Lepus castroviejoi, Palacios, 1976

Don E. Wilson, Thomas E. Lacher, Jr & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2016, Leporidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 6 Lagomorphs and Rodents I, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 107-148 : 142

54.

Broom Hare

Lepus castroviejoi

French: Liévre de Castroviejo / German: Castroviejo-Hase / Spanish: Liebre de piornal

Taxonomy. Lepus castroviejoi Palacios, 1976 ,

“Puerto de la Ventana, San Emiliano (Leon [Province]),” (= Puerto Ventanas, Spain, 1500 m).

It was initially described as a new hare species in 1976—the third species of Lepus besides L. granatensis and L. europaeus in the Iberian Peninsula—based on different body and skull measurements, dental and skull characteristics, and pelage color and pattern. Nevertheless, this new species was not accepted as distinct because differences in morphological and molecular characteristics were not large enough between L. castroviejoi and L. europaeus to justify species status. Additional data from protein markers and nuclear and mtDNA supported the existence of the three species in the Iberian Peninsula. This species is morphologically and genetically similar to L. corsicanus from Italy. The two species are sister taxa and might have had a common ancestor occupying a large distributional area in southwestern Europe between Italy and Spain before expansion of L. europaeus . Nevertheless, another recent genetic study of nDNA casts doubt on the specific status of L. cor sicanus and L. castroviejor; results suggest that they might be conspecific. Monotypic.

Distribution. Cantabrian Range between Serra dos Ancares and Sierra de Pena Labra (N Spain).

Descriptive notes. Head-body 490-510 mm, tail 78-96 mm, ear 90-100 mm, hindfoot 135-145 mm; weight 2.7-3.2 kg. The Broom Hare is medium-sized, with tawny brown pelage similar in color and texture to the European Hare ( L. europaeus ). The Broom Hare seems to closely resemble the European Hare but generally has more brownish yellow pelage than the latter. The Broom Hare has clear contrast between ventral and dorsal pelage and grayish white facial arc.

Habitat. Mountainous broom and heathlands, consisting mainly of Erica , Calluna , and Vaccinium (all Ericaceae ) with considerable shrub cover of Cytisus , Genista (both Fabaceae ), and Juniperus (Cupressaceae) and clearings in mixed deciduous woods of beech ( Fagus ) and oak ( Quercus ), both Fagaceae . The Broom Hare lives in mountains at elevations of 1300-1900 m but descends in winter to ¢.1000 m to avoid snow.

Food and Feeding. There is no information available for this species.

Breeding. Reproductive season of the Broom Hare occurs in April-September. Females have 1-3 young/litter.

Activity patterns. There is no information available for this species.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. There is no information available for this species.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Vulnerable on The IUCN Red List. The Broom Hare is listed on Appendix III of the Bern Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats as a part of L. capensis sensu lato and listed as endangered in Spain. It is common at high elevations in its distribution, except for the western edge in Serra dos Ancares where itis isolated during summer and hunted excessively. A substantial part ofits area of occupancy lies within reserves. Its range is ¢.230 km from east to west and 25-40 km from north to south. Nevertheless, distribution of the Broom Hare is fragmented because it occupies highly specialized patches of scarce habitat. Population declines have been recorded along the northern part of its distribution and in marginal habitat in which it occurs. Besides overhunting, major threats are predation, poisoning (fertilizer and pesticides), and habitat change. Recommendations are to restrict hunting in the western edge ofits distribution and restore altered and unsuitable habitat. Establishment of corridors among fragmented populations to prevent inbreeding also should be considered. Research should be conducted to improve knowledge of biology, ecology, and genetics of the Broom Hare.

Bibliography. Acevedo et al. (2007), Alves, Ferrand et al. (2003), Alves, Melo-Ferreira et al. (2008), Angermann (1983), Bonhomme et al. (1986), Corbet & Hill (1986), Estonba et al. (2006), Flux & Angermann (1990), Hoffmann & Smith (2005), Koutsogiannouli et al. (2012), Mitchell-Jones et al. (1999), Palacios (1976, 1983, 1989, 1996), Palacios & Ramos (1979), Pérez-Suérez et al. (1994), Schneider & Leipoldt (1983), Smith & Johnston (2008;).

Figures

On following pages: 51. Tehuantepec Jackrabbit (Lepus flavigularis); 52. Iberian Hare (Lepus granatensis); 53. European Hare (Lepus europaeus); 54. Broom Hare (Lepus castroviejoi); 55. Corsican Hare (Lepus corsicanus); 56. White-tailed Jackrabbit (Lepus townsendii); 57. Arctic Hare (Lepus arcticus); 58. Alaskan Hare (Lepus othus); 59. Mountain Hare (Lepus timidus); 60. Japanese Hare (Lepus brachyurus); 61. Manchurian Hare (Lepus mandshuricus); 62. Korean Hare Lepus coreanus); 63. Chinese Hare (Lepus sinensis).

Distribution. Cantabrian Range between Serra dos Ancares and Sierra de Pena Labra (N Spain).