蝦夷雪兔 / Ezo Yuki Usagi

蝦夷雪兔是雪兔的亞種，只棲息在北海道。是世界上16種雪兔亞種的其中之一。在北海道棲息在平原或山區。和棲息在本州以南的野兔比起來耳朵較短。被認為是因為要減少從耳朵排放的熱量。夏天的毛色是薄茶褐色，冬天的毛色為純白色。活動時間主要是在夜晚，但在冬季時白天也會活動。

Ezo Yuki Usagi is a subspecies of mountain hare. There are 16 subspecies in the world, with the Ezo Yuki Usagi being found only in Hokkaido. Ezo is the old name of Hokkaido, yuki means snow, and usagi means hare or rabbit. Their distinguishing feature is ears which are somewhat shorter than those of usual hares. The reason for this is said to be that Hokkaido is cold, and they want to maintain their body temperature. In summer, their fur is light grayish brown. However, in winter, it transforms to a beautiful white. Typically they are nocturnal in summer, but in winter they venture out in the daytime as well.