status
LC
Criteria system used
IUCN

(see Assessment details)

Assessment rationale/justification
The Cape or Arabian Hare is widely distributed across the UAE except in the mountains. It is currently assessed as Least Concern because it remains widespread and relatively common inside protected areas, and releases from captive breeding programmes are ongoing. Outside protected areas, habitat loss and degradation due to overgrazing is widespread and continuing so the species could be approaching the thresholds for listing as Near Threatened and regular monitoring is required. No regional adjustment is made to the Least Concern assessment.
Assessment details
Year assessed
2018
Assessors/contributors/reviewers listed
UAE National Red List Workshop
Criteria system used
IUCN
Reference for methods given
IUCN. 2012. IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria: Version 3.1, Second edition. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK. iv + 32pp pp. And IUCN. 2012. Guidelines for Application of IUCN Red List Criteria at Regional and National Levels: Version 4.0. Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK: IUCN. iii + 41pp.
Further information
Endemism (according to assessment)
Endemic to region
Not assigned
Taxon distribution as listed in assessment
The Cape or Arabian Hare is widely distributed across the UAE except in the mountains and has been introduced onto some islands such as Al Yasat and Abu al Abyadh (Aspinall et al. 2005, Drew and Tourenq 2005). Globally, it is distributed across the whole of the Arabian Peninsula, extending through Iran east into India. It also ranges extensively in Africa outside the central rainforest zone (Drew et al. 2008).
Is there a map available in assessment?
Yes
Habitat and systems
Ecological system type
Terrestrial
Not_assigned
Freshwater
Not_assigned
Marine
Not_assigned
Habitat
Habitat details as listed in assessment
Occurs in coastal flats, gravel plains and sand dunes. Hares make forms at the base of shrubs, sometimes making use of abandoned fox or Uromastyx burrows (Drew 2004). Hare pellets occurred in higher numbers in areas free from domestic grazing than in areas with high grazing pressure or anthropogenic impact (Drew 2000). Hares have home ranges of 11-“30 hectares (0.11-“0.3 km<sup>2</sup>). In summer they are more likely to be found on the fringe of sand dunes where there are shrubs such as Haloxylon salicornicum beneath which they can excavate burrows. In winter they are found most commonly on vegetated plains or flat sandsheets. The movement from dunes in summer to flat areas in winter may be related to mate selection and reproduction (Drew 2004).
Threats and conservation measures listed
Threats listed in assessment
The expansion of human settlement into the deserts and the impact of camel grazing on the vegetation have had a significant effect on the hare's habitat in UAE, outside protected areas. Many plains formerly covered by succulent vegetation are now totally barren due to over-grazing and, possibly, over-extraction of groundwater. Moreover, many forestry plantations have large numbers of feral cats and Red Fox Vulpes vulpes which predate hares (Aspinall et al. 2005, Drew and Tourenq 2005). Releases of individuals imported from southern and Central Asia have been implicated in deaths of native hares due to the introduction of disease (suspected to be rabbit haemorrhagic disease) (Drew 2004). Releases of non-native hares may also pose a risk to the genetic integrity of the indigenous population.
History
The backcasted 1996 assessment for this species is Least Concern which matches the listing given by Hornby (1996).
Publication
Mallon, D., Hilton-Taylor, C., Allen, D., & Harding, K. (2019). UAE National Red List of Mammals: Marine and Terrestrial. A report to the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, United Arab Emirates (p. 41). IUCN Global Species Programme. https://bit.ly/2RdZCQR