the pygmy seahorses comprise several species of tiny seahorse in the syngnathid family or syngnathidae ( seahorses and pipefish ) .

family syngnathidae is part of order syngnathiformes , which contains fishes with fused jaws that suck food into tubular mouths .

they are found in southeast asia in the coral triangle area .

they are some of the smallest seahorse species in the world , typically measuring less than 2 centimetres ( 0.79 in ) in height .

the first pygmy seahorse known to science was hippocampus bargibanti .

at least six more species were named after 2000 .

the first species discovered lives exclusively on fan corals and matches their colour and appearance .

so effective is pygmy seahorse camouflage that it was discovered only when a host gorgonian was being examined in a laboratory .

in 1969 a new caledonian scientist , georges bargibant , was collecting specimens of muricella spp gorgonians for the nouméa museum and whilst one of these was on his dissection table he happened to notice a pair of tiny seahorses .

the next year they were officially named by whitley as bargibant 's pygmy seahorse .

other species live on soft corals or are free-ranging among seagrasses and algae .

pygmy seahorse

pygmy seahorse <EOT> not many creatures can match the pygmy seahorse for being so simultaneously enigmatic and simply gorgeous . the cryptic pygmy seahorse

this pygmy seahorse is one of 9 known species of pygmy seahorse . due to their amazing camouflage ability and tiny size , many pygmy seahorse species have only been discovered over the past 10 years , and more may be discovered . in addition , many species have different color morphs , making identification even more difficult .

the dwarf seahorse ( hippocampus zosterae ) is a small seahorse found in the western atlantic ocean . they are also known as little seahorses or pygmy seahorses .

the common pygmy seahorse or bargibant ' s seahorse is one of the tiniest known vertebrates . this seahorse was named after the scuba diver who discovered the species in 1969 while collecting specimens for the noumea aquarium in new caledonia .

mcgrouther , m . pygmy seahorse , hippocampus bargibanti whitley , 1970 . australian museum . accessed january 30 , 2016 .

the kenyan pygmy chameleon isn ' t the only adorably tiny pygmy species . there are also marshall ' s pygmy chameleon and spectral pygmy chameleon . below is the brookesia minima , or commonly called the madagascan dwarf chameleon , the minute leaf chameleon , the pygmy leaf chameleon , the nosy be pygmy leaf chameleon , and the tiny ground chameleon . in other words , chameleons can blend in not only with their colors but also with their names !

as its name implies , the pygmy seahorse is a tiny fish . it lives on gorgonians ( sea fans ) of the genus muricella .

embed this arkive thumbnail link ( " portlet " ) by copying and pasting the code below . < a href = " urltoken " title = " arkive species - pygmy seahorse ( hippocampus bargibanti ) " > < img src = " urltoken " alt = " arkive species - pygmy seahorse ( hippocampus bargibanti ) " title = " arkive species - pygmy seahorse ( hippocampus bargibanti ) " border = " 0 " / > < / a >

only known to occur on gorgonian corals of the genus muricella , the pygmy seahorse is typically found between 16 and 40 metres depth ( 2 ) .

the pygmy seahorse is classified as data deficient ( dd ) on the iucn red list ( 1 ) , and listed on appendix ii of cites ( 3 ) .

the pygmy seahorse has a short snout , rounded knob - like coronet and irregular bulbous tubercles on the body . it has a rounded spine above each eye and on each cheek .

why are they only being discovered now ? since no one knew they existed , they were not being looked for . because of their astonishing camouflage , they were easily overlooked until 1969 in new indonesia when h . bargibanti was discovered . it was found on accident when a biologist was observing muricella sp . gorgonians which were retrieved by divers . the biologist found the tiny seahorse was using the gorgonian as its host . this species was so well hidden that they were not even noticed until the coral was examined in a lab ! many species of pygmy seahorses were discovered just recently , including hippocampus debelius , or the soft - coral seahorse , which was revealed in 1993 by an underwater photographer . severn’s pygmy seahorse , pontoh’s pygmy seahorse , and satomi’s pygmy seahorse were just named at the end of 2008 ! the majority of pygmy seahorses have been found by divers instead of scientists . scientists then later verified the divers findings .

under the care of experienced researchers at national aquaria , all pygmy seahorses and their gorgonians have died .

noaa fisheries . dwarf seahorse ( hippocampus zosterae ) . accessed september 30 , 2014 .

. other distinctive pygmy seahorse characteristics include a fleshy head and body , a very short snout , and a long , prehensile tail . this is also one of the smallest seahorse species in the world , typically measuring less than 2 centimetres ( 0 . 79 in ) in height .

vincent , a . 1995 . a role for daily greetings in maintaining seahorse pair bonds .

hello , my names angela . where can i buy a seahorse in ma or nh ?

there are a number of enrichments available to improve brine shrimp . you can even make your own . probably the most popular among seahorse keepers is dan’s feed , available through seahorse source .

pygmy seahorses have such a weird but elegant look to them , their bright colors are so attractive as well .

the pygmy seahorse is known from coral reefs in the tropical western pacific around australia ( queensland ) , indonesia , japan , new caledonia , papua new guinea and the philippines ( 1 ) ( 2 ) .

before getting into dwarf seahorse care , it’s important to understand a little bit about their biology .

what is a pygmy seahorse ? pygmy seahorses are part of the genus hippocampus which all seahorses belong . they are minute seahorse species found through the world , most less than one inch in size . while they have been known about to science since the discovery of h . bargibanti in 1969 , most species have been discovered within the past 10 years . since then , they have become one of the most popular creatures for recreational divers to seek out .

stockton , n . 2014 . baby pygmy seahorses are even cuter than you think . wired . accessed january 30 , 2016 .

the first time i saw pygmy seahorse in bali . i didn’t know what my guide show me , and he bring me more close with the gorgonian and finally i saw very2 small things moving . i am very happy diving in bali 😀

masonjones , h . , s . lewis . 1996 . courtship behavior in the dwarf seahorse , hippocampus zosterae .

lourie , s . a . and randall , j . e . ( 2003 ) a new pygmy seahorse , hippocampus denise ( teleostei : syngnathidae ) from the indo - pacific . zoological studies , 42 ( 2 ) : 284 - 291 .

authenticated ( 19 / 12 / 2006 ) by sara lourie , project seahorse / redpath museum , mcgill university . urltoken

the walea seahorse is named after an island in central sulawesi , indonesia—the only place it has so far been found .

gomon , m . f . 1997 . a remarkable new pygmy seahorse ( syngnathidae : hippocampus ) from south - eastern australia , with a description of h . bargibanti whitley from new caledonia . memoirs of the museum of victoria 56 ( 1 ) : 245–253 .

pygmy seahorses are unique from other seahorse species in that they are much smaller , less than an inch tall . in fact , they are the smallest seahorses in the world , and the record holder h . satomiae is only 13mm tall when fully grown . that’s just barely over a half an inch ! they are also closely associated with their host as they possess the amazing ability to mimic it which protects them from predators . because of this , new species of pygmy seahorses are still being discovered ! unlike many other seahorses , the pygmy seahorse does not have recognizable body rings . other things that make them different from other species of seahorse not having a fully formed pouch and some types having a single gill slit such as h . colemani , h . pontohi , and h . severnsi .

pygmy seahorses are listed as data deficient on the iucn red list due to lack of published data on population sizes or trends for the species .

like other seahorses , it’s the male pygmy that becomes pregnant . he gives birth to around a dozen young after a gestation of 10 - 14 days

due to the very small size of the pygmy seahorse they can’t eat anything large at all . they tend to consume very small particles of food from their environment . mainly this is in the form of the young brine shrimp but they do consume some other types of crustaceans .

2003 . " biology of seahorses " ( on - line ) . project seahorse . accessed october 13 , 2004 at urltoken .

the pygmy seahorse is one of the newest that have been identified . since they are so tiny and they blend so well with the surroundings . they weren’t even known to exist until they were accidentally placed in captivity on some coral reef and then they were detected and closely examined .

reijnen , b . t . , et al . 2011 . fish , fans and hydroids : host species of pygmy seahorses . zookeys 103 : 1–26 .

all but one of the seven species so far identified is found in southeast asia . coleman’s pygmy is confirmed only from lord howe island off australia’s east coast

epoch times staff . ( 8 / 11 / 2011 . ) " science in pictures : pygmy seahorses . " the epoch times , northern california edition .

pygmy seahorses can be found coastal areas ranging from southern japan and indonesia to northern australia and new caledonia . they normally reside in depths of 10 - 40m on reefs . these distinctive pygmy seahorse species have attracted the attention of divers worldwide , making it extremely valuable to the diving industry . in sabah , a colony of pygmy seahorses is visited by about 100 divers per day . unfortunately , these visits can be dangerous to the seahorses . with photographers constantly taking pictures , the flashes from cameras could possibly influence them in negative ways . at this time , there are no policies to protect them from harm .

masonjones hd and sm lewis . 1996 . courtship behavior in the dwarf seahorse , hippocampus zosterae . copeia 1996 : 634 - 640 .

there are three species of pygmy shrew in the world , the american pygmy shrew ( pictured above ) , eurasian pygmy shrew , and the etruscan pygmy shrew . of the three , the etruscan pygmy shrew , pictured below , is the smallest and it is also considered the smallest mammal in the world by mass ( the kitti ' s hog - nosed bat is the smallest by skull size ) . the tiny creature grows to only about 1 . 4 inches in body length , but despite that size , it will eat 1 . 5 to 2 times its own body weight in food a day , scarfing down everything from small vertebrates and invertebrates , to prey as large as itself ! if you think that ' s amazing , the 2 - inch long american pygmy shrew eats three times its body weight a day , requiring it to capture and eat a meal every 15 - 30 minutes just to stay alive . small body , but enormous appetite !

if you happen to come across a pygmy seahorse , please remember to follow these tips . you may look at them but always be careful around pygmy seahorses . do not touch or attempt to move them . obviously , do not try to collect them for pet - owning or trade purposes . keep flashlights and flash photography away from them . avoid touching or destroying the seafan and take note of the coral around you . they are sensitive to stress and dislike flashes and harassment from divers . pygmy seahorses are safe as long as they are not disturbed in any way . we want these beautiful and colorful creatures to stay .

much has changed regarding our understanding of seahorse care , and many other species are now commonly available . yet the dwarf seahorse remains an ever popular , easy to care for aquarium pet . the basics of keeping them are quite simple as long as you follow a few guidelines .

adults are usually found in pairs or clusters of pairs , with up to 28 pygmy seahorses recorded on a single gorgonian , and may be monogamous . as with other

very little is known about the total number of pygmy seahorses , population trends , distribution , or major threats . it has therefore been classified as data deficient on the

@ paul no they are two different species . they are very similar , but they are not the same animal . pygmy seahorses are slightly smaller than dwarf seahorses .

if one wants to keep a miniature species of seahorse in an aquarium , consider looking into the hippocampus zosterae , also known as the dwarf seahorse , instead . dwarf seahorses are much less sensitive to captive conditions and are easier to take care of . pygmy seahorses are often confused with dwarf seahorses in literature . although both are similarly tiny , they are not the same . dwarf seahorses do have the similar appeal of being tiny but make better pets .

project seahorse . 2003 . hippocampus bargibanti . the iucn red list of threatened species 2003 : e . t10060a3158205 . accessed january 30 , 2016 .

pygmy seahorses live on gorgonian corals off australia , new caledonia , indonesia , japan , papua new guinea , and the philippines , in water depths of about 52 - 131 feet .

project seahorse ( 2003 ) . hippocampus bargibanti . 2006 . iucn red list of threatened species . iucn 2006 . urltoken . retrieved on 12 may 2006 .

project seahorse 2003 . hippocampus zosterae . the iucn red list of threatened species . version 2014 . 2 . < urltoken > . accessed september 30 , 2014 .

vincent , a . 1997 . " nova - kingdom of the seahorse " ( on - line ) . pbs . accessed october 13 , 2004 at urltoken .

strawn k . 1958 . life history of the pigmy seahorse , hippocampus zosterae jordan and gilbert , at cedar key , florida . copeia 1958 : 16 - 22 .

jordan , , gilbert . 1882 . " hippocamous zosterae ( dwarf seahorse ) " ( on - line ) . fishbase . accessed october 13 , 2004 at urltoken .

found in the swamps and forests of west africa , the pygmy hippo is one of the only two species of hippo on earth , and it is endangered . the elusive and nocturnal pygmy hippo is vulnerable not only to the loss of habitat to agriculture , but also to hunting and poaching . experts estimate there are fewer than 3 , 000 of these unique little guys left in the wild .

pygmy seahorses are only found living in coral reefs , sea grass beds , and algae , which makes them vulnerable to habitat destruction of that species of coral is destroyed . most of the host corals have been found to be nearly impossible to maintain in captivity . because these corals can only thrive in the wild , it is possible that divers may disrupt the environment of the pygmy seahorses . gorgonian corals are susceptible to destruction by divers and that is not good for the pygmy seahorses , since their survival largely depends on the corals . it is important that divers follow recommended guidelines to viewing these animals .

though small in size , these animals are not small on personality nor good looks ! check out these fascinating and , let ' s admit it , simply adorable pygmy species from all over the globe .

the small size of the pygmy seahorse makes it very hard for them to be able to live along . they attach to a host – gorgonian corals – in order to survive . the coloring of them will blend with them . this is how they are able to survive since they can’t swim well and they are too small to handle the water currents without an anchor .

very little is known about the total number of pygmy seahorses , population trends , distribution , or major threats . it has therefore been classified as data deficient on the iucn red list 2006 . because of the unusual and attractive colouration of this small seahorse it is possible that it could be being collected for the aquaria trade , although no international trade in the species has been recorded .

it ' s amazing how many pygmy bird species exist , including this pygmy cormorant . a seabird of southeastern europe and southwestern asia , they live among reedbeds and near open waters , and are often found in rice fields and other flooded crop areas . because they require wetlands to survive , their populations have been dramatically affected over recent decades as wetlands have been drained for agricultural purposes and other changes to their watery habitats .

they are easily identified by their small size , as well as by amount of body rings ( 9 or 10 ) and dorsal fin rays ( 12 ) . this seahorse ' s common name could be used for other small species of seahorse , but this species is on of the smallest at around 2 . 5cm ( 1 " ) total length in adult males .

this gremlin - looking critter made headlines when it was " rediscovered " in 2000 after one was accidentally killed in a trap set for rats . the species hadn ' t been spotted since the 1920s and was thought to be extinct , but finally in 2008 researchers from texas a & m university spotted the first living pygmy tarsiers in decades . the 4 - inch long pygmy tarsiers weigh only about 2 ounces , and prey entirely on insects .

very little is known about the total number of pygmy seahorses , population trends , distribution , or major threats . it has therefore been classified as data deficient on the iucn red list ( 1 ) . because of the unusual and attractive colouration of this small seahorse it is possible that it could be being collected for the aquaria trade ( 1 ) , although no international trade in the species has been recorded ( 2 ) .

there are five species of pygmy possum , four endemic to australia and one found in papua new guinea and indonesia . the eastern pygmy possum , pictured above and below , is one of the australian species . it is only about 2 . 8 - 3 . 5 inches long , and a 3 - 4 . 3 inch long tail . meanwhile , the tasmanian pygmy possum , pictured perched on the rocks in the image below , is the world ' s smallest possum , weighing in at only about . 25 oz and growing to only about 2 . 5 - 3 inches in body length . these teensy possums need to keep a sharp eye out for owls , which readily prey on them .

the color and shape of this seahorse nearly perfectly matches the corals on which it lives . check out a video of these tiny seahorses to experience their incredible ability to blend in with their surroundings .

the small size and specific body ring and dorsal ray counts should be sufficient to allow the dwarf seahorse to be distinguished from the larger congener hippocampus erectus , with which it may co - occur .

very little is known about the total number of pygmy seahorses , population trends , distribution , or major threats . it has therefore been classified as data deficient on the iucn red list 2006 ( 1 ) . because of the unusual and attractive colouration of this small seahorse it is possible that it could be being collected for the aquaria trade ( 1 ) , although no international trade in the species has been recorded ( 2 ) .

last but certainly not least , not even by pygmy standards , is the pygmy three - toed sloth . this is one of the world ' s most endangered species with only about 100 left in the wild on isla escudo de veraguas , panama . after a controversial issue of dallas aquarium attempting to import eight of these sloths , supposedly for a captive breeding program in texas , the captured sloths were released . the above video is one of them being returned to its home .

wilson mj , and acj vincent . 1998 . preliminary success in closing the life cycle of exploited seahorse species , hippocampus spp . , in captivity . aquarium sciences and conservation 2 : 179 - 196 .

yes , even the largest animal alive on earth today , the blue whale , has a pygmy relative . this subspecies is found in the indian and pacific oceans , and grows to 79 feet ( which apparently is puny in the world of blue whales ) . they ' re described as " tadpole " shaped compared to their larger cousin , with a shorter tail and proportionately larger head . it ' s estimated that there are around 10 , 000 pygmy blue whales traveling the oceans .

i am looking to buy two small seahorse’ to keep as pets and i wld like to know where t obuy them at email me back at beall . jasmine @ urltoken they are really kool creatures ilove them

they carry about 10 - 20 eggs per breeding . the eggs are fertilized and incubated until hatching time . offspring are born live about two weeks later and are then independent from parents . fry , or baby seahorses , usually cling to coral reefs and feed immediately after birth . they look just like miniature versions of the parents . little is known about the pygmy seahorse’s life cycle , although other small seahorses species are known to live for around a year .

pygmy seahorses are found in the costal regions of the indo - pacific ocean , including indonesia , new guinea , great barrier reef , new caledonia , japan , and the philippines . they range from 3 °n – 23 °s and do not migrate .

reijnen , b . t . , van der meij , s . e . t . , van ofwegen , l . p . ( 2011 ) " fish , fans and hydroids : host species of pygmy seahorses . " zookeys 103 : 1 - 26 .

though they may be tiny , these itty bitty raptors are fierce , and there are a bunch of them ! roughly 25 - 35 species of pygmy owl , or owlet , can be found all over the world , but they ' re mainly found in western north america and central america . the northern pygmy owl , pictured below , ranges all the way from canada to honduras . with a wingspan of only 30 - 40 centimeters , the raptor usually goes after insects or smaller prey like lizards , rodents and small birds .

pygmy seahorses are not suitable for home aquariums because their survival likely depends on host corals . waikiki aquarium has attempted to keep the host gorgonian for h . bargibanti , and was unable to keep it alive more than a few months . these species of seahorses have very small mouths , making them difficult to feed in a closed system . not only is the environment for pygmy seahorses hard to maintain , it is probably impossible to obtain the seahorses themselves anyway since they are so rare . they are extremely delicate and are better off living in the wild .

lourie , s . a . , vincent , c . j . & h . j . hall . 1999 . seahorses . an identification guide to the world ' s species and their conservation . project seahorse . pp . 214 .

dwarf seahorses are also collected in florida for the marine ornamental aquarium industry . annual seahorse landings vary widely , but adams et al . ( 2001 ) indicates more than 80 , 000 h . zosterae were collected in florida in 1992 .

, commonly known as the dwarf seahorse , inhabits coastal waters of the western atlantic ocean , including the caribbean sea , the gulf of mexico , and the continental shelf of the southeastern united states ( jordan and gilbert , 1882 ) .

and other seahorse species produce a rapid clicking sound as a form of communication . these clicking sounds have been observed during courtship and copulation , inter - male competition , feeding , and stress produced , for example , by moving a seahorse from one tank into another . dwarf seahorses produce these clicking sounds by stridulation , which is the production of sound through the grinding together of hard , usually bony structures . in this case the skull grinds against the vertebrae . more specifically ,

the ( appropriately named ) pygmy mouse lemur is a tiny primate only about 4 . 7–5 . 1 inches long , including the tail ! found only in a localized area of kirindy forest in western madagascar , the species is threatened by poachers who capture them for the pet trade .

lives well camouflaged amongst the branches of the gorgonian coral . it is a tiny timid creature with a maximum length of less than an inch , however watch out if you are a little shrimp , this cute seahorse has a sharp eye and a big appetite . this is a very popular seahorse amongst underwater enthusiasts which is why roger and catherine have released it as a limited edition print on archival paper which is signed by the artist . ( print run limited to rogers lifetime )

range from 5 to 20 milliseconds in length and are between 2 . 65 and 3 . 43 khz . also , as size of the seahorse increases the peak frequencies of the clicking sounds decrease ( colson et al . , 1998 ) .

that’s a tough call . the tankmates article says that they are a one – good with everything but might not be safe with seahorse fry . dwarfs are a bit of an anomaly , being so small , but they’re larger than fry .

is one of the smallest of the many different seahorse species , ranging in size between 2 to 2 . 5 cm . the maximum reported size was a male of 5 . 0 cm ( jordan and gilbert , 1882 ) . this species of seahorse can be distinguished from other western atlantic seahorse species by the presence of 10 to 13 dorsal and pectoral fin rays ( daswon and vari , 1982 ) . also , dwarf seahorses possess 9 to 10 trunk rings , a high knob - like coronet that lacks spines or projections , knob - like spines on the body , a short snout that is one - third the length of the head , and skin covered in tiny warts ( lourie et al . , 2004 ) .

the western pacific is where you will find this species of seahorse living . from southern japan to northern australia you will find them . they are found in caledonia . the shallow areas that are also very warm are where they will be living .

lourie , s . , s . foster , e . cooper , a . vincent . 2004 . " a guide to the identification of seahorses " ( on - line pdf ) . project seahorse . accessed october 14 , 2004 at urltoken .

the seahorses refered to in the above article are dwarf seahorses not pygmy seahorses . the main article refers to this confusion . so long as you can supply daily live food ( enriched brine shrimp ) then dwarfs will readily breed , mine had 10 babies within 1 month of arrival into the aquarium 🙂

the maximum length of a dwarf seahorse is just under 2 inches . like many other seahorse species , it has a variety of color forms , which range from tan to green to almost black . their skin may be mottled , have dark spots , and covered in tiny warts . these seahorses have a short snout , and a coronet on top of their head that is very high and column - like or knob - like in shape . they may also have filaments extending from their head and body .

the first known pygmy seahorse species was hippocampus bargibanti , which was actually discovered on a gorgonian coral that was being examined in a laboratory . and no wonder ; the species is only about 2 centimeters in length and is exceptional at blending with its host coral . even so , scientists have managed to discover six more species since 2000 . very little is known about these species , and they do not survive in aquariums even under the most expert of care , which is why it is good they are listed under cites and the australian wildlife protection act .

all seahorses are carnivores . pygmy seahorses feed on zooplankton , primarily copepods . h . bargibanti has been observed eating zooplankton captured in the polyps of its host coral . they do not have tongues or teeth . prey is sucked into the seahorse’s mouth once it is within range . they have very small mouths so they require areas that flourish with its natural food . this species also does not have a stomach for digestion , making their digestive systems inefficient . therefore , food must constantly be ingested to survive since they do not have a place to store its food .

if you thought bunny rabbits couldn ' t get any cuter , meet the columbia basin pygmy rabbit . this species - - the smallest rabbit in north america - - is found only in one area of washington state , the ( you guessed it ) columbia basin . because of the specific location , the species is subject to threat by habitat loss and wildfires . the pygmy rabbit was listed under the endangered species act in 2003 and a recovery plan , including captive breeding program and collaborative recovery effort with oregon zoo , washington state university , northwest trek wildlife park , usfws and other state wildlife agencies , is in place .

justification : hippocampus bargibanti is a coral reef - inhabiting pygmy seahorse that inhabits the indo - west pacific from southern sumatra to new caledonia and from tokyo , japan , to the southern edge of australia ' s great barrier reef . the species is only found on muricella corals . they may be threatened by habitat loss due to coastal development , polllution , destructive fishing practices , and the effects of climate change . further research is needed to determine population size , trends in abundance , and how these threats are affecting the species . therefore h . bargibanti is listed as data deficient .

of its host species of gorgonian coral , while its body matches the gorgonian stem . it is not known whether individuals can change colour if they change hosts , although the ability to change colour according to their surroundings does exist in some other seahorse species , such as

lourie , s . a . , a . c . j . vincent and h . j . hall , 1999 . seahorses : an identification guide to the world ' s species and their conservation . project seahorse , london . 214 p . ( ref . 30915 )

lourie , s . a . , foster , s . j . , cooper , e . w . t . and a . c . j . vincent . 2004 . a guide to the identification of seahorses . project seahorse and traffic north america . 114 pp .

the ability of seahorses to change color in many social situations is most likely a form of communication about the state or mood of the seahorse to its mate or other members of its species ( indiviglio , 2002 ) . mates also communicate with nose pointing and body vibrations .

dwarf seahorses look similar to other common seahorse species . they have cirri , for camouflage , but these usually disappear when kept in the aquarium . their colouration varies from beige to yellow to green to black to mottled , and they are capable of colour change like a chameleon .

all pygmy seahorses are distinguished as having a plump head and body , a short truncated snout , and a long tail capable of clinging to coral . species can be differentiated by colors , size , and other characteristic appearances . h . severnsi , for example , lacks tubercles on its head . all seahorses swim upright with their head up and tail down , and are propelled forward with their dorsal fin . these seahorses normally stay still and will let go of its host to relocate a few centimeters at a time when disturbed . they can swim for about a minute and can also float . different species of pygmy seahorses vary in color and distinctness of tubercles .

since pygmy seahorses are camouflaged so well , specific information of the population trends , distribution , and amount of pygmy seahorses is unknown . because little is known , they are classified as “data deficient . ” it is probable that they will be collected for trade for their remarkable beauty . research must be administered to this species in order to find out its status so that policies can be implemented to keep them safe and protected . however , this will prove to be challenging because of its ability to hide so well . it is important that they are secure from exploitation of their stunning appearance . there are already projects and teams committed to conserving seahorses and their habitats .

the pygmy seahorse is undoubtedly one of the most well camouflaged species in the oceans , being extremely difficult to spot amongst the gorgonian coral it inhabits . so effective is this camouflage that the species wasn ' t actually discovered until its host gorgonian was being examined in a lab . large , bulbous tubercles cover this species ' body and match the colour and shape of the polyps of its host species of gorgonian coral , while its body matches the gorgonian stem . two colour morphs exist – pale grey or purple individuals scattered with pink or red tubercles are found on the similarly coloured gorgonian coral muricella plectana , and yellow individuals with orange tubercles are found on gorgonian coral muricella paraplectana . it is not known whether individuals can change colour if they change hosts , although the ability to change colour according to their surroundings does exist in some other seahorse species , such as h . whitei . other distinctive characteristics include a fleshy head and body , a very short snout , and a long , prehensile tail . this is also one of the smallest seahorse species in the world , typically measuring less than 2 cm in height . the male carries eggs and young concealed within the trunk region .

lourie , s . a . , a . c . j . vincent and h . j . hall , 1999 . seahorses : an identification guide to the world ' s species and their conservation . project seahorse , london . 214 p . via fishbase , september 30 , 2014 .

pygmy seahorses are marine fish and live in coastal reefs on gorgonians . different species live on different kinds of gorgonian corals ranging from anella to muricella . h . colemani is found among zostera and halophila plants . the coral provides a safe hiding place for them . they blend in perfectly with their colors matching that of the coral as well as similar texture , since they have tubercles that go with the polyps of coral . h . waleananus are often found on soft corals and have exceptionally long tails . up to 28 pairs of adult pygmy seahorses can be found on a single gorgonian , as adults are usually paired together and are often monogamous . they are mostly found in tropical waters .

lourie , s . a . , foster , s . j . , cooper , e . w . t . and vincent , a . c . j . ( 2004 ) a guide to the identification of seahorses . project seahorse and traffic north america , washington d . c . .

the dwarf seahorse , hippocampus zosterae , is a small seahorse common to florida seagrass flats . it is variable in color , often tan and unpatterned , but individuals can also range in color from green to nearly black . the snout is long relative to body size and the coronet ( head projection ) is high and knob - like . the dorsal fin has 11 - 13 fin rays and a dark submarginal stripe that may aid in identification . body ring counts reveal 10 - 14 trunk rings and 31 - 33 tail rings ( hoese and moore 1977 , robins et al . 1986 ) .

i think i ay still stick with dwarf as i dont have the room for a full sized seahorse , but i may keep them in a breeding net so they breed and then i will have more in the tank , and i have found instant brineshrimp that has been used on dwarves before .

maintenance is extremely important in dwarf seahorse aquariums . it is probably one of the trickiest aspects of keeping them . because the amount of food that goes into the aquarium , their water is fouled easily . 25 % water changes every other week are a bare minimum , and a weekly schedule is ideal .

the pygmy seahorse is undoubtedly one of the most well camouflaged species in the oceans , being extremely difficult to spot amongst the gorgonian coral it inhabits . so effective is this camouflage that the species wasn ' t actually discovered until its host gorgonian was being examined in a lab . large , bulbous tubercles cover this species ' body and match the colour and shape of the polyps of its host species of gorgonian coral , while its body matches the gorgonian stem . two colour morphs exist – pale grey or purple individuals scattered with pink or red tubercles are found on the similarly coloured gorgonian coral muricella plectana , and yellow individuals with orange tubercles are found on gorgonian coral muricella paraplectana ( 4 ) . it is not known whether individuals can change colour if they change hosts , although the ability to change colour according to their surroundings does exist in some other seahorse species , such as h . whitei ( 5 ) . other distinctive characteristics include a fleshy head and body , a very short snout , and a long , prehensile tail ( 4 ) ( 6 ) . this is also one of the smallest seahorse species in the world , typically measuring less than 2 cm in height ( 1 ) . the male carries eggs and young concealed within the trunk region ( 5 ) .

this poses a problem for dwarf seahorses for two reasons . in such large numbers , they can quickly consume all the food in the aquarium . however , a much bigger threat comes from stinging cells . their sting isn’t particularly potent to most animals , but for the tiny dwarf seahorse , the sting can be deadly .

as for filtration type , it varies quite a bit . people are moving away from sponge filters , but using the integrated filters can be difficult ; either the flow ends up too high , or their isn’t a good way to protect the intake . there is a lot of experiments going on by dwarf seahorse keepers on the best way to handle dwarf seahorse filtration . putting sponges and hose over the intakes has mixed results too . they frequently get clogged to quickly . and you have to be careful with filters removing food . that’s one advantage of sponge filters ; they don’t remove food from the water column . however they can get clogged too .

the pygmy raccoon , or cozumel raccoon , is a critically endangered species found only on cozumel island off the yucatan peninsula . these tiny versions of their much larger and more populous cousins are on the verge of extinction , with only around 500 left . recently conservation photographer kevin schafer spent time photographing these adorable critters in an effort to help bring awareness to them and promote conservation of the species .

oh yeah ! , that something else i wanted to ask . what would be the best kind of filter to use ? my bf asked our local fish shop and one of the guys who had just set up a seahorse tank said a gravel filter , but i’ve read these arent good to use in with the dwarves ? ? ?

pygmy seahorses are ovoviviparous , but unlike most animals , the male carries the eggs , which are contained in an on his underside . when mating occurs , the female transfers her eggs into the male ' s pouch , where he fertilizes the eggs . about 10 - 20 eggs are carried at one time . the gestation period is about 2 weeks . the young hatch looking like even tinier , mini seahorses .

australian populations of pygmy seahorses are listed under the australian wildlife protection act , so that export permits are now required , although they are only granted for approved management plans or captive - bred animals . with such limited data available , there is an urgent need for further research to be conducted on its biology , ecology , habitat , abundance and distribution , before its status can be properly assessed and conservation measures implemented accordingly .

we ' re used to seeing the enormous size of african and indian elephants , but the borneo pygmy elephant is no less special despite its smaller size . according to dna analysis , it is thought that this species was isolated about 300 , 000 years ago from their mainland cousins , making them a subspecies of asian elephant . found in tropical rainforest habitats in north borneo , it is estimated there are fewer than 2 , 000 left .

dwarves , just like large seahorses , need places to hitch . many keepers opt for artificial decorations because of the risk of hydroids ( see below . ) most basic aquarium plants work well . macro algae can be used but must be treated for hydroids . live rock should be used with caution , as many pest can hitch hike in and harm the diminutive seahorse .

with a head about the size of a human thumb , the pygmy marmoset is the smallest monkey in the world and among all primates , only the mouse lemur ( listed below ) is smaller . it is found in the rainforests of the amazon basin , where it uses its sharp nails to cling to the branches of trees and its specialized teeth to feed on tree gum . it also makes a snack of insects , fruit and nectar .

. frankly , thank goodness for multiple species because we can ' t get enough of the cuteness ! the pygmy jeroba is considered the world ' s smallest rodent and , as andrew sullivan put it , has " a rabbit ' s face on tweety - pie ' s body " . though tiny , its long legs allow it to hop as far as nine feet in a single bound . here is some of that famous cuteness in action :

lourie , s . a . , a . c . j . vincent and h . j . hall , 1999 . seahorses : an identification guide to the world ' s species and their conservation . project seahorse , london . 214 p . in froese , r . and d . pauly . editors . 2015 . fishbase ( 10 / 2015 ) . accessed january 30 , 2016 .

thank you so much for you hard work and research . i had seahorse’s many years ago back in the days when you use to ordered them from the backs of comic books i was about 12 . i loved having them but back then information was limited . there was no internet and the information on then was very limited from pet shop owners if accurate . i had them and made every mistake on the book . i had them in large tank with other mates , feeding regiment was off , enrichment wasn’t even heard off no one really new about and i could go on and on but ill leave out the details even though i always had marine tanks i just gave up on seahorse keeping all together because it was not fair for the horses cruel and expensive . i went trough dwarf , large seahorse’s you name it . i was always intrigued by them and love them . i would make frequent trips to the mystic and boston aquarium whenever i get and urge to see them , and they were subjects of my artwork . recently i have taken up the hobby but not before reading and re reading and researching before i even set the tank up . i must say after countless of articles yours is the easiest to understand and the most detailed by far . here i am at 53 years old enjoying once again on of my childhood dreams a successful seahorse aquarium . i have purchase tank raised dwarfs and the are doing great and i have pair that mated and already have raise young that only home has been my tank . thank you so much for your webpage is valuable information .

hi brenda ! that’s a fairly complex question and a lot of it will be based on what you want to accomplish . i suggest signing up at our forums so we can get more details about what you’re looking for , and what your experience level is . it sounds like you’re looking for larger seahorse to keep , not dwarves due to the tank size you have . you’ll want to make sure you get captive bred seahorses .

dwarf seahorse are subtropical , but can handle a wide range of temperatures as long as the change isn’t too quick . you can expect to successfully keep them between the temperatures of 65 and 80 degrees , with 68 - 74 being optimal . this means they don’t need a heater if kept in a normally heated house . a thermometer is a must though , to monitor for large temperature swings and the temperature going outside of the safe zone .

very little is known about the ecology of this species . it is one of the smallest seahorse species , measuring less than 2 cm in height ( lourie et al . 1999 ) . it has a specific habitat , being found only on gorgonian corals muricella plectana ( gomon 1997 , tackett and tackett 1997 , whitley 1970 ) at depths ranging from 16–40 m ( tackett and tackett 1997 ) . hippocampus bargibanti appears to form pairs and may be monogamous .

these are among the smallest of all living things in the water when they are born . they do have a higher rate of survival than most species of seahorses though . this is due to the fact that they are among the best at hiding in their natural setting . their color allows them to blend easier than any other type of seahorse in the world . they have to care for themselves immediately after birth as there is no parental care at all .

very little is known about the ecology of this species . it is one of the smallest seahorse species , measuring less than 2 cm in height ( lourie et al . 1999 ) . it has a specific habitat , being found only on gorgonian corals muricella plectana ( gomon 1997 , tackett and tackett 1997 , whitley 1970 ) at depths ranging from 1640 m ( tackett and tackett 1997 ) . hippocampus bargibanti appears to form pairs and may be monogamous ( tackett and tackett 1997 ) .

seahorse populations are declining mainly due to large quantities collected and sold for the aquarium trade and for traditional chinese medicine . chinese medicine alone is the largest consumer of seahorses , with an estimate of 20 million seahorses used per year for this economic market . evidence from the year 2000 showed that more than 50 tons of dried seahorses were collected for the trade in asia alone . research has estimated that populations are declining at rates of anywhere between 15 to 50 % over 5 year periods , depending on the species .

it’s recently come to my attention that very young seahorses of larger species are being sold as dwarf seahorses . these seahorses have much different requirements , and will quickly outgrow the small aquarium hippocampus zosterae require . if you found this article after purchasing a “dwarf seahorse” , please take a look at our article on the species mix up to ensure what you got was actually what you were told it was . if you’re unsure , please take a moment and post a picture to our forums . added 8 / 8 / 2015

there are many features that mark the development of young seahorses within the brood pouch . for example , dorsal fin rays develop first , followed by anal fins . both of these structures form before the complete growth of the mouth apparatus . during the larval stage of seahorse development external feeding is not necessary because the brood pouch provides larvae with nutrients . also , the yolk sack , which provides the young with nutrients , is preserved throughout the postembryonic period and disappears only moments before birth . therefore , the mouth apparatus does not become functional until young are released from the brood pouch ( kornienko , 2001 ) . compared to an adult seahorse , offspring within the brood pouch have a rounded tail instead of tetrahedral tail , a wider and shorter snout , a dorsal fin that is closer to the tail , and pectoral fins that are closer to the back of the head ( kornienko , 2001 ) . in addition , the season and the environment , such as water temperature , disproportionately influences the sex ratio of developing seahorses ( dawson and vari , 1982 ) .

omg they are soooooo beautifull . i would love to see these guys introbuced into the aquariums . but if they cant survive then id love to make sure their habbitat isnt disrupted . i read on a website that someone had actually had these guys in a aquarium and had breed them but i cant rember were i seen it if i come across it again ill post it . there my favorit seahorse . i also read that up to 100 + of these guys can live on 1 host plant . it was on a youtude video .


the european hare ( lepus europaeus ) , also known as the brown hare , is a species of hare native to europe and parts of asia .

it is among the largest hare species and is adapted to temperate , open country .

hares are herbivorous and feed mainly on grasses and herbs , supplementing these with twigs , buds , bark and field crops , particularly in winter .

their natural predators include large birds of prey , canids and felids .

they rely on high-speed endurance running to escape from their enemies ; having long , powerful limbs and large nostrils .

generally nocturnal and shy in nature , hares change their behaviour in the spring , when they can be seen in broad daylight chasing one another around in fields .

during this spring frenzy , they sometimes strike one another with their paws ( " boxing " ) .

this is usually not competition between males , but a female hitting a male , either to show she is not yet ready to mate or as a test of his determination .

the female nests in a depression on the surface of the ground rather than in a burrow , and the young are active as soon as they are born .

litters may consist of three or four young and a female can bear three litters a year , with hares living for up to twelve years .

the breeding season lasts from january to august .

the european hare is listed as being of least concern by the international union for conservation of nature because it has a wide range and is moderately abundant .

however , populations have been declining in mainland europe since the 1960s , at least partly due to changes in farming practices .

the hare has been hunted across europe for centuries , with more than five million being shot each year ; in britain , it has traditionally been hunted by beagling and hare coursing , but these field sports are now illegal .

the hare has been a traditional symbol of fertility and reproduction in some cultures , and its courtship behaviour in the spring inspired the english idiom mad as a march hare .

european hare

european hare <EOT> currently , european hares are limited to south - eastern australia ' s temperate climate that replicates the climate of the european hares cool european origins .

schai - braun s , hackländer k . home range use by the european hare (

marboutin e , peroux r . survival pattern of european hare in a decreasing population .

vaughan n , lucas ea , harris s , white pcl . habitat associations of european hare

( 2003 ) : population dynamics in european hare : breeding parameters and sustainable harvest rates .

history of the brown hare ( hare - preservation - trust . co . uk )

hackländer k , arnold w , ruf t . postnatal development and thermoregulation in the precocial european hare (

hansen k ( 1992a ) reproduction in european hare in a danish farmland . acta theriol 37 : 27–40

( 1965 ) : studies on the european hare . ix . helminth fauna in the annual cycle .

of hare found close to farmland and open forests worldwide . the hare is a very adaptable

lindlöf b ( 1978 ) aggressive dominance rank in relation to feeding by european hare . viltrevy 10 : 145–158

lindlöf b ( 1978 ) aggressive dominance rank in relation to feeding by european hare . viltrevy 10 : 146–157

( 2007 ) : actual health state of european brown hare from hunting grounds of south - western slovakia .

bonino , n . , a . montenegro . 1997 . reproduction of the european hare in pantagonia , argentina .

the european hare grows to about 50 – 70 centimetres and has a tail length of 7 – 11 centimetres .

lamarque f , barratt j , moutou f . principle diagnoses for determining causes of mortality in the european hare (

hillgrove , a 1981 , studies of the european brown hare ( lepus capensis l . ) , la trobe university school of agriculture . jurasovic , anton date unknown , hunting european brown hare , viewed 11th november 2009 at url : urltoken

raczynski j . studies on the european hare . v . reproduction . acta theriol . 1964 ; 919 : 305–352 .

edwards pj , fletcher mr , berny p . review of the factors affecting the decline of the european brown hare ,

have even noticed the hare . the hare then hops very quickly , in a similar way to a

hackländer k , tataruch f , ruf t . the effect of dietary fat content on lactation energetics in the european hare (

is a huge pest , with introduction resulting in agricultural disaster ( dragg , 1974 ; bonino and montenegro , 1997 ) . other common names for the european hare : common hare , brown hare ( caillol and meunier , 1989 ; poli

the european hare was introduced to australia in the late 1830s in tasmania , although this initial attempt to establish wild populations failed .

grigera de , rappoport eh ( 1983 ) status and distribution of the european hare in south america . j mamm 64 : 163–166

grigera d , rapoport e ( 1983 ) status and distribution of the european hare in south america . j mamm 64 : 163–166

the european hare or brown hare ( lepus europaeus ) is a species of hare native to northern , central and western europe and western asia . the european hare is a mammal adapted to temperate open country . it is related to the rabbit , which is in the same family but a different genus . the european hare breeds on the ground rather than in a burrow and relies on speed to escape . in comparison to the rabbit , it is larger in size , has longer ears and longer legs .

gavier - widen d . european brown hare syndrome . in : gavier - widen d , duff jp , meredith a , editors .

hamill r . m , doyle d , duke e . j . spatial patterns of genetic diversity across european subspecies of the mountain hare ,

frylestam b ( 1976 ) effect of cattle grazing and harvesting of hay on density and distribution of a european hare population . in : pielowski z , pucek z ( eds ) ecology and management of european hare populations . proceedings of the international symposium , poznan , 1974 , pp 199–203

broekhuizen , s . , f . maaskamp . 1980 . behaviour of does and leverets of the european hare ( lepus europaeus ) whilst nursing .

smith rk , jennings nv , robinson a , harris s . conservation of european hares

ty - book ti - taxonomic status of the european hare in ontario / ur - urltoken pb - royal ontario museum , cy - toronto : py - 1954 n1 - cover title . au - peterson , randolph l . au - royal ontario museum . kw - european hare kw - ontario er -

lepus europaeus ( brown or european hare ) ; two adults , feeding in a field margin . wykeham , north yorkshire , england . may , 2011 .

grigera de , rapoport eh , 1983 . status and distribution of the european hare in south america . journal of mammalogy , 64 : 163 - 166 .

pépin d ( 1986 ) spring density and daytime distribution of the european hare in relation to habitat in an open field agrosystem . z säugetierk 51 : 79–86

reid n , 2011 . european hare ( lepus europaeus ) invasion ecology : implication for the conservation of the endemic irish hare ( lepus timidus hibernicus ) . biological invasions , 13 ( 3 ) : 559 - 569 . urltoken

chroust k . dynamics of coccidial infection in free living and cage - reared european hares .

stories , however , cast the fox as an evil agent of possession . european tricksters include

stott p , 2008 . comparisons of digestive function between the european hare ( lepus europaeus ) and the european rabbit ( oryctolagus cuniculus ) : mastication , gut passage , and digestibility . mammalian biology , 73 ( 4 ) : 276 - 286 pp .

smaller hares native to southern europe previously regarded as european hares have been divided as a separate species in recent years , including the broom hare in northern spain .

from apperances in aesop ' s fables to alice in wonderland , the european hare ' s widespread range has made it into a cultural icon throughout many nations .

schmidt nm , asferg t , forchhammer mc . long - term patterns in european brown hare population dynamics in denmark : effects of agriculture , predation and climate .

european hares are generally shy mammals , however , their behaviour changes in springtime . many are seen in broad daylight chasing one another in meadows . this behaviour appears to be competitions between the male european hares to attain dominance which allows them more access to breeding female european hares .

the european hare is declining in europe due to changes in farming practices . its natural predators include the golden eagle and carnivorous mammals like the red fox and wolf .

valencak t , arnold w , tataruch f , ruf t . high content of polyunsaturated fatty acids in muscle phospholipids of a fast runner , the european brown hare (

, with hares being able to move at speeds of around 45mph . the strong hind legs of the hare , combined with the large feet of the hare give the hare the ability to run so quickly . the hare is also able to jump over large distances with great ease .

krupka j , dziedzic r ( 1976 ) determination of digestibility coefficients of feeds ingested by european hares . in : pielowski z , pucek z ( eds ) ecology and management of european hare populations . proceedings of the international symposium , poznan , 1974 , pp 101–103

, are generally smaller than european continental individuals which commonly reach 3 . 8 - 4 kg (

the study was funded by the european commission directorate general for health and consumers and the iarc .

the male european hare is called a ' jack ' while the female is called a ' jill ' . offspring under one year are referred to as ' leverets ' .

lepus europaeus ( brown or european hare ) ; close view of an adult , feeding in a field margin . wykeham , north yorkshire , england . may , 2011 .

pépin d , angibault jm ( 2007 ) selection of resting sites by the european hare as related to habitat characteristics during agricultural changes . eur j wildl res 53 : 183–189

( 1 ) hare dl , toukhsati sr , johansson p , jaarsma t . depression and cardiovascular disease : a clinical review . european heart journal 2013 november 25 . (

syrjälä p , nylund m , heinikainen s , 2005 . european brown hare syndrome in free - living mountain hares ( lepus timidus ) and european brown hares ( lepus europaeus ) in finland 1990–2002 . journal of wildlife diseases , 41 ( 1 ) : 42 - 7 .

try and get a hare that has been hung only but not frozen . although both are delicious the unfrozen hare delivers a better taste and texture .

long - term ultrasonographic evaluation and characterisation of embryonic and foetal development as well as embryonic mortality , experimental investigations of superfoetation , ultrasound - guided biopsy techniques in european brown hare .

anonymous ( 1979 ) convention on the conservation of european wildlife and natural habitats . council of europe , strasbourg

smith rk , harris s , jennings nv . a quantitative analysis of the abundance and demography of european hares

smith rk , jennings nv , harris s . a quantitative analysis of the abundance and demography of european hares

bonino n , cossíos d , menegheti j , 2010 . dispersal of the european hare , lepus europaeus in south america . folia zoologica , 59 ( 1 ) : 9 - 15 .

chiari m , ferrari n , giardiello d , avisani d , zanoni m , alborali g , et al . temporal dynamics of european brown hare syndrome infection in northern italian brown hares (

chiari m , ferrari n , giardiello d , avisani d , zanoni m , alborali gl , et al . temporal dynamics of european brown hare syndrome infection in northern italian brown hares (

" hare - bell , " so called because it grows in thickets haunted by hares ; " hare - parsley " , because it is eaten by hares .

bill oddie tries a bit of hare whispering to get closer to his subject .

according to jewish tradition , the hare is among four mammals deemed not kosher .

cornwall’s white hare warns the fisherfolk of tempests when not haunting a faithless lover .

the european hare ' s , or brown hare’s , fur coat is brown - russet , and its underside is white . it resembles a rabbit , but has a larger body , longer hind legs , and longer , black - tipped ears . its adult length from its head to its rump is between 52 and 59 . 5 centimeters , according to arkive initiative . the european hare’s 8 - to 12 - centimeter tail is black on its upper surface , and white underneath . on average , a mature european hare weighs 3 to 4 kilograms , according to the mammal society ( ms ) . these hares ' irises are golden , and their pupils black .

european hares can cause significant damage when gnawing the bark of young trees and shrubs . european hares also chew off the stems of young trees , damaging or killing the plant . hares can cause severe damage to revegetation sites .

ultrasonographic characterisation of prenatal development in european brown hares ( lepus europaeus pallas , 1778 ) : an evolutionary approach .

poli , a . , m . nigro , d . gallazi , g . sironi , a . lavazza . 1991 . acute hepatosis in the european brown hare ( lepus europaeus ) in italy .

in finland the hare must never be called " bad " during the hunting season .

it appears that the hare was once a common embodiment of the corn - spirit .

and the princess who solves the riddles does so by the help of a hare .

( 1990 ) : some remarks on the prevalence and species composition of hare coccidia .

, as is nanabozho , the hare , who in the southeast is called rabbit .

although european hares are not considered a major pest to agriculture , there have been times in the past where hare density has been high . for example , in the 1930s and 1940s when land in the mallee region of victoria was being cleared for farming , european hare density became very high . this example along with others suggests that hares will look to make use of land recently cleared of tree cover .

page a , kirkpatrick w , massam m , 2008 . european hare ( lepus europaeus ) risk assessment for australia . western australia , australia : department of agriculture and food , 1 - 21 pp .

european hares are prone to several different types of parasites and disease which cause a higher proportion of deaths than predators .

the hare also appears in folk tales . in african folk tales , the hare is a trickster ; some of the stories about the hare were retold among african slaves in america , and are the basis of the brer rabbit stories . many cultures , including the indian and japanese , see a hare in the pattern of dark patches in the moon . one of aesops fables tells the story of ' the tortoise and the hare ' .

hewson r ( 1991 ) mountain hare / irish hare . in : corbet gb , harris s ( eds ) the handbook of british mammals . blackwell , oxford , pp 161–167

fromsejer p ( 1992 ) critical factors in the population dynamics of brown hare . in : polish hunting association ( eds ) zajac hare , international symposium , czempin , pp 139–142

lavazza a , guberti v , ferri m , zanni ml , poglayen g , nardin a et al ( 1997 ) epidemiology of european brown hare syndrome ( ebhs ) in modena province ( north italy ) . in : proceedings of the 4th international congress of the european society for veterinary virology . edinburgh , uk , pp 34–37

dora e . grigera , eduardo h . rapoport ; status and distribution of the european hare in south america , journal of mammalogy , volume 64 , issue 1 , 28 february 1983 , pages 163–166 , urltoken

lepus europaeus the european brown hare share the order lagomorpha with the rabbit , but is physically larger and has black - tipped ears and longer legs . both were introduced from the united kingdom to australia by early settlers for sport and recreational hunting . hares live above ground in ‘forms’ or ‘scrapes’ and in their native habitat in the uk and europe they are at the point of extinction . this is due to european brown hare syndrome virus ( like rabbit calici but hare specific ) and generations of hunting pressure .

since it is a nocturnal animal , the european hare feeds at night . during the day , it spends its time in a small depression it digs in the ground within long grass , and these are referred to as " form " . european hares are also generally solitary , except for when they come together for mating . still , there are certain instances when european hares may band together in clusters when feeding , according to the mammal society . to evade predators like foxes , coyotes , owls , wildcats or hawks , the european hare relies on its sharp senses . if threatened , these animals will usually opt to run away , sometimes achieving speeds of up to 70 kilometers an hour ( 43 miles per hour ) . though the european hare is usually quiet , it occasionally makes low grunts , as well as shrills when caught or injured , according to animal diversity .

kronfeld n , shkolnik a . adaptation to life in the desert in the brown hare (

smiddy p ( 1994 ) hare species in co cork . ir nat j 24 : 417–418

tapper s , yalden d ( 2010 ) the brown hare . the mammal society , southampton

the timing of crops and their growth is critical for farmland wildlife such as the hare .

the rise and fall of the brown hare in wales ( ccw . gov . uk )

goszczynski j , waseilewski m . predation of foxes on a hare population in central poland .

van wieren se , wiersma m , prins hht . climatic factors affecting a brown hare (

david l . hare ( with tiny jaarsma , peter johansson , samia r . toukhsati )

novaro aj , capurro af , travaini a , funes mc , ravinovich je ( 1992 ) pellet - count sampling based on spatial distribution : a case study of european hare in patagonia . ecol aust 2 : 11–18

smith rk , jennings nv , tataruch f , hackländer k , harris s . vegetation quality and habitat selection by european hares

bray y , marboutin e , péroux r , ferron j . reliability of stained placental - scar counts in european hares .

populations of european hares ( lepus europaeus ) have experienced a dramatic decline throughout europe in recent decades . european hares are assumed to prefer weeds over arable crops , and weed abundance was reduced by the intensification of agriculture . therefore , modern agriculture has been blamed as a major factor affecting european hare populations . however , it is questionable whether european hares select weeds at all , as previous studies had major methodological limitations . by comparing availability and use of plants with chesson’s electivity index , we investigated whether the european hare actually feeds selectively on different plants in arable land . food availability and use were dominated by cultivated crops ( e . g . winter wheat , spring barley and sugar beet ) . diet selection analysis revealed that in autumn and winter , european hares predominantly preferred cultivated crops ( winter wheat ) and food items provided by hunters ( tubers of sugar beet and carrot ) . in spring and summer , apart from soy , only weeds ( e . g . clover and corn poppy ) were positively selected , especially after cereal crops were harvested . we suggest that the decline in european hare populations throughout europe was facilitated by the decrease in weed abundance . wildlife - friendly set - asides in arable land have the potential to reconcile the european union’s common agricultural policy with wildlife conservation .

as an herbivore , the european hare grazes on young grass shoots , herbs , and agricultural crops . it also nibbles on the bark of young trees and bushes , according to the wildlife trusts . in the winter period , the european hare feeds on twigs , buds , shrub bark , small trees , and young fruit tree bark , according to animal diversity ( ad ) . since its nocturnal , it primarily feeds at night . during feeding , two to three adults can eat as much vegetation as one sheep . the european hare re - ingests its green , soft fecal pellets , a practice called coprophagia , in efforts to maximize nutrient extraction from their diets .

bern convention ( 1979 ) convention on the conservation of european wildlife and natural habitats . bern convention , council of europe , strasbourg

hare flanking sequence 1 was pcr amplified using platinum pfx ( invitrogen ) according to manufacturer’s instructions and primers forward gt464 5′ - gtgttagagagttagaagcag - 3′ and reverse rel13 5′ - ccccttatatacagtttctagaggc - 3′ . for hare flanking sequence 2 primers were forward gt469 5′ - ggcacttatcacgcagaagtg - 3′ and reverse gt460 5′ - gtttacagcgtctgagggtccc - 3′ . hare pol sequence was amplified using primers rel9 and rel2rev as described above . hare gag sequence was amplified using the primers forward rel1fwd 5′ - tgttagggaaccattcacagagaaagtaattg - 3′ and reverse hare seq + 2045 5′ - ccccctaggtttacctttaaggtagg - 3′ . hare env sequence was amplified using the primers forward rel5fwd 5′ - acctttgaacaaaacaggggagtccaaatagggtagggacaagaaaag - 3′ and reverse rel5rev 5′ - aagcatacaagaaccatacaaaatattgctcc - 3′ . pcr amplifications were repeated on dna extracted from a kidney cell line derived from a european brown hare ( a gift from jean francois vautherot ) .

lincoln , g . 1974 . reproduction and march madness in the brown hare , lepus europaeus .

; and it is customary in many parts of the country " to place a figure of the hare among the easter eggs , when given as a present , either a hare in a basket of eggs , or a small figure of a hare in one of the fancy eggs " .

tapper sc , barnes rfw . influence of farming practice on the ecology of the brown hare (

david l . hare , samia r . toukhsati , peter johansson , tiny jaarsma ; depression and cardiovascular disease : a clinical review , european heart journal , volume 35 , issue 21 , 1 june 2014 , pages 1365–1372 , urltoken

oberle also concludes that the hare which lay the particoloured easter eggs was sacred to the same goddess .

the fact that many plants are named after the hare may also , as oberle thinks , have a mythological significance ; though the origin of such names as " hare - bell " and " hare - parsley " appears sufficiently explained in hone ' s table - book upon other grounds . [ 78 ]

the story of ' jack ' and ‘jill’ : a female brown hare finding a suitable male match .

half human half hare figure sculptures by sophie ryder displayed outside the pump rooms and abbey in bath .

giannoulis t , stamatis c , tsipourlianos a , mamuris z , 2017 . mitogenomic analysis in european brown hare ( lepus europaeus ) proposes genetic and functional differentiation between the distinct lineages . mitochondrial dna part a . 18 : 1 - 8 .

the weight of a full grown adult hare varies between 2 . 5 and 6 . 5 kilograms . because of its longer legs , it can run at speeds of up to 70 kilometres per hour . european hares are herbivores and their diet consists of grasses and herbs during summer months and changes to twigs and bark in the winter . the european hare is known as a pest to orchard farmers as it also feeds upon buds of young orchard trees during the end of winter .

the european hare ( lepus europaeus ) has declined throughout its native range but invaded numerous regions where it has negatively impacted native wildlife . in southern sweden , it replaces the native mountain hare ( l . timidus ) through competition and hybridisation . we investigated temporal change in the invasive range of the european hare in ireland , and compared its habitat use with the endemic irish hare ( l . timidus hibernicus ) . the range of the european hare was three times larger and its core range twice as large in 2012–2013 than in 2005 . its rate of radial range expansion was 0 . 73 km year −1 with its introduction estimated to have occurred ca . 1970 . both species utilised improved and rough grasslands and exhibited markedly similar regression coefficients with almost every land cover variable examined . irish hares were associated with low fibre and high sugar content grass ( good quality grazing ) whilst the invader had a greater tolerance for low quality forage . european hares were associated with habitat patch edge density , suggesting it may be more suited to using hedgerows as diurnal resting sites than the irish hare . consequently , the invader had a wider niche breadth than the native but their niche overlap was virtually complete . given the impact of the european hare on native species elsewhere , and its apparent pre - adaption for improved grasslands interspersed with arable land ( a habitat that covers 70 % of ireland ) , its establishment and range expansion poses a significant threat to the ecological security of the endemic irish hare , particularly given their ecological similarities .

the european hare is native to great britain and central and western europe . it’s also found in parts of the middle east and central asia . within these territories , it inhabits agricultural cropland or grasslands in temperate and open habitats , as well as in pastures bordered by hedgerows and woodlots , according to animal diversity . the international union for conservation of nature ' s ( iucn ' s ) 2008 red list of threatened species classified the european hare as a species of " least concern " among . nonetheless , its population is in decline in certain areas due to poaching , intensification of commercial agriculture within their habitats , diseases such as the european hare syndrome and tularaemia , and changes in cropping regimes which affect their food sources .

four species of nematodes , six species of coccidian , liver flukes and two species of dog tapeworms are all internal parasites that infect european hares in australia . several species of external parasites have also been observed on european hares in australia including the european rabbit flea ( spilopsyllus cuniculi ) the stickfast flea ( echidnophaga myrmecobii ) , the lice ( haemodipsus setoni and haemodipsus lyriocephalus ) , and the mite ( leporacarus gibbus ) .

small group of hares of russian origin reported on islets of oahu but by 1963 this could not be confirmed . probably confusion with european rabbits

pépin d , cargnelutti b ( 1994 ) individual variations of daily activity patterns in radiotracked european hares during winter . acta theriol 39 : 399–409

a marked increase in serum alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase four days after inoculation in a hare that died ; a more moderate , transient increase in a hare that survived . ( b22 . 30 . w17 )

) . we probed hind3 cut genomic dna from 2 rabbit cell lines ( sirc , erep ) and a european brown hare with radioactively labelled dna derived by pcr from rabbit genomic dna . the southern blot revealed the presence of multiple insertions in the rabbit genome and at least 5 insertions in the hare genome . next , we sought relik orthologues in the

additionally single disease incidents were found during necropsy . these included an approximately walnut - sized abscess in the mammary gland area of one adult female hare , a suppurative bronchitis in a sub - adult male hare , and a moderate pyometra with multiple cysts in an adult female hare . these altered organs were sampled for bacteriology .

roedenbeck ia , voser p . effects of roads on spatial distribution , abundance and mortality of brown hare (

the european hare is an opportunistic feeder and as well as grazing predominately on grasses , it will also consume crops , such as vegetables , lucerne and cereal crops . this can cause significant economic loss to land owners that have european hares on or adjacent to their land . hares can travel significant distances , so the potential for one animal to cause widespread damage to plants is relatively high . european hares can also be a problem in forestry , ornamental or fruit producing plantations as they can gnaw back the bark of young trees and vines .

the brown or european hare ( l . europaeus ) is a highly adaptable medium - sized mammal , commonly 3 . 8 - 4 kg in weight with the exception of some individuals reaching 5 kg , although there is much regional and sexual . . .

popescu f , hackländer k , arnold w , ruf t . effects of season and reproductive state on lipid intake and fatty acid composition of gastrointestinal tract contents in the european hare . j comp physiol b . 2011 ; 181 : 681–689 . pmid : 21328065

severe leucopaenia evident at 24 hours post inoculation in a hare which developed severe disease ; in a hare which survived , a more modest , temporary reduction in leucocyte count was recorded . ( b22 . 30 . w17 )

@ book { bhl111741 , title = { taxonomic status of the european hare in ontario / } , copyright = { not provided . contact contributing library to verify copyright status . } , url = urltoken note = urltoken - - - cover title . } , publisher = { toronto : royal ontario museum , } , author = { peterson , randolph l . and royal ontario museum . } , year = { } , pages = { 20 } , keywords = { european hare | ontario | } , }

hackländer k , zeitlhofer c , ceulemans t , suchentrunk f . continentality affects body condition and size but not yearly reproductive output in female european hares (

in other parts of germany there are traces of a similar tradition . thus , the children in south germany are told that a hare lays the pasche eggs , and a nest is made for the hare to lay them in

freitas , h . 2006 natural hybridization between the iberian hare ( lepus granatensis ) and the brown hare ( l . europaeus ) in northern iberian peninsula . msc thesis , faculdade de ciências do porto , porto , portugal .

, as hares spend most of their time resting and foraging for food . the hare mainly eats plant matter ( grass being one of the favourite foods of the hare ) but hares also eat seeds , vegetables and fruit in

. we have already noticed the very old and close connection between the hare and the moon . a large category of hare - myths have arisen out of the supposed likeness of the spots upon the moon ' s face to the figure of a hare . the story of the hare offering himself as a meal to the hungry buddha , who in return translated him to the moon , is well known , and occurs with many variations in eastern legend .

pikula , j . , beklova , m . , holesovska , z . and treml , f . 2004 . ecology of european brown hare and distribution of natural foci of tularaemia in the czech republic . acta veterinaria brno 73 ( 2 ) : 267 - 273 .

the european hare , lepus europaeus , is a well known sight across the open fields of the uk . with the mating season just beginning and running from january all the way until august we are likely to see this usually shy and nocturnal lagomorph much more frequently .

caravaggi a , leach k , santilli f , rintala j , helle p , tiainen j , bisi f , martinoli a , montgomery wi , reid n , 2017 . niche overlap of mountain hare subspecies and the vulnerability of their ranges to invasion by the european hare ; the ( bad ) luck of the irish , biological invasions , 19 ( 2 ) : 655 - 674 pp

posch r ( 2012 ) use of selective media for direct isolation of francisella tularensis from european brown hares . university of veterinary medicince , vienna ; master thesis

published on behalf of the european society of cardiology . all rights reserved . © the author 2013 . for permissions please email : journals . permissions @ urltoken

suchentrunk f , willing r , hartl gb . on eye lens weights and other age criteria of the brown hare (

pierpaoli m , riga f , trocchi v , randi e . species distinction and evolutionary relationships of the italian hare (

the story of a ' jill ' , a female brown hare , finding her suitable male match ' jack ' .

belovsky ge ( 1984 ) moose and snowshoe hare competition and a mechanistic explanation from foraging theory . oecologia 61 : 150–159

" how to allure the hare . " facsimile of a miniature in the manuscript of phoebus ( fifteenth century ) .

cowan dp , 2004 . an overview of the current status and protection of the brown hare ( lepus europaeus ) in the uk ; a report prepared for european wildlife division . london , uk : department for environment , food and rural affairs , 1 - 30 pp . urltoken

eec 43 / 92 ( 1992 ) directive on the conservation of natural habitats of wild fauna and flora . official journal of the european union l 206 , 7

frölich k , wisser j , schmüser h , fehlberg u , neubauer h , grunow r , et al . epizootiologic and ecologic investigations of european brown hares (

‘ coffee drinking and mortality in 10 european countries ’ by gunter , m . j . et al , is published in the journal annals of internal medicine .

like the rabbit , the hare ' s hind limbs are longer than its front limbs . the fur of the european hare has a flecked appearance , made up of tan , black and white hairs , ruddy brown or grey above and white below . this allows the hare to blend in well with dry grass . like rabbits , hares have 28 teeth with the lower tooth rows being closer together than the upper rows . in the upper jaw , the hare has two pairs of continuously growing , enamel covered upper incisors ; the front long pair has a cutting edge , while the peg teeth located behind these do not have a cutting edge . at birth , the hare has three sets of incisors , but the outer pair is lost soon after birth .

levänen r , kunnasranta m , pohjoismäki j , 2015 . abundance and distribution of hare hybrids in finland . in : angerbjörn a , dalén l , elmhagen b , werdelin l ( eds ) proceedings of the 7th european congress of mammalogy . stockholm university , stockholm , 54 pp .

lamarque , f . , barrat , j . and moutou , f . 1996 . principal diagnoses for determining causes of mortality in the european brown hare ( lepus europaeus ) found dead in france between 1986 and 1994 . gibier faune sauvage 13 ( 1 ) : 53 - 72 .

european hares are herbivorous , eating grasses , herbs , and field crops during summer . during winter european hares feed on twigs , buds , shrub bark , small trees , and young fruit tree bark . they also commonly re - ingest their green , soft fecal pellets . this is known as coprophagia . two or three adult

european hares are widespread throughout europe , where they are called common hares . european hares have done well in north america , with population numbers quickly rising to the current density . in ontario population density has been as high as 100 per square mile , and has leveled to about 25 per square mile ( bansfield , 1974 ; dragg , 1974 ) . in recent decades there have been outbreaks of increased mortality due to disease , particularly in europe . this syndrome includes acute hepatosis , enteritis , nephrosis , general jaundice , congestion , and hemorrhage of internal organs , and has been called european brown hare syndrome ( poli

thulin c . g , jaarola m , tegelstrom h . the occurrence of mountain hare mitochondrial dna in wild brown hares .

the role of vuk . s . karadzic in the history of serbian nationalism ( in the context of european linguistics in 1 . 1 / 2 19 . century )

the hare has given rise to local place names , as they can often be repeatedly observed over many years in favored localities . an example in scotland is ' murchland ' , the scots for a hare being " murchen " ( warrack 1986 ) .

neumann f , schai - braun s , weber d , amrhein v ( 2011 ) european hares select resting places for providing cover . hystrix it j mamm 22 : 291–299

also appear to have abstained from eating this animal . in india hare ' s meat was specially permitted by the laws of manu

hart s . d , kropp p r , hare r . d . performance of male psychopaths following conditional release from prison .

european hares are usually quiet animals . they make low grunts from time to time and " guttural " calls from the doe ( female ) to her leverets . it has been suggested that european hares grind their teeth as an alarm call . they also emit a shrill call when hurt or caught ( peterson , 1966 ; bansfield , 1974 ) .

citation : schai - braun sc , reichlin ts , ruf t , klansek e , tataruch f , arnold w , et al . ( 2015 ) the european hare ( lepus europaeus ) : a picky herbivore searching for plant parts rich in fat . plos one 10 ( 7 ) : e0134278 . urltoken

" in some parts of ayrshire the cutting of the last corn is called ' cutting the hare ' , and in germany the name for the last sheaf is ' the hare ' . in east prussia they say that the hare sits in the last patch of standing corn , and must be chased out by the last reaper . " the reapers hurry with their work , each being anxious not to have to " chase out the hare " ; for the man who does so—that is , who cuts the last corn—is much laughed at . at birk , in transylvania , when the reapers come to the last patch , they cry out , " we have the hare . " at aurich an expression for cutting the last corn is " to cut off the hare ' s tail " . " he is killing the hare , " is commonly said of the man who cuts the last corn in germany , sweden , holland , france , and italy . in norway , the man who is thus said to " kill the hare " , must give " hare ' s blood " , in the form of brandy , to his fellows to drink . [ 83 ]

3 . the leading motive of both processions is a hare . in the one case , the hare is followed to the mayor ' s house , where a feast is eaten . whether this feast originally comprised hare ' s flesh , i have not been able to ascertain , though , from an entry in the chamberlains ' accounts , it appears that at one easter hunting a great many hares were caught , [ 107 ] and these would presumably be used for the mayor ' s banquet . at hallaton , the hare is carried in procession ( sometimes in the shape of hare - pies , sometimes also mounted on a pole ) from the parson ' s house to a sacred spot on the boundary of the parish , where the feast of hare - pies is eaten .

in holtzmann ' s german mythology she is also referred to as the goddess of dawn . [ 15 ] " the easter hare is unintelligible to me " , he adds , " but probably the hare was the sacred animal of ostara . " [ 16 ]

the hare’s geographical limits in australia are limited to the south east of the continent and tasmania . individual range is 5 - 50 hectares ( rabbit is 5 hectares ) . the hare is very mobile and will range far to seek out the ‘best’ food sources .

pallas ) in agricultural areas of northern germany . in : hofer h , arnold w ( eds ) the decline in european hares , international symposium , berlin , 18–22 april 2001

" 1620 , april 2 . thos . fulnety solicits the permission of lord zouch , lord warden of the cinque ports , to kill a hare on good friday , as huntsmen say that those who have not a hare against easter must eat a red herring . "

the brown hare is widespread throughout central and western europe , including most of the uk , although it is absent from the northwest and western highlands in scotland , where the species is replaced by the mountain hare ( lepus timidus ) ( 5 ) . it is likely that the romans introduced the brown hare to britain , as there are no records of this species before roman times ( 5 ) .

source / reference article learn how you can use or cite the hare article in your website content , school work and other projects .

broekhuizen s , maaskamp f , 1981 . annual production of young in european hares ( lepus europaeus ) in the netherlands . journal of zoology , 193 : 499 - 516 pp .

alves p . c , melo - ferreira j , branco m , suchentrunk f , ferrand n , harris d . j . evidence for genetic similarity of two allopatric european hares (

add the hare pieces back to the pot and pour in the wine or ale with the juice and peeled rind of half a lemon .

hares hide and can accelerate to high speed when disturbed or threatened . when approached , the hare will remain still in its form until the predator is within 1 - 2 metres . the hare will then break cover and sprint away at high speed . a hare will confuse predators by doubling back on its tracks to leave a disarrayed trail . this will often involve a large leap sideways to break its scent trail .

another example of possible erroneous taxonomic inferences due to phylogenetic assessments based only on mtdna is found in the arctic hare complex . this complex includes

if few town - based people are fortunate enough to see a hare in the wild , there can be no britons unfamiliar with its appearance . today hare mythology has extended and the hare motif is to be found on fabric , wallpaper , cushions , lampshades and ties ; it has been used as a letterhead , a heraldic device and in the design of stock pins , cuff - links , brooches and charms for bracelets .

valencak t , tataruch f , ruf t . peak energy turnover in lactating european hares : the role of fat reserves . j exp biol . 2009 ; 212 : 231–237 . pmid : 19112142

in hare mythology , the hare is a creature with pagan , sacred and mystic associations , by turns benign , cunning , romantic or , most famously , in its march courtship rituals , mad . it is largely silent , preferring to feed at night or , in summer , as the last light fades from the day , a shadowy existence which adds to its mysteriousness in hare mythology . in alison uttley’s little grey rabbit stories the character of hare is superior and strutting , occasionally pernickety , always aloof – a rendering for children of the animal’s natural reserve as well his appropriateness as a denizen of that world of aristocratic entitlement evoked by sackville - west . for example , it is hare who keeps grey rabbit up to scratch in the matter of housekeeping : “where’s the milk , grey rabbit ? ” asked hare . “we can’t drink tea without milk . ”

in western brittany the peasants , not many years ago , " could hardly endure to hear the hare ' s name " . [ 51 ]

( 2 ) the hare portends a fire . there are reports of this superstition from south northamptonshire [ 60 ] and from ely , [ 61 ] and also from hungary . [ 62 ] in the wheal vor mine the appearance of a hare presages a fatal accident . [ 63 ]

, " will i say as to the commendation of the hare , and of the defence of the hunter ' s toyle , that no one beast , be it never so great , is profitable to so many and so divers uses in physicke as the hare and partes thereof . "

and to the instances there collected by mr . black i may add a belief of the ancient romans , that eating hare ' s flesh for

in china , the hare appears , as in kaffirland , as the guardian of the wild beasts , and defends the lamb from the wolf .

gortazar c , millan j , acevedo p , escudero ma , marco j , fernandez luco dde , 2007 . a large - scale survey of brown hare lepus euroapeus and iberian hare l . granatensis populations at the limit of their ranges . wildlife biology , 13 : 244 - 250 .

hughes m , montgomery wi , prodöhl p ( 2006 ) population genetic structure and systematics of the irish hare . environment and heritage service , belfast

european roe deer , european brown hare and guinea pigs are kept and bred in an area of about 4ha . a small number of arctic hare , marmots , sheep , goats and donkeys are kept as well for comparative studies . the frs consists of several semi - natural enclosures of different sizes and cages allowing observation , capture and handling of individuals . furthermore , the frs offers the infrastructure needed for maintenance and modern animal husbandry , i . e . examination and residence rooms . three animal keepers and two animal keeper apprentices are continuously working at the frs . we offer the opportunity for taking a gap year as a volunteer in the environmental sector ( freiwilliges ökologisches jahr ) .

fickel , j . , schmidt , a . , putze , m . , spittler , h . , ludwig , a . , streich , w . j . and pitra , c . 2005 . genetic structure of populations of european brown hare : implications for management . journal of wildlife management 69 ( 2 ) : 760 - 770 .

the brown hare is britain’s fastest land mammal . propelled by those powerful hind legs which define its shape as surely as its long , black - tipped ears , the hare has been known to run at speeds exceeding 40mph . added to its shyness , this astonishing turn of speed accounts for the apparent elusiveness of the hare . sighted only rarely in some areas for much of the year , it retains a mystique long forfeited by rabbits .

european hares have become an important and challenging game animal , especially in north america . the meat is said to be white and delicious ( william and whitaker , 1943 ; bansfield , 1974 ) .

valencak t , ruf t . energy turnover in european hares is centrally limited during early , but not during peak lactation . j comp physiol b . 2009 ; 179 : 933–943 . pmid : 19533150

thanks for taking time to summarise this . i agree that hare taxonomy is a real pigs - ear at the moment , and its often virtually impossible to distinguish the species in the field based on current morphological descriptions . i don’t know much about hares in other areas , but i agree that on the african continent there are probably only three species : l . capensis ( cape hare ) , l . starcki ( starck’s hare ) , and what i call l . victoriae ( scrub hare or african savanna hare ) , which is part of the l . saxatilis complex . the problem is that even the cape and scrub hares can be fiendishly difficult to tell apart – unless you can find a dead one and examine their teeth .

european hares , lepus europaeus , exhibit an interesting reproductive phenomena known as superfetation , whereby a late pregnancy female can mate , ovulate , and be impregnated and thus have two litters of different ages in her uterus at one time ( smith 2004 ) . the european hare also has an elaborate courtship pattern involving large mating groups that aggregate , from which animals pair off , and are faithful and live together for about one month ( smith 2004 ) . there is an extended courtship ritual , followed by brief copulation ( less than ten seconds ) .

embed this arkive thumbnail link ( " portlet " ) by copying and pasting the code below . < a href = " urltoken " title = " arkive species - brown hare ( lepus europaeus ) " > < img src = " urltoken " alt = " arkive species - brown hare ( lepus europaeus ) " title = " arkive species - brown hare ( lepus europaeus ) " border = " 0 " / > < / a >

using game bag records and county mammal reports , past changes in the numbers of hares in britain are described . there appears to have been a widespread decline in hare numbers following the introduction of the ground game act 1880 , with declines occurring even earlier in parts of the west , where hare numbers have shown little signs of recovering thereafter . in central and eastern areas , hare numbers increased at various rates up to the second world war .

place in a plastic bag the flour , powdered ginger , large pinch of salt and hare pieces . twist the top of plastic bag closed with some air trapped inside and shake bag around . oh ! do choose a strong bag or prepare to witness the hare bolt in a puff of white .

the adult hare is a medium sized mammal , about the size of a domestic cat , with considerable plasticity in size and fur coloration . it has distinctive long ears and hind legs and large hind feet which produce a typical hare footprint in snow . brown hares from england , often referred to as

like rabbits , caecotrophy ( the reingestion of faecal material from the caecum ) is a behaviour that is used by european hares in order to gain the maximum amount of nutrients from their food as possible .

european hares are mainly solitary animals except during mating season . they are crepuscular and nocturnal , mostly foraging at night ( between 7 p . m . and 7 a . m . ) . european hares remain active all year round . during the day they crouch in a depression called a ' form ' , partially concealed with their back showing ( bansfield , 1974 ) . european hares posess an excellent sense of sight , smell , and hearing . upon detection of a predator , european hares will run to escape , and can dodge and change direction quickly if needed . they are very fast and have been clocked at up to 35 mph ( about 60 kph ) running in a straight line . they will also dive into streams if needed as they are decent swimmers ( william and whitaker ; bansfield , 1974 ) .

in teutonic myth , the earth and sky goddess holda , leader of the wild hunt , was followed by a procession of hares bearing torches . although she descended into a witch - like figure and boogeyman of children’s tales , she was once revered as a beautiful , powerful goddess in charge of weather phenomena . freyja , the headstrong norse goddess of love , sensuality , and women’s mysteries , was also served by hare attendants . she traveled with a sacred hare and boar in a chariot drawn by cats . kaltes , the shape - shifting moon goddess of western siberia , liked to roam the hills in the form of a hare , and was sometimes pictured in human shape wearing a headdress with hare’s ears . eostre , the goddess of the moon , fertility , and spring in anglo–saxon myth , was often depicted with a hare’s head or ears , and with a white hare standing in attendance . this magical white hare laid brightly colored eggs which were given out to children during spring fertility festivals - - an ancient tradition that survives in the form of the easter bunny today .