Brown hare

Lepus europaeus
Leporid (Leporidae)

Long ears.
Brown hareon RikenMon's Nature-Guide

CC-BY-SA 2.0 rights : Jean-Jacques Boujot

Brown-grey to yellow-brown back with black markings. Red brown flanks, throat and breast with a white belly. The long ears are brown white with black tips. The tail upper surface is black and under surface is white, it has long legs.

A fast runner and able jumper, kicks the ground as a warning sign. Rests very lightly in a small ditch on the ground with its nose into the wind.

⇔ hbl. 48-73 cm, tl. 7-13 cm, sh. 28-30 cm, ears 8-14 cm

syn. European hare

Lives in loose groups, sleeps alone, but feeds in groups for safety. During mating large groups are formed where males can be seen 'boxing'.  It can look rather wild. Hence the expression: 'As mad as a March hare'.

There are several hare species in Europe, they all look very alike:
The LEPUS CORSICANUS (Apenine hare) lives on the south end of Italy. 
The LEPUS GRANATENSIS (Iberian hare) has more white on its chest and can be found in Spain and Portugal. 
The LEPUS CAPENSIS (Cape hare) is the hare found in Africa and a little smaller, it can also be found on Sardinia. 

LA:
≈ ORYCTOLAGUS CUNICULUS (Rabbits) are smaller and have shorter front legs so they cannot run as fast, they jump. A rabbit has in comparison a rounder head and shorter ears.
≈ The LEPUS TIMIDUS (Mountain hare) is smaller and turns white in winter.

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