Lagomorpha is an order of placental mammals, comprising the rabbits, hares, and pikas. Members of this order are called lagomorphs. It currently comprises 93 extant species, which are grouped into 12 genera. Lagomorphs live on every major landmass except Antarctica, and in a variety of habitats, especially forests, grasslands, shrublands, and rocky areas. They are generally small in size and come in two main groupings of body plans, the larger rabbit group and smaller pika group, ranging overall from the 11 cm (4 in) long Gansu pika to the 76 cm (30 in) long desert hare. The domestic rabbit subspecies of the European rabbit has been domesticated, resulting in a worldwide distribution.
Lagomorpha is divided into two families: Leporidae, comprising the rabbits and hares; and Ochotonidae, or the pikas. The 64 extant species of Leporidae are divided into 11 genera, though the majority of the species are placed into Sylvilagus (cottontail rabbits) and Lepus (hares); the 29 extant species of Ochotonidae are grouped into a single genus, Ochotona. The exact organization of the species is not fixed, with many recent proposals made based on molecular phylogenetic analysis. No lagomorph species have recently gone extinct, though some species are endangered and the riverine rabbit is critically endangered.
Conventions
Range maps are provided wherever possible; if a range map is not available, a description of the collective range of species in that genera is provided. Ranges are based on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species unless otherwise noted. All extinct genera or species listed alongside extant species went extinct after 1500 CE, and are indicated by a dagger symbol "†".
Classification
The order Lagomorpha consists of 93 extant species belonging to 12 genera. This does not include hybrid species or extinct prehistoric species. Modern molecular studies indicate that the 12 genera can be grouped into 2 families.
Family Leporidae
- Genus Brachylagus (pygmy rabbit): one species
- Genus Bunolagus (riverine rabbit): one species
- Genus Caprolagus (hispid hare): one species
- Genus Lepus (hares): 32 species
- Genus Nesolagus (striped rabbits): two species
- Genus Oryctolagus (European rabbit): one species
- Genus Pentalagus (Amami rabbit): one species
- Genus Poelagus (Bunyoro rabbit): one species
- Genus Pronolagus (red rock hares): four species
- Genus Romerolagus (volcano rabbit): one species
- Genus Sylvilagus (cottontail rabbits): 19 species
Family Ochotonidae
- Genus Ochotona (pikas): 29 species
Lagomorphs
The following classification is based on the taxonomy described by the reference work Mammal Species of the World (2005), with augmentation by generally accepted proposals made since using molecular phylogenetic analysis, as supported by both the IUCN and the American Society of Mammalogists.
Family Leporidae
Members of the Leporidae family are called leporids, or colloquially rabbits and hares. Leporidae comprises 73 extant species, divided into 11 genera.
| Name | Authority and species | Range | Size and ecology |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brachylagus | Miller, 1900 One species
| Western America (introduced in red) | Size: 23–30 cm (9–12 in) long, plus 1–3 cm (0.4–1.2 in) tail Habitats: Shrubland and desert Diet: Sagebrush, as well as grass and other plants |
| Bunolagus | Thomas, 1929 One species
| Southern South America | Size: 33–47 cm (13–19 in) long, plus 7–11 cm (3–4 in) tail Habitats: Shrubland Diet: Shrubs as well as grass |
| Caprolagus | Blyth, 1845 One species
| Himalayas | Size: 38–50 cm (15–20 in) long, plus 2–4 cm (1–2 in) tail Habitats: Grassland and inland wetlands Diet: Grass as well as other plants |
| Lepus (hare) | Linnaeus, 1758 32 species
| Africa, Asia, Europe, and North America | Size range: 28 cm (11 in) long, plus 5 cm (2 in) tail (Yarkand hare) to 76 cm (30 in) long (Desert hare) Habitats: Desert, coastal marine, inland wetlands, forest, shrubland, rocky areas, savanna, caves, and grassland Diets: Wide variety of plants |
| Nesolagus (striped rabbit) | Major, 1899 Two species
| Sumatra and the Annamite Range in Laos and Vietnam | Size range: 35 cm (14 in) long (Annamite striped rabbit) to 42 cm (17 in) long plus 17 cm (7 in) tail (Sumatran striped rabbit) Habitats: Forest Diets: Various plants |
| Oryctolagus | Lilljeborg, 1762 One species
| Europe, southern South America, and Oceana (native in orange, introduced in purple) | Size: 38–50 cm (15–20 in) long Habitats: Forest, savanna, shrubland, and grassland Diet: Grass, leaves, buds, bark, and roots |
| Pentalagus | Lyon, 1904 One species
| Southern tip of Japan | Size: 39–53 cm (15–21 in) long, plus 2–4 cm (1–2 in) tail Habitats: Forest, shrubland, and intertidal marine Diet: Herbs, shrubs, and acorns |
| Poelagus | St. Leger, 1932 One species
| Central Africa | Size: 45–50 cm (18–20 in) long, plus 4–5 cm (1.6–2.0 in) tail Habitats: Forest, savanna, and rocky areas Diet: Grass, shrubs, forbs, and tubers |
| Pronolagus (red rock hare) | Lyon, 1904 Four species
| Southern Africa | Size range: 38 cm (15 in) long, plus 5 cm (2 in) tail (Hewitt's red rock hare) to 56 cm (22 in) long plus 11 cm (4 in) tail (Natal red rock hare) Habitats: Desert, grassland, shrubland, and rocky areas Diets: Grass, herbs, and shrubs |
| Romerolagus | Merriam, 1896 One species
| Southern Mexico | Size: 27–32 cm (11–13 in) long, plus 1–4 cm (0.4–1.6 in) tail Habitats: Forest and grassland Diet: Grass |
| Sylvilagus (cottontail rabbit) | Gray, 1867 19 species
| North America and South America | Size range: 21 cm (8 in) long, plus 1 cm (0.4 in) tail (Tres Marias cottontail) to 55 cm (22 in) long plus 8 cm (3 in) tail (Swamp rabbit) Habitats: Desert, inland wetlands, intertidal marine, forest, shrubland, rocky areas, savanna, and grassland Diets: Wide variety of plants |
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Family Ochotonidae
Members of the Ochotonidae family are called ochotonids, or colloquially pikas. Ochotonidae comprises 34 extant species, which are all contained within a single genus.
| Name | Authority and species | Range | Size and ecology |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ochotona (pika) | Link, 1795 29 species
| Asia and western North America | Size range: 11 cm (4 in) long (Gansu pika) to 29 cm (11 in) long (Northern pika) Habitats: Desert, forest, shrubland, rocky areas, and grassland Diets: Wide variety of plants |
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References
Sources
- Feldhamer, George A.; Thompson, Bruce Carlyle; Chapman, Joseph A. (2003). Wild Mammals of North America. Johns Hopkins University Press. ISBN 978-0-8018-7416-1.
- Kingdon, Jonathan (2015). The Kingdon Field Guide to African Mammals (Second ed.). Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4729-2531-2.
- Kurta, Allen (1995). Mammals of the Great Lakes Region. University of Michigan Press. ISBN 978-0-472-06497-7.
- Smith, Andrew T.; Johnston, Charlotte H.; Alves, Paolo C.; Hackländer, Klaus, eds. (2018). Lagomorphs: Pikas, Rabbits, and Hares of the World. Johns Hopkins University Press. ISBN 978-1-4214-2340-1.
- Smith, Andrew T.; Xie, Yan; Hoffmann, Robert S.; Lunde, Darrin; MacKinnon, John; Wilson, Don E.; Wozencraft, W. Chris, eds. (2010). A Guide to the Mammals of China. Princeton University Press. ISBN 978-1-4008-3411-2.
- Verts, B. J.; Carraway, Leslie N. (1998). Land Mammals of Oregon. University of California Press. ISBN 978-0-520-21199-5.
- Hoffmann, Robert S.; Smith, Andrew T. (2005). Wilson, Don E.; Reeder, DeeAnn M. (eds.). Mammal Species of the World. Vol. 1 (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0.