Rabbits and hares, while often mistaken for one another, are distinct members of the same family, Leporidae. They share a common ancestry within the order Lagomorpha, yet have evolved different characteristics, behaviors, and reproductive strategies. Understanding these differences clarifies how each animal is uniquely adapted to its environment.
Physical Characteristics
Hares generally appear larger and more slender than rabbits, possessing longer legs and ears. Hares can reach up to 70 cm in length and weigh between 2 to 5 kg, while rabbits are smaller, measuring up to 40 cm and weighing 1.2 to 2 kg. Their longer hind legs are designed for speed, enabling hares to run up to 70 km/h (43 mph) in short bursts. This adaptation allows them to evade predators in open habitats.
Hares have longer ears, often with black tips, which help them detect threats and regulate body temperature. Rabbits have shorter ears without black markings. The fur of hares is typically coarser and features black markings, and some species, like the snowshoe hare, exhibit seasonal color changes, turning white in winter for camouflage. Rabbit fur is softer and does not undergo seasonal color shifts.
Behavior and Lifestyle
Rabbits construct underground burrow systems called warrens, which provide shelter from predators and harsh weather. These warrens serve as safe spaces for nesting, sleeping, and escape routes. Hares, conversely, do not dig burrows; they live above ground in shallow depressions called “forms,” which they create by flattening grass or vegetation.
Rabbits are social animals that live in colonies, exhibiting complex social hierarchies. They communicate through body language and thumping their hind feet to warn of danger. When threatened, rabbits bolt into their burrows or utilize zigzag movements to confuse predators. Hares are solitary or live in pairs, interacting primarily during breeding season, and rely on their speed and camouflage to escape threats in their open environments.
Both are herbivores, but their diets vary based on their habitat. Hares browse on tougher vegetation, including bark, twigs, and buds, while rabbits prefer softer grasses, leafy greens, and shoots. This dietary distinction aligns with their different living environments, with hares adapting to more varied forage in open fields.
Reproduction and Development
A key biological distinction between rabbits and hares is the developmental state of their young at birth. Rabbit offspring, known as kits or kittens, are born altricial; they are blind, hairless, and helpless, requiring extensive parental care within a burrow. They remain in the nest for several weeks, with their eyes opening around 10 to 12 days after birth. Rabbit mothers visit their kits only once or twice a day to feed them, minimizing scent trails that could attract predators.
In contrast, hare offspring, called leverets, are born precocial; they are fully furred, have their eyes open, and are capable of moving and fending for themselves shortly after birth. This precocial development is important because hares do not use burrows for nesting, and leverets are left in shallow, above-ground forms. Hare mothers provide minimal direct parental care after birth, visiting their young once daily at dusk for feeding. The gestation period for hares is longer, lasting about 42 days, compared to a rabbit’s gestation of 30-31 days.