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How do large feet help snowshoe hares and lynx move across snow?
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Taiga
Boreal forest, Alaska, U.S., dominated by spruce trees (Picea).
In the taiga, both the snowshoe hare and the Canada lynx possess large feet that serve as a specialized adaptation for navigating deep winter snowpacks.1
These large, heavily furred paws function similarly to snowshoes, providing essential weight distribution. By increasing the surface area of their feet, these animals are able to remain on the surface of the snow rather than sinking into it, which allows for efficient movement across the landscape during the winter months.213