You may not know the term ‘lagomorphs’, but you will recognise their most famous fictional representatives – Peter Rabbit, Bugs Bunny, and Thumper. Lagomorphs include rabbits, hares, and pikas and are some of the world’s most resourceful and resilient creatures - from arctic hares that endure temperatures as low as -50°C due to their rounder bodies and shorter ears, to the jackrabbits of the desert whose massive ears release heat to keep them cool, and the grumpy and solitary pikas who shelter in rocky crevices in the mountains of North America and Asia.
Their position at the base of the food chain makes them vulnerable, but also indispensable to ecosystems, as entire food chains can collapse without them. From the Arctic to the desert, these remarkable creatures prove their endurance and charm in every environment.
