A tough, long-legged runner shaped by life in cool, windy mountains rather than warm lowlands. It has the classic hare build—slim body, powerful hind legs, and large, alert ears—but it often looks “winter-ready” compared with many other hares. Its fur tends to be dense and well-insulated, with earthy browns and grays that blend into alpine grass, rocky soil, and dry plants. The face is narrow, the eyes sit high for wide awareness, and the ears can show darker tips that stand out when the animal is listening upright. In the highlands, where weather can swing fast from bright sun to cold mist, that thicker coat and muted coloring are more than style—they’re survival gear.

What helps set this hare apart from other hares in the region is its strong link to Ethiopia’s high-altitude landscapes and the way its body “reads” like a mountain specialist. Many hares are built for wide-open plains or mixed farmland, where the main challenge is heat and long chases across flat ground. The Ethiopian highland hare, by contrast, is at home in open highland grasslands, heathy slopes, and rugged ground where hiding spots are scattered, and the air is cooler. Compared with lower-elevation hares that may look sleeker or lighter-coated, this one often seems more thick-furred and more toned to the colors of highland vegetation.

Its daily routine is built around timing and caution. Ethiopian highland hares often feed most in the cooler hours—early morning and late afternoon into evening—when the light is softer, and it’s easier to move without being noticed. They eat mostly plant foods: grasses, herbs, tender shoots, and whatever green growth is available, switching to tougher stems and bits of bark when seasons get harsh. Like other hares, they usually don’t dig deep burrows. Instead, they rest in shallow scraped-out dips on the ground, relying on camouflage and stillness.

Distribution

Country

Population est.

Status

Year

Comments

Ethiopia

2018