Spatial Behaviour of the Apennine Hare: Are Females Territorial?

The spatial behaviour of seven male and five female Apennine haresLepus corsicanuswas studied in a scrub-wood area of Central Italy, through radiotracking. The median percentage of home-range overlap was about five times lower between females (< 15%) than between males (75%). Intrasexual aggression was recorded for females, but never for males. No species within theLepusgenus are known to be territorial, whereas we suggest that inter-individual female intolerance in the Apennine hare may be compatible with territoriality. The Apennine hare is also unusual among hares because it reproduces throughout the year, that is also during food-poor months, which could have triggered resource defence between females to maximise their reproductive fitness.