The Arctic hare, Lepus arcticus, is a hare adapted to life on the Arctic tundra and in other icy biomes. Short ears and limbs, a small nose, a thick coat and body fat amounting to close to 20 percent of its body help it survive extreme cold, and it usually digs holes in the ground or under the snow to keep warm and to sleep. Adults measure about 43 to 70 centimetres in length, not counting the tail, and typically weigh 2.5 to 5.5 kilograms. It is a herbivore, specifically a folivore, that feeds mainly on woody plants such as arctic willow, with a more varied diet in summer, and it eats snow to get water. Arctic hares are usually found alone but can huddle in groups of dozens, and they can run at up to 60 kilometres per hour.
Facts
Classification
System (Realm) Living or Extinct Comparison
NatureServe Rank CITES Appendix Conservation Status Activity Pattern Connections
Child Taxon Of
Source Arctic hare (Wikipedia)
Lepus, Taxa Source Arctic hare (Wikipedia)
In Biome
Sources
1. Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology: Lepus arcticus
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 polar polar terrestrial terrestrial
View the Source 2. Arctic hare (Wikipedia)
Lead, living species
The Arctic hare (Lepus arcticus) is a species of hare highly adapted to living in the Arctic tundra and other icy biomes.
In Biome: Tundra, Lead
highly adapted to living in the Arctic tundra and other icy biomes
Child Taxon Of: Leporidae, Lead
The Arctic hare (Lepus arcticus) is a species of hare highly adapted to living in the Arctic tundra and other icy biomes.
Child Taxon Of: Lepus, Lead
The Arctic hare (Lepus arcticus) is a species of hare highly adapted to living in the Arctic tundra and other icy biomes.
In Group: Rodents And Lagomorphs, Lead
The Arctic hare (Lepus arcticus) is a species of hare highly adapted to living in the Arctic tundra and other icy biomes.
View the Source3. NatureServe Explorer: Lepus arcticus
NatureServe ExplorerTaxon record, global conservation status rankQuote, Taxon record, global conservation status rank
"roundedGRank": "G5"
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