MAMMALS

Hare

Medium-sized lagomorphic mammal, short and soft hair, longer ears, even longer than those of the rabbit, and short tail. The hare is a species mainly twilight and nocturnal. The length of the body ranges between 44 and 50 cm. The length of the tail ranges from 9 to 11 cm. The length of the ears is from 9.3 to 10.5 cm. The elevation to the cross is between 17 and 25 cm. and with a weight of 1.5 kgs a2’6 kgs. The hare has very developed ear and smell, sight being its worst sense. This animal is very fast and agile, being able to reach a top speed of 70 Km/hour. It is also extremely wary and cautious, so it never goes directly to its roosting site, always trying to throw predators off the scent. It has a life expectancy of between 7 and 9 years in freedom, while in captivity it can reach 12 years of life. The zeal takes place throughout the year. The gestation lasts from 42 to 44 days and can have 3 to 4 births a year in adulthood. Unlike the rabbit, the hare does not give birth in burrows, but does so in the open air in a place on the ground called a “paridera”, a bed that is prepared with animal hair and dry grass, where it gives birth to its young. This mammal basically feeds on grasses, which make up about 75% of the animal’s diet, although it also includes in its diet other plant products such as roots, bulbs, bark of woody plants and wild fruits and even carrion, particularly in times of scarcity. Regarding its habitat, the Iberian hare looks for flat and open terrain, with a predominance of cereal crops and some scrubland. Even so, it is able to accommodate the most varied landscapes, being able to live in the middle and high mountains, making his powerful career and mimicry his greatest defenses.