キュウシュウノウサギの飼育下における日周活動

概要

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Observations were made on the diurnal activity of <I>Lepus brachyurus brachyurus</I> TEMMINCK 14-20 Aug. 1966 and 25 Dec 1966 to 7 Jan. 1967. Animals were kept in a 5m×10m cage set under almost natural conditions. Both in summer and winter, individual A (adult) showed a nocturnal pattern of activity: active phase began at about 19: 00 every day and ended at about 7: 00-8: 00 in the next morning. Individual B (subadult) showed an activity pattern apparently different from that of individual A. The cause of this difference is briefly discussed. No particular relation between the activity of hares and meteological factors such as temperature, humidity and illumination was noticed. Regardless of season, individual A showed an intense running behavior prior to the resting stage. This may correspond to the alerting behavior well known among hunters for the hares before entering their resting sites. Although it is said that hares never feed at the same place in natural condition, both individuals were seen feeding at a fixed point except when faced to an unusual event. Hares did not show alertness to noises of motorcars and voices, although they were particularly alert to foot steps of man and a dog, and to stepping sounds on dead leaves. They often closed the eyes about 1-3 minutes, about 20 minutes in total per day. Grooming was frequently observed before and after the activity.
日本哺乳類学会の論文