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.
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 "†".
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
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]
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 [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 (P. crassicaudatus in purple, P. randensis in green, P. rupestris in orange, and P. saundersiae in blue) | 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] |
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) [25] Habitats: Desert, forest, shrubland, rocky areas, and grassland [26] Diets: Wide variety of plants [26] |
The swamp rabbit, also called the cane-cutter, is a large cottontail rabbit found in the swamps and wetlands of the southern United States. The species has a strong preference for wet areas, and it will take to the water and swim.
The broom hare is a species of hare endemic to northern Spain. It was described in 1976 as separate from the Granada hare. It is classified as vulnerable by the IUCN.
The Tehuantepec jackrabbit is a jackrabbit endemic to Mexico.
The Yarkand hare is a species of mammal in the family Leporidae. It has soft, straight, sandy brown dorsal pelage which has grayish-black stripes, and completely white ventral pelage. Endemic to China, the Yarkand hare is restricted to the Tarim Basin in Southern Xinjiang, China. It is mainly nocturnal, and forages on grass and crops. The female produces two or three litters annually, each consisting of two to five young. It is rated as near threatened on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Endangered Species and by the Red List of China's Vertebrates. However, Chinese geneticists have stated the species is "endangered" due to limited habitat and its fragmentation, and over-hunting and poaching.
The Gaoligong pika is a color morph of Forrest's pika, a species of mammal in the family Ochotonidae. It is endemic to China. Many of the general physical characteristics of the pika species are shared by Gaoligong pikas. However, the Gaoligong pika is specifically characterized by unique physical characteristics, including a red-brown colored crown around the neck and black behind the ears. They can produce one litter per year and can live up to three years. Their behavior is currently undetermined due to limited information available about the species. This is due to the inaccessibility of their habitat.
Hoffmann's pika is a species of mammal in the pika family, Ochotonidae, that is endemic to Mongolia. It is currently listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Koslov's pika or Kozlov's pika is a species of mammal in the family Ochotonidae. It is endemic to China. Its natural habitat is tundra. It is threatened by habitat loss. Kozlov's pika are herbivores, they are known as "ecosystem engineers" as they're known to promote diversity of different plants species. Specifically, this species of Pikas has been enlisted as "endangered" in China. Kozlov Pikas are estimated to be within the Northern edge of the Arkatag Range in China.
The Afghan pika is a species of small mammal in the pika family, Ochotonidae. It is found in Iranian Plateau or Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan and Turkmenistan and the IUCN lists it as being of "least concern".
The red rock hares are the four species in the genus Pronolagus. They are lagomorphs of the family Leporidae living in rocky habitats across Africa. Three species are restricted to Southern Africa, while one—Smith's red rock hare —is found as far north as Kenya. The red rock hares are rufous, dark brown, or reddish-brown-tailed rabbits that vary in size, with some shared physical characteristics being short ears and a lack of an interpareital bone. They have 42 chromosomes and are active during the night, feeding only on plants. Breeding results in litters of one to two altricial young.
The Mexicаn cottontail is a species of cottontail rabbit in the family Leporidae. It is endemic to Mexico where its natural habitats are temperate forests, subtropical or tropical dry forests and pastureland.
Dice's cottontail is a species of cottontail rabbit in the family Leporidae. It is found in Costa Rica and Panama, in páramo and cloud forest habitats.
The Tres Marias cottontail or Tres Marias rabbit is a species of mammal in the family Leporidae. It is endemic to the Islas Marías in Mexico.
The Tsing-ling pika is a species of pika endemic to the mountains in Central China. It inhabits mountainous forests and shrublands. It is a poorly known species.
The coastal tapeti, also known as the Rio de Janeiro dwarf cottontail or dwarf tapeti, is a species of cottontail rabbit native to Brazil. Known from only three specimens, captured in the late nineteenth century in the Paraíba Valley, it was for a long time considered to be a subspecies of the common tapeti. Slightly smaller than its close relative, analysis in 2017 confirmed that it is sufficiently distinct in both appearance and genetics to be considered a species in its own right. Due to destruction of its putative habitat in the densely populated Paraíba Valley, it is unclear whether or not the species still survives in the present day.
The Santa Marta tapeti is a species of cottontail rabbit native to the lowlands of northern Colombia. It was previously considered a subspecies of the common tapeti but analysis in 2017 confirmed that it is sufficiently distinct in both appearance and genetics to be considered a species in its own right. The name Santa Marta tapeti is derived from the mountain range where the species was first discovered, the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta.
The Manchurian pika is a species of mammal in the family Ochotonidae. It is found in the mountains of northeastern China in Inner Mongolia, specifically the Lesser and Greater Khingan ranges, as well as parts of Zabaykalsky Krai. It is rated as a species of least concern on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Endangered Species.
The Korean pika, also known as the Korean piping hare, is a species of mammal in the family Ochotonidae. It is found in the mountainous northern regions of North Korea and parts of the Changbai Mountains in Jilin. It is rated as a data deficient species on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Endangered Species, and very little is known about it; much of its behavior and ecology is assumed to be similar to the closely related northern pika.