Arctic Hare

Taxobox
name = Arctic HareMSW3 Hoffmann | pages = 195-196]
status = LR/lc
status_system = iucn2.3
status_ref = IUCN2006 | assessors = Lagomorph Specialist Group | year = 1996 | id = 41274 | title = Lepus arcticus | downloaded = 2006-05-06 Database entry includes a brief justification of why this species is of least concern]

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image_width = 250px
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Mammalia
ordo = Lagomorpha
familia = Leporidae
genus = "Lepus"
species = "L. arcticus"
binomial = "Lepus arcticus"
binomial_authority = Ross, 1819

The Arctic Hare ("Lepus arcticus") is a hare which is largely adapted to polar and mountainous habitats. It was once considered a subspecies of the Mountain Hare, but it is now regarded as a separate species.

Range

It is distributed over the tundra regions of Greenland and the northernmost parts of Canada as well as Alaska. In the far north, it is white year-round; in other parts, it is a frosty blue grey color in summer but the tail remains white.

ize

It is an average of 22-28 inches long, and it weighs about 9-12 lb.

Diet

The Arctic Hare mainly eats woody plants. It eats buds, berries, leaves and grass. [Cite journal | author = Best, Troy L. & Henry, Travis Hill | date = 1994-06-02 | title = Lepus arcticus | journal = Mammalian Species | volume = 457 | pages = 1–9 | issn = 00763519 | doi = 10.2307/3504088 | oclc = 46381503] It has a keen sense of smell and may dig for willow twigs under the snow.

ubspecies

There are four subspecies of this hare:
*"Lepus arcticus arcticus"
*"Lepus arcticus bangsii"
*"Lepus arcticus groenlandicus"
*"Lepus arcticus monstrabilis"

References