General Overview
The Leporidae family includes rabbits and hares, with more than 60 species distributed across most continents except Antarctica. Members of this family are herbivorous mammals best known for their long ears, powerful hind legs, and rapid reproductive rates. They play important ecological roles as grazers and prey animals, forming a key link in many food chains. Domesticated rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus domesticus) are widespread as pets and livestock, while wild species vary from forest dwellers to desert specialists.
Appearance
Leporids are medium-sized mammals with soft fur, short tails, long hind legs, and distinctive long ears that aid in detecting predators and regulating body temperature. Rabbits tend to be smaller, with shorter ears and legs, while hares are larger, with longer limbs and ears often tipped in black. Their coats are usually shades of brown, gray, or white forcamouflage, and many species undergo seasonal changes, turning white in snowy environments for winter protection.
Diet
Rabbits and hares are strict herbivores, feeding mainly on grasses, herbs, leaves, bark, and crops. They practice coprophagy, re-ingesting soft fecal pellets to extract additional nutrients, which allows them to maximize energy from fibrous plant material. Their feeding habits help shape plant communities and provide food for predators, making them ecologically significant in both wild and human-influenced landscapes.
Habitat
Leporids inhabit a wide range of habitats, including grasslands, forests, tundra, deserts, and agricultural areas. Rabbits are often burrowers, constructing extensive underground warrens for shelter and breeding, while hares typically rest in shallow surface depressions called “forms.” Their adaptability has allowed them to thrive in diverse climates, and some species, such as the European rabbit, have been introduced far beyond their native range.
Behavior
Leporids are generally crepuscular or nocturnal, spending daylight hours hidden from predators. They are fast runners and agile leapers, relying on speed and zig-zagging escape maneuvers to evade threats. Social behavior varies: some rabbits live in large colonies with complex social structures, while hares are more solitary. Breeding rates are extremely high, with multiple litters produced each year, contributing to their reputation for rapid population growth. Maternal care is short in hares, whose precocial young (leverets) are born fully furred and mobile, whereas rabbits give birth to altricial young (kits) that are blind and helpless at birth.
