Hare

Lepus

Living

Living individuals or members of this group exist today. This does not mean they are safe from extinction.

Hares are long-eared relatives of rabbits. This account describes the European hare (Lepus europaeus), an open-country grazer that rests above ground.

Lepus europaeus (hare) — Representative species: Lepus europaeus.
Nagusb · CC BY-SA

At a glance

Location: European hares inhabit open country in Europe and parts of Asia. Fields, pastures and hedgerows provide food and resting cover; people have introduced the species elsewhere.
Habitat: Grassland
Diet: Herbivore
Food: Grasses, herbs and crops are eaten in warmer months; bark, buds and twigs enter the winter diet.

Classification

Common name: Hare
Browse group: Mammals
Scientific name or taxon: Lepus
Source classification: Mammalia

Three things to know

Its long ears have dark tips.
It rests in a shallow depression called a form.
It stays active through the year.

Habitat and range

European hares inhabit open country in Europe and parts of Asia. Fields, pastures and hedgerows provide food and resting cover; people have introduced the species elsewhere.

Appearance and adaptations

Long hind legs and black-tipped ears distinguish its outline. Brown-grey fur provides cover against soil and vegetation.

Diet and behaviour

Grasses, herbs and crops are eaten in warmer months; bark, buds and twigs enter the winter diet. Usually solitary, it forages mainly at night or around twilight. Rapid running and changes of direction help it escape threats.

Sources

Animal Diversity Web: Lepus europaeus
A–Z Animals: Hare · Directory entry

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