You’re probably wondering what is a lagomorph? This is the order that rabbits fall under along with hares and pikas. There are over 80 species of lagomorphs right now. They are medium sized animals that are herbivores, fast moving mammals. The females tend to be a bit larger than the males. They sometimes look like large rodents. Up until 1912 they were mistakenly classified as rodents Now there have been quite a few differences found. The largest difference is that lagomorphs have 4 incisors in their upper jaw, whereas rodents only have two. For lagomorphs, these two extra upper incisors can be found sitting behind the front two. This gives them a total of six front teeth.
However there is recent evidence that shows that they might be related to rodents. There is also evidence of their relationship to marsupials, insectivores, primates, and artiodactyls also.
Lagomorphs are divided into two groups:
Ochotonidae which are the 26 different species of pikas, which are sometimes called “mouse hares”, even though they are not this.
Some of the pikas include: Coney, Rocky Mountain Pika (American), Daurian Pika, Steppe or Little Pika, Pallas Pika, Mongolian Pika, Afghan or Rufescent Pika, Alpine or Altai Pika, Gansu Pika (Gray Pika), Plateau (Black Lipped Pika), Rede, ect.
Leporidae which are the 54 different species of rabbits and hares.
Some of these include: Brown Hare, Jack Rabbit (a Hare), Eastern Cottontail Rabbit, Snowshoe Hare, Swamp or Water Rabbit, Desert Cottontail, Eastern Cottontail, Black-Tailed Jackrabbit, Arctic Hare, Indian Hare, Brown Hare, European Hare, Black Jackrabbit, Pygmy Rabbit, Riverine Rabbit, White-Sided Jackrabbit, Mountain Hare, White-Tailed Jackrabbit, Sumatra, Short-Eared Rabbit, Domestic Rabbit, Amami Rabbit, Volcano Rabbit (Zacatuche), Desert or Audubons Cottontail, Brush Rabbit, Eastern Cottontail, Tres Marias Cottontail, Mountain Cottontail, ect. |
