Sprawled face down in the sand, this black tailed jackrabbit seemed exhausted by the desert heat — which, as I mentioned in a post last week, reached 122 degrees. Those long ears, in fact, are an adaptation to the extreme conditions of the desert. The large surface area of each ear is loaded with blood vessels that release heat and thereby cool down the core body temperature of the rabbit. I, of course, was also face down in the sand enabling a ground level perspective. My ears, however, had little effect on my core body temperture. Nikon D800 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 800, f/4 at 1/100th of a second
I’m a native New Englander myself. It can get hot, for sure, but I’ve never experienced anything like 122 degrees those poor jackrabbits were dealing with.
That is an amazing shot! I love it..reminds me of my pup…she does the same thing in the heat, stomach down on my tile, back legs stretched out behind. Her ears don’t cool her much either, but her tongue seems to do the trick…I hope your sweat glands were working at top performance in that heat….I have felt it and it feels like being inside a huge oven…even the air around smells of baking bread, I think from the wild grasses drying in the sun. I’ll take the dry heat to humidity any day, but not 122 degrees!
Thanks for the great shot, Sean. It is no small thing to put your tummy on that sand!
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Sprawled face down in the sand, this black tailed jackrabbit seemed exhausted by the desert heat — which, as I mentioned in a post last week, reached 122 degrees. Those long ears, in fact, are an adaptation to the extreme conditions of the desert. The large surface area of each ear is loaded with blood vessels that release heat and thereby cool down the core body temperature of the rabbit. I, of course, was also face down in the sand enabling a ground level perspective. My ears, however, had little effect on my core body temperture.
Amazing image and story !
Thank you Sean!
You’re welcome Hope. Thanks for taking the time to view my photos.
Heat exchangers on full—-Even in a comfy scrape I would—-Wish to be elsewhere.
Amazing shot and story. I see our eastern cottontails do the same thing in the hot summer sun. But our New England sun isn’t as hot as the desert sun!
Hi Rachel,
I’m a native New Englander myself. It can get hot, for sure, but I’ve never experienced anything like 122 degrees those poor jackrabbits were dealing with.
Omg he is soooo cute!!! I’m sure you looked adorable too.
SO great!!
LOL!
That is an amazing shot! I love it..reminds me of my pup…she does the same thing in the heat, stomach down on my tile, back legs stretched out behind. Her ears don’t cool her much either, but her tongue seems to do the trick…I hope your sweat glands were working at top performance in that heat….I have felt it and it feels like being inside a huge oven…even the air around smells of baking bread, I think from the wild grasses drying in the sun. I’ll take the dry heat to humidity any day, but not 122 degrees!
Thanks for the great shot, Sean. It is no small thing to put your tummy on that sand!
Hi Melissa, that’s funny, I thought of my mother’s dog, who also does the same thing.