Cape hare vs Mountain hare
The cape hare is heavier: 3.26 kg against 3.05 kg for the mountain hare, about 7% more.
Photo: Caroluspoort · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Photo: Правительство Волгоградской области · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
What is the difference between a cape hare and a mountain hare?
Each point below is worked out from a pair of recorded values.
- The cape hare is heavier: 3.26 kg against 3.05 kg for the mountain hare, about 7% more.
- The mountain hare is longer-lived: 14.6 years against 8.9 years for the cape hare, about 64% longer.
- Both belong to the genus Lepus, so they are close relatives.
- Both are listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Side by side
| Cape hare | Mountain hare | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Lepus capensis | Lepus timidus |
| Family | Leporidae | Leporidae |
| Order | Lagomorpha | Lagomorpha |
| Weight | 2.2 kg – 3.26 kg | 3.03 kg – 3.05 kg |
| Length | Not recorded | Not recorded |
| Lifespan | 8.9 years | 14.6 years |
| Main food | Not recorded | Not recorded |
| Habitat | Not recorded | grassland |
| Conservation status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Countries recorded | Not recorded | Not recorded |
A scale drawing needs a recorded length for both animals; only weights are on record for this pair.
Full record: Cape hareFull record: Mountain hareCompare other animals