Mammals · Lagomorpha · Leporidae

Arctic Hare

Lepus arcticus

Least Concern

The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary

The Arctic hare is a large, heavily built lagomorph, with short ears and enormous hind feet that serve as snowshoes. It is adapted to extreme cold: a very dense coat, short extremities and the habit of digging shelters in the snow during blizzards. It feeds mainly on Arctic willow, which it finds by scraping beneath the snow with its claws. Unlike most hares, in winter it may gather in bands of dozens or even hundreds of animals.

Weight

2.5 kg – 7 kg

Size

43 cm – 70 cm

Lifespan

5 years

Diet

Herbivore

Feeds mainly on plants.

Activity

Nocturnal

Active mainly at night.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

TundraPolarHerbivore Nocturnal Variable activity Tundra Polar Mammal

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Fun facts

adaptaciónIt changes coat from white to greyish brown with the seasonal day length, much as the Arctic fox does, to stay camouflaged all year.
In the far north of its range it stays white all year, while the more southerly populations moult to a greyish brown in summer.
It reaches 60 km/h and sometimes moves by bounding on its hind legs alone, forelegs tucked up, in a gait reminiscent of a kangaroo's.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (mammal)
Habitat & environment: Arctic tundra, rocky slopes and polar desert of northern Canada and Greenland
Gestation / incubation: 53 days
Litter / clutch size: 5

Sources consulted: https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lepus_arcticus