Leporidae
Leporidae is a family of mammals that includes rabbits and hares. The family is classified within the order Lagomorpha, which also includes the pikas. There are more than 60 species of leporids, divided into 11 genera.
Characteristics[edit | edit source]
Leporids are small to moderately sized mammals, adapted for rapid movement. They have long hind legs, with four toes on each foot, and shorter fore legs, with five toes each. The fur is most commonly long and soft, with colors ranging from white, through grays, browns, and blacks.
Distribution and habitat[edit | edit source]
Leporids are found in many parts of the world, except for southern South America, the West Indies, Madagascar, and most islands southeast of Asia. They are most common in North America and Eurasia.
Behavior and ecology[edit | edit source]
Most leporids are fast runners. Hares are generally larger than rabbits, with longer ears, and have black markings on their fur. Hares have not been domesticated, while some rabbits are domesticated and kept as pets. Leporids are herbivores, and their diet consists of grasses, forbs, and leafy weeds.
Classification[edit | edit source]
The 11 genera within the family Leporidae are divided into three tribes: Leporini (rabbits and hares), Ochotonini (pikas), and Prolagidae (the extinct Sardinian pika).
See also[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
External links[edit | edit source]
- Leporidae - information on rabbits and hares
| Leporidae Resources | |
|---|---|
|
 |
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
|
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
| Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD
