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Rabbits & Hares

Leporidae

Rabbits and hares are closely related herbivorous mammals in the order Lagomorpha and family Leporidae, but “rabbit” and “hare” usually refer to different lineages and lifestyles: hares are most often species in the genus Lepus and tend to be larger, with longer ears and hind feet, while rabbits span several other leporid genera (and the European rabbit, Oryctolagus cuniculus, is the ancestor of domestic rabbits). Rabbits are more likely to use burrows, whereas hares typically rest and raise young above ground in shallow depressions called forms; correspondingly, rabbit young are usually altricial (born naked, blind, and helpless) while hare young (“leverets”) are usually precocial (born furred, eyes open, and mobile).

Rabbits and hares are closely related herbivorous mammals in the order Lagomorpha and family Leporidae, but “rabbit” and “hare” usually refer to different lineages and lifestyles: hares are most often species in the genus Lepus and tend to be larger, with longer ears and hind feet, while rabbits span several other leporid genera (and the European rabbit, Oryctolagus cuniculus, is the ancestor of domestic rabbits). Rabbits are more likely to use burrows, whereas hares typically rest and raise young above ground in shallow depressions called forms; correspondingly, rabbit young are usually altricial (born naked, blind, and helpless) while hare young (“leverets”) are usually precocial (born furred, eyes open, and mobile).