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.

Brown rabbit
European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus)
Brown pika
Large-eared pika (Ochotona macrotis)

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

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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

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Lagomorpha range

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.[1]

Family Leporidae

Family Ochotonidae

Lagomorpha[1]  

Lagomorphs

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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.[2]

Family Leporidae

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Members of the Leporidae family are called leporids, or colloquially rabbits and hares. Leporidae comprises 73 extant species, divided into 11 genera.

Not assigned to a named subfamily – eleven 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[3]

Habitats: Shrubland and desert[4]

Diet: Sagebrush, as well as grass and other plants[3]
Bunolagus

 

Thomas, 1929

One species
Southern South America
 
Size: 33–47 cm (13–19 in) long, plus 7–11 cm (3–4 in) tail[5]

Habitats: Shrubland[6]

Diet: Shrubs as well as grass[6]
Caprolagus

 

Blyth, 1845

One species
Himalayas
 
Size: 38–50 cm (15–20 in) long, plus 2–4 cm (1–2 in) tail[7]

Habitats: Grassland and inland wetlands[8]

Diet: Grass as well as other plants[8]
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)[9]

Habitats: Desert, coastal marine, inland wetlands, forest, shrubland, rocky areas, savanna, caves, and grassland[10]

Diets: Wide variety of plants[10]
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)[11]

Habitats: Forest[12]

Diets: Various plants[12]
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[13]

Habitats: Forest, savanna, shrubland, and grassland[14]

Diet: Grass, leaves, buds, bark, and roots[13]
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[15]

Habitats: Forest, shrubland, and intertidal marine[16]

Diet: Herbs, shrubs, and acorns[16]
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[17]

Habitats: Forest, savanna, and rocky areas[18]

Diet: Grass, shrubs, forbs, and tubers[17]
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)[19]

Habitats: Desert, grassland, shrubland, and rocky areas[20]

Diets: Grass, herbs, and shrubs[20]
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[21]

Habitats: Forest and grassland[22]

Diet: Grass[21]
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)[23]

Habitats: Desert, inland wetlands, intertidal marine, forest, shrubland, rocky areas, savanna, and grassland[24]

Diets: Wide variety of plants[24]

Family Ochotonidae

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Members of the Ochotonidae family are called ochotonids, or colloquially pikas. Ochotonidae comprises 34 extant species, which are all contained within a single genus.

Not assigned to a named subfamily – one 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)[25]

Habitats: Desert, forest, shrubland, rocky areas, and grassland[26]

Diets: Wide variety of plants[26]

References

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  1. ^ a b Matthee, C. A.; Van Vuuren, B. J.; Bell, D.; Robinson, T. J. (2004). "A Molecular Supermatrix of the Rabbits and Hares (Leporidae) Allows for the Identification of Five Intercontinental Exchanges During the Miocene". Systematic Biology. 53 (3): 433–477. doi:10.1080/10635150490445715. PMID 15503672.
  2. ^ Wilson, Reeder, pp. 185–211
  3. ^ a b Rohde, Ashley (2006). "Brachylagus idahoensis". Animal Diversity Web. University of Michigan. Retrieved October 22, 2021.
  4. ^ Rachlow, J.; Becker, P. A.; Shipley, L. (2016). "Brachylagus idahoensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T2963A45176206. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T2963A45176206.en.
  5. ^ Smith, Johnston, Alves, Hackländer, p. 91
  6. ^ a b Collins, K.; Bragg, C.; Birss, C. (2019). "Bunolagus monticularis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T3326A45176532. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-1.RLTS.T3326A45176532.en.
  7. ^ Smith, Johnston, Alves, Hackländer, p. 94
  8. ^ a b Aryal, A.; Yadav, B. (2019). "Caprolagus hispidus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T3833A45176688. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-1.RLTS.T3833A45176688.en.
  9. ^ Lepus sizes:
  10. ^ a b Lepus habitats and diets:
  11. ^ Nesolagus sizes:
  12. ^ a b Nesolagus habitats and diets:
  13. ^ a b Tislerics, Ati (2000). "Oryctolagus cuniculus". Animal Diversity Web. University of Michigan. Retrieved October 22, 2021.
  14. ^ Villafuerte, R.; Delibes-Mateos, M. (2020) [errata version of 2019 assessment]. "Oryctolagus cuniculus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T41291A170619657. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-3.RLTS.T41291A170619657.en.
  15. ^ Smith, Johnston, Alves, Hackländer, p. 105
  16. ^ a b Yamada, F. and Smith; A. T. (2016). "Pentalagus furnessi". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T16559A45180151. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T16559A45180151.en.
  17. ^ a b Portman, Charles (2004). "Poelagus marjorita". Animal Diversity Web. University of Michigan. Retrieved October 22, 2021.
  18. ^ Johnston, C. H.; Smith, A. T. (2019). "Poelagus marjorita". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T41292A45189965. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-1.RLTS.T41292A45189965.en.
  19. ^ Pronolagus sizes:
  20. ^ a b Pronolagus habitats and diets:
  21. ^ a b Smith, Johnston, Alves, Hackländer, pp. 114–115
  22. ^ Velázquez, A.; Guerrero, J. A. (2019). "Romerolagus diazi". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T19742A45180356. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-2.RLTS.T19742A45180356.en.
  23. ^ Sylvilagus sizes:
  24. ^ a b Sylvilagus habitats and diets:
  25. ^ Ochotona sizes:
  26. ^ a b Ochotona habitats and diets:

Sources

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