Lagomorpha

Lagomorpha, from Greek λαγώς (lagṓs, “hare”) and Greek μορφή (morphē, “form, shape, appearance”), means “hare-shaped”, in reference to the fact that these animals are hare-related.

Common names of members

Rabbits, hares, pikas.

Distribution

All continents except Australia, Antarctica, and most islands.

Size

They are small animals, varying in size from 15–23 cm in body length and 120–350 g in weight to 60–75 cm and 3–5 kg.

Morphology

These, which range in size from small to moderate, are designed to move quickly. Having four toes on each foot, their hind legs are typically very lengthy, while their fore legs are shorter, having five toes apiece. They have powerful claws on each toe to help with grip when running, and the bottoms of their feet are hairy. They have outstanding senses of hearing, and the majority of them have characteristic, elongated, and moving ears. Others have rounded ears and small limbs. In the upper jaw, they have four incisors (smaller peg teeth behind larger incisors).

Ecology & Habitat

They are remarkably suited to a wide variety of environments, including swamps, woods, mountains, tundra, and deserts.

Diet

Exclusively herbivorous, feeding primarily on grasses and herbs, although they also eat leaves, fruit, seeds, sedges, shrub twigs, moss and lichens of various kinds.

Reproduction

Most are polygynandrous (both males and females mate with multiple individuals) and have a high reproduction rate. They can give birth to several large sized litters every year. Females give little parental care. They only visit the young once a day but their milk is highly nutritious.

Species known in Hong Kong