Lagomorpha

Lagomorpha is an order of small to medium-sized herbivorous mammals that includes two living families: Leporidae (hares and rabbits) and Ochotonidae (pikas). They are distinguished from rodents by several dental and skull features, notably a second pair of upper incisors behind the first pair, two incisors in each jaw, and a diastema that separates incisors from the cheek teeth. The upper incisors have enamel on the front surface, and all incisors grow continuously.

Lagomorphs are predominantly herbivorous, feeding on grasses, forbs, and other vegetation. They are hindgut fermenters and commonly practice coprophagy, re-ingesting soft feces to recover nutrients.

Pikas inhabit rocky alpine and subalpine areas in Asia and North America, while rabbits and hares occupy a wider range of habitats, including forests, grasslands, deserts, and tundra. They are generally adapted for rapid locomotion and, in many species, create burrow systems or use vegetation cover for protection. Distribution spans Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas; there are no native lagomorphs in Australia or Antarctica.

Reproduction and development vary among species but typically involve seasonal breeding with litter sizes that can be multiple offspring. Young are often born altricial and require parental care.

Ecology and conservation: Lagomorphs play important roles as herbivores and prey in many ecosystems. Conservation status ranges from common to threatened; threats include habitat loss, climate change, and predation by introduced species or humans. Some populations have benefited from habitat protection, while others remain at risk.