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Wild About Illinois Lagomorphs!
Mammals have hair/fur, four limbs (arms/legs) and a large brain. They are warm-blooded, that is, they can keep their body temperature at the same level no matter what the outside temperature is. Females of most mammal species give birth to young that have developed inside a special organ called the uterus. Some mammal species lay eggs instead of having live birth, but none of these species live in Illinois. After birth, mammal young are fed for a time by milk produced in the female’s mammary glands. Langomorphs include the rabbits and hares, mammals with a short, furry tail. Rabbits have long legs and long ears. A distinctive trait is their four incisors (front teeth) on the upper jaw.
Family and Species Gallery
Kingdom: Animalia - Animals are multicellular organisms that rely on other organisms for nourishment. There cells do not have cell walls. Most animals are capable of movement at least in some portion of their life cycle. Reproduction is generally sexual, but in some animals asexual reproduction may be utilized at certain times.
Phylum: Chordata - The Phylum Chordata contains the vertebrate animals. Mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and fishes are included in this phylum. These animals have a notochord at some point in their development. They have a tubular nerve cord along the back. Gill slits and a tail are present at some point in their life cycle. They have an internal skeleton.
Class: Mammalia (Mammals) - Mammals are warm-blooded. Most mammals have young born after developing inside the mother's body in a special organ called a uterus. After birth, the young are fed with milk produced in the female’s mammary glands. A mammal has a large and complex brain.
Order: Lagomorpha (Hares and Rabbits) - This group includes the rabbits and hares, mammals with a short, furry tail. Rabbits have long legs and long ears. A distinctive trait is their four incisors (front teeth) on the upper jaw.
Family: Leporidae (Hares and Rabbits) - Members of this family are medium-sized and have long legs, long ears and a short, furry tail.
swamp rabbit (Sylvilagus aquaticus)
eastern cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus)