The largest hare in the world (see photo in the article) is the hare, and it’s hard to disagree with this, because its size reaches about 70 centimeters in length! In Latin, the name of this species is Lepus europaeus.
It is an indigenous inhabitant of both the Eurasian and North African steppes, which over a long period migrated further and further north. Nowadays it can be found both in northern Finland and in hot Egypt. In this article you can see a photo of the largest hare in the world. Its weight will also be indicated.
Distinctive features
The hare is the largest hare in the world, and this is a generally accepted fact, since there are individuals whose weight reaches seven to eight kilograms. The most well-fed of them live in the cold north, which is also the limit of their habitat. And this is not surprising, since survival in harsh winter conditions requires a lot of subcutaneous fat. Moreover, the bunny’s skeleton is quite thin, because with a massive physique you can’t run far.
The hare differs from its closest relative, the hare, by its particularly long ears. After all, his ears rise above his head by as much as 10-14 centimeters! Its tail also stands out: both because it stretches an average of 10 cm, and because it is black and brown in color, which covers only its outer part. The hind legs are also much longer than those of the white hare, but the front legs are shorter.
The color of the fur coat of this hare varies from yellowish-gray, brown or fiery red to much lighter, but not snow-white. The color directly depends on the area and time of year, but it is known that even in winter the limbs and ears do not change their shade and remain dark.
The bunny's fur has a healthy shine and is soft and slightly wavy to the touch. Overall, this is a real beauty! And he is called a hare precisely because of his fur, which resembles brown hair of various shades.
The largest rabbits in the world
Rabbit Darius
Rabbit Darius broke all records. Many farmers around the world are trying to raise giant rabbits, but Annette Edwards has done it best so far.
She lives in England, in the city of Worcester. The woman bred a whole offspring of giants - Roberto, Amy and Alice. They reached a weight of more than 10 kg. But the next rabbit that the farmer raised received the title of “The Largest Rabbit in the World.”
His name is Darius. He broke all the records. The animal grew to 1.3 m in length and gained a weight of 22.2 kg. As the hostess said, this is a merit of increased mobility and good appetite.
Darius eats a wide variety of foods and runs all day. During the day he eats 1 kg of apples, about 2 kg of carrots and 2 heads of cabbage. The huge rabbit is very sociable and attentive. His eyes light up when someone starts flirting with him.
But in all likelihood, Darius will not have long to hold the title of the largest rabbit in the world, because he has a son who is a serious competitor to his father.
His name is Jeffy. The smallest rabbit is only one year old, but its body length has already reached 1.2 m. The breed of rabbits bred by the Englishwoman is called the Continental Giant.
Previously, this breed was bred for meat, but now as pets. In Darius's family, his mother, Alice, and grandmother, Amy, were distinguished by their large size.
Darius and his owner Anetta were born on the same day - April 8, so they celebrate their name day together. Darius and Jeffy live in doghouses. To feed her pets, the owner spends about 7 thousand euros.
Ralph the rabbit, who lives in Great Britain, is recognized as one of the largest in the world.
Ralph Rabbit
His owner's name is Paulina Grant. He is over 4 years old, but due to his weight category he is considered one of the fattest rabbits in the world.
Ralph is a hereditary giant record holder. His parents, rabbit Amy and father Roberto, were among the record holders as the heaviest in the world.
Before Darius, Ralph was the leader among the giants. Both pets are serious competitors for the title of world record holder. Ralph has an excellent appetite. His weekly food costs are £50.
The expenses cannot be called small, but the Grant family loves their pet and provides him with everything he needs. The hostess said that guests very often come to them to look at Ralph and bring with them something tasty for the champion pet.
Change of fur coat
In this regard, the brown hare does not lag behind other representatives of its family, therefore it also sheds in autumn and winter. The spring wardrobe change begins at the end of March and lasts up to eighty days, ending somewhere in the last month of spring. And in the fall, the fur coat is enriched with warm and soft undercoat, which replaces fallen guard hairs. This process lasts throughout the three rainy months, only occasionally dragging on until the beginning of winter.
Other types of hares
Subgenus Poecilolagus
American hare
Subgenus Lepus
Arctic hare
White hare
Subgenus Proeulagus
Black-tailed hare
White-sided hare
Cape hare
Bush hare
Subgenus Eulagos
Corsican hare
Iberian hare
Manchurian hare
curly hare
White-tailed hare
Subgenus Indolagus
Dark-necked hare
Burmese hare
Uncertain subgenus
Japanese hare
Area
The largest hare in the world is found almost everywhere on the vast territory of the Russian Federation - from Lake Onega to Transcaucasia. It was brought to the Krasnodar Territory, Altai, the Far East and some other parts of our huge country and took root everywhere except Buryatia.
At the end of the 19th - beginning of the 20th century, the hare became acquainted with the climate of North America (Canada, New York), and he lives well near the Great Lakes.
In addition, the hare has artificially settled in areas such as South America, New Zealand and South Australia. In the latter he became famous as a pest.
Breeding
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Gray giants are classified as high fertility breeds. Individuals who have reached sexual maturity are allowed to mate: in males it occurs at the age of 6–8 months, in females – at 5.5–6 months. Overweight rabbits are not used for mating, as they are less fertilized and are not able to produce healthy offspring.
Gray “giants” are quite prolific; in one litter they can produce up to 14 rabbits
For mating, the female rabbit and male rabbit are placed in a common cage, having previously freed it from unnecessary objects (feeders, drinking bowls). After mating, they are seated in separate rooms. After 3-4 hours, mating is repeated.
Pregnancy lasts 28-30 days. About a week before giving birth, the female begins to pluck her fur, arranging a nest for her future offspring. Four days before birth, the baby rabbits begin to move inside the mother's belly. Typically, the number of rabbits in one litter ranges from 8 to 14. Gray giant females are caring mothers with high milk production, which allows them to feed all the offspring.
In the following video you can observe the behavior of the rabbit and her cubs:
Normal activities
This large hare lives primarily in open areas such as steppe, forest-steppe and open forest (as well as within forest boundaries). You can meet it near human settlements, in ravines, and near rivers.
Most often, the hare is attached to a certain territory, which it leaves only rarely, in cases related to a shortage of food resources. Its habitat radius is about fifty hectares. The path from the hare’s “bedroom” to the “kitchen” can be tens of kilometers. In the cold season, the animal prefers to feed near human habitation or on hills, where it is possible to dig up edible vegetation.
Individuals living in mountainous areas come closer to the water with the onset of autumn, and go back in the spring.
Darius is the current record holder
Today, the largest rabbit in the whole world is a long-eared pet named Darius. The giant animal comes from Great Britain and belongs to the “Continental Giant” breed. This breed has several other names: Flander, Risen or Belgian Giant. In the photo - Darius in the arms of his owner, Annette Edwards.
Today, the heavyweight weighs more than 22 kilograms, with a body length of 1 meter 30 centimeters. Despite its large size, the rabbit is very active and mobile. The owner believes that it was the combination of feeding with physical activity that gave such an amazing result. After all, the weight of an eared dog is greatly influenced by its muscles.
Night life
The largest hare in the world prefers to do its business exclusively in the dark, so you can meet it in the light of day only during the breeding season.
The hare is especially active at the beginning and end of the night. If circumstances are not the best, he can sleep for more than one day, remaining without food. In summer, the hare’s “bedroom” is a small hole dug under a fallen tree, in thickets of tall grass, in the shade of a large bush, or in the middle of a field. The hare does not suit himself with permanent housing, because he needs a hole only as a shelter from the scorching summer sun.
Often the largest hare in the world finds shelter in the burrows of its neighbors - foxes, badgers or marmots. The choice of a place for a hare's daytime rest directly depends on the characteristics of the time of year.
With the onset of spring, he chooses places warmed by the still timid rays of the sun, and during floods he prefers higher places.
In winter, the hare finds shelter among the snow covers, hidden from the icy winds. If the depth of the snowdrift is quite large, the hare digs holes up to two meters in length. There are often cases when a hare has an eye for a cozy haystack, prepared by practical villagers for their own purposes.
How lagomorphs escape from predators
Hares run away from predators and confuse hunters when they return. Rabbits take refuge in burrows. Therefore, hares travel considerable distances and have a wide range, while rabbits remain in close proximity to safe shelters in small areas. All lagomorphs use distress calls or strike the ground with their hind feet to warn of a predator.
A hare escapes from a lynx
Hares have keen hearing, but scent marking is another way of communication. They have scent glands on the nose, chin and around the anus.
Reproduction
Hares often live in pairs, but this does not always happen. The brown hare acutely feels the need to continue the race during the cold days of February, and the male’s passion lasts until the very end of the summer period.
A hare's pregnancy lasts up to twenty days, and each individual individual is capable of giving birth up to two or three times a year, bringing up to four cubs at a time.
Hares are born sighted and after a week begin the transition from mother's milk to food common to adults. Their ability to reproduce begins by next spring.
Juveniles have a white star on the forehead, which is formed from several light hairs, and the ears, depending on various unfavorable conditions at this age, may be slightly torn. The bones of the skeleton are also quite fragile and easily vulnerable.
By the onset of advanced age, the weight of the largest hare reaches its maximum and, of course, depends on the habitat. Under favorable conditions, it can reach seven kilograms! The backbone at this age becomes stronger and plays an important role in the weight of the bunny.
About a quarter of the representatives of this species die from diseases associated with the digestive and respiratory organs, and most of them are still young hares. Floods, hunger and cold are difficult trials for hare, as they can suffer not only due to these factors, but also from becoming dinner for predators.
No less large breeds
The largest breeds of rabbits in the world are known:
- Belgian giant;
- gray giant;
- chinchillas;
- Angora rabbit.
- and others;
Belgian giant
Photo:
The Flanders or Belgian Giant is perhaps the most famous breed of large rabbit. The first mentions of these giants appeared 500 years ago.
They began their history in Belgium in the province of Flanders, hence the two names - Belgian giant and Flanders. These rabbits belong to the meat and wool breed.
The maximum weight of this breed is reached by 1 year and is 8-10 kg. The body length of giants reaches 90 cm. If a rabbit is less than 70 cm, then this is considered a breed defect.
Its front legs are short, and its hind legs are quite long and large. They have a heavy and large head with long ears, the length of which reaches 19 cm. Flanders have a strong skeleton, a straight and wide spine. The tail is long, stiff and slightly carried upward.
The breed's fur is quite thick and silky. The length of the hair reaches 3-4 cm. The coat can have the following color: gray-brown; blue; white; coffee; grey; white; kangaroo; black.
Flandre is calm by temperament. He will not jump and run around like small breeds. He prefers to lie quietly and watch. Flandre is quite friendly and calm, he treats people well.
He easily allows himself to be petted and played with. This breed is a good alternative to affectionate dogs, such as Labradors. They are truly gentle giants that get along well with both people and animals.
Continental giant
Photo:
Rabbits of the Continental Giant or Conti breed are known for their championship makings. The two largest rabbits registered in the Guinness Book of Records belong to this breed. This is one of the most ancient breeds, which is still popular today.
The average weight of these giants at their peak is 16 kg, but with proper care they can weigh more than 20 kg. The body length is at least 65 cm. This breed has large ears, the length of which can reach 20 cm. The rodent has a rather dense and powerful bone structure.
Conti's fur is dense, thick rollback, and silky to the touch. The villi reach a length of 4 cm.
There are 7 fur colors:
- black - plain black fur, the rabbit's eyes are black or light brown;
- light steel - the hairs are gray on top, sandy in the middle, gray-blue closer to the body;
- dark steel - dark gray color, lighter closer to the skin, brown eye color;
- Agouti is the most common color of this breed. The fur is chestnut, orange in the middle, and the undercoat is dark gray. There is a black edging on the ears and the underside of the tail, a white belly;
- red agouti - chestnut-red coat, black ticking, dirty blue undercoat. The rabbit's tail and belly are cream-colored;
- opal - the coat is pale blue at the top, creamy in the middle, the undercoat is dark. The ears have a dark blue edging. The eyes, tail and belly are light beige;
- Fawn is a color with shades of red, the belly is white or beige, and the undercoat is light.
These rabbits live up to nine years. Average life expectancy is 4-5 years. These giants have an excellent character; they are quite affectionate and friendly.
In addition, they are quite smart and calm. You can play with them, “squeeze” or stroke them without any problems. These rabbits are often kept as pets. They can easily be taught the simplest commands. But like all rabbits, they are quite timid, so you should not expose Conti to stress.
Risen
Photo:
German Riesen is the work of breeders from Germany. The breed was developed from the Belgian giant in 1937. Translated from German, “Riesen” means giant. This breed belongs to the meat and wool category, like most other giant rabbits.
Rizen's meat is very juicy. It is considered one of the most delicious among giant rabbits.
The weight of an adult Risen is 6-10 kg. However, some rabbits reached a weight of 14 kg. Rabbits have well-developed muscles and a massive build. They have fairly large, fleshy ears located on a wide head; the length of the ears reaches 20 cm. The legs are massive and strong.
The fur is thick and dense. The length of the pile reaches 4 cm. There are various colors: sand, blue, black, dark gray and others.
Rizen's character is excellent. They are good-natured and fearless. They can also be kept as pets. These rabbits are not particularly popular on the farm. They grow quite slowly and require a lot of space to keep them.
Gray giant
The Gray Giant breed was bred in Ukraine in the Poltava region. Breeders from the Petrovsky animal farm crossed Flander with outbred rabbits.
From Flander, the Gray Giant took large sizes and colors. And other rabbits have adaptation to different living conditions. Gray giants have large bones and bodies.
The body length reaches 66 cm, and the weight can be up to 7 kg. The legs are long and straight. The ears are erect and long, slightly rounded at the ends. The coat is dense and thick.
A special feature of the Gray Giant is its large area of skin. Sometimes its area can reach 3 m2.
The fur of this breed can be of the following colors:
grey; black; dark grey. The undoubted advantage is the unpretentiousness of the Gray Giant. It is suitable for growing in cramped conditions and does not require undue attention. In addition, breeders note the fertility of females.
White giant
The ancestor of the White Giant is the Belgian Giant. Among the Belgians, only albinos with white fur were selected. They were crossed with chinchillas and the Gray Giant breed. The result was a snow-white albino rabbit with excellent weight characteristics.
It is very easy to distinguish the White Giant from other breeds - these rabbits have a snow-white coat and red eyes. The body is strong and moderately long (about 60 cm), weight is 4-6 kg.
The paws are thin but strong.
The ears are erect and of medium length. The White Giant's fur is the pride of this breed. The coat is thick and dense. The skins of rabbits of this breed are highly valued among fur manufacturers.
Giant butterfly
The giant butterfly is a breed that differs from other types of rabbits in its original colors. They are white in color with symmetrically located black spots. They are bred not only for the unusual color of their skins, but also to obtain good quality meat.
They come from England, but in the last century they were brought to Russia, where they were adapted to harsher living conditions through selection.
To do this, they were crossed with such breeds as the Gray Giant, Soviet Chinchilla and Flanders. The result was a larger, stable breed that evolved from an ornamental to a commercial one.
The purebred breed of these animals has a symmetrical color along the length of the skin and on the sides, which do not come into contact with the dark stripe on the spine.
They reach a length of 55 - 60 cm, weight about 4.5 kg. They are distinguished by a powerful torso.
Although any conditions are suitable for keeping them, they are best suited to living in cages in order to control certain processes, such as mating. They have a calm, friendly disposition, which is why these beauties are often kept as pets.
Cottontail
The American rabbit breed is distinguished by its unusual fur color. They are quite rare, although the animals have a calm character and are unpretentious in their maintenance.
The unusual fur color is white and blue, which is why they are divided into two subspecies - American White and American Blue.
They are large in size, weighing on average about 5 kg. This is a rabbit with large ears, the length of which reaches 12 cm, and a narrow head. The fur is soft and elastic. Experienced farmers advise even beginners to keep these animals, since caring for them does not require much effort.
Important! When breeding this breed, it should be taken into account that during color mating, blue color dominates over white, which is why there is a possibility of degeneration of the latter.
Chinchillas
Many people are probably familiar with chinchillas. They belong to the domestic breed. Their fur is white, with a blue tint, and is of very high quality. Because of their unpretentiousness, rabbit breeders love to breed them.
Animals easily adapt to any conditions, do not require special care, gain weight well and are very fertile. Their meat contains many nutrients and is very tasty.
Angora rabbits
There is another breed of large rabbits called Angora. Looking at them, it’s difficult to immediately tell what kind of animal it is. Outwardly, they resemble a large fluffy ball. Their fur is highly prized and this breed of rabbit is bred for its wool.
Rex
At the beginning of the twentieth century, French breeders developed the amazing short-haired Rex breed. European rabbit breeders immediately appreciated the value of wool.
Adults grow up to 4.5 kilograms, and the body length is on average 54 centimeters. Baby rabbits are in no hurry to grow, but by 5 months they gain 3 kilos. Due to the variety of colors, the skins can be used in their natural form, without artificial dyeing.
Soviet Marder
Just before the war, in 1940, a relatively medium-sized species was bred in Armenia, which received an unusual name. In addition, rabbits have a very original appearance, so it is very difficult to confuse them with others.
Having a compact and strong build, rabbits weigh on average 3.7 - 4 kilograms, but sometimes reach 6 kilograms. The color of the fur resembles the fur of a marten, which is where the name comes from, because marder is translated as marten.
Russian ermine
One of the oldest breeds in Russia, it was bred to produce high quality skins. However, in addition to skins, tender rabbit meat was also valued in Rus'.
The animals have an amazing white color, only the ears, tip of the nose, paws and tail are black or dark brown. Because of the unique color, the breed was given such an original name.
Adults reach 4 kilograms, and the body length is 51 centimeters. They are unpretentious and easily adapt to any conditions and climate.
Ram
Don’t be surprised, among the hare family there is such an amazing name. The head with hanging ears resembles that of a lamb. Rabbits not only have an original appearance, but are also famous for the wonderful qualities of their meat.
Unpretentious in care and maintenance, they grow up to 6 kilograms. Among their relatives they stand out for their very flexible and calm character. Experts say that the reason for this behavior is lop ears.
Hare menu
The diet varies depending on the time of year, which is not surprising, since the hare is (mostly) a herbivore. The hare menu looks something like this:
- Warm season: young twigs and shoots filled with juice, fresh leaves, dandelions, clover and other non-poisonous herbaceous plants. The hare likes to eat some vegetables, fruits and berries as a treat.
- During the cold season, vegetable remains and tree bark extracted from under the snow are the key to survival in harsh conditions. Moreover, hares often give preference to fruit-bearing trees, which irritates rural residents a lot. It is known that in particularly harsh winter conditions, hares eat partridges that are found in snares set by hunters. Therefore, we can say that the hare is still omnivorous.
Butterfly
Weight: 5 kg
Butterfly rabbits were bred in 1884 in England. They have amazingly beautiful colors. Breeders tried to improve this species as much as possible. To achieve this, complex work was carried out.
The fur is delicate, thick and very shiny. The color is mostly white. The body is covered with various spots. Currently in demand in the market. They are particularly unpretentious in care and resistant to various climate changes.
It is worth noting that the offspring almost always survive. Can be kept in cages or enclosures. They are not at all prone to whims in their choice of food. If desired, they can be fattened to larger sizes.
Interesting facts about hares
- The hare is the largest and heaviest of the family members.
- Hunger can force a hare to eat bird meat.
- This is a wild forest animal that is only cowardly in fairy tales. There was a case when a hare, raised by a shepherd, behaved like a real dog, bravely defending its honor among other dogs.
- The hare's eyes are not slanted at all, but are located on the sides of the wedge-shaped head for better visibility.
- Fleeing from danger, the hare meanders not just for the sake of “tangling” the trail, but also because of the asymmetrically developed left and right limbs.
- You can distinguish a male from a female by the presence of plumper cheeks and a thicker neck.
Now you know how much the largest hare weighs and what its height and weight depend on.
Is a hare a rodent or not?
Lagomorphs differ in blood composition from rodents.
Another distinctive feature is the structure of the teeth. Hares have incisors in the upper jaw, 2 pairs on each side. The inert palate is a bridge connecting the right and left molars. In rodents it is in the form of a complete bone platform. There are no gaps between the protruding parts of the upper and lower teeth, allowing for better processing of food.
Agouti, the so-called humpbacked or golden hare, is considered a rodent.
