About the Japanese Hare
The Japanese hare (Lepus brachyurus) is a species of hare endemic to Japan. In Japanese, it is called the Nousagi (Japanese: 野兎), meaning "field rabbit". Coenraad Jacob Temminck described the Japanese hare in 1845. The specific epithet (brachyurus) is derived from the Ancient Greek brachys meaning "short" and oura meaning "tail".
The four subspecies of this hare are recognized: L. b. angustidens, in northern Honshu and on the Sea of Japan side of Honshu L. b. brachyurus, on the Pacific side of northern Honshu, in Shikoku and Kyushu L. b. okiensis, on the Oki Islands The Japanese hare is reddish-brown to dark brown-grey and variable amounts of white on the head and legs. Its body length ranges from 45 to 54 cm, and it has a body weight of 2.1-2.6 kg (4.6-5.7 lb). Its tail grows to lengths of 2-5 cm and its back legs are 12-15 cm long. The ears grow to be 7.6-8.3 cm long. Its front legs can be from 10-15 cm long.
In areas of northern Japan, especially the island of Sado, the Japanese hare loses its coloration in the autumn, remaining white until spring, when the brown fur returns. They change into their white winter coat from... Wikipedia →