For Easter 2008, we thought it would be great to share information about the six most common species of the Rabbit family. We have given our rabbits and hares names that we hope will help you remember what is unique about each one. But first, let’s start with some basic information.

Rabbits and hares come from the order Lagomorpha and the family Leporidae. Rabbits and hares are mostly herbivores that eat grass, leaves, herbs, twigs, bark, seeds, roots, fruit, and flowers. Some rabbits and hares will sometimes even eat bugs and snails. All rabbits and hares have long hears and big feet. They have great hearing and eyesight. Their eyes are placed prominently on the top sides of their head in order to give them a wider view of their surroundings. If a rabbit or hare sees a predator, it freezes because any movement might attract the predator’s attention. The rabbit or hare will only bound away when it knows it has been spotted.

Rabbits and hares are usually nocturnal and are best seen in the early morning or just after the sun sets. Most rabbits and hares are solitary creatures that only come together during mating (with the exception of some burrowing species such as the European Rabbit). During mating season, male rabbits will fight one another for the attentions of a female. This form of fighting is called “boxing”. Female rabbits and hares, called does, breed several times per year.

So what is the difference between rabbits and hares? One big difference is that hares, which include jackrabbits, are born with hair and with their eyes open. Rabbits, on the other hand, are born with no hair and their eyes are still closed. Because hares and jackrabbits live above ground, and not in the safety of burrows like some rabbits, their young have to be more developed so that they can learn to fend for themselves at a young age. Some hares and jackrabbits are ready to leave their parents in as little as ten days after they are born.

Because hares and jackrabbits live above ground, their bodies are built more for life out in the open. Their feet are generally bigger than rabbit feet and their ears are usually longer. Rabbits are built more for burrowing or hiding in small places for safety. Therefore, their bodies are more compact than the body of a hare or jackrabbit. Hares and jackrabbits generally only make shallow holes for resting or hiding. These shallow holes are called forms. Some rabbit species also make forms, but a few rabbit species actually dig underground tunnels called burrows or warrens.

Male rabbits are called bucks while male hares or jackrabbits may be called bucks or jacks. The young of hares and jackrabbits are called leverets. Baby rabbits are called kittens.

The Six Most Common Species of the Rabbit Family

• Peter is an Eastern Cottontail (Genus and species: Sylvilagus floridanus). Peter is part of the most widespread of the approximately 13 species of cottontails. Peter may live in the central and eastern United States, in Central America, and in some parts of South America. He is named for his fluffy white under tail. Unlike many rabbit species, Peter does not live in burrows. In deep snow, however, he may make a network of under-snow trails. When pursued, he will run in circles or jump sideways in order to leave a confusing scent trail that will be difficult for a predator to follow. He can run about 25 miles per hour and can hop over nine feet. Remember the song, “Here comes Peter Cottontail, hopping down the bunny trail…”? Well, whenever you think of Peter Cottontail, just remember the information you learned today about the Eastern Cottontails.
• Thumper is a European Rabbit (Genus and species: Oryctolagus cuniculus). European Rabbits are the species of rabbits that are sold as pets in the United States. Thumper’s species originated in Spain and Portugal but now his species also live in the wild throughout Europe and eastward into the Ukraine. Thumper has also been introduced in Australia, New Zealand, and Chile. Thumper lives in underground colonies or burrows which are called warrens. Warrens are very complex underground tunnels. He does not often stray more than 200 yards from its warren. The reason why we called our European Rabbit, Thumper, is because when he sees danger, he thumps on the ground in order to warn those below of the threat. Thumper only runs away after he has thumped the ground. And when he runs, he raises his tail to show the white underside which will also warns other rabbits of danger.
• Jack is a Black-tailed Jackrabbit (Genus and species: Lepus californicus). Despite his name as a jackrabbit, Jack is actually a hare. He lives in the semi-desert or prairie areas of North America. He has huge ears which help him with heat regulation through the blood flow that goes through those ears. Jack seldom drinks water. He gets most of his moisture from water-retaining plants such as cacti. And Jack is one fast hare. He can go 40 miles per hour or more. Because the jackrabbits live above ground, the females may place their young in separate hiding places in order to prevent a predator from taking them all at once.
• Aurora is an Arctic Hare (Genus and species: Lepus timidus). We called her Aurora because she lives further north than any other species of hare, and the far north is where one can see Aurora Borealis (otherwise called the Northern Lights). Aurora may live in the Arctic, northern North America, Greenland, and in northern Europe and Asia. Aurora’s coat is white and molts in the spring to a darker color. And some of Aurora’s friends who may live in a milder climate don’t ever have a white coat. Aurora has shorter ears than most other hares. This helps her conserve heat. She is generally a solitary hare but she may gather with others during mating and also during severe storms in order to keep warm.
• Ronald is a Snowshoe Hare (Genus and species: Lepus americanus). We are calling him Ronald because of his very large feet (really large like Ronald McDonald’s feet). Ronald’s very broad hind feet help him not to sink in the snow when running. He lives in the northern United States and in Canada. He will make complex trails, called runways, by grazing on vegetation or by padding down the snow. This helps him get to where he needs to go in a hurry and can also help him escape a predator. He can run about 25 miles per hour and can cover over ten feet in one bound. Ronald’s large feet also help him swim well.
• Ester is a Brown Hare (Genus and species: Lepus europaeus). We named Ester after the Greek Goddess, Ester, who in mythology says created the first hare from a bird. You may notice, too, that Ester’s name sounds a lot like Easter. Her name may very well have been why we have an Easter bunny. Ester lives all over Europe. She also lives in parts of Asia, in central China, and in parts of Africa. She was also introduced to Australia, New Zealand, and Chile. Ester’s fur is brown and can be redder in the summer. She has a white underside. Her ears are tipped with black and she has a black stripe on the upper surface of her tail. When she runs, she holds her tail down in order to hide the white underside because the white underside would make it easier for a predator to pursue her. Have you ever heard the term, “March madness” or “Mad as a March hare”? These terms were derived from the fierce boxing matches that occurred every spring during mating season.

Well, that’s all we have about rabbits and hares. We hope we presented the information in an educational and entertaining way. Check out our great rabbit figurines. Most of these figurines are of the domestic rabbit which originated from the European Rabbit we called Thumper. They will make cute little figurine gifts in an Easter basket.

Thank you for visiting our site and have a Happy Easter!