The subject of hares is a much disputed one. . . . Some early naturalists termed the hare family Dasypoda which in Greek signifies that they are hairy-footed. Until 1912 rabbits and hares were classified as rodents but subsequent study proved them to be of a different order called Lagomorphs. This not only includes hares and rabbits but also pikas. Hares and rabbits belong to the family of Leporidae and pikas to Ochotonidae. Opinion is greatly divided as to how many actual species of Lagomorphs there are. Figures vary from 14 to 25 species of pika and 40 to 53 rabbits and hares.
No doubt this discrepancy can be partially explained by the number of sub-species and whether they are counted separately; and by the fact that there seems to be an overlap in differentiating hares and rabbits. It poses the question: when is a hare not a hare? – and it seems that even the experts are uncertain on that one.Images: Ena Lund.
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