Final answer:
Hares are born with their eyes open and with fur, ready to move on their own, fitting their precocial nature. Rabbits, meanwhile, are altalricial and are born blind with closed eyes, requiring parental care and relying on social structures for protection.
Step-by-step explanation:
Unlike rabbits, hares are born with their eyes open. This distinction is due to differences in their development and survival strategies. Rabbits are altricial, meaning they are born in a relatively undeveloped state and require care and feeding by their parents. These young rabbits, often called kits or bunnies, are born blind and with closed eyes, which will open after about 10 days. Rabbits tend to be more social than hares and live in groups, which can help protect the vulnerable young. On the other hand, hares are precocial, born fully furred and with their eyes open, ready to move and somewhat fend for themselves shortly after birth. This precocious state helps them to quickly escape from predators, such as coyotes, foxes, or birds of prey.
Hares are adapted to a solitary life, and therefore their young need to be more independent early on. This is analogous to the way certain mammals like kangaroos or whales have developmental strategies that are suited to their environments and lifestyles. The hair and coloration patterns of rabbits and hares have also evolved in response to their habitats—rabbits often match their environment to hide, while hares use their agility and awareness to escape predators. One interesting aspect of mammals like rabbits and the effects of their environment is seen in the Himalayan phenotype, where the extremities of the rabbit's body, which are cooler, are pigmented, while the warmer parts are not.