LC
Ladakh pika
Ladakh pika
The taxonomic status of the Ladakh pika is relatively stable. However, due to the small number of specimens, the research is not i···
Mammal Directory
Mammals
Explore mammals from tiny bats and rodents to primates, carnivores, ungulates, whales, and elephants. Each profile connects core facts with habitat, lifespan, traits, and conservation information.
Explore more
Browse Mammal Groups
Use these shortcuts to move into more specific animal groups.
Lagoiformes
Lagoiformes is an order of mammals, with two families: Leporidae and Ochotonidae. Lagoiformes are typical herbivores, feeding on tender branches and leaves of herbs and trees, and some even nibble on bark in winter, and generally do not drink water. They are distributed in large areas of Asia, Europe, Africa, North America and South America.
I. Introduction to the Order Lagomorpha
1. Key Characteristics:
Double Upper Incisors: Unlike rodents, lagomorphs have two pairs of upper incisors (a larger front pair and a small peg-like pair behind it).
Herbivorous Diet and Hindgut Fermentation: Lagomorphs are primarily herbivorous, possessing a well-developed cecum that helps digest fibrous plant material.
High Reproductive Rate and Wide Distribution: Many lagomorphs breed rapidly and are adaptable to various habitats, from grasslands and forests to deserts and alpine regions.
Morphological Variation: This order includes rabbits and hares with relatively long ears and limbs, and pikas, which are smaller with short ears.
2. Diversity and Distribution:
There are about 90 extant species in the order Lagomorpha, widely distributed across most continents (except Antarctica and certain isolated islands, aside from human introductions).
The order comprises two extant families: Leporidae (rabbits and hares) and Ochotonidae (pikas). Another family, Prolagidae, is extinct.
II. Evolutionary History
1. Origins and Relationships:
Historically, lagomorphs were once grouped with rodents, but differences in dental and molecular characteristics led to their recognition as a separate order.
Fossil evidence suggests lagomorph origins date back to the late Eocene to early Oligocene (around 34 million years ago), diverging from a common ancestor shared with rodent-like mammals.
2. Geographic Expansion and Adaptive Radiation:
As climates changed and land connections formed, lagomorphs spread across Eurasia, Africa, and the Americas.
Different lineages adapted to diverse environments: pikas thrive in cold, alpine and steppe habitats, while rabbits and hares inhabit grasslands, deserts, and forests.
3. Human Interactions:
Rabbits and hares have long been important as game animals, domestic livestock, and cultural symbols.
The European rabbit, introduced to Australia and other regions, exemplifies how introduced lagomorphs can have significant ecological impacts.
III. Classification Overview
Order Lagomorpha
Two primary extant families: Ochotonidae (pikas) and Leporidae (rabbits and hares). An extinct family, Prolagidae, also belongs here.
Family Ochotonidae (Pikas)
| Family | Genus | Example Species | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ochotonidae | Ochotona | Ochotona curzoniae (Plateau pika), Ochotona princeps (American pika) | Small, short-eared lagomorphs found in Asia and North America, often in alpine or rocky habitats. |
(Note: Ochotonidae has only one extant genus, Ochotona, with over 30 species.)
Family Leporidae (Rabbits and Hares)
| Family | Genus | Example Species | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leporidae | Oryctolagus | Oryctolagus cuniculus (European rabbit) | Ancestor of the domestic rabbit, widely introduced worldwide. |
| Sylvilagus | Sylvilagus floridanus (Eastern cottontail) | Common in the Americas, known for the white “cotton” tail. | |
| Lepus | Lepus californicus (Black-tailed jackrabbit), Lepus arcticus (Arctic hare) | Long ears, strong runners, widespread in various habitats. | |
| Romerolagus | Romerolagus diazi (Volcano rabbit) | Endemic to Mexico’s volcanic regions, small and short-eared. | |
| Caprolagus | Caprolagus hispidus (Hispid hare) | Found in South Asia’s tall grasslands, endangered due to habitat loss. | |
| Brachylagus | Brachylagus idahoensis (Pygmy rabbit) | Smallest North American rabbit, inhabits sagebrush steppe. | |
| Pentalagus | Pentalagus furnessi (Amami rabbit) | Endemic to Japan’s Amami Islands, considered a “primitive” lagomorph, endangered. | |
| Poelagus | Poelagus marjorita (Bunyoro rabbit) | Central African forests and savannas. | |
| Bunolagus | Bunolagus monticularis (Riverine rabbit) | Rare South African species associated with riverine habitats, endangered. |
(Note: There are additional genera within Leporidae; the above are representative examples.)
Extinct Families
| Family | Genus | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Prolagidae (Extinct) | Prolagus | Once lived around the Mediterranean region, e.g., Prolagus sardus in Sardinia, now extinct in the Holocene. |
IV. Summary
Lagomorphs stand apart from rodents due to unique dental features (an extra pair of upper incisors) and other morphological and genetic traits. Their evolutionary history reveals a lineage that diverged in the Paleogene, adapting to a wide range of environments.
From pikas in cold, rocky habitats to rabbits and hares occupying grasslands, deserts, and forests, the order Lagomorpha illustrates how a relatively small group of herbivorous mammals can diversify. Understanding the families, genera, and representative species provides insight into their biological characteristics, ecological roles, and evolutionary significance.
Species directory
Browse Mammals
Search the animals shown on this page or narrow them by IUCN conservation code.
LC
LC
Lepus yarkandensis
Lepus yarkandensis, South Xinjiang rabbit, hare, Shache rabbit
The classification status of the Tarim rabbit is stable, but there is a lot of controversy about which species group it belongs to···
LC
Lepus tolai
Lepus tolai,Hare, Central Asian rabbit, Steppe rabbit
Mongolian rabbits are active both day and night, but are most active at dusk. The number of Mongolian rabbits is relatively small.···
LC
Lepus timidus
Lepus timidus,White rabbit, color-changing rabbit, blue rabbit
The snow hare is the earliest rabbit species to be named. The species classification is stable, but there are many subspecies and ···
LC
Lepus tibetanus
Lepus tibetanus,Tibetan hare, Tibetan hare, desert hare
The classification status of the Tibetan rabbit is very confusing. It was not until 1930 that it was considered an independent spe···
LC
Lepus sinensis
Lepus sinensis,Mountain rabbit, short-eared rabbit, woolly rabbit, hare
The classification of South China rabbit is somewhat controversial. The Korean rabbit (Lepus coreanus) distributed on the Korean P···
LC
Lepus oiostolus
Lepus oiostolus,Gray-tailed rabbit, Fluffy rabbit
Plateau rabbits are herbivorous animals. In agricultural areas, they feed on young stems, buds, flowers, fruits, tubers and variou···
LC
Lepus mandshuricus
Lepus mandshuricus,Grass rabbit, mountain rabbit, black rabbit, mountain jump
This species is controversial in classification. It was once considered to be the Northeast Black Rabbit (<Ochotona melaninus&g···
LC
Lepus oiostolus
Lepus oiostolus,Southwest rabbit, Yunnan rabbit
In the past, Yunnan rabbits were long considered a subspecies of the plateau rabbit (Lepus oiostolus). Mr. Luo Zexun, a famous rab···
LC
Ochotona coreana
Ochotona coreana
The Changbai Mountain pika belongs to the <Pika> subgenus. It has a narrow distribution range. It was first discovered in no···
LC
Ochotona pallasi
Ochotona pallasi,Daurian pika, Pascal's pika, rabbit mouse, rabbit, crying rabbit, Mongolian pika, Daurian pika, Mongolian pika
The Mongolian pika belongs to the subgenus <Pika>, and its classification is very confusing. Sometimes the Mongolian pika pr···
LC
Ochotona mantchurica
Ochotona mantchurica
The Manchurian pika belongs to the subgenus <Pika>, and its classification status is very confusing. It was previously a sub···
LC
Ochotona alpina
Ochotona alpina
The Alpine Pika belongs to the subgenus <Pika>, and its taxonomic status is stable, but it is easily confused with the North···
LC
Ochotona roylei
Ochotona roylei
The gray mouse rabbit belongs to the subgenus <Conothoa>, and its species-level classification status is stable. However, it···
LC
Ochotona macrotis
Ochotona macrotis,Steppe pika, Mongolian pika, Dauri rabbit, Pika, Singing mouse, Moss
The big-eared mouse rabbit belongs to the subgenus <Conothoa> and is a larger species. It is easy to be confused with the gr···
LC
Ochotona koslowi
Ochotona koslowi,Ochotonus
The Kochia pika belongs to the subgenus <Conothoa> and is very rare. It was first collected by a Russian officer in 1884 whe···
LC
Ochotona himalayana
Ochotona himalayana
The Himalayan pika belongs to the subgenus <Conothoa>. The species was published by Chinese scientist Feng Zuojian in 1973, ···
LC
Ochotona forresti
Ochotona forresti,Yunnan pika, gray-necked pika
The gray-necked pika belongs to the subgenus <Conothoa>. The classification of this species is rather confusing. The reddish···
LC
Ochotona gloveri
Ochotona gloveri
The Sichuan pika belongs to the subgenus <Conothoa> and was once classified as a synonym of the red-eared pika. In Muli, Sic···
LC
Chinese pika
Chinese pika
The Chinese pika belongs to the subgenus <Conothoa>. The species was first published by Thomas (1911) as a subspecies of the···
LC
Ochotona erythrotis
Ochotona erythrotis,Red-eared rabbit
Red-eared pika belongs to the subgenus <Conothoa>. There is some controversy in classification. Red-eared pika was once merg···
LC
Ochotona huangensis xunhuaensis
Ochotona huangensis xunhuaensis
Xunhua pika, also known as Qinling pika, belongs to the subgenus Alienauroa. It was first published as a subspecies of Tibetan pik···
LC
Ochotona huanglongensis
Ochotona huanglongensis
Huanglong Pika belongs to the subgenus Alienauroa. It is mainly distributed in forests below 3100m above sea level in the Minshan ···
LC
Dabashan pika
The Dabashan pika belongs to the subgenus Alienauroa. The subgenus Alienauroa was established by Liu Shaoying et al. (2016). It is···
No matching animals on this page.