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Lepus arcticus. |
The arctic hare, Lepus arcticus, is a very large member of the hare and rabbit family, weighing more than 4 kg. Hares can be distinguished from rabbits in that they are born open-eyed and furred, whereas rabbits are born naked with closed eyes. The arctic hare remains active year-round, feeding on arctic willow, crowberry, meat, and seaweed. During the winter, hares frequent windblown ridges where the vegetation is exposed. The huge feet these animals possess act as snowshoes to enable quick escapes on top of the snow. On Ellesmere Island, and the northern sections of Baffin Island, this species retains a white coat all year, but farther south it turns brown in summer.
Although normally a solitary animal, arctic hares on Ellesmere and Axel Heiberg Islands often form large herds in autumn and winter. Groups of hundreds of individuals have been reported, though the reason for these congregations is still unclear.
