Lagomorphs: Pikas, Rabbits and Hares of the World

Lagomorphs, or members of the order lagomorpha, are familiar throughout the world; there are 92 species globally. Yet, their remarkable diversity and ecological importance are, say the editors of this book, under appreciated. Lagomorph, the colloquial word used to describe members of the mammalian order lagomorpha, is not such a familiar word as some other common names of mammal groups, such as “carnivore” or “rodent”. However, the rabbits, hares and pikas, which constitute the order, are well known to most people. Children are familiar with the White Rabbit and the March Hare in Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland,...