Wild Mammals: Hares in Morocco
Stepping back for a broader view, all these hares, along with rabbits, belong to the order Lagomorpha. These are medium-sized plant-eaters known for their dense fur, a short (or even absent) tail, a round head with large eyes, and, of course, well-developed ears. A really unique thing about them is their teeth: they have two pairs of upper incisors stacked one behind the other, and one pair of lower incisors, with a gap separating these from their cheek teeth, and they never have canines. Lagomorphs munch on a wide array of plants and practice something called caecotrophy, which means they re-ingest special soft droppings produced at night to absorb essential nutrients, particularly vitamin B. While some, like wild rabbits, are quite social, others, like hares, tend to be solitary. Their impressive ability to reproduce makes them a vital food source for many predators. Here in Morocco, the Leporidae family is the only representative of this order, mainly split into two genera:
- Lepus (the hares),
- Oryctolagus (rabbits).
Scientists are still working out the finer details of taxonomy within the Lepus genus, especially concerning species like The Mediterranean hare (Lepus mediterraneus) and the provisionally named African savanna hare (Lepus microtis).
Ángel Cabrera 1932's findings
Ángel Cabrera Latorre's (1879-1960) significant work published in 1932, titled "Los Mamíferos de Marruecos" (The Mammals of Morocco). It was a landmark publication in the study of North African mammals and remains a cornerstone in the field. "Los Mamíferos de Marruecos" included detailed accounts of the Lepus species and subspecies recognized by Cabrera in Morocco at that time, including their morphology, distribution, and any distinct characteristics he observed.
Marrakech Hare
We can start with a particular hare found in the heartland of Morocco, specifically in the area south of the Oum Er-Rbia River. Marrakech is often considered the classic spot for this hare, as many of the specimens studied were sourced from there, though its territory stretches southwest at least as far as Seksaua. Seksaua is located near Assif El Mal, in the Chichaoua province, which is part of the Marrakech-Tensift-Al Haouz region. This hare's skull isn't dramatically different from the typical hare form, aside from being a bit larger, this Marrakech hare is notable for its dark fur, which gives it a striking resemblance to **the Moroccan hare (**Lepus schlumbergeri), even though it's considered distinct. For a sense of their size, measurements from 4 males from Marrakech and 1 female from Seksaua show a head and body length between 360 and 430 mm, with impressive ears ranging from 125 to 145 mm.
Ain Sefra Hare (Lepus schlumbergeri sefranus)
Journeying to the extreme southeast of Morocco and into the neighboring Algerian Sahara, we encounter another distinct variety: Lepus schlumbergeri sefranus. This one stands out for being smaller, much paler, and having a more pinkish hue than its northern Moroccan cousins, with a generally less vibrant coat. Its back hairs, for instance, have a narrower black band and a wider pale pinkish edge. It has a black tip on its ears is less pronounced, and its nape is a pinkish-white, blending subtly with the grey of its back. The front of its neck and lower flanks also share this pinkish-white coloration. As an example, a female from Ain Sefra in southwestern Algeria measured 405 mm in head and body length with 125 mm ears. It's thought that hares found around Figuig probably belong to this same subspecies, given how close the areas are.
Rif Hare (Lepus schlumbergeri maroccanus)
Let's talk about a special kind of hare found in the eastern part of Morocco, in the Oriental Rif. This particular hare is a bit smaller than others you might find further west, and it's believed to live not just in Morocco, but also stretches into Oran, Algeria. This hare looks a lot like the hares found near Essaouira. The main differences are in their fur colors.
Now, back to recent studies,
The molecular analyses yielded significant results, revealing the presence of 3 distinct Lepus species in Morocco, which were genetically different from Cape hare (Lepus capensis) and The African savanna hare (Lepus victoriae). One of these, found in the western Sahara (Morocco), was identified and formally described as a new species, Lepus saharae sp. nov. The other two species were identified as Lepus mediterraneus (inhabiting northern Morocco) and Lepus schlumbergeri (occupying central Morocco). These 3 species exhibit contiguous, partially overlapping geographical ranges that extend beyond Morocco into neighboring countries. This study highlighted that the remarkable morphological similarity among these species had historically masked their true diversity. This "cryptic diversity" was attributed to various eco-evolutionary pressures. Hares have adapted to diverse habitats, including mountains and deserts, and population isolation due to distance, climatic factors, or geographical barriers has facilitated their differentiation. However, strong evolutionary pressures have also led to morphological convergence. For instance, the need for speed in open environments has driven the convergence of physical traits like long legs and efficient cardiac capacity, as any deviation from optimal running characteristics would be detrimental. Similarly, the necessity for effective camouflage against predators has led to convergent fur coloration, predominantly earthy tones, which are crucial for survival in their habitats. This explains why multiple species living in similar environments might appear phenotypically indistinguishable.
The Mediterranean hare (Lepus mediterraneus)
Lepus capensis ssp. mediterraneus (2018)
Focusing on one of the most common local types, the Mediterranean Hare, often identified as Lepus mediterraneus (though its classification is sometimes linked to the wider Lepus capensis group), is found all across Morocco. You can spot it from the Atlantic coast right to the Algerian border, and from the Mediterranean shores down to the northern Western Sahara. It’s pretty adaptable, living in various open environments from sea level up to over 3500 meters in the High Atlas mountains. This hare typically measures between 380-510 mm from head to body, with a tail of 70-115 mm, and weighs between 1.4 and 2.5 kg. It has a slender build, long ears (105-126 mm) that often have black tips, and a tail that's black on top and white underneath. Its fur is fine and dense, usually grey-brown on the back (often with blackish highlights), while its flanks are lighter, ranging from reddish-brown to yellowish. Its belly is pure white, and its head matches its back, with a whitish ring around the eyes. The Mediterranean Hare is mostly active at night and keeps to itself, feeding on grasses, cultivated plants, bark, roots, and fruits. In desert areas, it might even dig simple burrows to escape the heat. They can breed throughout the year, with a gestation period of 41-42 days leading to 1-4 young that are born ready to go (precocial). Although their numbers have dropped in some farming areas due to habitat changes and hunting, they're still common in suitable spots and are listed as Least Concern (LC) by the IUCN.
- Los Mamíferos de Marruecos
- Atlas des Mammifères sauvages du Maroc. Peuplement, répartition, écologie. Stéphane Aulagnier, Fabrice Cuzin et Michel Thévenot. SFEPM, 2017.
- Guide DELACHAUX - Mammifères d'Europe, d'Afrique du Nord et du Moyen-Orient, 2020.
- Evolutionary ecology of hares (Lepus spp.) from northwestern Africa; The problem of cryptic species and the description of a new species (Lepus saharae sp. nov.)
- https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/1423517-Lepus-capensis-mediterraneus
- https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/41277/45186750
Posted May 11, 2025, 4:53 PM UTC