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Abstract: Although an important game animal and a species of wide distribution, little is known about the natural history of the white-sided jackrabbit (Lepus callotis), its ecological requirements, and limiting factors. The information available suggests that this species may have undergone a reduction in both population numbers and distribution, and may be endangered due to habitat changes. The information presented herein should facilitate proposals for future research, and conservation and management actions.

Keywords: ConservationConservation,DistributionDistribution,Lepus callotisLepus callotis.

Resumen: Aunque se considera un animal de caza importante y una especie de amplia distribución, poco se conoce sobre la historia natural de la liebre torda (Lepus callotis), sus requerimientos ecológicos y factores limitantes. La información disponible sugiere que esta especie pudo haber sufrido una reducción del tamaño poblacional y de su distribución y puede estar en peligro debido a los cambios de hábitat. La información aquí presentada debe facilitar las propuestas para investigaciones futuras y acciones de conservación y manejo.

Palabras clave: Conservación, Distribución, Lepus callotis.

Despite having been described by scientists as early as 1830, and being a popular game animal throughout much of Mexico, the natural history and ecological requirements of the white-sided jackrabbit, Lepus callotis are almost unknown (Nelson, 1909). Presently divided into 2 subspecies along parallel 25 N, the nominate species, L. c. callotis occurs in tropic-subtropic savannas, encinales, warm-temperate rosetofilo scrub, juniper woodland, and halophytic vegetation south of the Nazas River from central Durango, through to the northwestern half of Oaxaca, and the northern half of Guerrero (Delgadillo-Quezada, 2011; Leopold, 1972). North of the Nazas River, L. c. gaillardi is found in temperate grasslands in northern Durango, Chihuahua, and extreme southern New Mexico in the United States (Anderson & Gaunt, 1962; Bednarz, 1977; Cook, 1986; Desmond, 2004), and is positively correlated with buffalograss (Buchloe dactyloides) in New Mexico and Chihuahua (Traphagen, 2002, 2011). The Nazas River has been considered a significant geographical barrier between the separations of subspecies of L. callotis (Petersen, 1976).

Lepus c. gaillardi differs from L. c. callotis in having paler and buffier pelage including a paler rump and an ochraceous throat patch. The white flanks of L. c. gaillardi also show less contrast with the upper body fur of L. c. callotis, while the skulls are typically larger and have a more elevated supraorbital process. Lepus c. gaillardi also has a brown rather than black nape markings and measures larger for body, foot and ear length (Anderson & Gaunt, 1962).

Most of the information available on L. callotis comes from anecdotal observations made by museum collectors and scientists conducting general zoological inventories (e.g., Nelson, 1909). Although a few life history studies of L. c. gaillardi have been conducted (e.g., Bednarz, 1977; Bednarz & Cook, 1984; Desmond, 2004: Traphagen, 2011) only one study has investigated the status of L. c. callotis (Delgadillo-Quezada, 2011). All of the information available suggests that L. c. gaillardi is in serious decline due to environmental changes resulting from overgrazing, shrub invasion and other habitat changes (Dalquest, 1953; Matson & Baker, 1986; Traphagen, 2011). Traphagen (2011) suggested that road kills from US Border Patrol activities may be a significant factor contributing to declining numbers in New Mexico, USA (Fig. 1). The status of L. c. callotis is less clear, but the limited information available for this subspecies indicates that it may also be in trouble due to destruction of its habitat, hunting, disturbance by herders and their dogs, as well as vehicle collisions (Bello-Sánchez, 2010). Additionally, a study that modeled the effects of climate change on grassland mammals in Mexico predicted an 80% reduction in range and habitat of L. callotis by 2050 (Trejo et al., 2011).

Several investigators (Bogan & Jones, 1975; Dalquest, 1953; Davis & Lukens, 1958; Davis & Russell, 1954; Findley et al., 1975; Hall & Villa, 1949; Leopold, 1972; Matson & Baker, 1986; Sánchez et al., 2014) reported L. callotis to be uncommon in both New Mexico and Mexico (Chihuahua, Guanajuato, Guerrero, Michoacán, southeastern Morelos, San Luis Potosí, Zacatecas). We fear that populations of L. callotis have been diminishing for years, and in some areas are now rare where formerly common. In other areas the species has been or is being replaced by the highly adaptable black-tailed jackrabbit (L. californicus; Baker & Greer, 1962; Desmond, 2004; Hall, 1981). In the Chihuahuan Desert region, L. c. gaillardi has been considered a “mammal in distress” (Baker, 1977). In the United States it has been classified as “threatened” by the State of New Mexico since 1975; however, it is not afforded any protection by the United States federal government under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). In 2009 the United States Fish and Wildlife was petitioned to list the species under the ESA, but it was rejected after a 12-month review due to only limited information being available on the status of the species in Mexico (United States Fish and Wildlife Service, 2009, 2010). This decision runs counter to the overwhelming number of publications and proceedings which have recommended the species to be considered as endangered throughout its range and in need of research and protection (Baker, 1977; Conway, 1976; Dunn et al., 1982; Findley & Caire, 1977; Wilson & Reeder, 1993). In Mexico, however, the species is not considered to be in “at risk” category (Semarnat, 2010).

In this paper we summarize the distributional records and few studies pertaining to L. callotis. Our purpose is to encourage future field surveys to document current and future threats to the animal’s existence, and to alert governments, academic institutions, and wildlife management agencies as to how little is known of the general occurrence, life history, habitat affiliations, and general welfare of this species.

Using Google Scholar, we reviewed scientific literature about L. callotis, abstracted pertinent information, and plotted collection locales on Google Earth. Collection locations for 281 specimens of L. callotis were obtained from databases in the Mammal Networked Information System (MaNIS; http://www.manisnet.org) and the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF; http://www.gbif.org). The latitude, longitude, and elevation of these locations were recorded and plotted on a map.

We located 202 specimens of L. c. callotis from 84 localities, and 79 specimens of L. c. gaillardi from 28 locations in museum collections (Table 1; Fig. 2). The collections with the most specimens are in the U.S. National Museum (Smithsonian) and American Museum of Natural History. Museum specimens were collected from the Mexican states of Aguascalientes, Chihuahua, Distrito Federal, Durango, Guanajuato, Guerrero, Hidalgo, Jalisco, Michoacán, Morelos, Oaxaca, Puebla, San Luis Potosí, Mexico, Tlaxcala, and Zacatecas. States less well represented were Michoacán and Guerrero. All of the United States specimens are from southwestern New Mexico. Elevations ranged from 660 to 2,600 m. The proportion of males to females was 54:58, which was not significantly different than 1:1. Localities plotted on Google Earth suggest that most sites are in open grassland.

Lepus c. callotis was originally described as a species in 1830 by Wagler from specimens collected at the southern end of “Mexican tableland”, Lepus c. gaillardi was originally described as a species in 1895 by E. A. Mearns from a series of specimens collected on the USA Boundary Survey including a holotype specimen from Chihuahua. After 1904, there is a gap of 27 years without any collected specimens of either subspecies due to armed conflicts initiated in 1910 with the Mexican Revolution. It was not until 1931 that L. c. gaillardi and L. c. callotis were again collected. We found no records of the species in collections dated after 1999 when the animal was completely protected in New Mexico and after the onset of the current period of insecurity in rural Mexico.

Lepus callotis is considered as “near threatened” in the IUCN red list (IUCN 2017), however, biological information is scarce, and the actual distribution and status of L. callotis are unknown, particularly in Mexico where most of its distribution occurs. We propose a detailed, long term study of the mortality factors effecting L. callotis, and an investigation into the taxonomy of this species, since the subspecies have morphologic and ecological differences that may influence conservation actions.

We assembled a table of museum collection locales (Table 1) so that biologists might better understand the status of L. callotis and alert governments, academic institutions, and wildlife management agencies of how little is known about general occurrence, life history and habitat affiliations of this animal. Hopefully, this information will encourage further study into the animal’s ecological affiliations, habitat requirements, and general welfare lest it disappear without its natural history being understood.

We thank D. Navarrete for her help drawing Figure 2. Comments from two anonymous reviewers improved this research note.

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