leporid

/ˈlɛpərɪd/

Other forms: leporids

What has long ears, fast legs, and hops around in the wild? A leporid, of course — which includes all rabbits and hares in the animal kingdom.

Leporid refers to any member of the Leporidae family, which includes over 60 species of rabbits and hares. These animals are found almost worldwide and are known for their long ears, long hind legs, and ability to move swiftly. They're very cute, too! Leporids play a crucial role in ecosystems as they often serve as prey for a variety of predators and contribute to the health of their habitats through their grazing.

Definitions of leporid

1. noun

   rabbits and hares
   synonyms: leporid mammal

   types:

   coney, cony, rabbit

   any of various burrowing animals of the family Leporidae having long ears and short tails; some domesticated and raised for pets or food

   hare

   swift timid long-eared mammal larger than a rabbit having a divided upper lip and long hind legs; young born furred and with open eyes

   rabbit ears

   the long ears of a rabbit

   lapin

   castrated male rabbit

   bunny, bunny rabbit

   (usually informal) especially a young rabbit

   European rabbit, Old World rabbit, Oryctolagus cuniculus

   common greyish-brown burrowing animal native to southern Europe and northern Africa but introduced elsewhere; widely domesticated and developed in various colors and for various needs; young are born naked and helpless

   cottontail, cottontail rabbit, wood rabbit

   common small rabbit of North America having greyish or brownish fur and a tail with a white underside; a host for Ixodes pacificus and Ixodes scapularis (Lyme disease ticks)

   leveret

   a young hare especially one in its first year

   European hare, Lepus europaeus

   large hare introduced in North America; does not turn white in winter

   jackrabbit

   large hare of western North America

   Arctic hare, Lepus arcticus, polar hare

   a large hare of northern North America; it is almost completely white in winter

   Lepus americanus, snowshoe hare, snowshoe rabbit, varying hare

   large large-footed North American hare; white in winter

   Belgian hare, leporide

   red breed of domestic rabbits; hybrid between Old World rabbit and hare

   Angora, Angora rabbit, angora

   domestic breed of rabbit with long white silky hair

   type of:

   gnawing mammal, lagomorph

   relative large gnawing animals; distinguished from rodents by having two pairs of upper incisors specialized for gnawing
2. adjective

   relating to an animal in the family that includes rabbits and hares