Rabbit

Habitat and range Outdoor entrance to a rabbit burrow Rabbit habitats include meadows, woods, forests, grasslands, deserts and wetlands.[1] Rabbits live in groups, and the best known species, the European rabbit, lives in underground burrows, or rabbit holes. A group of burrows is called a warren.[1] More than half the world's rabbit population resides in North America.[1] They are also native to southwestern Europe, Southeast Asia, Sumatra, some islands of Japan, and in parts of Africa and South America. They are not naturally found in most of Eurasia, where a number of species of hares are present. The European rabbit has been introduced to many places around the world.[2] Biology A skin-skeletal preparation showing its incisors Evolution Because the rabbit's epiglottis is engaged over the soft palate except when swallowing, the rabbit is an obligate nasal breather. Morphology Video of a European rabbit, showing ears twitching and a jump Ecology Rabbits are hindgut digesters. Sleep Lifespan

rabbit | Facts & Pets rabbit, any of 29 species of long-eared mammals belonging to the family Leporidae, excluding hares (genus Lepus). Frequently the terms rabbit and hare are used interchangeably, a practice that can cause confusion. Jackrabbits, for instance, are actually hares, whereas the rockhares and the hispid hare are rabbits. Rabbits differ from hares in size, life history, and preferred habitat. In general, rabbits are smaller and have shorter ears than hares. Rabbits are ground dwellers that live in environments ranging from desert to tropical forest and wetland. The long ears of rabbits are most likely an adaptation for detecting predators. Britannica Quiz Ultimate Animals Quiz While the European rabbit is the best-known species, it is probably also the least typical, as there is considerable variability in the natural history of rabbits. Rabbits must consume plant material in large quantities to ensure proper nutrition, and thus they have large digestive tracts.

Rabbits: Habits, Diet & Other Facts Rabbits are small mammals with fluffy, short tails, whiskers and distinctive long ears. There 29 species around the world, according to Nature by PBS and, while they live in many different environments, they have many things in common. Rabbits and hares are in the same taxonomic family, Leporidae, but they are in different genera. How big are rabbits? Some rabbits are about the size of a cat, and some can grow to be as big as a small child. According to the Journal of Applied Animal Research, the Flemish Giant is the largest rabbit breed in the world. Small rabbit breeds include the Britannia Petite, under 2.5 lbs. (1.1 kg); Netherland dwarf, under 2.5 lbs.; dwarf hotot, under 3 lbs. (1.3 kg); and Himalayan, 2.5 to 4.5 lbs. (1.1 to 2 kg). Rabbit reproduction Rabbits are known for their insatiable reproductive habits for good reason. According to the Wildlife Center of Virginia, in each pregnancy a female rabbit produces between one and twelve babies, called kittens or kits. Rabbits’ habits