How big does a Snowshoe hare get? Here is an overview over the average adult age:
A grown Snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus) reaches an average size of 42.4 cm (1′ 5″).
When born, they have an average size of 0 cm (0′ 0″). During their lifetime of about 8 years, they grow from 67 grams (0.15 lbs) to 1.57 kg (3.46 lbs). Talking about reproduction, Snowshoe hares have 3 babies about 2 times per year. The Snowshoe hare (genus: Lepus) is a member of the family Leporidae.
As a reference: Humans reach an average body size of 1.65m (5′ 5″) while carrying 62 kg (137 lbs). A human woman is pregnant for 280 days (40 weeks) and on average become 75 years old.
The snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus), also called the varying hare, or snowshoe rabbit, is a species of hare found in North America. It has the name “snowshoe” because of the large size of its hind feet. The animal’s feet prevent it from sinking into the snow when it hops and walks. Its feet also have fur on the soles to protect it from freezing temperatures.For camouflage, its fur turns white during the winter and rusty brown during the summer. Its flanks are white year-round. The snowshoe hare is also distinguishable by the black tufts of fur on the edge of its ears. Its ears are shorter than those of most other hares.In summer, it feeds on plants such as grass, ferns, and leaves; in winter, it eats twigs, the bark from trees, and plants and, similar to the Arctic hare, has been known to occasionally eat dead animals. It can sometimes be seen feeding in small groups. This animal is mainly active at night and does not hibernate. The snowshoe hare may have up to four litters in a year, which average three to eight young. Males compete for females, and females may breed with several males.A major predator of the snowshoe hare is the Canada lynx. Historical records of animals caught by fur hunters over hundreds of years show the lynx and hare numbers rising and falling in a cycle, which has made the hare known to biology students worldwide as a case study of the relationship between numbers of predators and their prey.
Animals of the same family as a Snowshoe hare
We found other animals of the Leporidae family:
- Black-tailed jackrabbit with a size of 48.4 cm (1′ 8″)
- Indian hare with 1 babies per litter
- Jameson’s red rock hare with a size of 45.9 cm (1′ 7″)
- Alaskan hare with a size of 57.6 cm (1′ 11″)
- European hare with a size of 52.6 cm (1′ 9″)
- Granada hare with a size of 45.9 cm (1′ 7″)
- Broom hare with a size of 50.2 cm (1′ 8″)
- Abyssinian hare bringing 2.02 kilos (4.45 lbs) to the scale
- Black jackrabbit with a size of 23.9 cm (0′ 10″)
- Ethiopian highland hare with a size of 51 cm (1′ 9″)
Animals with the same size as a Snowshoe hare
Not that size really matters, but it makes things comparable. So here are a couple of animals that are as big as Snowshoe hare:
- Geoffroy’s spider monkey with a size of 43.3 cm (1′ 6″)
- Sunda flying lemur with a size of 37.9 cm (1′ 3″)
- Hispid hare with a size of 46 cm (1′ 7″)
- Cacomistle with a size of 42.5 cm (1′ 5″)
- Aye-aye with a size of 40 cm (1′ 4″)
- Angolan genet with a size of 47.3 cm (1′ 7″)
- Gilbert’s potoroo with a size of 34.9 cm (1′ 2″)
- Northern Luzon giant cloud rat with a size of 38.2 cm (1′ 4″)
- Verreaux’s sifaka with a size of 47.2 cm (1′ 7″)
- Royal antelope with a size of 49.9 cm (1′ 8″)
Animals with the same litter size as a Snowshoe hare
Here is a list of animals that have the same number of babies per litter (3) as a Snowshoe hare:
- Transbaikal zokor
- Desert hedgehog
- Bahamian raccoon
- Collared pika
- Red river hog
- European wildcat
- Lesser mole-rat
- Emin’s gerbil
- Gray-footed chipmunk
- Red-nosed mouse
Animals with the same life expectancy as a Snowshoe hare
Completely different animals, but becoming as old as a Snowshoe hare:
- Kowari with an average maximal age of 7 years
- Crowned lemur with an average maximal age of 9.17 years
- Nathusius’s pipistrelle with an average maximal age of 8 years
- Lesser grison with an average maximal age of 7.25 years
- Black-tailed prairie dog with an average maximal age of 8.5 years
- Mexican mouse opossum with an average maximal age of 7 years
- North African hedgehog with an average maximal age of 7 years
- Northern bettong with an average maximal age of 7 years
- Pichi with an average maximal age of 9 years
- Yuma myotis with an average maximal age of 8.75 years
Animals with the same weight as a Snowshoe hare
As a comparison, here are some other animals that weight as much as the Lepus americanus:
- Grandidier’s mongoose with a weight of 1.4 kilos (3.09 lbs)
- Rothschild’s cuscus with a weight of 1.37 kilos (3.02 lbs)
- Rusty-spotted cat with a weight of 1.42 kilos (3.13 lbs)
- Seven-banded armadillo with a weight of 1.53 kilos (3.37 lbs)
- Red giant flying squirrel with a weight of 1.54 kilos (3.4 lbs)
- Common genet with a weight of 1.77 kilos (3.9 lbs)
- Thomas’s flying squirrel with a weight of 1.43 kilos (3.15 lbs)
- Short-tailed mongoose with a weight of 1.4 kilos (3.09 lbs)
- Beech marten with a weight of 1.67 kilos (3.68 lbs)
- Bushy-tailed mongoose with a weight of 1.72 kilos (3.79 lbs)