Burmese hare facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Burmese hare |
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| Conservation status | |
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| Genus: |
Lepus
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| Species: |
peguensis
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| Burmese hare range | |
The Burmese hare (scientific name: Lepus peguensis) is a type of mammal that belongs to the rabbit and hare family, called Leporidae. You can find these hares in countries like Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam.
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What Does the Burmese Hare Look Like?
The Burmese hare is a medium-sized animal. Adult hares usually grow to be about 35 to 50 centimeters (14 to 20 inches) long. They weigh between 2 and 2.5 kilograms (4.4 to 5.5 pounds).
These hares have long ears with black tips. Their fur on their back is reddish-grey, mixed with black. The fur on their rump (their bottom) is a bit greyer. Their belly is white. The tail is white on top and black underneath. Their feet can be white or reddish-brown, depending on where they live.
Where Do Burmese Hares Live?
Burmese hares live in a wide area across Southeast Asia. Their home stretches from southern Myanmar to the northern part of the Malay Peninsula. This includes countries like Thailand, Cambodia, southern Laos, and southern Vietnam.
They mostly live in low-lying areas. However, they have been seen in mountains as high as 1,300 meters (about 4,265 feet) in Thailand. Their favorite places to live are farmlands and dry, open areas. They also like clearings in forests and sandy spots near the coast. You can often find them in fields that get flooded sometimes, like traditional rice fields. They tend to avoid rice fields that are heavily watered or farmed very intensely.
How Do Burmese Hares Live?
The Burmese hare is a nocturnal animal, which means it is most active at night. During the night, they search for food. They mainly eat grass, small twigs, and tree bark.
Female hares can have several litters of babies each year. Each litter usually has about three or four young hares. The mother carries her babies for about 37 days before they are born. A Burmese hare can live for about six years.
Is the Burmese Hare in Danger?
The Burmese hare is a common animal and lives in many places. Because of this, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) says its conservation status is "least concern". This means they are not currently at high risk of disappearing.
However, there are some things that can threaten them. One threat is the increase in irrigated rice farms. These farms create habitats that are not suitable for the hares. They are also hunted for food in some areas. On the other hand, sometimes when forests are cut down, it creates new scrubby areas that hares like, which can help their numbers grow.
