A rare and little-known species that lives mainly in southern Italy, Sicily, and Corsica. At first glance, it looks similar to the common European hare, but a closer look reveals its unique charm. The Corsican hare is slender and elegant, with long legs built for speed and endurance, and tall ears tipped with black. Its fur is a warm mix of reddish-brown, chestnut, and gray, giving it excellent camouflage in the Mediterranean scrublands, meadows, and woodlands where it lives. Its smaller size and reddish tones set it apart from its European cousin, making it a distinctive member of the hare family.

One of the things that makes the Corsican hare special is its restricted range and habitat preferences. Unlike the widespread European hare that thrives in farmland and open plains, the Corsican hare prefers Mediterranean environments, especially areas with scrub, light woodland, and coastal grasslands. It is mostly nocturnal and crepuscular, meaning it is active at night and during dawn or dusk, spending the day hidden in shallow scrapes or dense vegetation. Its long legs allow it to reach bursts of speed when threatened, zigzagging to escape predators like foxes, raptors, and wildcats. Because it lives in such a limited area, it is considered vulnerable to habitat loss, and its populations are much smaller and more fragile compared to other hare species.

Diet is another feature that highlights its adaptability to Mediterranean life. The Corsican hare is an herbivore, feeding on grasses, herbs, shoots, and leaves, and sometimes on cultivated crops. Its selective feeding habits also help maintain plant diversity in its environment, making it an important herbivore in shaping Mediterranean ecosystems. Unlike rabbits, which dig burrows, hares like the Corsican hare live in the open and rely on speed and camouflage rather than underground shelters to survive.

Distribution

Country

Population est.

Status

Year

Comments

Italy

VU

2023