Lagomorpha

Order Lagomorpha Derived from Greek lagos ("hare") and morphē ("form") 80 species Two families - Leporidae – Rabbits and hares - Ochotonidae – pikas

Characteristics of Lagomorpha have 4 incisor on upper jaw (rodents have 2) only eat vegetation male's scrotum is in front of the penis penis has no bone (baculum) unlike the rodent penis will redigest first-time droppings (called cecotropes) to obtain the most from their plant diet

Ochotonidae American Pika - Western North America - live in rock piles - size of a large hamster - rounded ears - egg shape body - 6 to 8.5 inches in length - weigh 100grams

Pikas Herbivore Active year round, even in winter It survives the cold winter by eating dried vegetation they have stored away in hay piles alpine grasses, sedges, thistles, fireweed, cushion plants and lichens Food passes quickly though the digestive, system only partially digested eat their own feces (waste) to extract more nutrients in the digestion process.

Eastern Cotton Tail Mating during Feb. – September Males mate with more then one female Females can have 1-7 litters a years with as many as kits. Average number of litters is 3-4 and average kits are 5 Kits are weaned at 3 weeks and leave the nest after 7 weeks

Eastern Cotton Tail Territorial Nocturnal When running can jump 15 feet Runs zigzag when chased Can run up to 18mph Preferred habitat: Forests, swamps, thickets, bushes or open areas where it can dig a burrow are optimal habitation sites for this species

Species in Pennsylvania Three different Lagomorphs in Pa - Eastern Cotton Tail - New England Cotton Tail - Snowshoe Hare

Differences To determine the difference between Eastern Cottontail and New England Cottontail – In the field compare ear size and body size – New England have smaller ears and bodies – (95%) have a black line on the front edge of the ear (Easterns 40%) – In the laboratory skull characteristics and measurements and by DNA techniques.

Sylvilagus floridanus (Eastern Cotton Tail)

New England Cottontail Distribution

Snowshoe Hare Distribution

Other North American Species Pygmy Rabbit Brachylagus idahoensis

Other North American Species Arctic Hare Lepus arcticus

Other North American Species White- tailed Jack Rabbit Lepus townsendii

Other North American Species European Rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus Domesticated Rabbit

Other North American Species Swamp Rabitts Sylvilagus aquaticus

References