Tolai Hare

The tolai hare (Lepus tolai) is a species of hare native to Central Asia, including much of Mongolia, eastern Iran, Afghanistan, southern Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and North and Central China. It inhabits semi-desert, steppes, rocky habitats, grasslands, and river valleys. A yellow, brown or grey-furred hare with long, black tipped ears, the adult tolai hare weighs between 1.7 and 2.7 kilograms (3.7 and 6.0 pounds) and measures between 40 and 59 centimetres (16 and 23 inches). It is mainly active at dusk and night but is occasionally active during the day to forage for seeds, roots, and other plant matter. Young hares are often more active in daylight hours. A widespread, fairly common species, the tolai hare has a stable population. It breeds often, two to three times per year, and is hunted for its meat, fur, and for use in traditional medicine. Hustai National Park is one of several protected areas where the hare can be found. Authorities in China and Mongolia, as well as the International Union for Conservation of Nature, consider it a least-concern species. == Taxonomy and etymology == The tolai hare was first described by the German naturalist Peter Simon Pallas in 1778. He…