Rabbit and Hare – Long Ears Strong Legs

Rabbits and hares are mammals with long ears. Hares have longer ears and longer legs than rabbits. There are about 28 species of rabbit and about 30 species of hare. They have short tails, large eyes, strong teeth, and sensitive noses. Many hares turn white in the winter. Rabbits’ coats are the same color year-round. Hares and rabbits can be found on all continents, except Antarctica.
Rabbits live together in warrens. A female makes a warm and deep nest to keep the babies safe. Little rabbits are born blind and helpless and stay with their mother for about three weeks. Hares don’t build warrens. Their homes are shallow holes that they dig in the grass, under trees, or in brush heaps. Hares may have two to three babies each year. The newborns have open eyes and can hop within minutes.

Rabbits and hares eat green plants such as clover as well as the bark, buds, and berries of trees and shrubs. By the way, hares can eat meat. Northern hunters know this very well, and therefore they try to check their snares for partridges before bloodthirsty hares.

Some American rabbits are called “cottontails” because their tails are small puffs of fur that are white on the bottom.
Hares can run up to 80 km per hour, and the height of their jump reaches 3.5 meters. In addition, the hares are not bad swimmers and are able to move around the rocky terrain.
Their natural enemies are birds of prey, mammals, and reptiles. Hares are quite aggressive creatures who can often defeat predators.
Rabbits that live in hot parts usually have bigger ears than those that live in cold areas. Larger ears help animals stay cool.
The volcano rabbit, also known as the Mexican pygmy rabbit, is one of the few species of short–eared rabbits. Its rounded ears measure just 4 centimeters long.

Rabbit and Hare – Long Ears Strong Legs

Scientists argue that the ancestors of modern rabbits cheerfully hopped thirty-five thousand years ago.
One of the most ancient and common beliefs is that the hare’s foot brings luck.
Hares and rabbits are extremely controversial figures in world mythology. They can be cunning and quirky, timid and weak, and they also symbolize life and the afterlife. The ancient Celts considered these animals to be magical creatures and therefore did not eat them. In the Middle Ages it was believed that witches turned into hares to avoid the punishing hand of the Inquisition.
In China, the hare is the Moon, the female power of yin, the wife of the emperor, longevity. The hare is the keeper of wild animals.
In Egypt, the hare represents the dawn, the beginning, the opening and the periodicity.
Easter bunny is a symbol of Easter in some countries of Western Europe and the USA.

Rabbit and Hare – Long Ears Strong Legs

Viennese Blue Rabbit

Johann Konstantin Schultz, the head of the first Viennese Union of rabbit breeders is considered the author of this magnificent breed Viennese Blue Rabbit. Viennese blue rabbit was bred in Vienna Manor in 1895. It was a reproductive crossing of Moravian rabbits of pure blue color with breed of Flandres rabbits. The best representatives of the new breed in 1903 were taken to Switzerland, Holland and Germany. Viennese blue rabbit has a strong constitution and a harmonious body. Wool is smooth and thick, with a glossy gleam. Arista and underfur usually evenly colored, with the lighter hair at the base. Downy hair is much lighter and presents in Vienna rabbits in large quantities. Rabbits are born with gray fur, which, after the second molt acquires gray-blue color. During the summer, may appear brown hue fading with the approach of winter. Since the Vienna rabbits are very calm and friendly, people keep them as pets.

Johann Konstantin Schultz tried to get a new breed of rabbits, the main characteristics of its members were to be having a good fur and lots of meat. In the tribe collected rabbits weighing 3.5-4 kg, hair of which was pure gray-blue. At the age of one, two, four and six months rabbits weighed 450 g, 1 kg, 1.75-2.2 kg, 2.5-3.5 kg. Usually one rabbit gives birth to 6-7 young rabbits.

The head of rabbits is usually light, ears placed right, their length varies from 13 to 16 cm. The body is compact, dense, its maximum length is 60 cm. The chest is broad and deep (approximately 38 cm in circumference). Limbs are straight, sufficiently strong and muscular. The back is broad and elongated. Vienna rabbits have bluish claws and dark blue eyes. On average, they live 5-7 years, some individuals live up to 10-12 years.

Since rabbits Viennese are hardy, they can be diluted in rabbitries and outdoors. Due to its high resistance to adverse conditions rabbit can save the offspring at low temperatures in the winter.
Source: vk.com/blog_fermera

Viennese Blue Rabbit

Rabbit and Hare in art

Monuments to hares and rabbits