Back to Catalog|
Animal World
Arctic Hare — photograph 1
📷 Ansgar Walk · CC BY-SA 2.5
IUCN: Least Concern

Arctic Hare

Lepus arcticus

KingdomAnimalia›PhylumChordata›ClassMammalia›OrderLagomorpha›FamilyLeporidae›GenusLepus
About

Arctic hares turn from grey-brown to pure white each winter and can bound at 60 km/h on hind legs built for open tundra. They sometimes huddle in groups of dozens for warmth in winter and are a staple prey of Arctic foxes, wolves, and snowy owls. Unlike most hares they dig shallow forms rather than burrows, relying on camouflage and speed across ground with little cover.

Key Facts
⛰
Habitat
Tundra, rocky slopes, and coastal lowlands of the Canadian Arctic and Greenland
🍃
Diet
Herbivore — woody plants, sedges, mosses, and lichens
📏
Size & Weight
Body 43–70 cm
•
weight
2.5–7 kg
⏳
Lifespan
3–5 years
🗺
Range
Canadian Arctic Archipelago, Greenland, and northern Labrador and Quebec
MammalHare
Photo Credits
#1Ansgar Walk · CC BY-SA 2.5
#2Unknown authorUnknown author · Public domain
#3Drew Avery · CC BY 2.0
Related Species