Lagomorphs squad: some interesting facts about hares and pikas

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:48

Lagomorphs are a detachment of mammals. It includes two families: hare and pika. Representatives of the detachment are hares, rabbits and pikas. There are about 60 species in total. Despite the fact that they have sharp teeth, they are not classified as rodents. Lagomorphs have a small body size and a short tail.

Historical background

It was proposed by the American paleontologist and zoologist J. W. Gidley, who noted a number of specific characteristics in them. Despite the fact that hares are often compared to rodents, historically they are more likely to have evolved from primitive ungulates.

It is believed that the ancestor of hares lived in East Asia.

External characteristics

Squad lagomorphs - animals that have a small physique. Their constantly growing teeth are similar in structure to rodent teeth, however, they have 2 pairs of incisors instead of one, unlike the latter. Representatives of lagomorphs have a special arrangement of the bone palate - a transverse bridge between two rowsmolars. The stomach consists of 2 sections, in one of which bacterial fermentation occurs, in the other - the processing of food by an enzyme - pepsin. Hares do not have fangs, and the incisors and molars are separated by a diastema.

Families of the order Lagomorphs - hares and pikas.

Lifestyle, distribution and reproduction

They live on the ground, swim poorly. You can meet them in forests, steppes, tundras. Some prefer open areas, others hide in dense thickets. They can lead a solitary lifestyle or gather in groups, digging holes. The hare-like order is distributed throughout the world, thanks to man. Although they did not previously inhabit South America, Madagascar and Australia. Today in Australia, hares are a real problem, as they have filled the entire continent due to the lack of enemies and good living conditions.

The diet of representatives of the order lagomorphs includes tree bark, leaves, grass. Berries, ferns and lichens may also be included. Sometimes they eat their own feces (coprophages) to replenish the supply of fiber-breaking proteins in the caecum.

Hares are characterized by rapid reproduction and high fecundity. Some of them dig holes to protect their offspring. In this case, the cubs are usually born blind, naked and helpless and remain so for several weeks. In most cases, the offspring are sighted, pubescent and capable of independent movement after a few hours.

Pikas have low fertility. The cubs that are born become sexually mature only after about a year.

Protection from danger

The Lagomorph squad is vulnerable and has enough enemies, so they must defend themselves. Their ears help them with this - an excellent locator that allows you to pick up suspicious sounds at long distances. Hearing the noise, the hares run to the shelter, where they wait for some time. The structure of the eyes also plays an important role. They are located in such a way that its owner can see from the side and even from behind without turning his head. In addition, the hind legs of hares are adapted for fast running and allow them to reach speeds of up to 80 km / h, thus escaping from predators.

The skin of the representatives of the hare-like order is fragile, it easily moves away from the body, therefore, if the enemy manages to overtake and catch the hare and grabs the skin with his teeth, he will tear out only a few shreds of fur, while the hare can safely run away.

It is also difficult for predators to smell hares, because their skin glands are poorly developed. Because of this, they cannot regulate body heat and overheat. Only their ears save them: the blood flowing through them cools instantly.

The main enemies of hares are foxes, lynxes and owls.

Hares

This is a family of the order Lagomorphs, which includes hares and rabbits. There are about 30 species in total, including 2 fossils. One of them is a giant Menorcan hare that lived on the island of Menorca more than 5 million years ago andweighing 12 kilograms.

This family lives everywhere except Antarctica.

Pikas

A genus of mammals of the pika family of the hare order. There are 31 species. They got their name due to the specific sounds that they make. In this way, they warn relatives of danger or communicate with them.

They look like hamsters. They have a small body size, short legs and an almost invisible tail. The ears are rounded and also small. Pikas have very long whiskers. Their fur is brown in summer and gray in winter.

Their diet includes grasses and shrub leaves.

Active during daytime and twilight. They like to sit on stones or stumps, but they run away when they hear any noise nearby. When examining the area, they prefer to lean with their front paws on a stump, but do not straighten up completely, like hares.

They do not hibernate, they prepare food in advance. Their activity is reduced in bad weather, rain. Pikas also like to dry grass before bringing it into their burrow. Sometimes they steal supplies from each other. They prefer cold climates.

Eurasian pikas live in families and stock up on food together, warn each other of impending danger.

Breed once a year and are monogamous.

Their skin is fragile, so they are of no value in economic activities.

Mainly spread throughout Asia. Some species can be seen in North America and Europe. Live as inopen mountainous areas and rocky spaces.

In Russia, you can meet 7 species of pikas. Mostly in Altai, Transbaikalia, Orenburg.