What’s the Difference Between a Bunny, Rabbit, and Hare?

Bunny vs. Rabbit

The terms "bunny" and "rabbit" are often used interchangeably, but there are some differences. The word "bunny" is typically used to refer to domesticated pet rabbits, especially the smaller breeds. "Rabbit" is a more general term that can refer to wild or domesticated rabbits of any breed.

Some key differences:

• Size: Bunnies are often smaller breeds of pet rabbits, while rabbits encompass breeds of all sizes. Larger rabbit breeds like Flemish Giants would not usually be called "bunnies".

• Temperament: Bunnies are bred to be calmer, friendlier and more docile, while rabbits can be more skittish or aggressive depending on the breed. Bunnies make better pets for children.

• Use: Bunnies are kept as pets, while rabbits are also raised for food, fur, and as laboratory animals. You would not refer to a meat rabbit as a "bunny".

• Age: Baby rabbits are sometimes called bunnies until they reach adulthood around 6 months old. An adult pet rabbit could still be called a bunny based on breed.

So in summary, "bunny" implies a cute, cuddly pet rabbit on the smaller side. But there are certainly exceptions, like very large pet bunnies! The word "rabbit" has a broader meaning.

Where did the word “bunny” come from?

The word "bunny" emerged in the late 19th century as a term of endearment for domestic pet rabbits. But its origins can be traced back even earlier:

• In the 1600s, rabbits were referred to as “coneys”, derived from the Latin word “cuniculus”. Over time this evolved into “coney-rabbits”, later shortened to “cony”.

• By the 1700s, “coney” had begun to fade from use, replaced by the more modern “rabbit”. But the term lived on in Scotland and Northern England in the form “cunny” or “coney”.

• The word “bunny” first appeared in print in an 1861 dictionary of Scottish words defined as “a squirrel, a rabbit”. This came from the Scottish term “cunny” or “cony” being shortened to “bunny”.

• By the 1870s, “bunny” had emerged as a term of endearment, seen in phrases like “my little bunny”. Its use for tame pet rabbits became popularized in children's literature like Beatrix Potter's The Tale of Peter Rabbit published in 1902.

So in summary, “bunny” evolved from the old English “coney” as a cute shorthand for rabbit. As rabbits became popular as children's pets in the Victorian era, “bunny” stuck as an affectionate name and has been associated with domestic rabbits ever since. The wild cousins kept the more formal moniker of “rabbit”.

Rabbit vs. Hare

Although they look similar, rabbits and hares actually belong to different genetic families under the order Lagomorpha. They have several key differences:

• Size: Hares are generally larger and have longer legs and ears than rabbits. Rabbits are small to medium sized.

• Habitat: Rabbits live in underground burrows, while hares live in simple nests above ground. Rabbits prefer dense vegetation while hares like open areas.

• Behavior: Hares are solitary animals and do not live in groups. Rabbits live in social groups in warrens.

• Young: Baby rabbits (kittens) are born hairless and blind, while baby hares (leverets) are born fully furred with eyes open.

• Diet: Rabbits are herbivores and stricter vegetarians, while hares have a more varied diet and may eat meat occasionally.

• Lifespan: Hares live longer than rabbits on average – up to 12 years vs. 5-8 years for rabbits.

To summarize, hares are larger, have longer ears and legs, live above ground, and are less social than rabbits. While they look alike, hares and rabbits have several biological and behavioral differences reflecting their evolution as separate genera.

Habitat

Rabbits and hares have adapted to thrive in different habitats around the world:

Rabbits:

• Favor areas with dense vegetation they can hide in – forests, shrublands, wetlands, meadows.

• Live in underground burrow systems called warrens, with interconnected tunnels and chambers.

• Warrens provide shelter, safety from predators, nesting site, and temperature regulation.

• Some warrens can extend over vast areas with multiple entrances and hundreds of rabbits.

Hares:

• Prefer open habitats like prairie, steppe, grasslands, and savanna. Their long legs help them run fast in open areas.

• Do not dig burrows, instead hiding in shallow depressions called forms where they nest above ground.

• Rely on speed to escape predators rather than hiding.

• Can survive in a wide range of temperate habitats from tundra to desert. More adapted to extreme climates than rabbits.

Domestic rabbits:

• Pet rabbits live in backyard hutches, cages or directly in human homes.

• Show rabbits and meat rabbits are housed in climate-controlled hutches.

• Laboratory rabbits live in metal cages within research facilities.

Rabbits and hares choose habitats that align with their physical adaptations, social structure, and survival strategies in the wild. However domestic rabbits live in enclosures designed by humans.

Babies

There are clear differences between baby rabbits (kittens) and baby hares (leverets):

Baby Rabbits:

• Born hairless, blind, and deaf after ~30 days gestation.

• Nest in fur-lined burrows dug by the mother.

• Nurse for 3-4 weeks until fur grows in and eyes/ears open.

• Initially have limited mobility. Mother visits only 1-2 times per day to avoid attracting predators.

• Leave the nest at 3-4 weeks old. Reach sexual maturity at ~6 months.

Baby Hares:

• Born fully furred with eyes open after ~42 days gestation. Able to walk within minutes.

• No true nest – leverets simply hide in shallow depressions on the ground.

• Nurse only for a few minutes per day from their solitary mothers.

• Grow rapidly and reach sexual maturity within their first year.

The different maturity levels at birth reflect the protective strategy of each species. Rabbits are vulnerable so hide in burrows, while leverets rely on speed and camouflage to survive in the open. Their development aligns with these strategies.

Diet

Rabbits and hares are both herbivores, but have slightly different diets:

Rabbits:

• Strict vegetarians – over 90% of diet is grasses and leafy greens. Also eat bark, buds, fruits and seeds.

• Eat own special droppings called cecotropes to obtain more nutrients. Coprophagy provides vitamins and protein.

• Graze heavily on grasses. Preference for tender shoots, roots, and flowers.

• Also gnaw on tree bark and twigs for traces of nutrients.

• Diet varies somewhat by species – cottontails eat more forbs and shrubs.

Hares:

• Mostly grass and herbivores but not strictly vegetarian – opportunistic feeders.

• Consume bark, buds, small shrubs, even fungi and lichen. Arctic hares eat willow and crowberry.

• May eat remains of dead animals – more varied diet than rabbits.

• Larger body size means greater food intake needed per day compared to rabbits.

While overlapping as herbivores, hares are adapted to more extreme climates and have a more varied diet than rabbits. Rabbits get nutrients from cecotropes.

Anatomy

Rabbits and hares share anatomical adaptations for speed and agility:

• Long powerful hind legs for jumping and running. Can reach 35-45 mph at full speed.

• Large eyes positioned on sides of head give wide field of vision to spot predators.

• Long mobile ears can pinpoint sound sources and enhance hearing.

• Small fluffy tail to communicate alarms and regulate body temperature.

• Small front paws used for digging, grooming and fine manipulation.

Some key differences:

• Hares are larger in body and have longer ears and legs than rabbits.

• Rabbits have shorter, denser fur while hares have longer guard hairs.

• Hares have black markings on tips of ears and around eyes.

• Female hares have fur-lined trenches on their backs to absorb scent while nursing leverets.

While built for agility and speed, rabbits are smaller and have proportionally shorter extremities compared to hares. The leveret-rearing anatomy of hares is also unique.

Hiders and runners

Rabbits and hares have different survival strategies when faced with predators:

Rabbits:

• Primarily hide and take shelter in burrows or dense vegetation when threatened.

• Burrows provide protection and rabbits will rapidly dig new emergency burrows if needed.

• Freeze and flatten bodies to avoid detection. Rely on cryptic coloration.

• As prey, rabbits are vigilant and ready to sprint to cover at first sign of danger.

Hares:

• Outrun predators in the open instead of hiding. Leverets hide by freezing motionless.

• Extreme speed and stamina allows hares to reach 40 mph escaping predators.

• Zigzagging gait and aerial acrobatics confuses pursuing predators.

• Longer legs provide better acceleration and ability to leap distances up to 20 feet.

To summarize, rabbits rely on hiding and secrecy while hares trust their superior speed and athleticism to escape threats. Different tactics suit the open vs. dense habitats preferred by each species.

Shedding

Rabbits and hares both molt and shed their fur, but on different schedules:

Rabbits:

• Shed their coat twice a year – first in spring, then again in fall.

• Heavy shedding lasts 2-4 weeks. 8-12 weeks total for full coat replacement.

• Lose noticeable clumps of fur as old hairs are pushed out by new growth underneath.

• Consume more hair while grooming during molting periods. Can lead to deadly hairballs.

• Hotter environments or diet changes can trigger additional molting periods.

Hares:

• Shed only once a year in spring/summer as days get longer.

• Their coat replacement mirrors their breeding season.

• Lose fur gradually. Smaller tufts come out over a longer molting period.

• Total shedding lasts up to 3 months for hares. Less intensive than rabbits.

• Less prone to hairballs since hares take longer to shed fur.

Rabbits molt more frequently and abruptly compared to hares, increasing their risk of developing dangerous hairballs.

Group living

Rabbits and hares have very different social structures:

Rabbits:

• Live in social groups centered around an underground warren system.

• Tight-knit groups or “colonies” can contain hundreds of rabbits.

• Complex tunnels and chambers provide shelter, breeding sites, and protection.

• Social hierarchy with territorial dominant bucks and does.

• Rabbits are very social, grooming, playing, and communicating regularly.

Hares:

• Solitary animals that do not form long-term social groups or warrens.

• Males and females have separate territories and live alone outside breeding season.

• Young disperse within months to avoid inbreeding.

• Interactions are limited to aggressive competition for territory.

• Minimal grooming or play behavior compared to highly social rabbits.

Rabbits are more social than hares due to their adaptation of shared underground burrow systems and warren colonies.

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Related Questions:

Why are rabbit ears so long?

Rabbits have distinctively long ears that aid their survival in two key ways:

• Enhanced hearing – Long ears allow rabbits to precisely pinpoint sound sources. This helps detect approaching predators or dangers even in dense vegetation.

• Temperature regulation – The many blood vessels in the ears serve as heat exchangers. Rabbits can dissipate excess body heat through their ears to keep cool. Blood flow is adjusted to release more or less heat.

Ear position and movement also helps rabbits communicate. Rabbits will erect ears when alert and pin them back when distressed or aggressive. Longer ears provide a wider range of motion for visual signals.

So while bunny ears may look comically oversized, they serve important functions! From improving hearing to managing temperature, the prominent ears of rabbits are an evolutionary adaptation.

How do rabbits survive in winter?

Rabbits survive the colder months with several key adaptations:

• Thicker winter fur coat with dense insulating undercoat to hold in warmth. Molting replaces summer coat.

• Spend more time in underground burrows below the frost line where temperatures are stable.

• Huddle together in groups sharing body heat.

• Grow larger fat reserves in fall to provide energy through scarcer winter.

• Eat bark, twigs or cached food when less vegetation is available.

• Snow provides insulation and rabbits keep paths open.

• Leverage earth's geothermal heat by burrowing below the frost line.

• Large ears regulate temperature like radiators to release excess heat.

• Conserve energy by reducing activity levels when very cold.

Through their anatomy and behaviors, rabbits are well equipped to handle the stresses of harsh winters.

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