What is the difference between a rabbit and a hare: the difference, comparison and is it possible to cross

At first glance, rabbits and hares are very similar, so many people believe that domestic "eared" descended from their wild ancestors. Actually, it is not. There are several dozen genera and species among the representatives of the Hare family, the differences between which may vary. Therefore, it is necessary to figure out how a wild or domestic rabbit differs from a hare, what are the characteristics and specific features of both representatives.

Where do they live?

Hares live almost all over the world except for Australia and Antarctica, but there are no endemic land mammals there at all.In most cases, hares live in Europe, in forests and the forest-steppe zone. Here they are found almost everywhere, even in populated areas, but most of all they are in the preserved wooded "islands", in the foothills and wild sparsely populated areas.

But wild rabbits live massively in Australia, in North and South America, and in other places, but practically do not occur in Eurasia. Domestic rabbits live here - distant descendants of wild ancestors, obtained by random and purposeful centuries-old selection. On the southern continent, rabbits have become a natural disaster because they destroy the grass needed to feed other animals, especially sheep, which are the backbone of Australia's agriculture.

They also spoil the scarce soil with their burrows and destroy crops, so they are fought with all sorts of forces and considered pests.

External differences

Despite their relationship, hares and rabbits are easy to distinguish by the following characteristics:

1. Hares are bigger 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 individuals-record holders of a number of meat breeds reach a mass of 10 kilograms.
2. Hares have a rigid body structure, an elongated head and ears. Hearing is extremely important to them, so their ears are enlarged, and long paws give them a chance to jump high and run fast, escaping from persecution.
3. Rabbits have a more rounded head, short and wide ears, shortened, compared to hare, paws. The ability to dig holes and compact dimensions are more important to them in order to fit in cramped corridors and manholes.
4. Hares are hare and hare, breeds of domestic rabbits and the corresponding external features, colors are dozens of times more.
5. Rabbits don't change coat color with the seasons, but hares do. In winter, they are white in order to be invisible on the snow cover, and in summer they are gray to merge with the color of the earth.This is not so important for wild rabbits, because they hide underground, and breeding has given domestic breeds a variety of colors and coat lengths depending on their purpose - meat, meat-skin, skin or down direction.

These animals, although similar, can be easily distinguished by comparison.

How is the lifestyle different?

Hares are loners by nature, they meet with the opposite sex only during the breeding season. They roam, do not build dwellings, using natural shelters.

Rabbits live in sedentary groups, they dig holes where they live for years and raise offspring. Their burrows are works of art, underground multistory cities with multiple entrances and exits, dead ends and false burrows to deceive numerous predators.

Both species have many enemies besides humans. They are hunted by foxes, wild cats, lynxes, owls and other birds of prey, feral dogs, wolves, coyotes, ferrets, martens, wolverines and other animals will not refuse to eat fresh meat.

Behavior comparison

When in danger, both species freeze in place, trying to become as invisible as possible, or immediately turn into 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 in vain 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 to offspring

Hares are able to breed within six months, in the most favorable weather conditions for the birth and rearing of offspring. Rabbits do not have such a restriction, since in burrows they can provide comfort to the offspring at any time of the year. They bring baby rabbits almost all year round.

Hares are born after 45 days of pregnancy, pubescent, sighted, several times larger than 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 eat food other than mother's milk, which increases their chances of survival in the wild. Rabbits are independent and grow up early, separating from their mother.

Rabbits come into this world naked, tiny, blind and deaf, absolutely helpless and dependent on their mother for everything. The 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 rabbit lines the nest with her fluff and warms her body in the cold.

Is it possible to crossbreed

Bright evidence 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 interbreeding between them impossible.

Not only is it unattainable in nature, even attempts to combine them through genetic engineering have failed. All this allows us to boldly assert that these animals, despite all their similarities, are not close relatives and, moreover, did not originate from each other.

What is the difference between rabbit meat and hare meat?

Wild rabbits and hares are game, that is, animals obtained by hunting in natural conditions. Their meat is leaner and more sinewy, has a pronounced aroma, so young animals up to a year old are more valued, which have tender, lean flesh with a pleasant smell of grass.

Hare meat has a dark red tint, a fairly dense texture, a minimum 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 aroma of game.

Domestic rabbits give the maximum dietary product that is allowed for the nutrition of sick people and young children.Their meat is tender, light pink, lean but juicy. It is easily absorbed, digested quickly, 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 is an exquisite delicacy that is included in haute cuisine. It must be able to cook properly. To soften the hardness and reduce the pronounced smell, 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 bacon to make it more juicy. In wild and domestic animals, almost the entire carcass is used, as well as the liver. Hare kidneys are an exquisite delicacy.

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