Antelope jackrabbit
| Antelope jackrabbit[1] | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Lagomorpha |
| Family: | Leporidae |
| Genus: | Lepus |
| Species: | L. alleni |
| Binomial name | |
| Lepus alleni Mearns, 1890 | |
 | |
| Antelope jackrabbit range | |
The antelope jackrabbit (Lepus alleni) is a species of North American hare.[3]
Geographic range
The antelope jackrabbit is found in Arizona in the United States and the states of Chihuahua, Nayarit, Sinaloa and Sonora in Mexico.[2]
Habitat
The antelope jackrabbit is found in a variety of habitats. It can be found in grassy hills or plains, preferring habitats with large, moderately open desert shrubs above grass that is growing well.[4] It can also be found in the deserts of the southwest. Jackrabbits are not uncommon in urban areas either, where they have adapted very well to human encroachment upon their habitat.
Description
The antelope jackrabbit is the largest Lepus species.[4] Its body length ranges from 45 to 60 cm (18 to 24 in) long. Its tail grows to lengths of 3 to 10 cm (1.2 to 3.9 in) long. Its front legs grow from 10 to 20 cm (3.9 to 7.9 in) and the back legs can grow from 20 to 30 cm (7.9 to 11.8 in) long. The legs give the antelope jackrabbit its name, after the fast, leaping animals of the plains of Africa called antelopes. The antelope jackrabbit's ears grow to be 2 to 8 in (5.1 to 20.3 cm) when fully grown. The ears of the antelope jackrabbit are not only used to hear, but are also used to reduce and regulate body heat for survival in the hot conditions where they live. Antelope jackrabbits are more active during the evenings when their hot environment cools down.
Subspecies
The two subspecies of this jackrabbit are:
- L. a. alleni
- L. a. tiburonensis
See also
- Jackalope - a fictional cross between an antelope and a jackrabbit
References
- ↑ Hoffman, R.S.; Smith, A.T. (2005). "Order Lagomorpha". In Wilson, D.E.; Reeder, D.M. Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 195. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
- 1 2 Mexican Association for Conservation and Study of Lagomorphs (AMCELA), Romero Malpica, F.J. & Rangel Cordero, H. (2008). "Lepus alleni". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2009.2. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 1 February 2010.
- ↑ https://www.desertmuseum.org/books/nhsd_rabbits.php
- 1 2 http://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Lepus_alleni/
External links
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