Lepus corsicanus, de Winton, 1898

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 : 142-143

55.

Corsican Hare

Lepus corsicanus

French: Liévre corse / German: Korsika-Hase / Spanish: Liebre de Coércega

Other common names: Apennine Hare, Italian Hare

Taxonomy. Lepus corsicanus de Winton, 1898 ,

“Bastia,” Corsica, France.

Formerly, L. corsicanus was included in L. capensis or L. europaeus but has received species status due to distinct genetic, morphometric, and morphological characteristics. Phylogenetic analyses suggested that L. corsicanus and L. europaeus were not closely related but belong to distinct evolutionary lineages that dispersed in Western Europe in different periods during the early Pleistocene. This species is morphologically and genetically similar to L. castroviejoi from the Cantabrian Mountains. The two species are sister taxa and might have had a common ancestor occupying a large area in south-western Europe between Italy and Spain before expansion of L. europaeus . Lepus corsicanus probably differentiated in isolated patches during the last glaciation; however, another recent genetic study based on nDNA suggests that L. corsicanus and L. castroviejoi might be conspecific. Although hybrids of L. europaeus and L. corsicanus may have occurred in Corsica where frequent introductions of thousands of individuals of other species of Lepus have occurred, a genetic study did not find any interspecific hybrids in Italy, except two cases of L. corsicanus mtDNA introgression in two L. europaeus individuals. Monotypic.

Distribution. C & S Italy, distribution poorly known but present in Tuscany, Lazio, Abruzzo, Molise, Apulia, Campania, Basilicata, and Calabria, and in Sicily. Introduced into Corsica around the 14" century.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 550-610 mm, tail 70-120 mm, ear 90-100 mm, hindfoot 124-141 mm; weight 3.5-5 kg. The general appearance of the European Hare ( L. europaeus ) and the Corsican Hare seems to be fairly similar. Nevertheless, the two species vary in numerous pelage characteristics of taxonomic significance. Among the discriminant features is the color of the basal fringe of the dorsal underfur of adult specimens which is always white in the European Hare and gray in the Corsican Hare. The Corsican Hare is significantly smaller than the European Hare. This can be assessed by measuring the variables head-body, tail, ear, and hind foot length as well as the weight. The two species are also well distinguishable by skull measurements. As regarding to dental characters, the difference between the two speciesis ascertainable in the shape of the posterior contour of the cross section of the first upper incisor, which is concave in the European Hare and smooth or convex in the Corsican Hare.

Habitat. Various lowland and upland habitats from sea level to elevations of ¢.2400 m on the Mount Etna, Sicily. Densities of Corsican Hares vary due to competition with introduced European Hares that are habitat generalists; e.g. populations of Corsican Hares on the Italian mainland are now restricted to mountainous areas and lowlands and hills where densities of European Hares are low. In Sicily where European Hares are absent, Corsican Hares occur in a variety of natural and artificial lowland habitats such as open grassland, bushy pastures, and cultivated areas. Corsican Hares inhabit Mediterranean maquis (shrubland)—the mosaic of clearings, bushy areas, broadleaved woods, and coastal dunes.

Food and Feeding. Diet of the Corsican Hare in Sicily varies with seasonal availability of vegetation. Corsican Hares can eat 70 species of plants during the year, including monocotyledons and species of Cyperaceae and Juncaceae throughout the year, species of Poaceae in spring, and species of Lamiaceae in summer. Species of Fabaceae and Asteraceae (dicotyledons) occur in diets of Corsican Hares throughout the year. Diets are seasonally supplemented with fruits of Prunus spinosa, Pyrus piraster, and Malus sylvestris (all Rosaceae ).

Breeding. Reproductive activity of Corsican Hares occurs throughout the year, peaking in spring and reaching low levels in winter and summer. Although data are preliminary, dry and cold seasons might have negative influences on the reproduction of the Corsican Hare. Females have an average of two litters per year (maximum of four). Litter size averages 1-5 young.

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 Corsican Hare is listed in Appendix III of the Bern Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats as part of L. capensis sensu lato. The Corsican Hare has been monitored continuously in Italy, including Sicily, since 1997. Its populations are fragmented and scarce on the Italian peninsula, but several protected areas have been created that will help populations to recover. The Corsican Hare is widespread and locally abundant in Sicily. The Sicilian government officially recognized it as a “true” species in 1998, forbidding hunting on the island. Status is unclear in Corsica, but 70% of the samples in a recent genetic study were Corsican Hares. Population and distributional declines of Corsican Hares have been estimated at 50% for continental populations and 38% across the entire distribution, probably from overhunting and introductions of European Hares. The Corsican Hareis legally protected in mainland Italy and Sicily, but differentiation of Corsican Hares and European Hares in the field makes it difficult to manage harvest. In Sicily, a hunting ban on Corsican Hares waslifted in 2004-2005. The Corsican Hare is still a game species in Corsica because it is considered conspecific with the European Hare in France. Major conservation threats to the Corsican Hare are habitat degradation, fragmentation that causes low or absent gene flow among populations, low population densities, competition with introduced European Hares, and overhunting. Captive breeding programs of Corsican Hares are being carried out in mainland Italy and Sicily.

Bibliography. Alves, Ferrand et al. (2003), Alves, Melo-Ferreira et al. (2008), Angelici & Luiselli (2001, 2007), Angelici, Petrozzi & Galli (2010), Angelici, Randi et al. (2008), De Battisti et al. (2004), De Marinis, Trocchi & Mangiafico (2007), De Marinis, Trocchi, Mangiafico, Fassd & Mallia (2007), Ellerman & Morrison-Scott (1951), Freschi, Fascetti, Musto, Cosentino et al. (2016), Freschi, Fascetti, Musto, Mallia, Blasi et al. (2014), Freschi, Fascetti, Musto, Mallia, Cosentino & Paolino (2015), Hoffmann & Smith (2005), Koutsogiannouli et al. (2012), Mengoni et al. (2015), Mitchell-Jones et al. (1999), Palacios (1996), Petter (1961), Pierpaoli et al. (1999, 2003), Pietri (2015), Pietri et al. (2011), Riga et al. (2001), Vigne (1988).

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. C & S Italy, distribution poorly known but present in Tuscany, Lazio, Abruzzo, Molise, Apulia, Campania, Basilicata, and Calabria, and in Sicily. Introduced into Corsica around the 14" century.