About Lepus sinensis Gray, 1832
The Chinese hare (Lepus sinensis Gray, 1832) is a small species. Adults reach a length of roughly 40 to 76 centimeters (16 to 30 inches) and weigh 1.25 to 1.94 kilograms (2.8 to 4.3 pounds), with females typically larger than males. Its fur is short and coarse: the back and chest are chestnut-brown, and the belly is whitish. Its large hind feet are covered in fur, its tail is brown, and the tips of its ears have triangular black patches. It can be told apart from other Lepus species by the shape and specific details of its skull and teeth.
The Chinese hare is native to the Chinese provinces of Anhui, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, and Zhejiang. It is also found in Taiwan and in a small area of northeastern Vietnam. The Taiwan population of Chinese hare is classified as a subspecies called the Formosan hare. In addition to the nominate subspecies L. s. sinensis, a subspecies endemic to Hunan, L. s. yuenshanensis, has been recorded since 1930.
