Rabbit

Rabbits, or bunnies, are small mammals in the family Leporidae, which also includes hares. They belong to the order Lagomorpha, a group that also has pikas. Rabbits are known around the world as herbivores, often eaten by predators, and they are also kept as pets or livestock. The most common rabbits are from the groups Oryctolagus and Sylvilagus. The European rabbit, Oryctolagus cuniculus, is the ancestor of many domestic rabbit breeds and has been introduced to every continent except Antarctica.

Rabbits have special traits that help them survive. They can hop quickly thanks to their long hind legs, and their big ears help them hear danger. Their ears also help control their body temperature. Rabbits usually live alone or in small groups in burrows. They are often active at night and can sleep with their eyes open. They have short pregnancies and can have large families, though many baby rabbits don’t survive because of diseases like rabbit hemorrhagic disease and myxomatosis.

People have kept rabbits for food, fur, and wool since ancient times, starting in ancient Rome. This practice is called cuniculture. Rabbits appear in art and stories worldwide, standing for ideas like fertility, cleverness, and innocence in many major religions.

Terminology and etymology

The word rabbit comes from old languages. Long ago, people used the word coney to talk about adult rabbits, while rabbit was used for baby ones. Today, we also use the words kit or kitten for young rabbits. The cute word bunny started being used in the 1600s.

We have special words for groups of rabbits. You might hear a group called a colony, a nest, or a warren. Baby rabbits from the same mother are called a litter. Male rabbits are called bucks, and female rabbits are called does.

Taxonomy and evolution

See also: List of leporids

Rabbits and hares used to be grouped with rodents, but they were moved into their own group called Lagomorpha in 1912. This group also includes pikas. Scientists now believe that rodents and lagomorphs like rabbits share a common ancestor.

There are over 70 species of rabbits in the family Leporidae, spread across 11 groups called genera. One well-known genus is Lepus, which includes hares. Another important genus is Oryctolagus, which includes the common European rabbit. Rabbits are different from hares in several ways: rabbits are born hairless and blind, while hares are born more developed. Rabbits often live in groups in burrows, while hares usually live alone. Rabbits and hares can live in the same areas without fighting over space or food.

Classification

• Order Lagomorpha
  • Family Leporidae (in part):
• Genus Brachylagus
  • Pygmy rabbit, Brachylagus idahoensis
• Genus Bunolagus
  • Riverine rabbit, Bunolagus monticularis
• Genus Caprolagus
  • Hispid hare, Caprolagus hispidus
• Genus Lepus
• Genus Nesolagus
  • Sumatran striped rabbit, Nesolagus netscheri
  • Annamite striped rabbit, Nesolagus timminsi
• Genus Oryctolagus
  • European rabbit, Oryctolagus cuniculus
• Genus Pentalagus
  • Amami rabbit/Ryūkyū rabbit, Pentalagus furnessi
• Genus Poelagus
  • Bunyoro rabbit, Poelagus marjorita
• Genus Pronolagus
  • Natal red rock hare, Pronolagus crassicaudatus
  • Jameson's red rock hare, Pronolagus randensis
  • Smith's red rock hare, Pronolagus rupestris
  • Hewitt's red rock hare, Pronolagus saundersiae
• Genus Romerolagus
  • Volcano rabbit, Romerolagus diazi
• Genus Sylvilagus
  • Andean tapeti, Sylvilagus andinus
  • Swamp rabbit, Sylvilagus aquaticus
  • Desert cottontail, Sylvilagus audubonii
  • Brush rabbit, Sylvilagus bachmani
  • Common tapeti, Sylvilagus brasiliensis
  • Mexican cottontail, Sylvilagus cunicularis
  • Dice's cottontail, Sylvilagus dicei
  • Eastern cottontail, Sylvilagus floridanus
  • Central American tapeti, Sylvilagus gabbi
  • Tres Marias cottontail, Sylvilagus graysoni
  • Robust cottontail, Sylvilagus holzneri
  • Omilteme cottontail, Sylvilagus insonus
  • Mountain cottontail, Sylvilagus nuttallii
  • Appalachian cottontail, Sylvilagus obscurus
  • Marsh rabbit, Sylvilagus palustris
  • Santa Marta tapeti, Sylvilagus sanctaemartae
  • Coastal tapeti, Sylvilagus tapetillus
  • New England cottontail, Sylvilagus transitionalis
  • Venezuelan lowland rabbit, Sylvilagus varynaensis

Differences from hares

Main article: Hare

The word "rabbit" usually refers to all members of the Leporidae family except those in the genus Lepus, which are called hares or jackrabbits. Hares are born ready to move and see well, while rabbits are born hairless and blind. Hares are usually bigger and have longer pregnancies. Hares often live alone, while rabbits may live in groups. Both can share the same area and food without fighting.

Domestication

Main article: Domestic rabbit

Rabbits, especially the European rabbit, have been kept by humans for a long time. They were first kept in ancient Rome and later bred to create many different types, some of which are kept as pets. Rabbits are raised for their meat and fur, and some types, like the Angora rabbit, are kept for their wool, which can be spun into yarn.

Biology

Rabbits are small mammals known for their agility and are found all over the world. They belong to the family Leporidae, which also includes hares, and are part of the order Lagomorpha. Unlike rodents, rabbits have two sets of front teeth called incisors, and all their teeth keep growing throughout their lives.

Rabbits are built for speed, with strong hind legs that help them hop quickly to escape predators. Their bodies are usually full and egg-shaped, and their fur helps them blend into their surroundings. Rabbits can see almost in a full circle, but they have a blind spot right in front of their noses, so they rely on their whiskers to sense what they’re eating. Their long ears help them hear predators from far away and also aid in keeping cool in warm weather.

Ecology

Rabbits are prey animals, often hunted by predators like foxes and lynxes. To stay safe, they have excellent vision, can freeze when threatened, and warn others by thumping their hind feet. They survive by burrowing underground or hopping to safety and can bite to escape danger.

Rabbits live in many habitats, including forests, deserts, and swamps, often in groups called colonies. They are native to places like North America, Europe, and parts of Asia and Africa but have been introduced to other areas, like Australia, where they sometimes cause problems for local plants and farms. Some rabbits, like the European rabbit, live in large burrow systems called warrens.

As food and clothing

Main article: Cuniculture

See also: Category:Rabbit dishes

Rabbits have long been a healthy and easy source of food for humans. People have hunted wild rabbits for thousands of years, and today many rabbits are raised on farms for their meat. Countries like Malta, Italy, and Cyprus eat a lot of rabbit meat.

Besides meat, rabbits also give us wool and fur for clothing. Some special rabbit breeds, like the Angora rabbit, are raised just for their fur. Their manure is also useful for plants, and their milk is rich in protein.

In culture

Rabbits have been important symbols throughout history. They are often linked to ideas about spring and new life. The Easter Bunny, a fun figure from German folklore, spread to America and many other places. Rabbits are also seen as gentle and innocent, which is why they appear in many children’s stories and as friendly characters.

In myths and stories from many cultures, rabbits often use their cleverness to get out of trouble. For example, in some African stories, the rabbit outsmarts much bigger animals. In Chinese stories, a rabbit lives on the Moon and helps make special food. Rabbits have also been part of religious symbols, like a design with three rabbits that stands for peace and harmony. Today, rabbits remain popular in books, movies, and cartoons, such as Bugs Bunny and the White Rabbit from Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.