The snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus), also called the varying hare or snowshoe rabbit, is a species of hare found in North America. It has the name snowshoe because of the large size of its hind feet. The animal's feet prevent it from sinking into the snow when it hops and walks.
Its feet also have fur on the soles to protect it from freezing temperatures. For camouflage, its fur turns white. The snowshoe, or varying hare (Lepus americanus), is the most common and widespread of the two species of hares in Alaska.
It is distributed over the state except for the lower Kuskokwim Delta, the Alaska Peninsula, and the area north of the Brooks Range. Snowshoe hares have long legs for jumping, and the big back feet help them move through the snow. Snowshoe hares travel an average of 1.2 and 1.6 kilometers a day.
Female snowshoe hares are slightly larger than males. A male is called a buck. A female is called a doe.
Young snowshoe hares are called leverets. For 101 facts about jaguars, click. Snowshoe Hare Varying hare - snowshoe rabbit.
Both names describe physical properties of Lepus americanus, the big hare of Pennsylvania's North Woods. Varying refers to its twice-a-year changes in pelt coloration; hare identifies it as a member of the genus Lepus, related to rabbits but different in several important ways; and snowshoe aptly describes the animal's huge. Adult snowshoe hares weigh about 2-5 pounds.
Snowshoe hares are larger, have longer legs, and longer ears than cottontail and brush rabbits. In winter, adult snowshoe hares generally have a mostly or completely white coat. In summer, snowshoe hare coats are generally rusty brown.
snowshoe hare Lepus americanus What do they look like? Snowshoe hares range in length from 413 to 518 mm, of which 39 to 52 mm are tail. The hind foot, long and wide, measures 117 to 147 mm in length. The ears are 62 to 70 mm from base to tip.
Snowshoe hares usually weigh between 1.43 and 1.55 kg. Snowshoe Hares (Lepus americanus) Physical Description Snowshoe Hares are members of the rabbit family as expected. They have large hind feet, long ears, short tails and a typical rabbit shape.
They are large hares and can weigh three to four pounds and be over a foot in length. Males are usually smaller than females. The Snowshoe hares' ears are smaller than most hares'; this is because they live in cold environments and don't need big ears that help lower the body temperatures.
Fun Fact Hares and rabbits are related, but there are some key differences. Hares tend to be larger than rabbits and have longer legs and bigger ears. When threatened, rabbits typically freeze and rely on camouflage, as compared to hares, who use their big feet to flee at the first sign of danger.
Rabbits are born blind and helpless, while hares are born fully furred and ready to run. Snowshoe hares are found throughout Canada and in the northernmost United States. The range extends south along the Sierras, Rockies, and Appalachian mountain ranges.
Biogeographic Regions nearctic native Habitat Snowshoe hares are most often found in open fields, fence rows, swamps, riverside thickets, cedar bogs and coniferous lowlands.