IS IT A HARE OR A RABBIT?

What is the difference between a rabbit and a hare? That's a question we hear many times from people visiting our web site. It's a question that can be difficult to answer because there is some confusion in terms commonly in use. However, the bottom line is that the Belgian Hare is a rabbit; it is a Hare in name only.

In simple terms, rabbits are born furless and with both eyes and ears closed. They require a period of nuturing before the can fend for themselves. Hares, on the other hand, are born fully haired, with their eyes and ears open, and can run shortly after birth.

Another important difference between a rabbit and a hare is in their genetic structures. A domestic rabbit has 22 chromosome pairs while a hare has 24. A rabbit and a hare can mate but no young will be produced.

A Belgian Hare is born furless and with its eyes and ears closed and is definitely a rabbit. It can be crossed with any other breed of domestic rabbit and young will be produce.

It is interesting to note that a Jackrabbit is really a true hare, not a rabbit as its name indicates.

Now, lets look at some technical points. Once,all rabbits and hares were considered to be rodents and scientifically classified under order Rodentia. However, because of a difference in the number of incisor teeth (six instead of four), rabbits and hares are now classified in order Lagomorpha. Order Lagomorpha consists of two families, Leporidae and Ochotonidae. The rabbit and hare are placed in the family Leporidae while Pikas, or "rock rabbits" seen in mountainous ares of North America and Asia are placed in family Ochotonidae.

Lets turn our attention to family Leporidae which contain the rabbit and the hare. This family contains 11 Genera: Silvilagus, Oryctolagus, Caprolagus, Bunolagus, Poelagus, Pronolagus, Pentalagus, Romerolagus, Nesolagus, Brachylagus, ans Lepus. Rabbits are placed in genus Oryctolagus (the European wild rabbit and its domesticated decendants including all breeds of domestic rabbits) and genus Sylvilagus (North American Cottontail, Swamp Rabbit, Brush Rabbit, etc.) Hares are placed in genus Lepus (Jackrabbit, Snowshoe Hare, and the European Hare).

Genus Oryctolagus has 22 chromosome pairs, Sylvilagus has 21 and Lepus has 24. While species in these genera can mate, no young will be produce; developing embryos will die after only a few cell divisions.

Return to Main Page