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The massive horns average 85 cm. Gaur are very susceptible to live-stock
disease.
The Wild Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) formerly occurred in peninsular
India as far west as 80 0 E. longitude but loss of suitable habitat to
cultivation and disease contracted from domestic live-stock have now
confined them to a small area in Madhya Pradesh. It is possible that a few
may be seen in the Bhamragarh area of Chanda district adjoining Bastar in
M.P.
The Order Lagomorpha has two families the Leporidae (Hares and
Rabbits) and the Ochotonidae (Mouse hares), the former is represented in
Maharashtra. The Order Lagomorpha is distinguished from the Order
Rodentia (Rodents) in the presence of four instead of two incisors on the
upper jaw. True rabbits do not occur in India. The Indian hare Lepus
nigricollis has several races of which the Black-naped Hare Lepus
nigricollis nigricollis occurs south of the Godavari and the Rufous-tailed
Hare Lepus nigricollis ruficaudatus north of the river. Another race found
in the State is Lepus nigricollis simcoxi in Berar. Hares are usually found
in jungle and scrub country alternating with cultivation and are less
numerous in heavy forests. In the neighborhood of villages they
occasionally become unclean feeders.
The Order Rodentia is the largest among mammal orders, containing
more than half the living mammals and is more abundant in variety than
all other mammals put together. Rodents are primarily vegetarian but
many are omnivorous. They are easily distinguished from all other
mammals, by the presence of the two large incisors separated by a large
gap from the grinding teeth. Rodents are the most destructive among
mammals and members of the family Muridae are very destructive to
crops and to stored grains. Rodents occur in all types of habitats.
Three genera of Squirrels, family Sciuridae occur in Maharashtra. The
Common Giant Flying Squirrel Petaurista petaurista philippensis is a
forest species not uncommon in deciduous forests on the edge of
evergreen tracts. It is nocturnal and becomes active late in the evening.
FAUNA 612