Question

Why would the black-tailed jackrabbit evolve the following characteristics: large ears to regulate body temperature; long legs help outrun predators; fur on the bottoms of feet protect from hot, hard surfaces;digests food twice to obtain the maximum amount of water and nutrition?

Answer 1

The black-tailed jackrabbit has evolved with some of the physiological characteristics for its survival in chaparral environment. The chaparral environment has its characteristics of hot and dry temperatures with mild winters and hot summers. The animals and plants in such a biological environment have evolved to adapt to this type of environment.

In case of the black-tailed jackrabbit the characteristics of large ears in structure with blood vessels and thin skin regulates the blood flow through the ears when there is an increase in temperature. The heat escapes into the surrounding and cools the body of the animal. The fur covered feet acts as an insulator for the delicate sole from the ground heat. The animal also has adapted ways to conserve water and once the food they eat such as leaves, grasses, cacti etc. the jackrabbits eats up its own feces to digest the food twice to obtain as much as moisture possible.

Answer 2

Generally, physical characteristics are adaptations to the environment the animals lives in and large ears help the rabbit not get too hot while it's running from the predators: it can also run fast, so those two adaptations help the rabbit survive by escape the predators. Same holds for the fur - it will help the rabbit run faster without burning its feet. Finally, the double digestion helps the rabbit to obtain more energy in areas where food is scarce.