Leporidae
Encyclopedia
Leporids are the approximately 50 species of rabbit
s and hare
s which form the family
Leporidae. The leporids, together with the pika
s, constitute the mammal
ian order
Lagomorpha
. Leporids differ from pikas in having short furry tails, and elongated ears and hind legs. The name leporid is simply an abbreviation of the family name Leporidae meaning animals resembling "lepus", Latin for hare.
Members of all genera except Lepus
are usually referred to as rabbits, while members of Lepus (which accounts for almost half the species) are usually called hares. However the distinction between these two common names does not map completely into current taxonomy, since jackrabbit
s are members of Lepus, and members of the genera Pronolagus and Caprolagus are sometimes called hares.
Leporids are native across the world except Antarctica, and in Oceania
where their introduction is a significant threat for the native mammals in Australia
.
s, adapted for rapid movement. They have long hind legs, with four toes on each foot, and shorter fore legs, with five toes each. The soles of their feet are hairy, to improve grip while running, and they have strong claws on all of their toes. Leporids also have distinctive, elongated and mobile ears, and they have an excellent sense of hearing. Their eyes are large, and their night vision is good, reflecting their primarily nocturnal or crepuscular
mode of living.
Leporids range in size from the Pygmy Rabbit
(Brachylagus idahoensis), with a head and body length of 25–29 cm, and a weight of around 300 grams, to the European Hare
(Lepus europaeus), which is 50–76 cm in head-body length, and weighs from 2.5 to 5 kilograms.
Both rabbits and hares are almost exclusively herbivorous
(with exceptions among the members of Lepus), feeding primarily on grass
es and herbs, although they also eat leaves, fruit, and seeds of various kinds. They are coprophagous
, as they pass food through their digestive systems twice, first expelling it as soft green feces
, which they then re-ingest, eventually producing hard, dark fecal pellets. Like rodent
s, they have powerful front incisor
teeth, but they also have a smaller second pair of incisors to either side of the main teeth in the upper jaw, and the structure is different from that of rodent incisors. Also like rodents, leporids lack any canine teeth, but they do have more cheek teeth than rodents do. Their jaw also contains a large diastema
. The dental formula
of most, though not all, leporids is:
They have adapted to a remarkable range of habitats, from desert
to tundra
, forest
s, mountain
s, and swamp
land. Rabbits generally dig permanent burrow
s for shelter, the exact form of which varies between species. In contrast, hares rarely dig shelters of any kind, and their bodies are more suited to fast running than to burrowing.
The gestation
period in leporids varies from around 28 to 50 days, and is generally longer in the hares. This is in part because young hares, or leverets, are born fully developed, with fur and open eyes, while rabbit kits are naked and blind at birth, having the security of the burrow to protect them. Leporids can have several litters a year, which can cause their population to expand dramatically in a short period of time when resources are plentiful.
, by which time the family was already present in both North America and Asia. Over the course of their evolution, this group has become increasingly adapted to lives of fast running and leaping. For example, Palaeolagus
, an extinct rabbit from the Oligocene
of North America, had shorter hind legs than modern forms (indicating it ran rather than hopped) though it was in most other respects quite rabbit-like. Two as yet unnamed fossil finds—dated ~48 Ma (from China
) and ~53 Ma (India
)—while primitive, display the characteristic leporid ankle, thus pushing the divergence of Ochotonidae and Leporidae yet further into the past.
s and hare
s
Rabbit
Rabbits are small mammals in the family Leporidae of the order Lagomorpha, found in several parts of the world...
s and hare
Hare
Hares and jackrabbits are leporids belonging to the genus Lepus. Hares less than one year old are called leverets. Four species commonly known as types of hare are classified outside of Lepus: the hispid hare , and three species known as red rock hares .Hares are very fast-moving...
s which form the family
Family (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
Leporidae. The leporids, together with the pika
Pika
The pika is a small mammal, with short limbs, rounded ears, and short tail. The name pika is used for any member of the Ochotonidae, a family within the order of lagomorphs, which also includes the Leporidae . One genus, Ochotona, is recognised within the family, and it includes 30 species...
s, constitute the mammal
Mammal
Mammals are members of a class of air-breathing vertebrate animals characterised by the possession of endothermy, hair, three middle ear bones, and mammary glands functional in mothers with young...
ian order
Order (biology)
In scientific classification used in biology, the order is# a taxonomic rank used in the classification of organisms. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, family, genus, and species, with order fitting in between class and family...
Lagomorpha
Lagomorpha
The lagomorphs are the members of the taxonomic order Lagomorpha, of which there are two living families, the Leporidae , and the Ochotonidae...
. Leporids differ from pikas in having short furry tails, and elongated ears and hind legs. The name leporid is simply an abbreviation of the family name Leporidae meaning animals resembling "lepus", Latin for hare.
Members of all genera except Lepus
Hare
Hares and jackrabbits are leporids belonging to the genus Lepus. Hares less than one year old are called leverets. Four species commonly known as types of hare are classified outside of Lepus: the hispid hare , and three species known as red rock hares .Hares are very fast-moving...
are usually referred to as rabbits, while members of Lepus (which accounts for almost half the species) are usually called hares. However the distinction between these two common names does not map completely into current taxonomy, since jackrabbit
Hare
Hares and jackrabbits are leporids belonging to the genus Lepus. Hares less than one year old are called leverets. Four species commonly known as types of hare are classified outside of Lepus: the hispid hare , and three species known as red rock hares .Hares are very fast-moving...
s are members of Lepus, and members of the genera Pronolagus and Caprolagus are sometimes called hares.
Leporids are native across the world except Antarctica, and in Oceania
Oceania
Oceania is a region centered on the islands of the tropical Pacific Ocean. Conceptions of what constitutes Oceania range from the coral atolls and volcanic islands of the South Pacific to the entire insular region between Asia and the Americas, including Australasia and the Malay Archipelago...
where their introduction is a significant threat for the native mammals in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
.
Characteristics
Leporids are small to moderately sized mammalMammal
Mammals are members of a class of air-breathing vertebrate animals characterised by the possession of endothermy, hair, three middle ear bones, and mammary glands functional in mothers with young...
s, adapted for rapid movement. They have long hind legs, with four toes on each foot, and shorter fore legs, with five toes each. The soles of their feet are hairy, to improve grip while running, and they have strong claws on all of their toes. Leporids also have distinctive, elongated and mobile ears, and they have an excellent sense of hearing. Their eyes are large, and their night vision is good, reflecting their primarily nocturnal or crepuscular
Crepuscular
Crepuscular animals are those that are active primarily during twilight, that is during dawn and dusk. The word is derived from the Latin word crepusculum, meaning "twilight." Crepuscular is, thus, in contrast with diurnal and nocturnal behavior. Crepuscular animals may also be active on a bright...
mode of living.
Leporids range in size from the Pygmy Rabbit
Pygmy Rabbit
The Pygmy Rabbit is a North American rabbit, and is one of only two rabbit species in America to dig its own burrow...
(Brachylagus idahoensis), with a head and body length of 25–29 cm, and a weight of around 300 grams, to the European Hare
European Hare
The European hare , also known as the brown hare, Eastern Jackrabbit and Eastern prairie hare, is a species of hare native to northern, central, and western Europe and western Asia. It is a mammal adapted to temperate open country. It is related to the similarly appearing rabbit, which is in the...
(Lepus europaeus), which is 50–76 cm in head-body length, and weighs from 2.5 to 5 kilograms.
Both rabbits and hares are almost exclusively herbivorous
Herbivore
Herbivores are organisms that are anatomically and physiologically adapted to eat plant-based foods. Herbivory is a form of consumption in which an organism principally eats autotrophs such as plants, algae and photosynthesizing bacteria. More generally, organisms that feed on autotrophs in...
(with exceptions among the members of Lepus), feeding primarily on grass
Grass
Grasses, or more technically graminoids, are monocotyledonous, usually herbaceous plants with narrow leaves growing from the base. They include the "true grasses", of the Poaceae family, as well as the sedges and the rushes . The true grasses include cereals, bamboo and the grasses of lawns ...
es and herbs, although they also eat leaves, fruit, and seeds of various kinds. They are coprophagous
Coprophagia
Coprophagia or coprophagy is the consumption of feces, from the Greek κόπρος copros and φαγεῖν phagein . Many animal species practice coprophagia as a matter of course; other species do not normally consume feces but may do so under unusual conditions...
, as they pass food through their digestive systems twice, first expelling it as soft green feces
Feces
Feces, faeces, or fæces is a waste product from an animal's digestive tract expelled through the anus or cloaca during defecation.-Etymology:...
, which they then re-ingest, eventually producing hard, dark fecal pellets. Like rodent
Rodent
Rodentia is an order of mammals also known as rodents, characterised by two continuously growing incisors in the upper and lower jaws which must be kept short by gnawing....
s, they have powerful front incisor
Incisor
Incisors are the first kind of tooth in heterodont mammals. They are located in the premaxilla above and mandible below.-Function:...
teeth, but they also have a smaller second pair of incisors to either side of the main teeth in the upper jaw, and the structure is different from that of rodent incisors. Also like rodents, leporids lack any canine teeth, but they do have more cheek teeth than rodents do. Their jaw also contains a large diastema
Diastema (dentistry)
Diastema is a space or gap between two teeth. Many species of mammals have diastemata as a normal feature, most commonly between the incisors and molars.-In humans:...
. The dental formula
Dentition
Dentition pertains to the development of teeth and their arrangement in the mouth. In particular, the characteristic arrangement, kind, and number of teeth in a given species at a given age...
of most, though not all, leporids is:
They have adapted to a remarkable range of habitats, from desert
Desert
A desert is a landscape or region that receives an extremely low amount of precipitation, less than enough to support growth of most plants. Most deserts have an average annual precipitation of less than...
to tundra
Tundra
In physical geography, tundra is a biome where the tree growth is hindered by low temperatures and short growing seasons. The term tundra comes through Russian тундра from the Kildin Sami word tūndâr "uplands," "treeless mountain tract." There are three types of tundra: Arctic tundra, alpine...
, forest
Forest
A forest, also referred to as a wood or the woods, is an area with a high density of trees. As with cities, depending where you are in the world, what is considered a forest may vary significantly in size and have various classification according to how and what of the forest is composed...
s, mountain
Mountain
Image:Himalaya_annotated.jpg|thumb|right|The Himalayan mountain range with Mount Everestrect 58 14 160 49 Chomo Lonzorect 200 28 335 52 Makalurect 378 24 566 45 Mount Everestrect 188 581 920 656 Tibetan Plateaurect 250 406 340 427 Rong River...
s, and swamp
Swamp
A swamp is a wetland with some flooding of large areas of land by shallow bodies of water. A swamp generally has a large number of hammocks, or dry-land protrusions, covered by aquatic vegetation, or vegetation that tolerates periodical inundation. The two main types of swamp are "true" or swamp...
land. Rabbits generally dig permanent burrow
Burrow
A burrow is a hole or tunnel dug into the ground by an animal to create a space suitable for habitation, temporary refuge, or as a byproduct of locomotion. Burrows provide a form of shelter against predation and exposure to the elements, so the burrowing way of life is quite popular among the...
s for shelter, the exact form of which varies between species. In contrast, hares rarely dig shelters of any kind, and their bodies are more suited to fast running than to burrowing.
The gestation
Gestation
Gestation is the carrying of an embryo or fetus inside a female viviparous animal. Mammals during pregnancy can have one or more gestations at the same time ....
period in leporids varies from around 28 to 50 days, and is generally longer in the hares. This is in part because young hares, or leverets, are born fully developed, with fur and open eyes, while rabbit kits are naked and blind at birth, having the security of the burrow to protect them. Leporids can have several litters a year, which can cause their population to expand dramatically in a short period of time when resources are plentiful.
Evolution
The oldest known leporid species date from the late EoceneEocene
The Eocene Epoch, lasting from about 56 to 34 million years ago , is a major division of the geologic timescale and the second epoch of the Paleogene Period in the Cenozoic Era. The Eocene spans the time from the end of the Palaeocene Epoch to the beginning of the Oligocene Epoch. The start of the...
, by which time the family was already present in both North America and Asia. Over the course of their evolution, this group has become increasingly adapted to lives of fast running and leaping. For example, Palaeolagus
Palaeolagus
Palaeolagus is an extinct genus of lagomorph. Palaeolagus lived in the Oligocene period which was about 33-23 million years ago. The earliest leporids described from the fossil record of North America and Asia date to the upper Eocene some 40 million years ago. Selective pressure ostensibly drove...
, an extinct rabbit from the Oligocene
Oligocene
The Oligocene is a geologic epoch of the Paleogene Period and extends from about 34 million to 23 million years before the present . As with other older geologic periods, the rock beds that define the period are well identified but the exact dates of the start and end of the period are slightly...
of North America, had shorter hind legs than modern forms (indicating it ran rather than hopped) though it was in most other respects quite rabbit-like. Two as yet unnamed fossil finds—dated ~48 Ma (from China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
) and ~53 Ma (India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
)—while primitive, display the characteristic leporid ankle, thus pushing the divergence of Ochotonidae and Leporidae yet further into the past.
Classification
Family Leporidae: rabbitRabbit
Rabbits are small mammals in the family Leporidae of the order Lagomorpha, found in several parts of the world...
s and hare
Hare
Hares and jackrabbits are leporids belonging to the genus Lepus. Hares less than one year old are called leverets. Four species commonly known as types of hare are classified outside of Lepus: the hispid hare , and three species known as red rock hares .Hares are very fast-moving...
s
- Genus Pentalagus
- Amami Rabbit/Ryūkyū RabbitAmami RabbitThe Amami Rabbit , or , also known as the Ryukyu Rabbit, is a primitive dark-furred rabbit which is only found in Amami Ōshima and Toku-no-Shima, two small islands in between southern Kyūshū and Okinawa in Kagoshima Prefecture in Japan...
, Pentalagus furnessi
- Amami Rabbit/Ryūkyū Rabbit
- Genus Bunolagus
- Riverine RabbitRiverine RabbitThe Riverine Rabbit , also known as the Bushman Rabbit or Bushman Hare, is one of the rarest and most endangered mammals in the world, with probably no more than 200 individuals left. This rabbit has an extremely limited distribution area, found only in the central and southern regions of the Karoo...
, Bunolagus monticularis
- Riverine Rabbit
- Genus NesolagusNesolagusNesolagus is a genus of rabbits containing two species of striped rabbit, the Annamite Striped Rabbit and the Sumatran Striped Rabbit.-Species:Genus Nesolagus includes two species:* Annamite Striped Rabbit, Nesolagus timminsi...
- Sumatran Striped RabbitSumatran Striped RabbitThe Sumatran Striped Rabbit , also known as the Sumatra Short-eared Rabbit or Sumatran Rabbit, is a rabbit found only in forest in the Barisan Mountains in western Sumatra, Indonesia...
, Nesolagus netscheri - Annamite Striped RabbitAnnamite Striped RabbitThe Annamite Striped Rabbit is a species of rabbit native to the Annamite mountain range on the Laos-Vietnam border. The rabbit is striped, with a red rump, and resembles the Sumatran Striped Rabbit. It only recently became known to Western scientists.- External links :* at bbc.co.uk* at...
, Nesolagus timminsi
- Sumatran Striped Rabbit
- Genus Romerolagus
- Volcano RabbitVolcano RabbitThe Volcano Rabbit also known as teporingo or zacatuche is a small rabbit that resides in the mountains of Mexico. It is the world's second smallest rabbit, second only to the Pygmy Rabbit. It has small rounded ears, short legs, and short, thick fur. The Volcano Rabbit lives in groups of 2 to 5...
, Romerolagus diazi
- Volcano Rabbit
- Genus Brachylagus
- Pygmy RabbitPygmy RabbitThe Pygmy Rabbit is a North American rabbit, and is one of only two rabbit species in America to dig its own burrow...
, Brachylagus idahoensis
- Pygmy Rabbit
- Genus Sylvilagus
- Subgenus Tapeti
- Swamp RabbitSwamp RabbitThe Swamp Rabbit is a large cottontail rabbit found in the swamps and wetlands of the Southern United States.- Appearance :...
, Sylvilagus aquaticus - TapetiTapetiThe Tapeti , also known as the Brazilian Rabbit or Forest Rabbit, is a cottontail rabbit species found in Central and South America....
, Sylvilagus brasiliensis - Dice's CottontailDice's CottontailDice's Cottontail is a species of mammal in the Leporidae family. It is found in Costa Rica and Panama, in páramo and cloud forest habitats....
, Sylvilagus dicei - Omilteme CottontailOmilteme CottontailThe Omilteme Cottontail is a cottontail rabbit found only in the state of Guerrero, Mexico in the mountain range of Sierra Madre del Sur. Belonging to the family Leporidae, it is one of fourteen species in the genus Sylvilagus, a genus restricted to the New World...
, Sylvilagus insonus - Marsh RabbitMarsh RabbitThe marsh rabbit is a small cottontail rabbit found in marshes and swamps of coastal regions of the Eastern and Southern United States. It is a strong swimmer and found only near regions of water...
, Sylvilagus palustris - Venezuelan Lowland RabbitVenezuelan lowland rabbitThe Venezuelan lowland rabbit , also known as the Barinas wild rabbit, is a cottontail rabbit species found in western Venezuela. Its diet consists in large measure of plants of the genus Sida. It is found in lowland savannas close to dry forests within the Llanos ecoregion. It is the largest of...
, Sylvilagus varynaensis
- Swamp Rabbit
- Subgenus Sylvilagus
- Desert CottontailDesert CottontailThe Desert Cottontail , also known as Audubon's Cottontail, is a New World cottontail rabbit, a member of the family Leporidae....
, Sylvilagus audubonii - Manzano Mountain CottontailManzano Mountain CottontailThe Manzano Mountain Cottontail is a species of cottontail rabbit endemic to the Manzano Mountains in New Mexico, USA. It occurs in coniferous forests in high elevation. It was previously thought to be a subspecies of the Eastern cottontail....
, Sylvilagus cognatus - Mexican CottontailMexican CottontailThe Mexican Cottontail is a species of mammal in the family Leporidae. It is endemic to Mexico. Its natural habitats are temperate forests, subtropical or tropical dry forests, and pastureland. It is threatened by habitat loss.-Source:...
, Sylvilagus cunicularis - Eastern CottontailEastern CottontailThe eastern cottontail is a New World cottontail rabbit, a member of the family Leporidae. It is one of the most common rabbit species in North America.-Distribution:...
, Sylvilagus floridanus - Tres Marias RabbitTres Marias RabbitThe Tres Marias Cottontail or Tres Marias Rabbit is a species of mammal in the family Leporidae. It is endemic to the Tres Marias Islands, part of the Mexican state of Nayarit. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry forests. It is threatened by habitat loss....
, Sylvilagus graysoni - Mountain CottontailMountain CottontailThe Mountain Cottontail or Nuttall's Cottontail is a species of mammal in the Leporidae family. It is found in Canada and the United States.- Description :...
, Sylvilagus nuttallii - Appalachian CottontailAppalachian CottontailThe Appalachian Cottontail is a species of cottontail rabbit in the family Leporidae. It is a rare species found in upland areas of the eastern United States.-References:...
, Sylvilagus obscurus - Robust Rabbit, Sylvilagus robustus
- New England CottontailNew England CottontailThe New England Cottontail is a species of cottontail rabbit represented by fragmented populations in areas of New England, specifically from southern Maine to southern New York...
, Sylvilagus transitionalis
- Desert Cottontail
- Subgenus Microlagus
- Brush RabbitBrush RabbitThe Brush Rabbit , or Western Brush Rabbit, is a species of cottontail rabbit found in western coastal regions of North America, from the Columbia River in Oregon to the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula...
, Sylvilagus bachmani - San Jose Brush RabbitSan Jose Brush RabbitThe San Jose Brush Rabbit is a species of mammal in the family Leporidae. It is endemic to the 170 km2 desert San Jose Island in the Gulf of California, part of the Mexican state of Baja California Sur. The species is closely related to S...
, Sylvilagus mansuetus
- Brush Rabbit
- Subgenus Tapeti
- Genus Oryctolagus
- European RabbitEuropean RabbitThe European Rabbit or Common Rabbit is a species of rabbit native to south west Europe and north west Africa . It has been widely introduced elsewhere often with devastating effects on local biodiversity...
, Oryctolagus cuniculus
- European Rabbit
- Genus Poelagus
- Bunyoro RabbitBunyoro RabbitThe Bunyoro Rabbit or Central African Rabbit is a species of mammal in the Leporidae family. It is monotypic within the genus Poelagus. It is found in Angola, Burundi, Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Sudan, and Uganda.-References:* Lagomorph Specialist...
, Poelagus marjorita
- Bunyoro Rabbit
- Genus Pronolagus
- Natal Red Rock HareNatal Red Rock HareThe Greater Red Rock Hare or Natal Red Rock Hare is a species of mammal in the Leporidae family. It is found in Mozambique and South Africa.-References:...
, Pronolagus crassicaudatus - Jameson's Red Rock HareJameson's Red Rock HareJameson's Red Rock Hare is a leporid found only on the continent of Africa, mostly in the southern portion of the continent. South Africa has a population of this red rock hare but it is only found in the northwestern part of the country. Botswana also has a population, they occur mostly in the...
, Pronolagus randensis - Smith's Red Rock HareSmith's Red Rock HareSmith's Red Rock Hare is a species of mammal in the Leporidae family. It is found in Kenya, Malawi, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, and Zambia.- Description :...
, Pronolagus rupestris - Hewitt's Red Rock Hare, Pronolagus saundersiae
- Natal Red Rock Hare
- Genus Caprolagus
- Hispid HareHispid HareThe Hispid hare Caprolagus hispidus, also called Assam rabbit is a leporid native to South Asia, whose historic range extended along the southern foothills of the Himalayas. Today, the habitat of hispid hares is highly fragmented with an area of occupancy of less than extending over an estimated...
, Caprolagus hispidus
- Hispid Hare
- Genus LepusHareHares and jackrabbits are leporids belonging to the genus Lepus. Hares less than one year old are called leverets. Four species commonly known as types of hare are classified outside of Lepus: the hispid hare , and three species known as red rock hares .Hares are very fast-moving...
- Subgenus Macrotolagus
- Antelope JackrabbitAntelope JackrabbitThe Antelope Jackrabbit is a species of North American hare.-Geographic range:The Antelope Jackrabbit is found in Arizona in the United States and the states of Chihuahua, Nayarit, Sinaloa and Sonora in Mexico.-Habitat:...
, Lepus alleni
- Antelope Jackrabbit
- Subgenus Poecilolagus
- Snowshoe HareSnowshoe HareThe Snowshoe Hare , also called the Varying Hare, or Snowshoe Rabbit, is a species of hare found in North America. It has the name "snowshoe" because of the large size of its hind feet and the marks its tail leaves. The animal's feet prevent it from sinking into the snow when it hops and walks...
, Lepus americanus
- Snowshoe Hare
- Subgenus Lepus
- Arctic HareArctic HareThe arctic hare , or polar rabbit is a species of hare which is adapted largely to polar and mountainous habitats. The arctic hare survives with a thick coat of fur and usually digs holes under the ground or snow to keep warm and sleep...
, Lepus arcticus - Alaskan HareAlaskan HareThe Alaskan Hare is a species of mammal in the Leporidae family. It is found in the open tundra of western Alaska and the Aleutian Islands in the United States....
, Lepus othus - Mountain HareMountain HareThe Mountain Hare , also known as Blue Hare, Tundra Hare, Variable Hare, White Hare, Alpine Hare and Irish Hare, is a hare, which is largely adapted to polar and mountainous habitats. It is distributed from Fennoscandia to eastern Siberia; in addition there are isolated populations in the Alps,...
, Lepus timidus
- Arctic Hare
- Subgenus Proeulagus
- Black-tailed JackrabbitBlack-tailed JackrabbitThe black-tailed jackrabbit , also known as the american desert hare, is a common hare of the western United States and Mexico, where it is found at elevations from sea level to up to...
, Lepus californicus - White-sided Jackrabbit, Lepus callotis
- Cape HareCape HareThe Cape, Common or Brown Hare is a hare natively found throughout Africa, and has spread to many parts of the Europe, Middle East and Asia. The Cape Hare is a nocturnal herbivore.They are fast...
, Lepus capensis - Tehuantepec JackrabbitTehuantepec JackrabbitThe Tehuantepec Jackrabbit is easily distinguished from other species of jackrabbits by two black stripes that run from the base of the ears to the nape, and by its white flanks. Underparts are white, upperparts are bright-brown washed with black, rump is gray, and the tail is black. This leporid...
, Lepus flavigularis - Black JackrabbitBlack JackrabbitThe Black Jackrabbit is a species of mammal in the family Leporidae. Endemic to Mexico, it is known only from Espiritu Santo Island in the Gulf of California. The population is threatened by habitat loss. This taxon is regarded by some authorities as a subspecies of L. californicus....
, Lepus insularis - Scrub HareScrub HareThe Scrub Hare, Lepus saxatilis, is a species of hare found in South Africa, parts of central Africa, and Namibia. It is found at about 1 - 2 km above sea level. Its dorsal fur is gray and black, while its ventral fur is white. It has a black and white tail, while it has lighter fur around its...
, Lepus saxatilis - Desert HareDesert HareThe Desert Hare is a species of hare found in Northwestern China and countries adjacent to it. Little is known about this species except that it inhabits grassland and scrub areas of desert and semi-desert.-Reference:*...
, Lepus tibetanus - Tolai HareTolai HareThe Tolai Hare is a species of hare found in Central Asia, Mongolia, and Northern and Central China. It inhabits semi-desert, steppes, rocky habitats, and forest meadows. It is relatively common, even in areas with heavy human disturbance, due to its fast reproductive rate.-Reference:*...
, Lepus tolai
- Black-tailed Jackrabbit
- Subgenus Eulagos
- Broom HareBroom HareThe Broom Hare is a species of hare endemic to northern Spain. It is restricted to the Cantabrian Mountains in northern Spain between the Serra dos Ancares and the Sierra de Peña Labra. This region is approximately from east to west and from north to south...
, Lepus castrovieoi - Yunnan HareYunnan HareThe Yunnan Hare is a species of mammal in the Leporidae family. It is endemic to China , but its presence was recorded in northern Myanmar in 2000....
, Lepus comus - Korean HareKorean HareThe Korean Hare is a species of hare found in Korea and northeastern China. An adult Korean Hare weighs 2.1-2.6 kilograms, and has a body length of 45-54 centimeters. The tail is typically 2-5 cm in length, and the ears are 7.6-8.3 cm long. The Korean Hare inhabits diverse habitats...
, Lepus coreanus - Corsican HareCorsican HareThe Corsican Hare , also known as the Apennine Hare or Italian Hare, is a species of hare found in southern and central Italy and Corsica.-Taxonomy:...
, Lepus corsicanus - European HareEuropean HareThe European hare , also known as the brown hare, Eastern Jackrabbit and Eastern prairie hare, is a species of hare native to northern, central, and western Europe and western Asia. It is a mammal adapted to temperate open country. It is related to the similarly appearing rabbit, which is in the...
, Lepus europaeus - Granada HareGranada HareThe Granada Hare , also known as the Iberian Hare, is a hare species that can be found on the Iberian peninsula and on the island of Majorca.-Subspecies:...
, Lepus granatensis - Manchurian HareManchurian HareThe Manchurian Hare is a species of hare found in northeastern China, the Amur River basin, and in the higher mountains of northern Korea. The adult Manchurian Hare weighs about 2 kilograms, and has a body length of , in addition to a tail of . The ears are typically 7.5–10.4 centimeters in length...
, Lepus mandschuricus - Woolly HareWoolly HareThe Woolly Hare is a species of mammal in the Leporidae family. It is found in China, Pakistan, India, Nepal and Mongolia.-References:* Lagomorph Specialist Group 1996. . Downloaded on 31 July 2007....
, Lepus oiostolus - Ethiopian Highland HareEthiopian Highland HareThe Ethiopian Highland Hare is a species of mammal in the Leporidae family. It is endemic to the highlands of Ethiopia, where almost entirely restricted to altitudes above that of other African hares.-References:...
, Lepus starcki - White-tailed JackrabbitWhite-tailed JackrabbitThe White-tailed Jackrabbit , also known as the Prairie Hare and the White Jack, is a hare found in western North America. Briefly reputed to have been extirpated , it is now clear from observations, roadkilled specimens and historical records that white-tailed jackrabbits are still extant in...
, Lepus townsendii
- Broom Hare
- Subgenus Sabanalagus
- Ethiopian HareEthiopian HareThe Ethiopian Hare is a species of mammal in the Leporidae family. It is found in Ethiopia and Kenya.-Source:* Lagomorph Specialist Group 1996. . Downloaded on 31 July 2007....
, Lepus fagani - African Savanna HareAfrican Savanna HareThe African Savanna Hare is a species of mammal in the Leporidae family. It is found in Algeria, Botswana, Burundi, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Namibia, Niger, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa,...
, Lepus microtis
- Ethiopian Hare
- Subgenus Indolagus
- Hainan HareHainan HareThe Hainan Hare is a species of hare endemic to Hainan Island, China.-Description:The Hainan Hare is small; its body length is less than 40 cm and weighs only 1.5 kg. Its head is small and round. It has long ears that are longer than its hind feet. The upper part of the tail is black, while the...
, Lepus hainanus - Indian HareIndian HareThe Indian Hare , also known as the Black-naped Hare, is a common species of hare found in South Asia. and in java....
, Lepus nigricollis - Burmese HareBurmese HareThe Burmese Hare is a species of mammal in the Leporidae family. It is found in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam.-References:* Lagomorph Specialist Group 1996. . Downloaded on 31 July 2007....
, Lepus peguensis
- Hainan Hare
- Subgenus Sinolagus
- Chinese HareChinese HareThe Chinese Hare is a species of mammal in the Leporidae family. It is found in China, Taiwan, and Vietnam.-References:* Lagomorph Specialist Group 1996. . Downloaded on 31 July 2007....
, Lepus sinensis
- Chinese Hare
- Subgenus Tarimolagus
- Yarkand HareYarkand HareThe Yarkand or Yarkland Hare is a species of mammal in the Leporidae family. It is endemic to China. Its natural habitat is temperate forests. It is threatened by habitat loss.-Source:...
, Lepus yarkandensis
- Yarkand Hare
- Subgenus incertae sedisIncertae sedis, is a term used to define a taxonomic group where its broader relationships are unknown or undefined. Uncertainty at specific taxonomic levels is attributed by , , and similar terms.-Examples:*The fossil plant Paradinandra suecica could not be assigned to any...
- Japanese HareJapanese HareThe Japanese Hare is an Asian hare.-Geographic range:The Japanese Hare is found on the continent of Asia. It is found primarily in 5 countries even though it is named for Japan. The Japanese Hare is found in Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea, and Russia.-Habitat:The Japanese Hare is mostly...
, Lepus brachyurus - Abyssinian HareAbyssinian HareThe Abyssinian Hare is a species of mammal in the Leporidae family. It is almost entirely restricted to the nations of the Horn of Africa, though it extends marginally into eastern Sudan and may also occur in far northern Kenya...
, Lepus habessinicus
- Japanese Hare
- Subgenus Macrotolagus