Hares and other Rodents
Hares, rabbits and rodents in general share the speciality that their front teeth keep growing for as long as the animal lives. Also, when it comes to built and behaviour there are great matches or at least similarities. The most important similarity among them all is their large reproduction rate. That apart, rodents are sociable animals and like forming larger groups.
Small rodents are the meat suppliers for larger predators such as foxes, buzzards and owls. Especially species such as hamster, lemmings, voles, field mice and so-called true mice form the basic food supplies for larger birds of prey and owls.
Hares and rabbits also have lifelong growth of their front teeth, but these animals form their own group within rodents. Also, hares and rabbits can stretch their long body similar to mammal predators such as foxes. And also in contrast to mice, hamster, beavers and squirrels they don't need their front paws to feed.
Rodents are the largest order amongst mammals and can be divided into following species and groups:
- European Hare (Lepus europaeus)
- Snow Hare (Lepus timidus)
- Rabbit (Oryyctolagus cuniculus)
- Marmot (Marmota marmota)
- European Beaver (Castor fiber)
- Porcupine (Hystrix cristata)
- Coypu (Myocastor coypus)
- Muskrat (Ondata zibethicus)
- Squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris L.)
- Grey Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis Gmelin)
- Flying Squirrel (Pteromys volans L.)
- Ground Squirrel (Citellus citellus
- Brown Rat (Rattus norvegicus)
- Dormice
- Hamster (cricetus cricetus L.)
- Romanian Hamster (Mesocricetus newtoni)
- Mongolian Gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus)
- Lemmings and Voles
- Bank Voles
- Field Mice
- Water Voles
