Mountain hare (Lepus timidus)

The Mountain hare is a species which is a relic from the glacial period. It has an immigration pattern which is similar to that of the rock ptarmigan. During the glacial periods of the quaternary era, this rodent left Siberia to come and colonise Europe.
When the glaciers shrank as the climate warmed up (10000 years ago), it found refuge in the Alps and Pyrenees. Due to the slow nature of the change, the species was able to adapt. Today it can be found in the arctic zones situated above the 60th parallel and in the mountains above 2000m altitude.