Leporidae (original) (raw)

Leporids
Mountain Hare, Lepus timidus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Animalia Phylum:Chordata Class:Mammalia Order:Lagomorpha Family:Leporidae
Genera
Pentalagus Bunolagus Pronolagus Nesolagus Romerolagus Brachylagus Sylvilagus Oryctolagus Poelagus Caprolagus Lepus

Leporids are the approximately 50 species of rabbits and hares which form the family Leporidae. The leporids, together with the pikas, comprise the lagomorphs, one of the orderss of mammals. Leporids differ from pikas in having short furry tails, and elongated ears and hind legs.

Members of all genera except Lepus are usually referred to as rabbits, while members of Lepus (which accounts for almost half the species) are usually called hares. However the distinction between these two common names does not map completely into current taxonomy, since the jack rabbits are members of Lepus, and members of the genera Pronolagus and Caprolagus are sometimes called hares.

Leporids are native across the world except in Oceania where their introduction has wiped out at least dozens of species of marsupials unique to Australia.