Hares are common animals. They play an important role in the forest community and in human life. People are engaged in commercial hunting for hares, getting dietary, tasty meat and valuable fur and skin. In the wild, there are several dozen species (30) of these animals, but the most common are two: hare and hare. How they look, where they are common, what are the similarities between a hare and a hare, read the article.
Similar features
Hares of any species primarily belong to mammals and one family - hares. These animals share other similarities:
- The ears are very long.
- Clavicles are underdeveloped.
- The hind legs are much longer than the front legs, they are very strong. Thanks to this, hares can run at a speed of 70 km/h.
- The tail is short and fluffy.
- Females are larger than males.
- Animals shed twice a dayyear: in the spring and autumn periods. The duration of this time depends on external conditions. In the spring, most species begin to shed their old fur coat from the end of winter, and starting from the head. In autumn, molting begins in September from the back.
Hare Hare
Belongs to the hare family, it is distinguished by its large size, due to which it cannot be confused with other species. Body length reaches 68 cm, weight - 4-7 kg. The ears and tail can reach a length of 14 cm. In the summer, the hare has a gray color with different shades. In winter, it depends on the habitat: in the middle lane, the color does not change, except that it becomes lighter. But in the northern regions of residence, the hair of the hares becomes white with a dark stripe on the back.
The spread of the hare
These hares live in the steppe, tundra zone, forest-steppe. They are characterized by the European steppe massifs, as well as the North African continent. These animals are common in Asia. The habitat in the north is limited to the territories of Ireland, Scotland, Finland, Sweden.
In the south of the habitat of the European hare, they border on Turkey, Iran, Arabia, Africa, Transcaucasia and northern Kazakhstan. This animal species was introduced to North America at the end of the 19th century. In our country, hare are common in the European part, the south of Siberia, the Far East.
In honor of this animal, known since ancient times, there are interesting fairy tales for children and many fables in which the hare is called "gray", "coward", "brave", "cunning".
Hare hare
This animal from the hare family is a large representative of its kind, but compared to the hare, the hare is much smaller. Its weight reaches two or three kilograms, sometimes more than four, body - 45-70 cm, ears and tail - up to 10 cm. The color is directly related to the season. In summer, the skin becomes gray with a reddish or dark tint, brown spots are visible on the fur. The head is darker than the body, but the belly, on the contrary, is white. In winter, the skin of the hare has a pure white color. The animals molt twice a year, like all representatives of this species.
Where does the hare live?
The distribution area of this species includes China, Mongolia, Japan, Northern Europe, South America. In our country, the hare lives on a vast territory: from Transbaikalia and the Don to the tundra itself. This animal settles in small forests, which are located next to water bodies and agricultural land. Prefers open areas with rich herbage and berries.
Belyaki are lovers of a sedentary lifestyle. They migrate over short distances only when necessary, caused by bad weather or lack of food. But in the tundra zone, their migration over long distances is massive. Hares are forced to migrate due to lack of food, which is under a layer of high snow.
Hare hare and hare: similarities and differences
Despite the fact that hare hare and hare belong to the same species,there are a number of differences between them:
- The hare is larger than the hare.
- The Rusak has longer ears and hind legs.
- The white hare has wider paws than the hare. Their feet are covered with thick wool, thanks to which, in winter, the animal easily moves through the snow, even loose.
- The hare has a slightly wavy coat.
- The hare's favorite habitat is the forest, and the hare's favorite habitat is meadows, arable land, copses.
- In winter, the hare's coat is snow-white, only the tips of the ears are black. The hare is never pure white in color, it only brightens slightly in winter.
- The hare has a shorter, rounder tail, while the hare has a long, wedge-shaped one.
If we compare a white hare and a brown hare, then we can find similarities between them.
- These animals have long ears and hind legs.
- In the summer, they have the same color - gray.
- Born immediately with hair and sighted. Exceptions are rare cases when there is no coating on the body. They grow up very quickly. Even at a young age, hares are able to protect themselves.
- When in danger, they flee from enemies, they do not hide in holes like rabbits.
- Prefer to live apart. They form a couple only during the mating season.
- Food is tough food - the bark of trees and shrubs, small twigs, buds, shoots.
- Don't store food for future use.
- Have high fecundity: up to eight times a year they can bear offspring. The female bears hares for 1.5 months. Ready to mate immediately after giving birth.
The role of the hare in human life
Life expectancy in the wild of this animal species is six to seven years. Rarely, but there are exceptions when a hare lives 12 years or more. The hare is valuable for its fur and meat, due to which it is included in the list of game animals. The skins are used to produce high-quality felt, as well as to sew fur products.
But there are many countries where the hare is considered a malicious pest of crops. Indeed, these cute animals harm winter crops, fruit plantations. Hares are able to eat the entire vegetative part of 15 trees in just one night. In addition to harm to agricultural plants, these animals are carriers of diseases such as brucellosis, coccidiosis, tularemia and others that affect humans, and in severe form.
