Snowshoe Hare

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Snowshoe Hare^[1]

summer morph

Conservation status

Least concern ^[2]

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Lagomorpha
Family:	Leporidae
Genus:	Lepus
Species:	L. americanus

Binomial name

Lepus americanus
Erxleben, 1777

The Snowshoe Hare (Lepus americanus), also called the Varying Hare, is a species of hare found in North America. It has the name "snowshoe" because its back feet are so big, it looks as though it is wearing big shoes to walk in the snow. The animal's big feet prevent it from sinking into the snow when it hops and walks.

For camouflage, its fur turns white during the winter and rusty brown during the summer. Its underparts are white year-round. The Snowshoe Hare is also distinguishable by the black tufts of fur on the edge of its ears. Its ears are shorter than those of most other hares.

winter morph

In summer, it feeds on plants like grass, ferns and leaves; in winter, it eats twigs, the bark from trees and buds from flowers and plants. It is sometimes seen feeding in small groups. This animal is mainly active at night and does not hibernate.

The Snowshoe Hare may have up to 4 litters in a year which average 2 to 4 young. Males compete for females and females may breed with several males.

There are six subspecies of this hare:

Lepus americanus americanus
Lepus americanus bairdii
Lepus americanus cascadensis
Lepus americanus dalli
Lepus americanus struthopus
Lepus americanus virginianus

[edit] References

^ Hoffmann, Robert S.; Andrew T. Smith (November 16, 2005). in Wilson, D. E., and Reeder, D. M. (eds): Mammal Species of the World, 3rd edition, Johns Hopkins University Press, 195. ISBN 0-801-88221-4.
^ Lagomorph Specialist Group (1996). Lepus americanus. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 2006-05-06. Database entry includes a brief justification of why this species is of least concern