Rabbits and hares are not the same, although they are from the same family. Hares are larger with longer ears and bigger feet. Rabbit kits are born blind and helpless while hare leverets are born with full vision, and can take care of themselves shortly after birth. Hares are far less social than rabbits.

A captive European rabbit in Tasmania lived for 18 years, and thus, holds the record for the longest-lived rabbit. Wild rabbits live much shorter lives, with the eastern cottontail living less than 3 years, on average.