The Ezo yuki usagi, or Hokkaido mountain hare, is popular for its pure white, fluffy appearance. But have you ever seen the paws of this animal, a symbol of winter in Hokkaido? It turns out they have no paw pads and are much larger than you'd imagine. A photo captured by a photographer has become a hot topic on social media, revealing a surprising evolution that helps them survive the harsh nature of Hokkaido. The photo posted shows a pure white, fluffy Ezo yuki usagi. However, what surprised many people were its paws. They are huge, about the same size as its head and ears! Moreover, there are no paw pads like those on a dog or cat. The bottoms of its feet are densely covered in fur. The post received over 4,000 reposts, with users commenting in amazement, "No paw pads!" "Unexpectedly huge!" and "So cute."

Why no paw pads? An evolution for running on snow

A shot of the Ezo yuki usagi taken by Sachiko Tsuchiya. You can feel its speed from the photo.

The photo was taken by Sachiko Tsuchiya, a photographer who captures wildlife in Hokkaido. The reason the Ezo yuki usagi lacks paw pads is due to an evolution for surviving Hokkaido's harsh winters. Instead of pads, the long fur covering the soles of its feet acts as a non-slip grip on the snow. Furthermore, the fur allows the paws to spread out like a cushion, acting like snowshoes and enabling the rabbit to run on deep snow without sinking.

Also, contrary to its adorable appearance, the Ezo yuki usagi possesses incredible physical abilities. In her post, Ms. Tsuchiya explained the rabbit's speed as follows:

The Ezo yuki usagi captivates many with its pure white winter coat and adorable appearance. But hidden in its paws is the wisdom and evolution for surviving the snowy plains of Hokkaido.