Lagomorphs are distinguishable from rodents primarily by their total of four upper incisors, compared with two upper incisors in the rodent. Furthermore lagomorphs have extra pre-molars, probably to assist in grinding grass and vegetation. Rabbits and hares are true herbivores. Rodents however, could be described as either herbivorous or omnivorous. Certainly in the wild, some rodents will consume insects (beetles and grubs) to supplement their diet. Whereas rodents generally hoard their food (hamsters have distendable cheek pouches, and squirrels stash their food in holes), and are nocturnal, lagomorphs are grazers, tending to feed around dawn and dusk i.e. crepuscular.

Those being the major differences, the major similarities are that they have no canine teeth, they do not possess the vomit reflex, and they are all coprophageous. Certainly, in order to cope with the high fibre content of their diet, lagomorphs have developed a highly efficient digestive system, possessing a highly developed caecum filled with bacteria which breaks down the cellulose cell walls of plant material. In order to salvage the nutrients that are released the material is passed through the digestive tract a second time. This process is known as coprophagy, a term to describe the re-ingestion of faecal material directly from the anus. Rodents also practice coprophagy for the same reasons, but perhaps to a lesser extent (and gerbils only in terms of dietary deficiency).

Insight into Rabbits