Broom Hare

The broom hare (Lepus castroviejoi) (Spanish: liebre de piornal) is a species of hare that is endemic to northern Spain. It was described in 1976 as separate from the Granada hare. It is classified as vulnerable by the IUCN. == Taxonomy == The broom hare was described by Fernando Palacios in 1976 as a new species split from the Granada hare (Lepus granatensis) based on genetic evidence. It was given the species name castroviejoi as a tribute to Spanish biologist Javier Castroviejo, then director of the Estación Biológica de Doñana. Taxonomically, the species is close to the Corsican hare; the two are thought to have had a common ancestor in the Late Pleistocene. The broom hare is placed in the subgenus Eulagos. == Description == The broom hare body length ranges from 45–65 cm (18–26 in). Its tail grows to lengths of 5–10 cm (2.0–3.9 in). Its front legs grow from 10–20 cm (3.9–7.9 in) and the back legs can grow from 20–30 cm (7.9–11.8 in). The ears can grow to be as long as 18–20 cm (7.1–7.9 in). The fur of the broom hare is a mixture of brown and black, with very little white on the upper part…