| Korean hare | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Lagomorpha |
| Family: | Leporidae |
| Genus: | Lepus |
| Species: | L. coreanus |
| Binomial name | |
| Lepus coreanus Thomas, 1892 | |
 | |
| Korean hare range | |
TheKorean hare (Lepus coreanus) is a species ofhare native to theKorean Peninsula and adjoining parts of northeasternChina.[1][2] The Korean hare inhabits diverse habitats within its range, from remote mountain forests to cultivated land. Fur colour varies slightly among individuals, but is generally some shade of liver brown.
An adult Korean hare weighs 2.1–2.6 kg (4.6–5.7 lb) and has a body length of 45–54 cm (18–21 in). The tail is typically 2–5 cm (0.79–1.97 in) in length, and the ears are 7.6–8.3 cm (3.0–3.3 in) long.
The Korean hare was first described byThomas in 1892. Five other species of hare in the genusLepus occur in eastern Asia: theChinese hare (L. sinensis), themountain hare (L. timidus), theManchurian hare (L. mandshuricus), theJapanese hare (L. brachyurus) and thebrown hare (L. capensis). In 1974, the Korean hare was considered to be a subspecies ofL. brachyurus and in 1978, a subspecies ofL. sinensis, however, a study ofmtDNA published in 2010 showed that the Korean hare is a valid species (L. coreanus).[3]
The Korean hare is native to the Korean Peninsula and theJilin Province in northeastern China. It is found on plains, in scrublands and in mountainous regions. Densities ranged from no individuals on coastal cultivated land to four individuals per square kilometre (0.4 square mile) in the hills and five per square kilometres in the mountains. A study in the Jirisan National Park in South Korea found that its abundance increased in proportion to the density of scrub cover in its habitat.[1]
TheIUCN, in itsRed List of Threatened Species, lists the Korean hare as being of "Least Concern". This is because, although the population trend is unknown, this hare seems to be a common species without any specific identified threats. It has been reported as damagingbarley crops in the foothills ofSouth Gyeongsang Province, and ringing the bark and killingpeach trees inSouth Jeolla Province, both in South Korea.[1]
TheMinistry of Environment in South Korea designated it as an Endangered species candidate in 2018.[1]
