The Irish Hare Credit: Mike Rendle The Irish hare Lepus timidus
hibernicus is the only species of lagomorph native to the island
of Ireland. Carbon dating of cave fossils has shown that hares
were present in Ireland as far back as 30,000 BP. This species
is now thought to have continuously inhabited Ireland since
before the last ice age. The Irish hare's unique morphology,
ecology and behaviour as compared to other mountain hares seem
to be the result of genetic adaption over a period of at least
30,000 to 60,000 years. Consequently the Irish hare possesses a
high number of unique genetic characters that are not shared by
any other hare species outside of Ireland. This suggests the
current Irish hare population could be the only remaining
descendants of an older genetic lineage that was probably common
in Europe prior to the last Ice age. So although the Irish hare
is currently classified as a sub-species of the mountain hare
there is now compelling evidence that it should be given species
status in its own r