Page 138 - Present Day Wildlife_Float
P. 138
Rabbits are around 29 wild species of small long-eared mammals in 10 genera, in
the family Leporidae*. They are found on all continents except Antarctica. The smallest of the species is
the pygmy rabbit, measuring around 20 to 29 cm in length and about 0.4 kg in weight, with the largest
wild species, the white-tailed jackrabbit, being around 56 to 65 cm in length and a weight between 2.5
and 4.3 kg. The largest domestic breed is the Flemish
giant rabbit weighing around 22 kg and could grow
to a length of about 1.3 metres.
Rabbits have a uniformed look and are a very
recognizable species. They have a tapered oval
shaped body, a round head and a stubby snout with a
split nose that is constantly twitching and sniffing.
They can have two very long or very short ears, some
long and thin, others broad and leafy-like. They have
small round eyes on the side of their skull encom-
passing 360 degrees of vision, giving them all round
sight. They have two short front limbs and paws
brandishing four toes with long claws for defence
and digging or burrowing. Their rear limbs are long
and designed more for hopping and jumping, conse-
quently, when they walk or graze their body has a
distinct frontal downward slope. They have a very
Order Lagomorpha short tail, sometimes referred to as ‘their scut’ which
*Family Leporidae (in appears like a small fluffy ball on the base of their
part) back. In stark contrast to domestic breeds the wild rabbits fur coat is col-
Genus Brachylagus oured for camouflage and is influenced by the habitat the animal resides.
Pygmy rabbit, Most come in different shades and depths of browns, greys, and buffs.
Genus Bunolagus However, some like the, Annamite and Sumatran, have distinctive brown
Bushman rabbit, or black stripes covering their coats, while the Amami, can be totally black
or deep reddish brown.
Genus Lepus [(hares)
Genus Nesolagus Rabbits are terrestrial and across the globe inhabit a wide variety of
Sumatran striped rabbit, environments such as, meadows, woods, forests, grasslands, deserts and
Annamite striped rabbit, wetlands. Most rabbits live on the surface, – they do not burrow – they
Genus Oryctolagus construct nests, known as forms, usually under some sort of protective
European rabbit, covering, like overhanging rocks, or among thick bushes. The European
Genus Pentalagus rabbit, on the other hand, is a prolific burrower and will construct an ex-
Amami rabbit/Ryūkyū tensive labyrinth of tunnels and chambers underground, known as a war-
rabbit, ren. Rabbits live solitary lives, but are not unsociable. They do come to-
Genus Poelagus gether to mate and occasionally to forage for food in small groups. Apart
Central African Rabbit, from loud screams when threatened or caught by a predator they are a qui-
Genus Romerolagus et species, no sounds seem to pass between them. When danger threatens
Volcano rabbit, they thump their paws on the ground warning others. When in a dispute
Genus Sylvilagus they use their front paws to ‘slap’ one another. One exception to this si-
Swamp rabbit, lence however, is the Volcano rabbit, of Mexico which has a large repertory
Desert cottontail, of sounds.
Brush rabbit, Rabbits are herbivores, and live on a diet of various types of grasses,
Forest rabbit, plants, leaves, herbs and field crops. They are active throughout the year
Mexican cottontail, and do not hibernate; so in winter they will resort to eating herbage, twigs,
Dice's cottontail, buds and the bark of shrubs. As herbivores rabbits are not predatory, but
Eastern cottontail, they are the main source of food for many predatory animals such as,
Tres Marias rabbit, wolves, foxes, bobcats, weasels, hawks, eagles, even man farms and hunt
Omilteme cottontail, them for their meat and fur. Kept within their own natural habitats rabbits
San Jose brush rabbit, can be a nuisance to farmers and their crops but do little damage to the
Mountain cottontail, natural plant life and surroundings. However, in the 18th century the Eu-
Marsh rabbit, ropean rabbit was introduced by settlers into several countries including
New England cottontail Australia, where it has devastated both crops and the natural plant life.
Efforts to eradicate it with deadly rabbit diseases like, myxomatosis, have
so far failed to have an effect.
