Mountain Hare (Lepus timidus) lives in arctic tundra across Northern Europe and Asia. It feeds on grass and leaves. Its conservation status is Least Concern.
Fascinating facts about the Mountain Hare
- During the Late Pleistocene to Early Holocene Russian mountain hares grew at least ten percent larger than any modern hare species, a remarkable size boost that prompted their classification as a separate species, Lepus tanaiticus. This enlargement meant they were noticeably bigger than their contemporaries across the continent.
- In areas where mountain hares and red foxes coexist, the fox can obtain up to ninety percent of its food from these hares, making the hare the fox's primary prey. This reliance places the hare at the top of the fox's diet hierarchy, far above other prey items. Consequently, the red fox is regarded as the most important predator of the mountain hare, shaping hare populations wherever the two species overlap.
- In the Faroe Islands the mountain hare does not turn white in winter; instead it moults to a grey coat. This unusual winter colour is thought to result from down-regulation of the agouti hair-cycle isoform during the autumn moult, while the tail remains white year-round, distinguishing it from the European hare.
- Mountain hares can live for up to twelve years. Individuals of both sexes grow to a length of 45-65 cm and weigh between 2 and 5.3 kg, with females slightly heavier.
Sources
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At a glance
RangeNorthern Europe and Asia
HabitatArctic tundra
DietGrass and leaves
About the Mountain Hare
In the harsh, windswept expanses of the mountainous wilderness, the mountain hare moves with an ethereal silence, its oversized hind legs propelling it in great, effortless bounds across the rocky terrain. As the seasons shift, this remarkable creature undergoes a magical transformation, its thick coat turning a brilliant white to blend seamlessly with the snow-covered landscape, a masterful adaptation that allows it to thrive in one of the most inhospitable environments on Earth. With each delicate step, the mountain hare embodies a captivating blend of vulnerability and resilience, its very existence a testament to the awe-inspiring power of evolution.
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