Mammals
Hispid Hare
Caprolagus hispidus · also called Assam rabbit, bristly rabbit
Moving through dense tussocks of tall Himalayan foothill grass, a hispid hare’s coarse, bristly fur and unusually short ears set it apart from almost every other hare species, a distinctive appearance now found across only a dwindling fraction of its former range.
Overview
The hispid hare, Caprolagus hispidus, is an Endangered mammal native to tall grassland habitat at the base of the Himalayas across parts of India, Nepal, and Bhutan. Its coarse, bristly fur, unusually compact build, and dependence on increasingly rare tall-grassland habitat make it one of the most endangered and physically distinctive hares found anywhere in the world.
A hare built differently from its relatives
With shorter ears, shorter legs, and far coarser fur than most of its relatives, the hispid hare looks almost more like a rabbit than a typical hare, a distinctive build matched by an equally distinctive and increasingly threatened grassland habitat.
Status
Endangered, with a population severely reduced and fragmented due to the conversion of tall grassland habitat for agriculture and flood control.
Hispid Hare: common questions
Why is it called the hispid hare?
It has unusually coarse, bristly fur, quite different from the softer coats typical of most other hare species, a feature that gives the species its common name.
How does the hispid hare differ in appearance from typical hares?
It has notably shorter ears and legs than most other hare species, giving it a more compact, rabbit-like appearance rather than the long-limbed build typical of hares.
Why is the hispid hare considered one of the most endangered lagomorphs?
Its population has been severely reduced and fragmented as the tall grassland habitat it depends on is converted for agriculture and flood-control projects across its range.
Where is the hispid hare found?
It is native to tall grassland habitat at the base of the Himalayas across parts of India, Nepal, and Bhutan.