Arctic Hare

The Arctic hare (Lepus arcticus) is a species of hare highly adapted to living in the Arctic tundra and other icy biomes. The Arctic hare survives with shortened ears and limbs, a small nose, fat that makes up close to 20% of its body, and a thick coat of fur. It usually digs holes in the ground or under the snow to keep warm and to sleep. Arctic hares look like rabbits but have shorter ears, are taller when standing, and, unlike rabbits, can thrive in extreme cold. They can travel together with many other hares, sometimes huddling with dozens or more, but are usually found alone, sometimes taking more than one partner. The Arctic hare can run up to 60 kilometres per hour (40 mph). == Etymology == The Arctic hare is named for the region in which it was first discovered, the Arctic tundra. Its generic name, Lepus, is borrowed from Latin and refers to hares, rabbits (as inferred from the earlier Hellenistic Greek λεβηρίς (levirís), rabbit), and the constellation of the same name. The specific name, arcticus, is also borrowed from Latin, and is more directly derived from the Greek ἀρκτικός (arktikos), "near the Bear, northern". In…