Leporidae
Leporidae
Leporidae (pronounced: leh-poh-ri-dee) is a family of mammals that includes rabbits and hares. The family is a part of the order Lagomorpha.
Etymology
The term "Leporidae" is derived from the Latin word "lepus", which means "hare".
Description
Members of the Leporidae family, commonly known as rabbits and hares, are small to medium-sized mammals. They are characterized by their long ears, short tails, and strong hind limbs that are adapted for fast running. Leporids are herbivores, feeding on grasses, leaves, and bark.
Classification
The Leporidae family is divided into two main groups: the genus Lepus (hares) and the genus Oryctolagus (rabbits). There are approximately 60 species of leporids distributed across several continents.
Genus Lepus
The genus Lepus includes species commonly referred to as hares. Hares are generally larger than rabbits and have longer legs and ears. They are known for their high-speed endurance running.
Genus Oryctolagus
The genus Oryctolagus includes the European rabbit species and its descendants, the world's 305 breeds of domestic rabbit.
Related Terms
- Lagomorpha: The order to which the Leporidae family belongs. It also includes the pikas.
- Herbivore: An animal that gets its energy from eating plants, and only plants.
- Genus: A rank in the biological classification (taxonomy) that groups closely related species together.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Leporidae
- Wikipedia's article - Leporidae
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski