Critter: Antelope jack rabbit

Photo courtesy Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum

Hello! I am an antelope jack rabbit, aka Lepus alleni. I am a member of the Leporidae family, which includes rabbits and hares.

Know me by my ears. They are spectacular at about 6 to 8 inches long, but they are not just for show. They are important for regulating my body temperature. In hot weather, I keep them erect, and they give off heat. When it's cold, I keep them against my body to hold in the warmth. My ears also will stand up when I am alarmed. Bet your ears can't do all that!

What about the rest of me? I am 22 to 26 inches long and weigh 6 to 9 pounds. I am grayish brown on top, and on my lower sides there is a lot of white. My face, throat and ears are brownish.

It's about my tail! I'm called an antelope jack rabbit because of my leaping ability, and my tail is similar to an antelope's. When I run, I "flash'' the white underside of my tail high and low to confuse a predator. When I stop, I don't reveal the white. Bobcats, coyotes and eagles like to have me to dinner, and I am the main course.

Show me the shade. Even with my special ears, I get hot in the summer. To avoid the sun, I back under the shade of a plant. This resting space is called a form. I am then out of the heat and concealed on three sides.