First record of Lepus timidus (Linnaeus, 1758) from Novaya Zemlya, Russian Arctic (Lagomorpha, Leporidae)

By

Spitsyn, Vitaly M.
Bolotov, Nikita

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2020-1-17

Original Publication

Check list : journal of species lists and distribution

Volume

16

Series / Issue

Issue: 1

Pages

59--61

Subjects

Fauna , High Arctic , Lepus timidus , Mammals , new record , Russia , Yuzhny Island

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

[São Paulo, Brazil] Luís Felipe Toledo 2005-

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.15560/16.1.59

 

Abstract

Mountain hare (Lepus timidus) is a widespread species that lives throughout the continental tundra zone of Eurasia, as well as over the greater part of the northern forest zone. For a long time, the presence of the mountain hare in the fauna of the Novaya Zemlya Archipelago was assumed. However, documented evidence from the archipelago was lacking. In 2017, two fragments of the lower jaw of a single specimen were found in the Bezymyannaya Bay area on Yuzhny Island, Novaya Zemlya, Russia. This record confirms the presence of the species on the archipelago, while its status remains unclear. The jaw fragments from Novaya Zemlya contained dry meat remnants, indicating that this individual died relatively recently (i.e., no more than 10 years ago). It is likely that the species periodically visits the archipelago, without forming a viable population there.