Abstract
Aim To evaluate the extent to which dorsal body colouration in lagomorphs follows ecogeographical patterns, particularly Gloger's rule, by assessing the relative influence of climate, forest vertical structure, and phylogenetic relatedness on eumelanin‐ and pheomelanin‐based pigmentation. Location Global. Time Period Contemporary. Major Taxa Studied Lagomorpha (families Leporidae and Ochotonidae). Methods We extracted dorsal colouration data for 83 lagomorph species, quantifying eumelanin (darkness) and pheomelanin (redness). Using Bayesian phylogenetic regressions, we tested the effects of climate, forest vertical structure, and phylogenetic relatedness on colouration patterns across all species and within each family. Results Dorsal darkness was strongly associated with precipitation, supporting a moisture‐based interpretation of Gloger's rule. Redness was related to precipitation, UV‐B radiation, and forest vertical structure, suggesting that multiple environmental factors drive pheomelanin‐based pigmentation. In Leporidae, darker pelage was particularly linked to precipitation, reflecting the importance of environmental pressures. In contrast, Ochotonidae exhibited little environmental influence on colouration, with phylogenetic relatedness being the dominant predictor. Main Conclusions Our findings reveal divergent patterns between leporids and ochotonids, reflecting distinct ecological and evolutionary histories. Precipitation emerges as a primary driver of eumelanin‐based pigmentation, especially in Leporidae, while Ochotonidae shows greater phylogenetic conservatism. Pheomelanin‐based pigmentation, however, exhibits weaker and more context‐dependent effects, underscoring the need to consider multiple environmental factors. These results refine our understanding of Gloger's rule and highlight the importance of clade‐specific approaches in macroecological analyses of trait evolution.