Tolay hare. Four seasons of a tolai hare Favorite food of a tolai hare crossword puzzle 3 letters

A medium-sized hare, in appearance resembling a reduced hare. Body length 39-55 cm, weight 1.5-2.5 kg. The color of the fur varies in animals living in different territories, but in general it resembles the color of a light hare. However, the thick fur does not have the waviness characteristic of the hare. The tail is dark on top. The ears and legs are long, relative to the size even longer than that of the hare. The outer edge of the ear does not have a black border. Painted slightly lighter in winter than in summer
On the territory of Russia, the tolai range consists of several isolated regions occupying the dry steppes and mountains of southern Siberia from Altai to the upper Amur basin. In addition, it can be found in the northern Caspian region, in the south of the Astrakhan region.
The distribution of this hare in habitats largely depends on the presence of shelters in them. On the territory of Russia, the tolai hare lives mainly in dry steppes, usually in places where shrub vegetation (karagana, chiy) is represented, there are rock outcrops or placers of stones. It is very typical for river valleys and lake basins overgrown with dense shrubs, where it keeps mainly along the outskirts of thickets. In some places it inhabits the edges of dry larch forests. In the mountains in Altai and in the Sayan Mountains it rises to the bald belt, here the tolai also keeps near boulder scree, near lakes and in river and stream valleys.
Under suitable conditions, tolai constantly lives in the same area, within which there are several beds and fattening areas. But when feeding conditions worsen, for example, during heavy snowfalls, local movements can occur to places with shallow snow, to settlements, etc.
Tolai are active mainly at dusk and at night, but during the rutting season and during daylight hours. Also during the day they can feed in cloudy weather, especially in areas where they are not disturbed. For lying, it usually digs a small hole or a shallow hole near a bush, on a slope or under a stone. Such beds are similar to hare beds, but slightly smaller in size. In groundhog habitats, it often rests in their abandoned burrows, and occasionally in pre-expanded ground squirrel burrows. Feeding places are sometimes located at a considerable distance from shelters, and in such cases, going to fattening, hares tread well-marked paths. Raised from a lying position, however, it does not give a circle, but runs in a straight line and again hides in a suitable shelter. On the territory of Russia, herbaceous plants form the basis of tolai nutrition both in summer and in winter, since there is usually no snow cover in its habitats high. Often digs roots, rhizomes and bulbs out of the ground. At the end of summer and autumn, Vetka seeds play a significant role in nutrition and eats the bark of shrubs and trees only when there is a lack of basic food.
Sexual maturity occurs the next year after birth. On the territory of Russia, near the northern limits of their distribution, tolai breed 1-2 times a year. The first rut takes place at the end of February - March. Its terms are usually extended due to the different times of entry into reproduction of females of different ages. Hares are born in 45-50 days, in April - early May, and in May the second rut is usually observed. The number of rabbits in a litter is 1-9, in Russia it is usually 4-6. Like other hares, the size of the tolai brood depends on weather conditions, the age of the female, etc. Hares are born in a specially arranged hare shelter - a hole or a shallow hole with grass bedding. Often "nests" are arranged in old marmot burrows. Tolai newborns are sighted, their body is covered with hair, a dark stripe is visible on the back. Their growth and development is similar to the development of European hares.
As a rule, in the spring the tolai molts from March to May, and in the autumn from September to November. However, due to the significant scatter of habitats in height, the timing of molting can be greatly extended. The sequence of changing fur is generally the same as for other hares.
Traces of tolai are similar to those of a hare, but noticeably smaller in size. Their droppings are also similar, differing only in size. When feeding on the underground parts of plants, it leaves characteristic digging.

A hare is an animal that belongs to the class Mammals, order Lagomorphs, family Hare, genus Hare ( Lepus). Contrary to popular belief, they do not belong to rodents and are far from being so harmless. In case of danger, they show aggressiveness and resist the attacker. Since ancient times, the hare has been a desirable trophy for hunters because of its delicious meat and warm fur.

Hare - description, characteristics, appearance. What does a hare look like?

hare body slender, slightly compressed from the sides, its length in some species reaches 68-70 cm. The weight of a hare can exceed 7 kg. A characteristic feature of the hare is wedge-shaped ears, reaching a length of 9 to 15 cm. Thanks to the ears, the hearing of the hare is much better developed than the sense of smell and vision. The hind limbs of these mammals have long feet and are more developed than the front ones. In the event of a threat, the speed of a hare can reach 80 km / h. And the ability to suddenly change the direction of running and jump sharply to the side allows these animals to get rid of the pursuit of enemies:, etc. Hares run well up the slopes, but you have to go down head over heels.

hare color depends on the season. In summer, the fur of the animal has a reddish-gray, brown or brown tint. Due to the dark color of the undercoat, the color is uneven with large and small "spots". The fur on the belly is white. Hares change color in winter, their fur brightens, but only the white hare becomes completely snow-white. The tips of the ears of all members of the genus remain black all year round.

How long does a hare live?

The average life expectancy of males does not exceed 5 years, females - 9 years, however, there are recorded cases of a longer life span of a hare - about 12-14 years.

Types of hares, names and photos

The genus of hares is diverse and includes 10 subgenera, divided into several species. Below are several types of hares:

  • Harehare(Lepus timidus )

The most common representative of the genus of hares, living in almost the entire territory of Russia, in Northern Europe, Ireland, Mongolia, South America and in many other countries of the world. This species of hares is distinguished by characteristic seasonal dimorphism - in areas with stable snow cover, the color of the fur becomes pure white, with the exception of the tips of the ears. In summer, the hare is gray.

  • hare(Lepus europaeus )

A large species of hares, some individuals of which grow up to 68 cm in length and weigh up to 7 kg. The fur of the hare is shiny, silky, with a characteristic waviness, different shades of brown, white rings around the eyes. The habitat of the hare covers the European forest-steppes, Turkey, Iran, the north of the African continent and Kazakhstan.

  • Antelope hare(Lepus alleni )

Representatives of the species are distinguished by very large and long ears, growing up to 20 cm. The auricles are designed in such a way that they allow the animal to regulate heat transfer at too high a temperature of the habitat. The antelope hare lives in the state of Arizona in the USA and 4 Mexican states.

  • Chinese hare(Lepus sinensis )

The species is characterized by small body size (up to 45 cm) and weight up to 2 kg. The coloring of short, hard fur consists of many shades of brown, from chestnut to brick. A characteristic black triangular pattern stands out at the tips of the ears. This species of hares is found in the hilly areas of China, Vietnam and Taiwan.

  • tolai hare(Lepus tolai )

Medium-sized individuals outwardly resemble a hare, but differ in longer ears and legs, as well as the absence of crimped fur. This hare is a typical representative of deserts and semi-deserts, lives in Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, China, Mongolia and in the Russian steppes - from the Altai Territory to the south of the Astrakhan Region.

  • yellow hare(Lepus flavigularis )

The only population of yellowish hares inhabits the meadows and coastal dunes of the Gulf of Mexico Tehuantepec, hence it has a second name - the Tehuantepec hare. Large individuals, up to 60 cm long and weighing 3.5-4 kg, are difficult to confuse with other types of hares due to two black stripes running from the ears to the back of the head and along the white sides.

  • broom hare(Lepus castroviejoi )

The habitat of this species of hares is limited to the scrub wastelands of the north-west of the Cantabrian mountains of Spain. In appearance and habits, there is a resemblance to a brown hare. Due to extermination, predation and violation of the natural ecosystem, the species is on the verge of extinction and is listed in the Red Book of Spain.

  • blacktail(California) hare (Lepus californicus )

The species is characterized by long ears, powerful hind limbs, a dark stripe running along the back, and a black tail. It is considered the most common species of hares in Mexico and the United States.

  • Manchurian hare(Lepus mandshuricus )

Small representatives of this species of hares grow up to 55 cm and weigh no more than 2.5 kg. Ears, tail and hind legs are quite short, due to which there is a clear resemblance to a wild rabbit. The fur is hard and short, brown in color with black ripples. A typical representative of deciduous forests and shrub plains can be found in the Far East, in Primorye, as well as in Northeast China and Korea.

  • Curly hare (Tibetan curly hare)(Lepus ioostolus )

The species is distinguished by small size (40 - 58 cm) and a weight of just over 2 kg. A characteristic feature is the yellowish wavy fur on the back. It lives in India, Nepal and China, including the mountain steppes of the Tibetan highlands, from where it got its second name - the Tibetan curly hare.

Varieties of hares living on the territory of the former USSR. Tolai hare (sandstone) lives in the steppes of Transbaikalia, in the steppes, semi-deserts and deserts of Central Asia and South Kazakhstan.

Distinctive features of the tolai hare (sandstone)

Externally tolai hare (sandstone) very similar, but much smaller in size. Its weight does not exceed 1.5 - 2.5 kilograms. Coloring uniform yellowish-gray. The coat is relatively short, sparse and does not have the waviness characteristic of the hare. Color does not change with the seasons.

Habitats of the tolai hare (sandstone)

The habitats of the tolai hare (sandstone) there are tugai thickets, and completely open deserts, and low-lying river valleys, and mountain meadows at an altitude of up to 3000 m above sea level. But the floodplain shrubs and tall grasses in the valleys of rivers and lakes are most favorable for his life. Here, with an abundance of food and shelters, near the water, the tolai feels especially at ease and its numbers are the largest. The sandpiper really doesn't like deep snow. and in winter it descends from the mountainous regions to the foothills, where there is less snow. The trace of a tolai is similar in outline to a hare, but much smaller.

Distinctive features of the Manchurian hare

Externally Manchurian hare very similar to, but in size it is close to tolai. Its color, which does not change with the seasons of the year, rusty brown with lighter chest, flanks and an almost white belly.

Habitat of the Manchurian hare

Habitat of the Manchurian hare- south of the Far East along the Amur and Ussuri valleys. Like the white this is a typical forest dweller, but not neglecting the continuous arrays of shrubs. He loves deciduous and mixed forests with undergrowth, undergrowth and rich herbage. He avoids entering into clean vast coniferous forests. Due to the very limited area of ​​\u200b\u200bhabitat, this hare in, for sport hunting, is incomparably less important than the European hare, white hare and tolai hare.

Appearance

A medium-sized hare, in appearance resembling a small hare: body length 39-55 cm, weight 1.5-2.8 kg. The ears and legs are long, in relative size even longer than those of the hare. The length of the wedge-shaped tail is 7.5-11.6 cm, the length of the ear is 8.3-11.9 cm. The feet of the hind legs are rather narrow, this hare is not adapted to moving in deep snow. The color of the fur, in general, resembles the color of a light hare, but the fur does not have the characteristic waviness. Summer fur is gray with a brownish or buffy coating; the alternation of dark and light guard hairs creates a pronounced fine shading. The head is dark, the throat and belly are white; the tail is dark above, with a brush of stiff white hair at the end. The ears have dark tips. Winter fur is slightly lighter than summer fur, with pronounced streaks. Tolai sheds in spring and autumn. Spring molt begins in February-March and continues until May-June; autumn in different parts of the range lasts from September to December. Due to the significant scatter of habitats, the timing of molting can be greatly extended. There are 48 chromosomes in the karyotype.

Spreading

It lives in deserts, semi-deserts and mountains of Central Asia (Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan), Kazakhstan, South Siberia and Transbaikalia, Mongolia and Northeast China. The northern border of the range runs approximately along 48 ° N. sh. On the territory of Russia, the range consists of several isolated sites in the dry steppes and mountains of southern Siberia from Altai, Chuiskaya steppe, southern Buryatia and Chita region to the basin of the upper Amur. In addition, it is occasionally found in the northeastern Caspian region, in the south of the Astrakhan region.

Lifestyle

The most typical habitats are deserts and semi-deserts. Settles both on the plains and in the mountains, where it rises to 3000 m above sea level. m. (central Tien Shan, Pamir). Prefers sheltered places with shrubs and high grassy vegetation, including hilly sands with thickets of saxaul, sand acacia and tamarisk, gullies between hillocks, valleys of rivers and lakes, tugai forests. Found in irrigated lands. In the mountains, it lives along river valleys, in upland steppes, along the edges of forests. In the mountain-forest zone, the most favorable conditions for it are in juniper and walnut-fruit forests. It gravitates towards water bodies, although it can go without water for a long time. Rare in the clay desert, on salt marshes and barren takyrs. On the territory of Russia, the tolai hare is found in dry steppes overgrown with shrubs (karagana, chi), with rock outcrops or placers of stones. It is very typical for river valleys and lake basins, where it keeps along the outskirts of shrubs. In some places it inhabits the edges of dry larch forests. In Altai and Sayan Mountains, it rises in the mountains to the bald belt, where it also keeps close to boulder screes.

Tolai leads a sedentary lifestyle, making only short migrations associated with foraging, reproduction, pressure from predators, or adverse weather conditions. For example, in snowy winters, he moves to places with shallow snow cover, closer to settlements. After the establishment of a deep snow cover in the mountains, the tolai move down the slopes or make daily migrations to the valleys, where they feed in snow-free places. Under favorable conditions, tolai constantly lives in the same area, within which it has several haulouts and feeding (fatty) areas. The area of ​​the individual plot is about 2 hectares. lonely; forms temporary groups of up to 30 individuals only during the rut and sometimes in winter in convenient habitats. It is active mainly at dusk and at night, but during the periods of rutting and resettlement of young also during daylight hours. Sometimes it can feed during the day in cloudy weather, especially in high mountain areas where it is less likely to be disturbed. The beds are arranged in pits 5-15 cm deep (less often up to 60 cm), dug under the cover of bushes and stones; they are similar to hare beds, but slightly smaller in size. Sometimes it rests in abandoned burrows of marmots, ground squirrels, foxes, turtles. Young animals often hide in rodent burrows. As a rule, tolai does not burrow itself, exceptions are found in sandy deserts, where it digs shallow burrows about 50 cm long. Feeding places are sometimes located at a considerable distance from the beds and, going to fattening, hares sometimes tread well-marked paths. Returning to the bed, tolai, like all hares, confuses the tracks.

Nutrition

By the nature of food, tolai is similar to a white hare. The main food for him are the green parts of plants, as well as roots and bulbs. In spring it feeds on roots and tubers of herbaceous plants and young grass; in deserts - juicy vegetative parts of ephemera. In summer, it feeds on a variety of herbaceous plants, preferring grasses and sedge, less often it eats wormwood. At the end of summer and autumn, seeds begin to play a significant role in nutrition; eats corn, barley and wheat in the fields. By winter, it passes to young shoots and bark of various trees and shrubs. Especially willingly eats tamarisk, chingil, whose branches, with a high number of tolais, are completely eaten over large areas. Less willingly eats branches of saxaul and sandy acacia. In places where the snow cover is low, tolai continues to feed on herbaceous plants, digging them out from under the snow.

reproduction

Young tolai hare

The rut takes place in different parts of the range at different times: in deserts, valleys and foothills - in January - February and lasts until July, in mountainous and high-mountainous regions - from March to August. During the rut, 3-5 males run after the female, between which there are fights, often accompanied by a piercing cry. On the territory of Russia, in the north of the range, tolai breed 1-2 times a year. The first rut here takes place at the end of February - March. Hares are born in 45-50 days, in April - early May, after which the second rut begins immediately. In Central Asia, the number of litters reaches 4 per year, and breeding ends in September. The number of rabbits in a litter is 1-9, in Russia it is usually 4-6; like other hares, the size of the brood depends on weather conditions, habitat, age of the female, etc. At the first lambing, there are often 1-2 hares, at the second and third - 3-5. Hares are born in a hole or in a shallow hole; often, under the brood hole, females occupy marmot burrows. Newborns (weighing 85-110 g) are sighted, covered with thick hair with a dark stripe on the back. The growth and development of tolai cubs is similar to the development of cubs of hare hares. Tolay hares become sexually mature the next year, at the age of 6-8 months.

Number and importance for humans

Tolai is a hunting and commercial species. Previously, it was mined not only for meat, but also for fur, which was mainly used in the felt industry. In a number of places it harms crops of cereals and gourds, sand-strengthening plantings. In Transbaikalia it is under protection.

Notes

Links

  • Mammals of the fauna of Russia and adjacent territories: Cape hare

Categories:

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  • Hares
  • Animals described in 1778
  • Invasive animal species
  • Mammals of Asia

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The hare is a small mammal animal, recently belonging to the order Lagomorphs and the hare family. Before that, they were considered a type of rodent. The international scientific name of the hare genus is 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 fluffy animal has been 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 sense organs. Sound can be picked up by one ear, independently of the other, which facilitates the animal's auditory orientation.

A distinctive feature of the hare is the long foot of the hind legs, which gives it the ability to run away from predators (fox, owl, wolf) at a speed of 80 km / h, sharply change direction and jump to the side. A small animal can easily climb to the top of the hill, but it descends from it, rolling head over heels.

The sweat glands of a hare are located on the soles of their paws. It is almost impossible for a predator to smell a recumbent animal.

In spring and autumn, hares molt.

The stomach of lagomorphs is divided into two sectors. One section is designed for fermentation of food, the other for its digestion.

How much does an adult hare weigh?

The average weight of an animal is 5-7 kg. The tail of the hare is small, raised up.

Is a hare a rodent or not?

Lagomorphs differ in blood composition from rodents.

Another distinguishing feature is the structure of the teeth. In the upper jaw, hares have incisors, 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 an integral bone platform. There are no gaps between the protruding parts of the upper and lower teeth, which allows better processing of food.

The agouti, the so-called humpbacked or golden hare, is classified as a rodent.

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

How many years does a wild hare live

Males live an average of 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. Rusaki live much less, more often than 5 years. They rarely live past the age of 14.

The American hare lives an average of 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 diseases or predators. Agouti (or as they are also called golden or humpbacked hare) can live up to 20 years.

Seal - bearded seal lives about 30 years, males often live only up to 25 years.

Types of hares

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

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

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

Antelope hare (Latin Lepus alleni). The length of the body is 45-60 cm. A distinctive feature of the antelope hare is its impressive size ears, up to 20 cm. They help to normalize the heat exchange of the animal in a hot climate. This species lives 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. The color of the fur varies from chestnut to red. The coat is short, hard in structure. Habitat: China, Taiwan and Vietnam; inhabits predominantly highlands.

Tolai hare (Latin Lepus tolai). Outwardly, it has similar features with a hare, only noticeably more compact in size. Body length 39-55 cm, weight 1.5-2.8 kg. A tolai hare has larger limbs and ears than a hare. It lives in Central Asia, Kazakhstan, Northeast China and Mongolia. In Russia, almost everywhere.

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

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. Lives in Spain, listed in the Red Book of this country. The species is widespread in areas with little vegetation. In many respects, the broom hare is similar to the hare.

Black-tailed (California) hare (Latin Lepus californicus). Body length 47-63 cm, weight 1.5-3 kg. A distinctive feature of the species are long ears and massive hind legs. The fur in 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 in 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 auricles are relatively short, which gives the Manchurian hare similar features to the wild (European) rabbit. The fur is hard, bristly. The color of the coat is brown, uneven, with gray patches. On the back there is a strip of dark color of longer 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, preferring broad-leaved forests with dense shrubs.

Tibetan Curly Hare (Latin Lepus oiostolus). The body length is 40-58 cm. Weight 2.3 kg. The fur of an animal of this species has a yellowish tint, on the back the hair is slightly wavy. Habitat: China, India, Nepal. Location: highlands of Tibet.

Agouti (lat. Dasyprocta) or South American golden hare (humped hare). This animal belongs to the order of rodents, is a relative of guinea pigs. In the people, agouti is also called golden (or golden) hare. This animal has a body length of 50 cm, weight about 4 kg. It got its second name due to its golden color. The humpback hare is distributed throughout Central and South America, from Mexico to Brazil. Agoutis are very good swimmers.

A hare, unlike a rabbit, which is a burrowing animal, needs space and a lot of movement. With a strong desire, hares can be bred at home, following certain rules.

Features of keeping a hare at home:

  • A hare needs a spacious cage or aviary.
  • Walking around the apartment. Until the age of 1 month under strict supervision, from 1 month free range.
  • The hare must be vaccinated and get rid of worms.
  • The hare must be immediately taught to go to the toilet, use diapers or dry grass as a tray filler. Granular filler should not be used.

Hares are very sociable animals, living in an apartment, they need constant interaction with a person, games, attention. But these animals should not be constantly held in their arms, they do not like hugs.

Features of feeding a hare at home:

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

It is impossible to release an already tamed hare into the wild, he will not survive.

Rabbit giant (Flandres)

One of the most amazing representatives of the lagomorphs is the Flanders, or Belgian giant. This is an industrial breed of rabbits. The body length of adults 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 breed in 1952.

Seal sea hare

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 Arctic Ocean and adjacent waters of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Representatives of the northern peoples make household items from the skin of a seal. Pregnancy of a female bearded seal lasts a year, one cub is born, with a body length of 120 cm. The ability to reproduce appears at the age of five.

Hares are land animals, they cannot swim and climb trees. Some species love space, spaces with little vegetation. Other species belong to forest hares and inhabit places with dense thickets. Hares can live apart, some species live in colonies and build burrows. The white hare lives in the tundra, rarely in the forest and forest-steppe zone. The rodent humpback hare is a resident of the tropics and savannas. Lagomorphs inhabit the entire globe. More recently, they have been introduced to Australia, South America, Madagascar, and Southeast Asia.

What does a rabbit eat?

Hares are mammals and eat plant foods.

Brown hare food:

White hare diet:

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

The sea hare seal eats benthic invertebrates and bottom fish: flounder, polar cod, goby.

In nature, hares can form pairs, but a separate lifestyle is not uncommon. A hare can bring offspring three times a year, 5-10 rabbits in each litter. The gestation period is 50 days. The fecundity of hares is high. Cubs are born with a woolen cover, they can see and walk. In the first seven days of life, hares need milk. But by the third week they are fully adapted to plant foods. Sexual maturity occurs at the age of 7-11 months.

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