Lagomorpha

Lagomorpha is an order of mammals that includes rabbits, hares, and pikas. Its members have two pairs of upper incisors, unlike rodents, which have one.

Incisor: A tooth at the front of the mouth, adapted for cutting or gnawing. Lagomorphs are distinguished by a second, smaller pair behind their prominent upper incisors.
European rabbit: A rabbit species native to the Iberian Peninsula and southwestern France, now introduced worldwide. It is the ancestor of domestic rabbits and a prominent example of a burrowing lagomorph.
Rabbit digestion: The digestive process by which rabbits ferment plant material in the large intestine and reingest soft feces. It shows how a lagomorph extracts nutrients from fibrous food through cecotrophy.
Mimotona: An extinct group of small mammals often regarded as close relatives or early members of Lagomorpha. These fossils help illuminate the early evolutionary history of lagomorphs.
Myxomatosis: A viral disease of rabbits caused by myxoma virus, often severe in European rabbits. Its deliberate use to control introduced rabbits reshaped rabbit populations in several regions.
Diastema: A toothless gap between incisors and cheek teeth in many mammals. This gap separates the front incisors from the grinding teeth in lagomorph jaws.
European hare: A large hare native to Europe and parts of Asia, adapted to open landscapes. Its long limbs and solitary, above-ground life contrast with the European rabbit’s habits.
Cecum: A pouch at the junction of the small and large intestines where microbial fermentation can occur. The enlarged cecum hosts fermentation that helps lagomorphs digest plant fiber.
Eocene: A geological epoch lasting from about 56 to 34 million years ago. Early lagomorph fossils appear in the Eocene, documenting the order’s deep history.
Rabbit-proof fence: A long Australian barrier built to limit the spread of rabbits and other pests. It reflects the profound ecological and agricultural effects of introduced European rabbits.

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