The mountain hare, Lepus timidus, also called the blue hare, tundra hare, variable hare or Irish hare, is a large hare adapted to polar and mountainous habitats of the Palearctic realm. It is slightly smaller than the European hare and is identifiable by a tail that is completely white all year; the coat is brown in summer and white to grey in winter. It grows to 45 to 65 centimetres long with a mass of 2 to 5.3 kilograms, females being slightly heavier than males. It is distributed from Fennoscandia to eastern Siberia, with isolated populations in the Alps, Scotland, the Baltics and northeastern Poland; in the Alps it lives at elevations from 700 to 3,800 metres. Its diet is highly adaptive but generally plant matter such as grass, twigs and bark, and across much of its range clover and grasses are preferred. The red fox is by far its most important predator, and it competes with the European hare in southern Finland, Norway and Sweden. It is routinely shot in the Scottish Highlands.
Facts
Classification
System (Realm) ThreatsClimate Change and Severe Weather 2 Relationship to People Living or Extinct Conservation Status Activity Pattern Comparison
CITES Appendix Connections
Child Taxon Of
Source Mountain hare (Wikipedia)
Lepus, Taxa Source Mountain hare (Wikipedia)
In Biome
In the Other Atlases
Found In
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Source Mountain hare (Wikipedia)Distribution and habitat, where it livesQuote, Distribution and habitat, where it lives
isolated populations occur in the Alps, Scotland, the Baltics, northeastern Poland
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Source Mountain hare (Wikipedia)Distribution and habitatQuote, Distribution and habitat
distributed from Fennoscandia to eastern Siberia
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Source Mountain hare (Wikipedia)Distribution and habitat, where it livesQuote, Distribution and habitat, where it lives
isolated populations occur in the Alps, Scotland, the Baltics, northeastern Poland
Sources
1. Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology: Lepus timidus
Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of ZoologyConservation Status
IUCN Red List Least Concern
Conservation Status, cites appendix
CITES No special status
Food Habits
Primary Diet herbivore herbivore folivore folivore
Behavior, Key Behaviors
nocturnal nocturnal
Habitat
Habitat Regions temperate temperate terrestrial terrestrial
View the Source 2. Mountain hare (Wikipedia)
Distribution and habitat
distributed from Fennoscandia to eastern Siberia
Distribution and habitat, where it lives
isolated populations occur in the Alps, Scotland, the Baltics, northeastern Poland
Human impact
Mountain hares are routinely shot in the Scottish Highlands
Behaviour and ecology
combined with a warming climate has led to a decline in the mountain hare population
Lead, living species
The mountain hare or arctic hare (Lepus timidus), also known as blue hare, tundra hare, variable hare, white hare, snow hare, alpine hare, and Irish hare, is a species of hare that is largely adapted to polar and mountainous habitats in the Palearctic realm.
In Biome: Alpine, Lead
largely adapted to polar and mountainous habitats in the Palearctic realm
In Biome: Tundra, Lead
largely adapted to polar and mountainous habitats in the Palearctic realm
Child Taxon Of: Leporidae, Lead
The mountain hare or arctic hare (Lepus timidus), also known as blue hare, tundra hare, variable hare, white hare, snow hare, alpine hare, and Irish hare, is a species of hare that is largely adapted to polar and mountainous habitats in the Palearctic realm.
Child Taxon Of: Lepus, Lead
The mountain hare or arctic hare (Lepus timidus), also known as blue hare, tundra hare, variable hare, white hare, snow hare, alpine hare, and Irish hare, is a species of hare that is largely adapted to polar and mountainous habitats in the Palearctic realm.
In Group: Rodents And Lagomorphs, Lead
The mountain hare or arctic hare (Lepus timidus), also known as blue hare, tundra hare, variable hare, white hare, snow hare, alpine hare, and Irish hare, is a species of hare that is largely adapted to polar and mountainous habitats in the Palearctic realm.
View the Source3. Human Ageing Genomic Resources, University of Liverpool: AnAge entry for Lepus timidus
Human Ageing Genomic Resources, University of LiverpoolLifespan, ageing, and relevant traits: maximum longevityQuote, Lifespan, ageing, and relevant traits: maximum longevity
Maximum longevity 18 years (wild)
Reader Challenges (0)
No disputes yet. Spotted an error or a better source? Open the first one.
Sign in to dispute this or suggest a correction.