Taxonomy of the hare. Systematic position of the mountain hare using additional ones. Sea hare seal

The white hare is a separate species of the hare genus. The habitat of these animals is extensive. Snowshoe hares live in the Asian part of Russia, Scandinavia, Great Britain, Ireland and the northern part of Eastern Europe.

Representatives of the species are also found in the northern part of Mongolia and Kazakhstan. In addition, the white hare comes across Japanese island Hokkaido and northeastern China. These animals feel equally comfortable both in mountainous areas and in arctic tundra. So a separate population chose the Alps as their home.

Appearance of the hare

The white hare is a large representative of the species. Its body length varies from 45 to 65 centimeters. Weight ranges from 2 to 5.3 kilograms.

The tail length is 4-8 centimeters. The largest snowshoe hares live in the Arctic tundra, while the smallest live in the Far East, China, Yakutia and Japan.

Males a little fewer females. The length of the ears is 7-10 centimeters. The paws are wide, covered with hair below, thanks to which the animals easily move on the loose snow cover. This point is very important when escaping from a predator.

The color of the fur depends on the season. In winter, the skin is white, and only the tips of the ears are dark. Summer fur has various brown shades. The upper part of the body is much darker than the lower part. A notable thing about the white hare is its tail - it does not change color throughout the year and remains white. Only hares living in Ireland have top part the tail becomes dark gray. The color of males and females is the same.

Hare behavior and nutrition

These animals lead a solitary lifestyle. Snowshoe hares are active at night, sometimes early morning or late evening. During the day they rest in the grass, pressing it. In the tundra they make oblong holes in the snow and hide in them in case of danger. When building holes, it does not throw out snow, but tramples it. They go to feeding places only along a proven route, and return to the den, confusing their tracks, while the hares jump to the sides and turn back.

If the food supply is poor, the white hare makes seasonal migrations. Mainly migrate northern representatives kind. These animals can move hundreds of kilometers. Hares migrate in groups of several individuals, having reached a more fertile area, they again lead a solitary lifestyle.

The diet consists of plant foods, but it differs significantly depending on the habitat of the animals. In summer, white hares feed on plants, berries and mushrooms, and in winter they use the bark and branches of bushes. In addition, white hares eat hay and cones.

Reproduction and lifespan

Snowshoe hares living in the northern regions and, especially, in the tundra, have only one litter per season. But the southern brothers manage to make 2-3 broods. The mating season in the north begins in May, while in other regions the first rut occurs in March, the second in June and the third in August. Males fight with each other for females.

The gestation period is 45-55 days. The female does not make a den, but gives birth to her hares directly on the ground, choosing a small depression. There are 2-8 babies in a brood. The number of hares depends on their habitat - northern hares have more cubs than southern hares.

The weight of newborns is 100-120 grams. Their bodies are covered with fur, their eyes are open. The mother feeds the offspring with milk for a month. Already in the 3rd week, the bunny becomes independent. They reach puberty at 10 months. Life expectancy in wildlife averages 5 years, and maximum representatives of the species live up to 15 years. But such long-livers are found only in captivity. An old individual cannot survive in the tundra and forest, since it is easy prey for a predator.

Relationship with a person

People have always hunted white hares. These animals have both meat and fur valued. Animals cause damage to vegetable gardens and orchards. Sometimes the population of the species decreases significantly as a result of various epidemics. And in fertile years the population increases rapidly. Such bursts usually occur once every 9-12 years. White hare are not afraid of people; they can let people in for quite some time. close quarters. Snowshoe hares often settle near human habitation.

Appearance

Shedding

The hare molts 2 times a year: in spring and autumn. Molting is tightly connected with external conditions: its start triggers the duration change daylight hours, and the air temperature determines the flow rate. Each part of the body sheds at a certain average daily temperature. Spring molt in most of the range begins in February-March and lasts 75-80 days; in the north of Eastern Siberia and Far East- in April-May and proceeds more violently, in about a month. The peak of shedding usually occurs during the snow melting period; At this time, the winter wool falls off in clumps. In general, shedding proceeds from the head to the rump and from the back to the belly. Completely molted animals are found from mid-May (south) to early June (north of the range).

Spreading

The mountain hare lives in the tundra, forest and partially forest-steppe zones of Northern Europe (Scandinavia, northern Poland, isolated populations in Ireland, Scotland, Wales), Russia, Kazakhstan, northwestern Mongolia, northeastern China, Japan (Hokkaido Island) . Acclimatized in South America (Chile and Argentina). Inhabits some Arctic islands (Novosibirsk, Vaygach, Kolguev). In the relatively recent past it was distributed much further south; a relict area of ​​the former range remains in the Swiss Alps.

In Russia, it is distributed over most of the territory, in the north up to and including the tundra zone. Southern border The range runs along the southern edges of the forest zone. It is known in fossil remains from Upper Pleistocene deposits of the upper Don, from the region of the middle reaches of the Urals, western Transbaikalia (Mount Tologoi).

Lifestyle

Normally, white hares lead a solitary, territorial lifestyle, occupying individual plots of 3-30 hectares. In most of its range it is a sedentary animal, and its movements are limited to seasonal changes in feeding grounds. Seasonal migrations to forests are typical in autumn and winter; in the spring - to open places where the first grass appears. The reasons for movements may be precipitation - in rainy years, hares leave the lowlands and move to higher ground. In the mountains they make seasonal vertical movements. In the north of their range in summer, hares, escaping midges, migrate to floodplains or other open areas; in winter they migrate to places with low snow cover. In Yakutia, in the fall, hares descend to the floodplains of rivers, and in the spring they rise to the mountains, walking up to 10 km per day. Mass migrations are typical only for the tundra, especially when the number of hares is high. Their cause is mainly high snow cover, which does not allow them to eat low-growing tundra vegetation. For example, in Taimyr, hares move south from September, gathering in flocks of 15-20, or even 70-80 individuals. The length of the migration route sometimes reaches hundreds of kilometers. Spring migrations are less noticeable than autumn ones.

Circadian rhythm

Predominantly crepuscular and nocturnal animal. Most active in the early morning and early evening hours. Usually feeding ( fat) begins at sunset and ends at dawn, but in the summer there is not enough night time and hares feed in the morning. In the summer, hares in the tundra, escaping midges, switch to daytime feeding. Daily fattening is observed during the rut. Usually a hare travels only 1-2 km per day, although in some areas daily migrations to feeding places reach tens of kilometers. In thaw, snowfall and rainy weather The hare often does not come out to feed at all. On such days, energy loss is partially compensated by coprophagia (eating excrement).

The hare spends the day on the site, which he most often arranges, simply crushing the grass in secluded places. The choice of place to lay depends on the season and weather conditions. Thus, during a thaw or rainy weather, the white hare often lies down in open places in the grass, sometimes right in a plowed furrow. Sometimes, if the hare is not disturbed, the bedding area is used repeatedly, but more often the bedding areas are new every day. In winter in very coldy The hare digs holes 0.5-1.5 m long in the snow, in which it can spend the whole day and leave only when there is danger. When digging a hole, the hare compacts the snow rather than throwing it out. In the tundra, hares in winter dig very deep holes up to 8 m long, which they use as permanent shelters. Unlike their forest counterparts, tundra whites do not leave their burrows when in danger, but hide inside. In summer, they also sometimes use earthen burrows, occupying empty burrows of arctic foxes or marmots.

From the resting place to the feeding place, hares run along the same route, especially in winter. At the same time, they trample down paths that are usually used by several animals. In winter, even a person without skis can walk along a well-trodden path. When going to bed, the hare usually moves in long jumps and confuses its tracks, making the so-called. “doubles” (returning to one’s own trail) and “sweeping” (big jumps to the side of the trail). The hare has the best developed hearing; vision and smell are weak and motionless standing man, even in an open place, the hare sometimes runs very close. His only means of defense against pursuers is the ability to run quickly.

Nutrition

White hare is a herbivorous animal with clearly pronounced seasonality nutrition. In spring and summer it feeds on green parts of plants; in different parts of the range, giving preference to clover, dandelion, mouse pea, yarrow, goldenrod, bedstraw, sedges, and cereals. It readily feeds on oats and clover in the fields. In the north-west of the range in large quantities eats blueberry shoots and fruits. In places it eats horsetails and mushrooms, in particular the deer truffle, which it digs out of the ground.

In autumn, as the grass dries out, hares begin to eat small branches of bushes. As snow cover becomes established, nutrition with roughage becomes increasingly higher value. In winter, the hare feeds on shoots and bark of various trees and shrubs. Almost everywhere, its diet includes various willows and aspen. Birches and larches are not eaten as readily by it, but due to their availability they serve as an important source of food, especially in the northern and eastern regions. In the south, the hare often feeds on shoots of broad-leaved species - oak, maple, hazel. In some places, the role of rowan, bird cherry, alder, juniper, and rose hips is great in nutrition. If possible, even in winter it digs up and eats herbaceous plants and berries; feeds on hay in stacks. In the mountains of the Far East, he digs out dwarf cedar cones from under the snow.

In the spring, hares accumulate on lawns with young grass in flocks of 10-30 heads and greedily eat it. At this time, they are sometimes so carried away by feeding that they lose their usual caution. Like all herbivorous animals, the white hare experiences a deficiency mineral salts. Therefore, it periodically eats the soil and swallows small pebbles. It willingly visits salt licks, gnawing on the bones of dead animals and antlers shed by elk.

Reproduction

The white hare is a very prolific animal. In the Arctic, northern Yakutia and Chukotka, females manage to produce only 1 brood per year (in summer), but in most of the range they breed 2-3 times a year. Fights between males are common. The first rut takes place at the end of February - beginning of March in the south of the range; at the end of March - in the north of the European part of Russia, the north of Western Siberia, the south of Yakutia and Sakhalin; in April - early May in the north of Yakutia, Chukotka and the Arctic regions of Siberia. It usually involves 80-90% of females. Hares are born after 47-55 days, in mid-April - mid-May. In the forests at this time there is still snow in some places, so the first litter of hares is called Nastoviks. Soon after giving birth, the hare mates for the second time. The second rut takes place in May - early June, and almost all females participate in it. Hares of the second litter are born in late June - July. In July - early August, the third rut takes place in the central and southern regions of Russia. Only 40% of females participate in it. Hares of the third litter are born at the end of August - beginning of September, and sometimes later, at the time of leaf fall, which is why they are called deciduous. Occasionally, the first hares are found as early as March, and the last ones in November, but early and late broods, as a rule, die.

The number of hares in a litter greatly depends on the habitat, age and physiological state of the female. In general, there are from 1 to 11; taiga and tundra hares have an average of 7 hares per litter, in average and southern parts range - 2-5. As a result, the annual fecundity of southern white hare is only slightly greater than that of northern hare. Largest quantity Hares are always born in the second, summer litter. Lambing usually takes place on the surface of the ground, in a secluded place. Only in the Far North do female hares sometimes dig shallow holes. Hares are born 90-130 g, covered with thick fur, sighted. Already on the first day of life they are able to move independently. Hare's milk is very nutritious and fatty (12% protein and 15% fat), so the hare can feed the hares no more than once a day. There are numerous known cases of female hares feeding other people's hares. The rabbits grow quickly and by 8-10 days they begin to feed on grass. They become independent at the age of 2 weeks. Sexual maturity is reached at 10 months.

White whites live in the wild for up to 7-17 years, although the vast majority do not live up to 5 years. Females are most fertile at the age of 2-7 years, but already from the 4th year of life, fertility begins to decline.

Number and significance for humans

In general, the white hare - normal look, easily adapting to human presence. The number varies everywhere from year to year, sometimes by several hundred times. The main cause of population depressions is the epizootic tularemia of hunting: 86 tons (82 tons and 4 additional). - St. Petersburg. , 1890-1907.

Links

• Vertebrates of Russia: White hare

Order - Lagomorpha / Family - Lagoraceae / Genus - Hares

History of the study

The white hare (lat. Lepus timidus) is a mammal of the genus of hares of the order Lagomorpha. A common animal of northern Eurasia.

Appearance

Large hare: body length of adult animals is from 44 to 65 cm, occasionally reaching 74 cm; body weight 1.6-4.5 kg. Average sizes decrease from northwest to southeast. The largest white hare lives in the tundra Western Siberia(up to 5.5 kg), the smallest in Yakutia and the Far East (3 kg). The ears are long (7.5-10 cm), but noticeably shorter than those of the hare. The tail is usually solid white; relatively short and rounded, 5-10.8 cm long. Paws relatively wide; the feet, including the pads of the toes, are covered with a thick brush of hair. The load per 1 cm² of the area of ​​the hare's soles is only 8.5-12 g, which allows it to easily move even on loose snow. (For comparison, for a fox it is 40-43 g, for a wolf - 90-103 g, and for a hound dog - 90-110 g).

There is a clearly expressed seasonal dimorphism in color: in winter the white hare is pure white, with the exception of the black tips of the ears; The color of summer fur in different parts of the range ranges from reddish-gray to slate-gray with brown streaking. The head is usually colored somewhat darker than the back; sides are lighter. The belly is white. Only in areas where there is no stable snow cover do hares not turn white for the winter. Female white hare are on average larger than males and do not differ in color. There are 48 chromosomes in the hare hare karyotype.

Spreading

The mountain hare lives in the tundra, forest and partly forest-steppe zones Northern Europe(Scandinavia, northern Poland, isolated populations in Ireland, Scotland, Wales), Russia, Siberia, Kazakhstan, Transbaikalia, Far East, northwestern Mongolia, northeastern China, Japan (Hokkaido Island). Acclimatized in South America (Chile and Argentina). Inhabits some Arctic islands (Novosibirsk, Vaigach, Kolguev). In the relatively recent past it was distributed much further south; a relict area of ​​the former range has been preserved in the Swiss Alps.

In Russia, it is distributed over most of the territory, in the north up to and including the tundra zone. The southern border of the range runs along the southern edges of the forest zone. It is known in fossil remains from the Upper Pleistocene deposits of the upper Don, from the region of the middle reaches of the Urals, western Transbaikalia (Mount Tologoi).

Reproduction

The breeding season lasts 2-4 months. IN middle lane usually breeds twice during the summer, in the north - once. Pregnancy lasts 48-51 days, the young become adults only after wintering. The main rut is in the spring, accompanied by fights between males. Fighting males stand on their hind legs and “box” with their front legs. At this time, on the edges and clearings one comes across trampled spots - hare dance floors (8). Hares lose their caution and are more likely to be spotted. By the way, in many European countries the expression “March hare” means the same as our “March cat”. Baby hares (1-6, rarely up to 12) are born sighted, with thick fur and at first sit motionless in the grass so as not to leave marks, and the mother comes to feed them 1-2 times a night. At the same time, she feeds not only her own bunnies, but also strangers. In places where there are a lot of hares, all the hares sometimes become common. In late spring, little hares climb into piles of manure or rotten haystacks to protect themselves from the cold. But you shouldn’t take a bunny found in a field home: a hare usually manages to raise it, but people are unlikely to do so. After 8-10 days, the hares begin to eat grass, but feed on milk until 20-30 days.

Lifestyle

Normally, white hares lead a solitary, territorial lifestyle, occupying individual plots of 3-30 hectares. In most of its range it is a sedentary animal, and its movements are limited to seasonal changes in feeding grounds. Seasonal migrations to forests are typical in autumn and winter; in the spring - to open places where the first grass appears. The reasons for movements may be precipitation - in rainy years, hares leave the lowlands and move to higher ground. In the mountains they make seasonal vertical movements. In the north of their range in summer, hares, escaping midges, migrate to floodplains or other open areas; in winter they migrate to places with low snow cover. In Yakutia, in the fall, hares descend to the floodplains of rivers, and in the spring they rise to the mountains, walking up to 10 km per day. Mass migrations are typical only for the tundra, especially when the number of hares is high. They are mainly caused by high snow cover, which does not allow them to eat low-growing tundra vegetation. For example, in Taimyr, hares move south from September, gathering in flocks of 15-20, or even 70-80 individuals. The length of the migration route sometimes reaches hundreds of kilometers. Spring migrations are less noticeable than autumn ones.

Mainly crepuscular and nocturnal animal. Most active in the early morning and early evening hours. Usually feeding (fattening) begins at sunset and ends at dawn, but in the summer there is not enough night time and hares feed in the morning. In the summer, hares in the tundra, escaping midges, switch to daytime feeding. Daily fattening is observed during the rut. Usually a hare travels only 1-2 km during the night, although in some areas daily migrations to feeding places reach tens of kilometers. During thaw, snowfall and rainy weather, the hare often does not go out to feed at all. On such days, energy loss is partially compensated by coprophagia (eating excrement).

The hare spends the day on the site, which he most often arranges, simply crushing the grass in secluded places. The choice of place to lay depends on the season and weather conditions. Thus, during a thaw or rainy weather, the white hare often lies down in open places in the grass, sometimes right in a plowed furrow. Sometimes, if the hare is not disturbed, the bedding area is used repeatedly, but more often the bedding areas are new every day. In winter, during severe frosts, the hare digs holes 0.5-1.5 m long in the snow, in which it can spend the whole day and leave only when there is danger. When digging a hole, the hare compacts the snow rather than throwing it out. In the tundra, hares in winter dig very deep holes up to 8 m long, which they use as permanent shelters. Unlike their forest counterparts, tundra whites do not leave their burrows when in danger, but hide inside. In summer, they also sometimes use earthen burrows, occupying empty burrows of arctic foxes or marmots.

From the resting place to the feeding place, hares run along the same route, especially in winter. At the same time, they trample down paths that are usually used by several animals. In winter, even a person without skis can walk along a well-trodden path. When going to bed, the hare usually moves in long jumps and confuses its tracks, making the so-called. “doubles” (returning to one’s own trail) and “sweeping” (big jumps to the side of the trail). The hare has the best developed hearing; vision and sense of smell are weak, and a hare sometimes runs very close to a standing person, even in an open place. His only means of defense against pursuers is the ability to run quickly.

Nutrition

In summer, the main food for the mountain hare is hundreds of species of different grasses, among which the predominant legumes– clover, dandelion, mouse peas and others. But in winter, when from under deep snow it is practically impossible to get grass; the basis of the diet is the bark and branches of any trees, even larch.

Number

White hare and man

In general, the mountain hare is a common species, easily adapting to the presence of humans.

Morphological features of the white hare

Order Lagomorpha – Lagomogrha

Hares family – Leporidae

Genus of hares – Lepus

White hare - Lepus timidus

The white hare is distributed throughout the forests, tundra and even forest-steppe of Eurasia. An isolated fragment of its range remains in the Alps. In Belarus, the white hare is found throughout the territory, but its population density is much higher in the central and northern regions. This species is rare in Polesie. He mainly lives in spruce forests, of which there are few here.

The appearance of the white hare is familiar to many. The body weight of adult individuals is 2-5.5 kg. Their hair color in summer is mostly gray-brown, but the underside is white, and in winter it is white, only the tips of the ears are black.

The hare's limbs are well adapted to move on loose snow. Long paws and the ability to spread his fingers widely provide him with a large area of ​​support. The hare's footprints are the same as those of the hare, but the paw prints are wider. Living in the forest, where the snow is looser and higher, whites form and use trail systems to facilitate movement. Night tracks of white hare usually consist of frequent alternation of walking and feeding tracks. Whites constantly feed near fallen aspens and haystacks; here the snow is always trampled and strewn with their excrement. In front of their daytime resting place, white hare, like hare, confuse their tracks. The hare lies down in places with dense vegetation.

White hare. Photo: John Fielding.

White hare habitats include various forests, but they prefer to inhabit forest areas along the edges of swamps, along streams, rivers and lakes. The hare avoids open spaces.

White hare feeds in spring and summer various types herbs They make up for the lack of minerals in their diet by gnawing pieces of antlers dropped by elk, deer and roe deer, and the bones of dead mammals. In the fall, as the grass dries out, whites switch to feeding on tree and shrub shoots. The same food is mainly used in winter. In winter, whites often feed on bark, dry grass or hay from the stacks.

The first rut of white hare begins in February. In spring and summer, females give birth to 2-4 cubs two or three times. Bunnies can run immediately after birth. During the first day, the hare stays close to the hare cubs and, if enemies approach, takes them away from the brood. A hare's milk is very nutritious, and the babies grow quickly.

The hare has many more natural enemies than the hare. Belyakov is mined by various carnivorous mammals: often fox and lynx, sometimes wolf, less often pine marten. White hare are hunted by large feathered predators: golden eagle and eagle owl. However, the impact of predators on the state of the white hare population can have a significant impact only during periods of its depression, which is determined by other reasons. Often mass death hare outbreaks occur as a result of viral diseases and helminthic infestations.

The importance of the hare in sport hunting on the territory of Belarus is somewhat less than that of the hare, since hunting for it by tracking is rarely successful, and the number of hunters with hounds is gradually decreasing.

Behavior and lifestyle

Mainly crepuscular and nocturnal animal. Most active in the early morning and early evening hours. Typically, feeding begins at sunset and ends at dawn.

The hare spends the day on the site, which he most often arranges, simply crushing the grass in secluded places. The choice of place to lay depends on the season and weather conditions. Thus, during a thaw or rainy weather, the white hare often lies down in open places in the grass, sometimes right in a plowed furrow. In winter, during severe frosts, the hare digs holes 0.5-1.5 m long in the snow, in which it can spend the whole day and leave only when there is danger. When digging a hole, the hare compacts the snow rather than throwing it out. In the tundra, hares in winter dig very deep holes up to 8 m long, which they use as permanent shelters.

From the resting place to the feeding place, hares run along the same route, especially in winter.

When going to bed, the hare usually moves in long jumps and confuses its tracks. The hare has the best developed hearing; vision and smell are weak. His only means of defense against pursuers is the ability to run quickly.

Nutrition

The white hare is a herbivorous animal with a clearly defined seasonal diet. In spring and summer it feeds on green parts of plants; in different parts of the range, giving preference to clover, dandelion, mouse pea, yarrow, goldenrod, bedstraw, sedges, and cereals. It readily feeds on oats and clover in the fields. In the north-west of its range it eats large quantities of blueberry shoots and fruits. In some places it eats horsetails and mushrooms

In autumn, as the grass dries out, hares begin to eat small branches of bushes. In winter, the hare feeds on shoots and bark of various trees and shrubs. Almost everywhere, its diet includes various willows and aspen. Birches and larches serve as an important source of food, especially in the northern and eastern regions. In the south, the hare feeds on shoots of broad-leaved species - oak, maple, hazel.

In the spring, hares accumulate on lawns with young grass in flocks of 10-30 heads and greedily eat it. At this time, they are sometimes so carried away by feeding that they lose their usual caution. Like all herbivorous animals, the white hare experiences a deficiency of mineral salts. Therefore, it periodically eats the soil and swallows small pebbles. It willingly visits salt licks, gnawing on the bones of dead animals and antlers shed by elk.

Reproduction

The breeding season lasts 2-4 months. In the middle zone it usually breeds twice during the summer, in the north - once. Pregnancy lasts 48-51 days, the young become adults only after wintering. The main rut takes place in the spring and is accompanied by fights between males. They stand on their hind legs and “box” with their front legs. At this time, on the edges and clearings there are trampled spots - hare sites.

Baby hares (1-6, rarely up to 12) are born sighted, with thick fur and at first sit motionless in the grass so as not to leave marks, and the mother comes to feed them 1-2 times a night. At the same time, she feeds not only her own bunnies, but also strangers. In places where there are a lot of hares, all the hares sometimes become common. In late spring, little hares climb into piles of manure or rotten haystacks to protect themselves from the cold. After 8-10 days, the hares begin to eat grass, but feed on milk until 20-30 days.

Lifespan

IN natural conditions Snowshoe hares live 8-9 years.

Habitat

White whites lead a solitary, territorial lifestyle, occupying individual plots of 3-30 hectares. In most of its range it is a sedentary animal, and its movements are limited to seasonal changes in feeding grounds. Seasonal migrations to forests are typical in autumn and winter; in the spring - to open places where the first grass appears. The reasons for movements may be precipitation - in rainy years, hares leave the lowlands and move to higher ground.

The hare is a small mammal that has recently belonged to the order Lagomorpha and the family Lagoraceae. Before this, they were considered a type of rodent. International scientific name genus of hares - Lepus (lat.). Hares only at first glance seem to be harmless animals. Thanks to powerful legs and long claws, they are able to withstand danger. Since ancient times this furry animal is a desirable prey for hunters because of its dietary meat and rare fur.

Hare - characteristics, description, and appearance of the animal

The hare has a slender, slightly elongated body, up to 68-70 cm long.

The hare has long locator ears, 9 - 15 cm long. The hearing of this animal is more developed than other senses. Sound can be picked up by one ear independently of the other, which facilitates the animal's auditory orientation.

Distinctive feature The hare has a long foot of hind legs, which gives it the ability to run away from predators (fox, owl, wolf) at a speed of 80 km/h, abruptly change the direction of movement and jump to the side. Little animal can easily climb to the top of a hill, but when he comes down from it, he rolls head over heels down.

The hare's sweat glands are located on the soles of its paws. It is almost impossible for a predator to smell a lying animal.

Hares molt in spring and autumn.

The stomach of lagomorphs is divided into two sectors. One section is for fermenting food, the other is for digesting it.

How much does an adult hare weigh?

The average weight of the animal is 5-7 kg. The hare's tail is small, raised upward.

Is a hare a rodent or not?

Lagomorphs differ in blood composition from rodents.

Another distinctive feature is the structure of the teeth. Hares have incisors in the upper jaw, 2 pairs on each side. The inert palate is a bridge connecting the right and left molars. In rodents it is in the form of a complete bone platform. There are no gaps between the protruding parts of the upper and lower teeth, allowing for better processing of food.

Agouti, the so-called humpbacked or golden hare, is considered a rodent.

The color of a hare is directly related to the season. In summer, its coat can be brown, reddish-gray, or brown. The color of the animal is uneven, since the fluff under the fur has a dark shade. There are also small inclusions. The fur on a hare's belly is always white. In winter, the fur of the fluffy animal becomes lighter, but only the white hare’s is impeccably white. The tips of the ears of lagomorphs are black all year round.

How many years does a wild hare live?

Males live on average 5 years, females up to 9 years. A tamed hare lives much longer.

The type of eared animal has an impact on the number of years lived. So, a white hare can live up to 17 years. Such cases are unique. Browns live much shorter lives, usually 5 years. Very rarely live to 14 years.

The American hare lives on average 7-8 years. The black-tailed hare lives up to a maximum of 6 years, but often representatives of this species die much earlier from disease or predators. The lifespan of an agouti (or, as they are also called, a golden or humpback hare) can reach 20 years.

Seal - sea ​​hare lives approximately 30 years, males often live only up to 25 years.

Types of hares

The genus of hares consists of a dozen subgenera, each of which is divided into species.

White hare (Latin: Lepus timidus). Body length is about 44-65 cm; weight 1.6-4.5 kg. A distinctive feature of this white hare is its ability to masterfully camouflage itself. The hare has in winter white color wool, in the summer the fur acquires grey colour. The white hare is the target of many sport hunters. Habitat: Russia (including the Arctic); China, Mongolia, northern Europe, South America.

Brown hare (Latin: Lepus europaeus). Most major representative lagomorphs, has brown fur. The body length is 68 cm, weight up to seven kilograms. The fur shines and curls a little. The tail and ears are larger than those of the hare. The hare, one might say, is a steppe hare. Habitat: Europe, Kazakhstan, Turkey, Transcaucasia, Arabian Peninsula, North Africa.

Antelope hare (Latin: Lepus alleni). The body length is 45-60 cm. A distinctive feature of the antelope hare is its impressively sized ears, up to 20 cm. They help normalize the animal’s heat exchange in hot climates. Lives this type in northwestern Mexico and American Arizona.

The Chinese hare (Latin: Lepus sinensis) is distinguished by its miniature size. The body length is 30-45 cm, weight is within 2 kg. Fur color varies from chestnut to red. The coat is short and harsh in texture. Habitat: China, Taiwan and Vietnam; inhabits mainly elevated areas.

Tolai hare (Latin: Lepus tolai). Outwardly it has similar features to the hare, only noticeably more compact in size. Body length 39-55 cm, weight 1.5-2.8 kg. The fat hare's limbs and ears are larger than those of the brown hare. Lives in Central Asia, Kazakhstan, Northeast China and Mongolia. Almost everywhere in Russia.

Yellowish hare (Latin: Lepus flavigularis). Body length 60 cm, weight 4 kg. The ears and legs are large. The yellowish hare has an original ear color. From their base to the back of the head there are two black stripes, the sides white. Hare's habitat: the coast of the Gulf of Tehuantepec in Mexico. Terrain: Coastal grassy dunes and open grasslands. Awake in dark time days.

Broom hare (Latin: Lepus castroviejoi). The body length of a hare of this species is 45-65 cm, weight is from 2.6 to 3.2 kg. The color of the hare is black-brown, with small white patches. It lives in Spain and is listed in the Red Book of this country. The species is widespread in areas with little vegetation. In many characteristics, the broom hare is similar to the brown hare.

Black-tailed (California) hare (Latin: Lepus californicus). Body length 47-63 cm, weight 1.5-3 kg. Distinctive feature The species are long ears and massive hind legs. The fur on the upper part of the body is gray-brown in color. The back of the animal is decorated with a black stripe. The population of these lagomorphs is most impressive in the western United States and Mexico. The black-tailed hare is a loner.

Manchurian hare (Latin: Lepus mandshuricus). The body size of the Manchurian hare is 40-55 cm, weight 1.3-2.5 kg. The legs, tail and ears are relatively short, which gives Manchurian hare similar features to the wild (European) rabbit. The fur is hard and bristly. The color of the coat is brown, uneven, with gray patches. Along the back there is a stripe of dark color more long hair. It is found in the south of the Russian Far East, in the Chinese region of Manchuria and in the north of Korea. We can say that this is a forest hare that prefers deciduous forests with dense bushes.

Tibetan curly hare (Latin: Lepus oiostolus). The body length is 40-58 cm. Weight is 2.3 kg. The fur of this animal has a yellowish tint, and the fur on the back is slightly wavy. Habitat: China, India, Nepal. Terrain: highlands of Tibet.

Agouti (Latin: Dasyprocta) or South American golden hare(humpback hare). This animal belongs to the order of rodents and is a relative guinea pigs. Agouti is also popularly called the golden (or golden) hare. This animal has a body length of 50 cm and weighs about 4 kg. It received its second name due to its golden color. The humpback hare is widespread in Central and South America, from Mexico to Brazil. Agoutis are very good swimmers.

The hare, unlike the rabbit, which is a burrowing animal, needs space and a lot of movement. If desired, hares can be bred at home, following certain rules.

Features of keeping a hare at home:

• The hare needs a spacious cage or enclosure.
• Walking around the apartment. Until the age of 1 month under close supervision, from 1 month free walking.
• The hare must be vaccinated and dewormed.
• The little bunny should be immediately taught to go to the toilet; diapers or dry grass should be used as litter for the tray. Granular litter cannot be used.

Hares are very sociable animals, living in an apartment, they require constant interaction with humans, games, and attention. But these animals should not be held in your arms all the time; they do not like hugs.

Features of feeding a hare at home:

• Hare's milk is very fatty in composition, up to 20%, so it is impossible to feed a hare with cow's milk or human infant formula. It is recommended to give bitch and cat milk substitutes every 3-4 hours.
• You cannot sweeten milk for rabbits.
• From the age of two weeks, in addition to milk, you need to give green grass, leaves and twigs.
• From one and a half months, it is necessary to completely switch the teenager to solid food: green grass, twigs, berries, fruits.
• From two months of age, add grain-free ready-made food to the hare's diet.

You cannot release an already tamed hare into the wild; it will not survive.

Giant Rabbit (Flanders)

One of the most amazing representatives The lagomorph is the Flanders, or Belgian giant. This is an industrial breed of rabbits. The body length of adult individuals is 67 cm, weight 7-10 kg. The coat is thick, the color is hare-gray, yellow-gray, dark gray, iron-gray. The breed began to be bred in 1952.

Sea hare seal

The bearded seal, or bearded seal, belongs to the family of true seals. The body length is 2.5 meters. In winter, the weight is 360 kg. The sea hare seal lives in the shallow waters of the Northern Arctic Ocean and adjacent waters of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Representatives of northern peoples make household items from seal skin. The pregnancy of a female sea hare lasts a year, one calf is born, with a body length of 120 cm. The ability to reproduce appears at the age of five years.

Hares are land animals; they cannot swim or climb trees. Some species love space, spaces with little vegetation. Other types belong to forest hares, inhabit places with dense thickets. Hares can live alone individual species They live in colonies and build burrows. The white hare lives in the tundra, rarely in forest and forest-steppe zones. The humpbacked hare rodent is a resident of the tropics and savannah. Lagomorphs inhabit the entire Earth. Recently they were brought to Australia, South America, Madagascar, and Southeast Asia.

What does a hare eat?

Hares belong to mammals and eat food of plant origin.

Brown hare food:

White hare diet:

The humpback hare feeds on fruits and other parts of plants.

The bearded seal eats benthic invertebrates and bottom fish: flounder, cod, and goby.

In nature, hares can form pairs, but an isolated lifestyle is not uncommon. A female hare can give birth three times a year, with 5-10 hares in each litter. The gestation period is 50 days. Hares have high fertility. Cubs are born with fur and can see and walk. In the first seven days of life, rabbits need milk. But by the third week they have fully adapted to plant foods. Puberty occurs at the age of 7-11 months.

• Hares communicate by making “drum rolls” with their paws.
• By touching plants with their noses, hares inform their relatives of their arrival.
• Despite the fact that hares are vegetarians, they can eat poultry meat, such as partridge, tearing apart game with their paws.
• The hare's hind legs are asymmetrical from birth.
• In hares, the phenomenon of double pregnancy sometimes occurs, when re-fertilization can occur even before the birth of the offspring.