Hares and jackrabbits are mammals belonging to the genus Lepus. They are herbivoresand live solitarily or in pairs. They nest in slight depressions called forms, and their young are able to fend for themselves shortly after birth. The genus includes the largest lagomorphs.
Most are fast runners with long, powerful hind legs, and large ears to dissipate body heat. A hare less than one year old is called a "leveret". A group of hares is called a "husk", a "down" or a "drove". Members of the Lepus genus are considered true hares, distinguishing them from rabbits which make up the rest of the Leporidae family.
However, there are five leporid species with "hare" in their common names which are not considered true hares: the hispid hare Caprolagus hispidusand four species known as red rock hares comprising Pronolagus. Conversely, several Lepus species are called "jackrabbits", but classed as hares rather than rabbits.
The pet known as the Belgian hare is a domesticated European rabbit which has been selectively bred to resemble a hare. Normally a shy animal, the European brown hare changes its behavior in spring, when it can be seen in daytime chasing other hares.
This appears to be competition between males called bucks to attain dominance for breeding. During this spring frenzy, animals of both sexes can be seen "boxing", one hare striking another with its paws. This behavior gives rise to the idiom " mad as a March hare ".
Hares are generally larger than rabbits, with longer ears, and have black markings on their fur. Hares, like all leporidshave jointed, or kineticskulls, unique among mammals. They have 48 chromosomes, [10] while rabbits have Most rabbits live underground in burrows or warrens, while hares live in simple nests above the ground, and usually do not live in groups.
Hares do not bear their young below ground in a burrow as do other leporids, but rather in a shallow depression or flattened nest of grass called a form. Young hares are adapted to the lack of physical protection, relative to that afforded by a burrow, by being born fully furred and with eyes open.
They are hence precocialable to fend for themselves soon after birth. By contrast, rabbits are altricialbeing born blind and hairless. Hares and rabbits are plentiful in many areas, adapt to a wide variety of conditions, and Djur och husdjur quickly, so hunting is often less regulated than for other varieties of game.
In rural areas of North America and particularly in pioneer times, [15] they were a common source of meat. Because of their extremely low fat content, they are a poor choice as a survival food.