Baby jackrabbits are called leverets. also lists the black-tailed jackrabbit as Sensitive (Bureau of Land Management 2008). The black-tailed jackrabbit is the third largest of the six jackrabbit species. The juvenile pelage is similar but paler in colour with more under fur and less developed course guard hairs (Kim, 1987). Chisel-toothed kangaroo rat Dipodomys microps Harrisburg Flat in dry, sandy soil with sparse vegetation. Jackrabbits are not actually rabbits but they are hares. This species is highly capable of thermoregulating and conserving water. A Review of the Ongoing Decline of the White-Tailed Jackrabbit. Class Mammalia (“breast”): Bats, cats, whales, horses, humans . The ears along with the tail are tipped with black fur. Other Names Desert Hare Size. They have developed several adaptations which keeps them cool in the desert or chaparral biome. 2006). S. The cottontail does not fear the jackrabbit, in fact the jackrabbit is very skittish and will retreat from a confrontation in most instances. Black-Tailed Jackrabbits are some of the largest North American hares, reaching up to 2 feet tall. 2008), the Desert Southwest (Vorhies and. Journal of Wildlife Management 22:371-384. Male antelope jackrabbits tended to have larger home ranges than females, which is similar to black-tailed jackrabbits and Tehuantepec jackrabbits (Farías et al. Binomial name. The only noises close by were the sounds of my camera clicking away. Jackrabbits extract any water they need from the vegetation they consume. 5 to 10. Black-tailed jackrabbits produce about 10 to 12 young annually, giving birth to multiple litters during a three-month breeding season. Black-tailed jackrabbits weigh between 3 to 9 pounds while white-tailed jackrabbits range from 6 to 10 pounds; Size plays a crucial role in the jackrabbit’s adaptation to various habitats and evasion from predators; Basic Features and Identification. Lepus californicus. The ears are long and brown with black tips. In most of the ecosystems they occupy, hares and rabbits are the. These nocturnal hares are indiscriminate herbivores, eating any plant life they can reach. Their fur is generally a dark brown or gray salt-and-pepper color, with a signature black stripe across the back and onto the tail. M. The black-tailed jackrabbit is a medium-sized rabbit that weighs between four and eight pounds. Endemic to Mexico, its only known location is Espiritu Santo Island in the Gulf of California. Eva’s Desert Mouse. The black-tailed jackrabbit is long-legged and lean, about 17-31 inches, and weighs 3-7 pounds. Snowshoe hare range. These mammals rely on speed, camouflage, and ‘freezing’ when they are spotted when avoiding predators (mainly coyotes and foxes). Health & Care. The snowshoe (or varying hare) is known as the snowshoe rabbit. californicus) from 2009 to 2020. A black-tailed jackrabbit can grow up to 24 inches (61 cm) in length, weigh as much as 8 lbs. The large ears of this hare help it to lose heat and thereby cooling its body temperature. The black-tailed jackrabbit is an herbivore. To withstand the heat of the desert sun, the rabbit spreads out its large, thin ears, releasing heat as blood travels through the veins. It is found throughout California and ranges from below sea level in Death Val-ley to 12,500 feet in the Sierra Nevada mountains (Orr, 1940). Scientific name: Otocyon. The white-sided jackrabbit's body length ranges from 16 to 30 in (41 to 76 cm) long. Like most hares, Black-tailed Jackrabbits do not use burrows, but rest during the day in a scrape. Size: Black-tailed jackrabbits are large weighing 3-6 pounds and around 2 feet long. Courtship is dramatic with chases, charges, leaps over each other, and sprayed urine. Its tail grows to lengths of 1 to 4 in (2. Males are slightly larger than females. Although the animal proved well adapted to arid surroundings, these authors noted that L. The black-tailed jackrabbit has long ears with black tips and very long front and rear legs. They are capable of reaching speeds of up to 35 mph (55 km/h) and making vertical leaps of up to 5 yards (6 meters) in a single bound. Jackass-hare. White-tailed jackrabbits have a number of other distinct morphological characters which reflect adaptation to their environment and ecology. One of the main ways jackrabbits keep cool in their desert climate is simply by staying out of the sun during the hottest parts of the day. 18. Thurman 3,. The common name antelope jackrabbit is derived from the white flashing behavior of American pronghorns (Antilocapra americana) when they run. In some cases, the litter size can also reach five kittens. huobi withdrawal limit unverified Cerca. Its legs grow from 4 to 6 in (10 to 15 cm) in the front and the back legs can grow from 6 to 12 in (15 to 30 cm) long. Jackrabbits are actually hares, not rabbits. The virus can also be spread on contaminated surfaces such as cages. “Jackrabbits are known for their dramatic population fluctuations,” reports the USFWS, and their highs “may be twice or even hundreds of times greater than during population lows. 2002; Fisher 2012). Mammalian predators such as coyotes, foxes and weasels also hunt and kill jackrabbits. cm inch. The antelope jackrabbit has a white belly, light grey sides, a back peppered with black, and orange coloration on the neck and chest. Twitter. The distribution and abundance of the white-tailed jackrabbit Lepus townsendii have declined significantly since 1950, continuing a trend that began in some regions of its range in the late. The tail has a black stripe that runs along the top onto the rump (hence the name) and is 2" to 4 1/2" long. As you might expect, a rabbit’s long ears do a lot to improve their hearing. Adaptations. The antelope jackrabbit is approximately the same size, but colored gray above with the lower sides mostly white. Rabbits, on the other hand, move slower, dig burrows, and scamper into their homes when threatened. 1 pt. It has distinctive long ears tipped with black. Family: Ochotonidae. carrying riders d. They are most active in the late afternoon, preferring to spend the day resting in a form, a shallow depression the size of. These discoveries demonstrate how the genetic basis of climate change adaptation can inform conservation. Its fur is buff-colored to blend in with the arid environment. The white-sided jackrabbit's body length ranges from 16 to 30 in (41 to 76 cm) long. Black-tailed jackrabbit; Caracal; Black widow spider; Tarantula; Kangaroo mouse; Bighorn sheep; Golden eagle; Brown hyena; Black-backed jackal; Spiny-tailed iguana; Rock hyrax; Sandgrouse;. The tail is short, fluffy, 30-70 mm (1. Also called California jackrabbit. His cousin the antelope jack rabbit (Lepus alleni) prefers to live in the. Jackrabbits are principal prey of various predator species including coyotes ( Canis latrans ) and bobcats ( Lynx rufus ) ( Delibes and Hiraldo, 1987 ,. The black-tailed jackrabbit habitat involves large areas with almost no trees and black tailed jackrabbit adaptations mean they can survive in hot climates. Hares and rabbits ( Leporidae) together form a group of lagomorphs that includes about 50 species of hares, jackrabbits, cottontails and rabbits. Altricial young are born with fur up to 5 mm long with a weight of approximately 61. Those circannual traits include seasonal migration, hibernation and coat colour moults, and their occurrence and optimal phenology is critical. It can be found at elevations ranging from sea level up to 10,000 ft (3,000 m). Reaching a length around 2 ft (61 cm), and a weight from 3 to 6 lb (1. As the planet warms, this adaptation will become less advantageous, which may allow black-tailed jackrabbits to outcompete white-tailed jackrabbits. 4 to 2. S. White-tailed jackrabbits are the largest lagomorphs in the state. The black-tailed jackrabbit has long ears with black tips and very long front and rear legs. Jackrabbits are famous for their disproportionately large ears, which happen to be their trick for staying cool. These rabbits are really fast and have adapted to eating essentially any plant, not excluding bark and twigs. 2 cm). During the hot parts of the day the jackrabbit sleeps in a scratch at the base of a shrub or in a tall stand of grass. The adaptation of bird bills for thermoregulation could explain why many bird bills follow Allen’s rule 9. 6 to 4. Scientific Name. 0 in), and a weight between 2. In collaboration with the Biomimicry Institute, we delve into the cooling strategy of black-tailed jackrabbits and how it could inspire innovative solutions for human technology. His cousin the antelope jack rabbit (Lepus alleni) prefers to live in the. Jackrabbits can control the amount of blood that flows through their ears by widening their blood vessels in response to rising temperatures. 6 to 10. The black jackrabbit (Lepus insularis) is a species of mammal in the family Leporidae. The gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus), or grey fox, is an omnivorous mammal of the family Canidae, widespread throughout North America and Central America. Antelope jackrabbits also flash their white tails when they flee. Black-tailed Jackrabbits are herbivores, eating plants such as sagebrush, young trees, and even cacti. What physical and behavioral adaptations does the black tailed jackrabbit have that help it survive in the chaparral biome? Feet and fur: They exhibit feet covered with fur so as to protect themselves from the hot desert sand. The underparts are white to grayish white. 4 to 2. (B) Representative winter coat color variation [Photo credit: IV. Location of black-tailed jackrabbit (Lepus californicus) specimens from north Río Conchos (1-3; Chihuahua), south Río Nazas (4-8; Durango), and four groups (9-30; A-D) from the Baja California. Black Tailed Jackrabbit Behavioral Adaptations;. jackrabbit running. . The black-tailed jackrabbit is long-legged and lean, about 17-31 inches, and weighs 3-7 pounds. The Journal of Wildlife Management 30:304-311. , and P. Gray-sided Jackrabbit. The rabbit is not white all year, changing from its winter white. Adaptations. They favor arid regions and areas of short grass rangeland from sea level to about 3,800 m. 7-65 cm) and the tail measures from 2-4. Ferreira1,2,3,4*†, Timothy J. To do so means adaptations that allow them to beat the heat. ( Bachman, 1837) Swamp rabbit range. HDR. 6 Winter coat color: White Intermediate Brown or Gray B Genome-wide White-sided jackrabbit Black-tailed jackrabbit Snowshoe hare. What physical and behavioral adaptations does the black-tailed jackrabbit have that help it survive in the cha… Get the answers you need, now! asfah839 asfah839 21. The species range of black-tailed jackrarbbits, like this one in Joshua Tree National Park, overlaps with the species range of the snowshoe hare. only at night d. The antelope jackrabbit has a white belly, light grey sides, a back peppered with black, and orange coloration on the neck and chest. •Between four and eight pounds, the black-tailed jackrabbit is the size of a small dog. In the northern Great Basin, a black-tailed jackrabbit’s population cycle lasts between 7 and 11 years. Between both rivers, the black-tailed jackrabbit, Lepus californicus , shows significant differences in external morphological traits. The black-tailed jackrabbit is slightly smaller than the white-tailed jackrabbit but considerably larger than the snowshoe hare. Black-tailed jackrabbits have grey-brown coats, they moult once a year and do not acquire a white coat in winter. 2 cm) when fully grown. These rabbits maintain their body temperature by releasing heat through their long ears. 30 seconds. Physical Description. INTRODUCTION. Global temperatures continue to rise, it is possible that the adaptations of black-tailed jackrabbits may no longer be sufficient to cope with the increasing heat. The skin of the ears. Black-tailed Jackrabbit. Herbivore Average Life Span In The Wild: 1 to 5 years Size: 2 feet Weight: 3 to 9 pounds Size relative to a 6-ft man: IUCN Red List Status: Least concern LC NT VU EN CR EW. S14, B and C; and table S13). as a white paste c. Pacific Burrowing Wasp. Their ears are about four to four and one-half inches long. This continuous growth is an adaptation to the abrasiveness of their food and helps maintain a chisel edge on the incisors. They will also eat sagebrush and cacti. Oversized hind legs launch them across desert sage and grassy prairie, and their giant ears release heat to cool their bodies. This habit (called coprophagy) allows the Black-tailed Jackrabbit to take more. Baghdad B. regulating body heat c. The ears along with the tail are tipped with black fur. (Two larger hares, the Arctic and Alaskan hares, are found further north in North America). Their diet changes seasonally. alleni was absent from the hottest and most-arid portions of the Sonoran Desert where the sole representative of the genus is the black-tailed jackrabbit, Lepus californicus. LARRY HYSLOP. It is about 18-24 inches long and weighs four to eight pounds. They drink little, deriving most of their water from food. To determine if niche separation may be. Jackrabbits have a set of adaptations that suit them to. To test for local adaptation, composite likelihood ratio was computed in 50-kb windows along chromosome 4 for each population of snowshoe hares. 2 cm). The Black-tailed Jackrabbit is capable of inhabiting many types of habitat (Flinders and Chapman 2003, Beever et al. Typically, jackrabbits use them to hear well and as a body regulating adaptation that allows them to cool down in hotter temperatures. B lossom. Many aspects of a rabbit’s body have helped them to become an excellent survival species. alleni was absent from the hottest and most-arid portions of the Sonoran Desert where the sole representative of the genus is the black-tailed jackrabbit, Lepus californicus. a desert jackrabbit can run much faster than a coyote; as such, "an ordinary wolf or coyote will not attempt to chase him, for they realize the hopelessness of it. Endemic to Mexico, its only known location is Espiritu Santo Island in the Gulf of California. Added 5/19/2022 1:51:33 AMIn 2015, the surveys found 6. bachmani —are widespread and cause the majority of problems. Female jackrabbits are also larger than the male. Distribution in CA: UNCOMMON to RARE on the crest and upper eastern slopes of the. , 2017), and so the decline of white-tailed jackrabbitsThe black-tailed jackrabbit lives in the desert. 6 kg). Reasons for Decline It is likely that black-tailed jackrabbits are sufferingThe black-tailed jackrabbits (Lepus californicus) most identifying feature is its huge ears. The black-tailed jackrabbit has long ears with black tips and very long front and rear legs. Mammals make up less than 1% of all animals on earth, but they include some of the most well-known species. Degraded grasslands are not in short supply due to a combination of livestock grazing, drought, climate change, and other factors. Now, a new study shows how: by borrowing a gene from a jackrabbit,. Females and males look identical but females tend to be a little larger. When the jackrabbit gets too hot, these blood vessels widen, which promotes heat loss. It has distinctive long ears tipped with black. Reaching a length of about 2 feet (61 cm), and a weight from 3 to 6 pounds (1. When temperatures start to rise, jackrabbits can regulate the flow of blood through their ears by dilating their blood vessels. Adaptation to flooded soils includes aerenchyma formation to transport oxygen to the roots. 8. black-tailed jackrabbit. Black-tailed jackrabbit White-tailed jackrabbit Snowshoe hare Cape hare European hare Iberian hare Alaskan hare Mountain hare Arctic hare 56 EDNRBA few desert mammals, such as the round-tailed ground squirrel, a diurnal rodent, enter a state of aestivation when the days become too hot and the vegetation too dry. Final answer. This allows heat to escape into the air around the jackrabbit. The black jackrabbit ( Lepus insularis ) is a species of mammal in the family Leporidae. Size: LARGEST hare. 1During a concurrent study, we measured the Mojave milkweed plant used by the black-tailed jackrabbit three days prior the. The Arctic Hare's ears are much shorter relative to the head size, plus the head itself is more spherical, and the legs are relatively shorter than the Black-tailed Jackrabbit's. This is because. Lepus californicus. You can play any type of slot for free. The black-tailed jackrabbit (Lepus californicus), also known as the American desert hare, is a common hare of the western United States and Mexico, where it is found at elevations from sea level up to 10,000 ft (3,000 m). Black-tailed jackrabbit (Lepus californicu he Baja ce and limate. 1. Even adult black-tailed jackrabbits weighing more than 2,000 g (4. American Pika. The black-tailed jackrabbit is an important prey species for raptors and carnivorous mammals, such as eagles, hawks, owls, coyotes, foxes, and wild cats. The black-tailed jackrabbit, also known as the American desert hare, can reach speeds of up to 40 miles an hour and is capable of jumping more than 15 feet. 5 to 3 inches long. 9 to 14. Black-tailed jackrabbit; Mammals. Dec 23, 2017. After mating, the female, or doe, will have a litter of 1-6 leverets every 3-4 months. 3. Endemic to Mexico, its only known location is Espiritu Santo Island in the Gulf of California. Their long ears. This jackrabbit is recognizable by its large size and black-tipped tail and ears. a. The tail has a black stripe above. Black-tailed Jackrabbit Snowshoe Hare a) Based on what you can see in the images, which of these hares is adapted for a. In the winter, they don’t hibernate, and mainly eat shrubs. Actually a hare, the speedy critter (it can move at 40 mph) is a resident of the Amon Basin, a major watershed of the upper Columbia. The Black-tailed jackrabbit does not migrate or hibernate during winter and uses the same habitat year-round. 2018; Brown et al. Alternatively, negative allometric scaling in the musculoskeletal 456 system may occur as seen in goats (Main & Biewener 2004) and jackrabbits (Carrier 1983). 6 kg) and live upwards of. The antelope jackrabbit (Lepus alleni) was one of the last large mammals described from North America (Mearns, 1890) and this species remains one of the least-studied hares. Habitat How? Well, those big ears are full of blood vessels. The black-tailed jackrabbits (Lepus californicus) most identifying feature is its huge ears. Thurman 3,. Hares are born with fur and are larger than rabbits. 1-604. During the daylight hours they will lie crouched in shady areas, in tall grass and weeds. The black-tailed jackrabbit can occupy a wide range of habitats as long as diversity in plant species exists. They can be anywhere from 16-28 inches, with a 2-5 inch tail. carrying riders d. Physical adaptations: Ears: These animals exhibit long ears. This allows heat to escape into the air around the jackrabbit. 7 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1. The black-tailed jackrabbit is the most abundant, widely distributed jackrabbit in North America, and is primarily found in the southwest. Mammals too have "radiators. Alison Hawkes was a Bay Nature editor from 2011-2017. The large ears of this hare help it to lose heat and thereby cooling its body temperature. Habitat. What physical and behavioral adaptations does the Black-tailed Jackrabbit have that help it survive in the chaparral biome? (Site 1) B I U S XD m x, x²Look for the jackrabbit in mountains, foothills and valleys in Northern Utah, but primarily in open areas of the higher mountains in Southern Utah. Its most distinguishable features are its black-tipped ears, which measure between five to seven inches in length, as well as its black-top tail. Black-tailed Jackrabbits mate year round. The head and back are usually a mix of dark brown, rusty brown, or black. They exhibit feet covered with fur to protect themselves from the hot desert sand. Black-tailed jackrabbits (Lepus californicus) are among the most commonly seen of desert mammals. They become active at dusk and throughout the night. townsendii) and the black. During the day, they hide in shallow depressions. Jackrabbits grow between 18 and 26 inches long. Bezy’s Night Lizard. The dominant Lepus in North America's intermountain region prior to the Holocene, the grassland-adapted white-tailed jackrabbit Lepus townsendii (), began giving way to the black-tailed jackrabbit Lepus californicus with the onset of warming temperatures and changing vegetation between 2,000 and 8,000 y ago (Grayson 1977; Schimitt et al. Here in the desert near Tucson, rainfall averages only 12 inches (30 centimeters) a year. Type: Mammals Diet: Herbivore Average Life Span In The Wild: 1 to 5 years Size: 2 feet Weight: 3 to 9 pounds Black-tailed jackrabbits are not actually rabbits, but are hares. The hares host many ectoparasites including fleas, ticks, lice, and mites; for this reason, hunters often avoid collecting them. Birthplace of American Coursing* With their new, fleet-footed greyhounds in hand, settlers soon discovered the sport of coursing, in which greyhounds chased a live rabbit in an enclosed field. , shrub-steppe, grassland, desert), with presence of some shrub cover being an important habitat feature. The IUCN has listed this species as a "vulnerable species" because of its restricted range. While the urban environment typically presents wildlife with lethal challenges, it may also present new opportunities for species able to behaviourally adapt. The black-tailed jackrabbit, also known as the American desert hare, is a common hare found in the western United States and Mexico. coloration differentiates them from the 7 other rabbits and hares found here. In one hunting technique, a small group flies ahead and scouts, then another group member flies ahead. Spotted Owl. Long-tailed pocket mouse Perognathus formosus mohavensis Grapevine Mountains. in the. 67 in the Southwest, 3. The black-tailed jackrabbit’s other name—the desert hare—gives it away. Their color and shape vary by species, but generally they are tan, grey, silver, brown, or black. a. Diet is also variable forThe black-tailed jackrabbit possesses specific characteristics because they have adapted to survive in particular habitats. 5 to 10. Their ears are tinged with the same black as their namesake tail, which is fully black and creates a stripe-like effect up their spine. Its tail grows to lengths of 1 to 4 in (2. A black-tailed jackrabbit can grow up to 24 inches (61 cm) in length, weigh as much as 8 lbs. How has this adaptation prevented the species from becoming extinct? it prevents them from getting lost when they burrow. Those ears have delicate, blood vessel-filled skin. This hare has large feet resembling a snowshoe. Contrast the advantages and disadvantages of each. Why did the black-tailed hare develop the following characteristics: big ears to regulate body temperature; long legs help to escape from predators; fur on the soles of the feet protects from hot, hard surfaces; digest food twice to get the maximum amount of water and nutrients?There is a paucity of information about jackrabbits in the Mojave Desert, with no real understanding of home ranges, habitat preferences, and population dynamics or demographics in this region. Adaptations Black-tailed jackrabbits are a common American desert species, and are able to live in shrublands and other open spaces, as well as urban areas including farms. These adaptations are most likely the result of their herbivorous lifestyle. also lists the black-tailed jackrabbit as Sensitive (Bureau of Land Management 2008). only in the morning, Organisms that live in desert and desert-scrub biomes have. It has. November to April in the northern portion of its range, jackrabbits are entirely white. Brush rabbit. For example, black-tailed jackrabbits and cape hares are desert species and dig burrows to escape high temperatues, whereas artic hares dig burrows in the snow to escape the bitter cold. Diet consists almost entirely of green vegetation. The snowshoe hare ( Lepus americanus ), also called the varying hare or snowshoe rabbit, is a species of hare found in North America. The black-tailed jackrabbit is somewhat smaller, weighing only 3 to 7 pounds. Updated on March 08, 2017. The black-tailed jackrabbits (Lepus californicus) most identifying feature is its huge ears. Tail: WHITE on top and below. This applies to the black-tailed jackrabbit as well, studying the species' behaviour gives us knowledge about the animal but also the Chapparal biome as a whole. Jackrabbits are larger and leaner than resident cottontail rabbits (Sylvilagus sp. It has a grayish brown body, large black-tipped ears, and a black streak on the top of its tail (Figure 1). However, the black-tailed jackrabbit is much bigger, and consumes much more food at eating times. 4 in (5-11. Its ears and the top of the tail are tipped in black. A leopard has thick ears that help it lose heat, large eyes that look high in the air and toward the side, and a. Their ecological niches are similar but separated by variations of diet and microhabitat. Males. The black-tailed jackrabbit (Lepus californicus) is characterized by its long, black-tipped ears and long, strong legs. What Adaptations Do Jackrabbits Have To Survive? Credit: mom. S. What are baby jackrabbits called? leverets The black-tailed jackrabbit is not really a rabbit, it is a hare. black-tailed jackrabbit. 6 kg). Black-tailed jackrabbits are most commonly found on arid range and agricultural lands in the West and often congregate near preferred food sources. S. Kabul D. Unlike the snowshoe hare, the black-tailed jackrabbit inhabits ecosystems that stay warmer all year and are less likely to be covered in snow for months at a time. 6 kg). I. Merriam’s Kangaroo Rat. It has long slender front legs and large hind feet that can be 5 inches in length. Snowshoe hares with the adaptation of a brown-to-brown molt are more likely to survive and, uh, breed like rabbits. 3, 1/1000, ISO 400, +0. Highly cursorial animals are specialised for fast, sustained running via specific morphological adaptations, notably including changes in limb segment length and mechanical advantage. The Black-tailed Jackrabbit spends most of its day resting in a burrow in the ground. Its fur is a dark buff color that is peppered with black. Its body length ranges from 52 to 58 cm (22 in) long and its tail can be 5 to 10 cm (3 in) long. all of the above, During extreme dry periods tortoises will eliminate waste _______. Laura Klappenbach. Studying and skinning the Black-tailed Jackrabbit is required for the "Zoologist" and "Skin Deep" Achievements. READ PROCESSING AND VARIANT CALLING (A) Probability of winter-brown coats across the modeled white-tailed jackrabbit distribution. alleni was absent from the hottest and most-arid portions of the Sonoran Desert where the sole representative of the genus is the black-tailed jackrabbit, Lepus californicus. These hares are slimmer than rabbits and with longer ears and legs and the tail has black tips and fur. When predators approach, the black-tailed. SUBMITTED. It has a gray-ish brown body, large black-tipped ears, and a black streak on the top of its tail (Figure 1). Ones is a very light gray and the other is black. Of these, only the black-tailed jack rabbit (Lepus californicus) is a desert dweller, inhabiting all 4 southwestern deserts. Habitat: open, grassy, or sagebrush-dominated plains; also subalpine conifer or alpine dwarf-shrub. 4 lb) can be successfully taken by a pack of harris hawks. Desert cottontails (Sylvilagus audubonii) and black-tailed jackrabbits (Lepus californicus) occur in sympatry throughout the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, including in the Chihuahuan Desert. One of the largest members of its genus, Lepus alleni has been the subject of only one natural history study and their habitat affinities remain in need of clarification. Reports describe black-tailed jackrabbit expansion in areas where white-tailed jackrabbit extirpation has occurred, specifically Kansas and southern Nebraska ( Smith and Johnston, 2008 ). Its body length ranges from 52 to 58 cm (22 in) long and its tail can be 5 to 10 cm (3 in) long. The large ears of this hare help it to lose heat and thereby cooling its body temperature. What adaptations do black tailed jackrabbits have? Jackrabbits have a set of adaptations that suit them to arid and semiarid environments: a spartan diet with little water, camouflage, eyes on the sides of their heads, furry feet, agile flight and enormous ears. Black-tailed jackrabbits and cottontails both breed year-round, if there's sufficient food, with up to half a dozen babies — called "leverets" in the case of the jackrabbits — per litter. White-tailed jackrabbit vs Black-tailed jackrabbit White-tailed jackrabbit vs Arctic hare Genetic divergence(d simulated, no selection simulated, selection empirical genome d xy Divergence (RND) D Quartet score > 0. Life Span. The jackrabbit’s pinnae (the visible part of an animal’s ears) are packed with small blood. Jackrabbits are prey animals, with often-bulging amber eyes that can scan nearly 360. They have ears which are around 4-5. 7 kg), the black-tailed jackrabbit is the. Jackrabbits get most of their water from vegetation and have large ears to facilitate heat loss. The black-tailed jackrabbits (Lepus californicus) most identifying feature is its huge ears. Jackrabbit (White-tailed) Jaguar. It is about 18-24 inches long and weighs four to eight pounds. P @ Denver Museum of Nature.