Body weights of the Cape hare Lepus capensis in the northern China

Abstract

Lu X. 2000. Body weights of the Cape hare Lepus capensis in the northern China. Acta Theriologica 45: 271-280. This paper analyzed body weights of the Cape hare Lepus capensis Linnaeus, 1758 in northern China during 1990-1993. Body weight of the hares increased faster in the first five months of life. The juveniles with the same eye lens weight weighed less in spring-summer than in autumn, in the southern region than in the northern. The overwintering females increased weight with reproduction, the older of which gained more. In autumn-winter, body weights of adult females and males in the whole study region were 2.29 ± 0.05 and 2.11 ± 0.06 kg respectively. Body weight of the overwintering hares varied seasonally. At the beginning of the breeding season female was the lightest while male the heaviest, and then female became heavier and male lighter. Regardless of age, area and season, females were usually heavier than males.