HARE

(Top) Black-tailed jackrabbit (Lepus californicus) and (bottom) blue hare (Lepus any mammal of the family Leporidae (hares and rabbits), order Lagomorpha, whose young are born fully haired, with open eyes, and sufficiently advanced to hop about a few minutes after birth. It is these characteristics that distinguish hares from rabbits, but the vernacular names hare and rabbit are frequently misapplied to particular species (see rabbit). A typical species is the common hare (Lepus europaeus) of central and southern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. The blue, or varying, hare (L. timidus) occurs farther north and is probably the same species as the Arctic hare of northern North America. In North America the hares popularly called snowshoe hare (L. americanus) and jackrabbit (L. townsendii, L. californicus, and others) are widespread. Many other species occur naturally on all principal land masses except Australia, where the European species was introduced during the 19th century and has become prevalent to the point of being a pest. The Belgian hare is actually one of many domestic breeds of rabbit. The mouse hare, or little chief hare, is also known as the pika. Hares have well-developed hindlegs, and their ears are usually longer than their head. Depending on the species, the body is about 40 to 70 centimetres (1628 inches) long, without the short tail. Hares in northern latitudes are white in winter and usually grayish brown in summer. Hares elsewhere are usually gray brown throughout the year. Primarily vegetarians, they sometimes seriously damage commercial crops. They tend to remain in a small area, but may occasionally undertake mass migrations, especially in the far north. Like rabbits, hares provide man with food and fur. Because they are usually numerous (females may bear several yearly litters of one to seven young), they form the staple diet of various carnivorous birds, mammals, and reptiles.