Mammals
Antelope Jackrabbit
Lepus alleni · also called Allen's jackrabbit
Flashing white patches of fur with each bounding, antelope-like leap, an antelope jackrabbit sprints across open desert terrain, its enormous blood-vessel-rich ears working constantly to shed the heat of one of the hottest habitats any hare species calls home.
Overview
The antelope jackrabbit, Lepus alleni, is native to desert habitat across Arizona and parts of Sonora, Mexico. Its distinctive antelope-like bounding leaps, oversized heat-dissipating ears, and confusing white flash pattern while fleeing make it one of the most physically specialised and visually striking jackrabbit species found in North America’s deserts.
Built for heat and speed
Every part of the antelope jackrabbit’s design reflects the demands of its scorching desert home, from ears large enough to function as a built-in cooling system to a bounding gait fast and erratic enough to outmanoeuvre most desert predators.
Status
Least Concern, remaining widespread across suitable desert habitat throughout its range in the southwestern United States and Mexico.
Antelope Jackrabbit: common questions
Why is it called the antelope jackrabbit?
It moves with distinctive bounding leaps reminiscent of an antelope, a running style that gives the species its common name.
How does the antelope jackrabbit stay cool in the desert?
It uses its unusually large, blood-vessel-rich ears to release excess body heat, an important adaptation for surviving in its hot desert habitat.
Why does the antelope jackrabbit flash white patches while running?
Showing flashes of white fur on its sides and rump while fleeing may help confuse a pursuing predator, making the animal's exact movements harder to track.
Where is the antelope jackrabbit found?
It is native to desert habitat across Arizona and parts of Sonora, Mexico.