Taxonomic status of hares (Lepus spp.) in Xinjiang, China (Lagomorpha: Leporidae): An integrative approach

The taxonomic status and interspecies relationships of hares (genus Lepus) in Xinjiang, China, remain ambiguous owing to extremely similar external morphologies, introgressive hybridization between species and a lack of molecular genetic records. In this study, a total of 154 hare specimens were used to clarify their taxonomic status. Based on multiple lines of evidence, including observations and comparisons of external morphological characteristics, skull morphometrics and genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) datasets, four hare species were recognised. Lepus yarkandensis and Lepus timidus, which have obvious morphological characteristics, were identified as two distinct species, as previously reported. Combining the integrated morphological and molecular datasets with the relevant literature, we proposed suggestions on the classification of the more controversial hares. Due to molecular and morphological similarities, hares in northern and central Xinjiang were divided into two subspecies of Lepus tolai, namely, Lepus tolai lehmanni and Lepus tolai centrasiaticus. Despite similar external morphological characters, hares in the southwest Pamir Plateau and its surroundings can be distinguished from L. tolai by differences in skull morphology and genetic divergence and were, therefore, considered a subspecies of Lepus tibetanus, Lepus tibetanus pamirensis. Furthermore, we found that hybridization and introgression occurred between sympatric or parapatric hares, especially between L. yarkandensis and L. tibetanus pamirensis, L. yarkandensis and L. tolai centrasiaticus, and L. tolai lehmanni and L. timidus.