At first glance, rabbits and hares are very similar, so many people believe that domestic rabbits descended from their wild ancestors. In fact, this is not true. There are several dozen genera and species among members of the Hare family, the differences between which may vary. Therefore, it is necessary to understand how a wild or domestic rabbit differs from a hare, what characteristic features and specific features both representatives have.
Where do they live?
Hares live almost all over the world with the exception of Australia and Antarctica, but there are no endemic land mammals there at all. In most cases, hares live in Europe, in forests and forest-steppe zones. Here they are found almost everywhere, even in populated areas, but most of them are in preserved wooded “islands”, in the foothills and wild, sparsely populated areas.
But wild rabbits live en masse in Australia, North and South America, and other places, but are practically never found in Eurasia. Domestic rabbits live here - distant descendants of wild ancestors, obtained through random and targeted centuries-old selection. On the southern continent, rabbits have become a natural scourge because they destroy the grass needed to feed other animals, especially the sheep that are the mainstay of Australia's agriculture.
External differences
Despite their relationship, hares and rabbits are easily distinguished by the following characteristics:
- Hares are larger than rabbits. The average weight of a hare can reach up to 5.5 kilograms, a hare - up to 7 kilograms. Rabbits, on average, weigh up to 2.5-3 kilograms, although record holders of a number of meat breeds reach a weight of 10 kilograms.
- Hares have a rigid body structure, an elongated head and ears. Hearing is extremely important to them, so their ears are enlarged, and their long legs give them the chance to jump high and run quickly to escape pursuit.
- Rabbits have a more rounded head, short and wide ears, and shorter paws compared to hare ones.What is more important to them is the ability to dig holes and compact dimensions to fit in tight corridors and crawl spaces.
- Hares come in whites and browns, there are dozens of times more breeds of domestic rabbits and corresponding external features, and colors.
- Rabbits do not change coat color depending on the season, but hares do. In winter they are white in order to be invisible on the snow cover, and in summer they are gray in order to blend in with the color of the earth. This is not so important for wild rabbits, because they hide underground, and selection has given domestic breeds a variety of colors and coat lengths, depending on their purpose - meat, meat-skin, skin or down.
These animals, although similar, can be easily distinguished when compared.
How is the lifestyle different?
Hares are solitary by nature; they meet with the opposite sex only during the breeding season. They roam, do not build homes, using natural shelters.
Rabbits live in sedentary groups; they dig holes where they live for years and raise their offspring. Their burrows are works of art, underground multi-story cities with multiple entrances and exits, dead ends and false holes to deceive numerous predators.
Both species have many enemies, not including humans. They are hunted by foxes, wild cats, lynxes, owls and other birds of prey; wild dogs, wolves, coyotes, ferrets, martens, wolverines and other animals will not refuse to feast on fresh meat.
Comparison of behavioral characteristics
In case of danger, both species freeze in place, trying to become as invisible as possible, or immediately take a swift flight. If there is a hole nearby, the rabbit can hide in it, and the hare will try to escape.At the same time, his movements are specific, it’s not for nothing that they say “winds like a hare.”
Both representatives will protect their offspring, trying to lead the predator away from the offspring, often sacrificing themselves.
Reproduction and attitude towards offspring
Hares are able to reproduce within six months, in the most favorable weather conditions for the birth and rearing of offspring. Rabbits do not have such a limitation, since in their burrows they can provide comfort to their offspring at any time of the year. They bring rabbits almost all year round.
Hares are born after a 45-day pregnancy, pubescent, sighted, and several times larger than baby rabbits. They are capable, from birth they know how to instinctively hide, freezing in place at the slightest threat. Even if the mother dies, the offspring have a chance to survive. After a few days after birth, they can feed on foods other than their mother's milk, increasing their chances of survival in the wild. Bunnies are independent and mature early, separating from their mother.
Baby rabbits come into this world naked, tiny, blind and deaf, absolutely helpless and dependent on their mother for everything. A female rabbit's pregnancy lasts 30 days; after 3-7 days she is ready for a new mating. Little rabbits feed on mother's milk for at least a month; they get used to other food slowly and gradually. They really need warmth, so the female rabbit lines the nest with her down and warms her with her body in cold weather.
Is crossing possible?
A clear indication of the differences between animals is their genetics. They have a different number of chromosomes: rabbits have 22, and hares have 24. This alone is enough to make crossing between them impossible.
Not only is this unattainable under natural conditions, but even attempts to connect them through genetic engineering have failed. All this allows us to safely say that these animals, despite all their similarities, are not close relatives and, moreover, did not descend from each other.
What is the difference between rabbit meat and hare meat?
Wild rabbits and hares are game, that is, animals hunted in natural conditions. Their meat is leaner and more sinewy, has a pronounced aroma, so young animals up to one year old, which have tender, lean flesh with a pleasant smell of grass, are more valued.
The meat of hares has a dark red hue, a fairly dense consistency, a minimal amount of fat in the summer and a little more in the winter. In wild rabbits it is lighter and softer, with a less noticeable gamey aroma.
Domestic rabbits provide the most dietary product that is approved for feeding sick people and small children. Their meat is tender, light pink, lean, but juicy. It is easily absorbed, quickly digested, and even in large quantities does not lead to obesity. It can be prepared in dozens of ways.
Hare meat and the flesh of wild rabbits are an exquisite delicacy that is included in haute cuisine. You need to know how to cook it properly. To soften the hardness and reduce the pronounced odor, it is pre-soaked in whey or water with lemon juice, marinated and cooked with the addition of herbs, most often rosemary, thyme, juniper berries, pre-stuffed with lard to make it more juicy. In wild and domestic animals, almost the entire carcass is used, as well as liver. Hare kidneys are a sophisticated delicacy.
