Arctic Hare

Lepus arcticus

The Arctic Hare is a fluffy animal that lives in the cold, snowy places of the Arctic. They have big ears and strong legs to help them hop around quickly!

Habitat: Arctic tundra

Appearance

The Arctic Hare is a large hare with relatively short, black-tipped ears and powerful, fur-padded feet. Its coat is brilliant white in winter, offering perfect camouflage against the snow, and changes to a brownish-grey in summer.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumCHORDATAClassMammaliaOrderLAGOMORPHAFamilyLEPORIDAEGenusLepus

Arctic Hare

Interesting facts

Arctic Hares can hop on just two legs when running very fast!

Arctic Hares have short ears to prevent heat loss in freezing temperatures!

They can stand tall on their hind legs to scan for danger across the open tundra!

They can survive temperatures as low as -40°C by snuggling together!

Special abilities

Arctic Hare has a thick fur coat that changes from white to brownish-grey, helping them blend into their snowy environment.

Arctic Hare can reach speeds up to 60 km/h on its large, fur-padded feet, allowing it to flee predators across snow.

Arctic Hare can dig into snow banks with strong claws to find food and create shelters from harsh winds and cold.

Measurements & details

Length: 43-70 cm
Weight: 2.5-6.8 kg
Lifespan: 3-8 years
Top Speed: 60 km/h
Litter Size: 2-8
Gestation: 49-53 days

Diet & Feeding

Arctic Hares munch on tough arctic plants, especially woody shrubs, grasses, and mosses.

Primary Foods

Dwarf willow
Moss
Lichens
Grasses
Berries
Buds

Foraging Method

Foraging

Ecological connections

eaten by

Arctic Fox

Vulpes lagopus

A nimble predator that hunts hares, especially young ones.

eaten by

Grey Wolf

Canis lupus

A primary predator, often chasing hares across the tundra.

eaten by

Snowy Owl

Bubo scandiacus

Hunts hares from above, particularly in open, flat areas.

Traits

Wildlife

Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats.

Furry

Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur.

Social

Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring.

Burrowing

Burrowing animals dig tunnels and chambers in the ground, using these subterranean structures for shelter, hunting, or breeding.

Herbivorous

This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material.

Tundra

This habitat trait refers to species inhabiting tundras, which are treeless biomes characterized by permafrost, cold temperatures, and low-growing vegetation.