zayats

Zayats, in Slavic languages the common name for hares, refers to members of the genus Lepus within the family Leporidae. Hares are lagomorph mammals closely related to rabbits but distinguished by several traits. They are typically larger, with longer ears and hind legs, adapted for rapid escape. Many species have seasonal coat color changes to better blend with their environment.

They inhabit open habitats such as grasslands, tundra, steppes, and deserts, with wide distribution across Eurasia, Africa, and the Americas. They favor areas offering visibility for rapid flight and access to vegetation.

Hares are usually solitary or found in small family groups. They are primarily active during dawn and dusk, though some species are also active at night. They do not hibernate. When reproducing, females may have several litters per year. Gestation is around 30 days depending on species, producing leverets—precocial young born with fur and open eyes and concealed in shallow forms rather than burrows.

Diet consists mainly of herbaceous vegetation: grasses, shoots, bark, and leaves. Predators include foxes, wolves, large birds, and humans in some regions. Conservation status varies by species; most hares are not globally endangered, but several populations face habitat loss, climate pressures, and hunting in certain areas.

In culture, hares appear in folklore as symbols of agility and fecundity in various traditions.