 The European hare is one of the largest living members of Lagomorpha . Its head and body length can range from 48 to 75 cm ( 19 to 30 in ) with a tail length of 7 to 13 cm ( 2 @.@ 8 to 5 @.@ 1 in ) . The body mass can range from 2 @.@ 5 to 7 kg ( 5 @.@ 5 to 15 @.@ 4 lb ) . As with all leporids , the hare has elongated ears which , in this species , ranges from 9 @.@ 4 to 11 @.@ 0 cm ( 3 @.@ 7 to 4 @.@ 3 in ) from the notch . It also has long hind feet that have a length from 14 to 16 cm ( 5 @.@ 5 to 6 @.@ 3 in ) . The fur colour is grizzled yellow @-@ brown on the back ; rufous on the shoulders , legs , neck and throat ; white on the underside and black on the tail and ear tips . The European hare ’ s fur does not turn completely white in the winter , although the sides of the head and base of the ears do develop white areas . The limb musculature of hares is adapted for high @-@ speed endurance running in open areas . By contrast , cottontail rabbits are built for short bursts of speed in more covered habitats . 
