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Lagomorpha

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

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Lagomorpha

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  1. Lagomorpha

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

  3. 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

  4. 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

  5. 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. • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tus1FHc7XWU

  6. 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 1- 12 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

  7. 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

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

  9. 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.

  10. Sylvilagus floridanus (Eastern Cotton Tail)

  11. New England Cottontail Distribution

  12. Snowshoe Hare Distribution

  13. Other North American Species Pygmy Rabbit Brachylagus idahoensis

  14. Other North American Species Arctic Hare Lepusarcticus

  15. Other North American Species White- tailed Jack Rabbit Lepustownsendii

  16. Other North American Species European Rabbit Oryctolaguscuniculus Domesticated Rabbit

  17. Other North American Species Swamp Rabitts Sylvilagusaquaticus

  18. References • http://thewebsiteofeverything.com • http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu • http://www.pikaworks.com/pikas/

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