
Photo: Subir B. Shakya · CC-BY
Lepus oiostolus
Diet
Grasses, young leaves, seedlings, fruit, grain, and crops
Habitat
Alpine steppe, grassland, meadow, shrubland, forest, and farmland
Range
Tibetan Plateau in China, India, and Nepal; 2,500–5,400 m elevation
Litter size
1–2 leverets
Size
400–500 mm long
Weight
1.5–3.1 kg
The woolly hare is a relatively large hare with a body length of 400–500 mm. Its slightly wavy upper coat varies from yellowish white to yellowish brown, while the rump ranges from brown-gray to silver-gray. The abdomen is mainly white, sometimes with a pale-brown central line. Its short tail is white with variable gray or black striping. Females average slightly larger and heavier than males. (Animal Diversity Web)
Woolly hares inhabit the Tibetan Plateau and adjoining areas of China, India, and Nepal at elevations of 2,500–5,400 m. They use alpine steppe, grassland, marshy meadow, shrubland, evergreen forest, and occasional farmland. They rest among tussocks, rocks, and low terrain during daylight and forage mainly from dusk to dawn. Their diet includes grasses, young leaves, seedlings, fruit, grain, and crops. Females produce one or two leverets per litter. (Animal Diversity Web)