Korean hare facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Korean hare |
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Lepus
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coreanus
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| Korean hare range | |
The Korean hare (Lepus coreanus) is a type of hare that lives in the Korean Peninsula and parts of northeastern China. These hares can be found in many different places, from high up in mountain forests to farms. Their fur is usually a shade of brown.
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About the Korean Hare
An adult Korean hare usually weighs between 2.1 and 2.6 kilograms (about 4.6 to 5.7 pounds). Its body can be 45 to 54 centimeters (about 18 to 21 inches) long. The tail is short, typically 2 to 5 centimeters (about 0.8 to 2 inches) long. Its ears are quite long, measuring 7.6 to 8.3 centimeters (about 3 to 3.3 inches).
How Scientists Classify the Korean Hare
Scientists use a system called taxonomy to group living things. The Korean hare was first described by a scientist named Oldfield Thomas in 1892.
There are five other types of hares in the same group (genus Lepus) that live in eastern Asia. These include the Chinese hare, the mountain hare, the Manchurian hare, the Japanese hare, and the brown hare.
For a while, some scientists thought the Korean hare was a subspecies of the Japanese hare or the Chinese hare. However, a study in 2010 looked at their mtDNA (a type of genetic material). This study showed that the Korean hare is its own unique species, L. coreanus.
Where Korean Hares Live and Their Homes
The Korean hare is found in the Korean Peninsula and in the Jilin Province in northeastern China. They live in many different kinds of places. You can find them on flat plains, in areas with lots of bushes (scrublands), and in mountains.
In some areas, like coastal farms, you might not find any Korean hares. But in hilly areas, there might be about four hares per square kilometer. In the mountains, you could find about five hares per square kilometer. A study in Jirisan National Park in South Korea found that more hares lived where there was more dense scrub to hide in.
Protecting the Korean Hare
The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) keeps a Red List of Threatened Species. They have listed the Korean hare as a species of "Least Concern". This means that, for now, scientists believe the Korean hare is common and not in immediate danger of disappearing. We don't know if their numbers are growing or shrinking, but there are no big threats identified for them right now.
Sometimes, Korean hares can cause problems for farmers. They have been reported to damage barley crops in parts of South Korea. They can also chew the bark off peach trees, which can kill the trees.
Even though it's listed as "Least Concern" globally, the Ministry of Environment in South Korea named the Korean hare as a possible "Endangered species candidate" in 2018. This means they are watching the species closely in South Korea.
See also
- List of mammals of Korea
