lagomorph

Other forms: lagomorphs

A lagomorph is a furry mammal that's similar to a rodent, though usually larger. Hares and rabbits are lagomorphs.

Like rodents, lagomorphs have long upper teeth that grow continuously. They nibble and gnaw on things for this reason — they have to chew on relatively hard things to keep their teeth from becoming too long. Unlike rodents, lagomorphs are almost always herbivores, eating only plants. Hares and rabbits move by hopping on strong hind legs, but pikas, the other type of lagomorph, look and move more like large, tailless mice. Lagomorph comes from Greek roots meaning "hare" and "form."

Definitions of lagomorph

1. noun

   relative large gnawing animals; distinguished from rodents by having two pairs of upper incisors specialized for gnawing
   synonyms: gnawing mammal

   types:

   Duplicidentata

   in former classifications considered a suborder of Rodentia coextensive with the order Lagomorpha: gnawing animals

   leporid, leporid mammal

   rabbits and hares

   coney, cony, mouse hare, pika, rock rabbit

   small short-eared burrowing mammal of rocky uplands of Asia and western North America

   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

   Ochotona princeps, little chief hare

   North American pika

   Ochotona collaris, collared pika

   similar to little chief hare and may be same species

   type of:

   eutherian, eutherian mammal, placental, placental mammal

   mammals having a placenta; all mammals except monotremes and marsupials