Sri Lanka Black-Naped Hare (Lepus Nigricollis Singhala)

-


Sinhalese: Hawa

Tamil: Mussal

Description: This is the only specie of this family found in Sri Lanka, there are no rabbits. The main characteristic of this hare is the black patch on the back of its neck. The length of the head and body is 45 to 50 cm. and the females tend to be larger than the males.

Distribution: Found throughout the island in scrub and the surrounding grasslands.

Habits: The hare is mainly, nocturnal, spending the day lying up in its “form” in some secluded place. In reserves where it is unmolested by man it is often seen during the day. They are solitary animals, only seen in a small group if the feeding is particularly good, and this consists of grasses and leaves. The senses of sight, hearing and smell are excellent, and when confronted by an enemy, they usually rely on their speed to make good their escape.

Breeding: The gestation period is about one month and usually two young are born, sometimes only one. The young are born fully furred and with eyes open. In a ”form” that the mother has scraped out in a clump of grass or under a bush. Here the young remain, with the mother returning frequently from her feeding to suckle them.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Sri Lanka Python (Python Molurus Pimbura)

-
Image
Sinhalese: Dhara Pimbura, Ran Pimbura, Pimbura Tamil: Periya Pambu, Malai Pambu, Kaloodai Viriyan. Description: A huge snake which can grow to 8 meters, but usually average about 5.5 meters. Pythons have teeth, a very sensitive tongue, and jaws which can separate to enable them to swallow large prey. Distribution: Found in the jungles of the low country; occasionally in the lower hills hills and often near water. Habits: The python is diurnal, nocturnal and solitary. They swim well, can climb trees and are not venomous. Their food consists of small to medium sized animals which they catch using their teeth, kill by constriction and swallow whole once once the prey is dead. If the meal is substantial the python does not need to feed again for 4 or more months. They have good sight over short distances, are deaf, but can feel vibrations through the ground. Their extremely sensitive tongues can sense loud noises and convey smells to the scent organ in the roof of t...
Read more

Sri Lanka Small Civet-Cat (Viverricula Indica Mayori)

-
Image
Sinhalese:  Urulava Tamil: Poolu poona, Veeregu Description: The civet-cat is easily identified by its black and white ringed tail and dark spotted grey body. The adult male, which is slightly larger than the female, has an overall length of about 84 cms. Distribution: found in jungles and scrub throughout the island except in the highest hills. Habits: The civet-cat is mainly nocturnal but not entirely so, usually spending the day living up in some patch of undergrowth. Its food consists of birds, small animals, insects, frogs etc, and also some roots and fruits. Breeding: The birth takes place in a cavity at the end of a short tunnel which is often dug in a bank, or under some large rocks or tree. 3 to 5 young are born.
Read more

Vigna mungo (L.) Hepper – Black gram Syn. Phaseolus mungo L.

-
Image
Taxonomic classification           Kingdom: Plantae             Division: Magnoliophyta             Class: Magnoliopsida             Subclass: Asteridae             Order: Solanales             Family: Leguminosae             Genus: Vigna             Species: V.mungo V.mungo is one of the most highly-priced pulses of India, especially in the vegetarian diet. It is a diffusely branched, herbaceous annual with reddish brown hairs.     Various cultivars are recognized 1. Early-maturing cultivars, which have larger, black s...
Read more