Hares are leporids belonging to the genus Lepus. A male hare is called a "jack", a female is a "jill", and hares less than a year old are known as "leverets". A group of hares is known as a "drove". Hares are classified in the same family as rabbits. They have similar form and size to rabbits and similar herbivorous diets.

However, there are a few key differences between hares and rabbits. Hares generally have longer ears and back legs than rabbits. Hares are precocial (born relatively maturely with fur and good eyesight), while rabbits are altricial (born blind, hairless and helpless). Hares live a relatively solitary life in simple nests above the ground (named "forms"), while rabbits live in groups in underground warrens or burrows.

In addition, hares have not been domesticated, unlike rabbits. The animal known as the Belgian Hare is actually a breed of domestic rabbit that has been selectively bred to resemble a hare.

The hispid hare and four species known as red rock hares have "hare" in their common names, but these are not considered true hares. Conversely, the animal called a "jackrabbit" is actually a hare. In addition, the springhare is actually a rodent that resembles a rabbit-sized kangaroo.

(Note: For tagging purposes, jackrabbits are considered the same as hares and have been aliased as such.)

See also:

• mammal
• lagomorph
• leporid
• hare