Rabbit
Scientists moved rabbits from the order Rodentia into Lagomorpha in 1912. This change recognized that rabbits possess two extra incisors behind their front teeth, a trait rodents lack entirely. Fossil records trace the earliest ancestor of both rabbits and hares to Mongolia, dating back 55 million years. Molecular biology studies from the 2000s confirmed a common lineage for lagomorphs and rodents within the clade Glires. Before this discovery, researchers attributed similarities between the groups to convergent evolution rather than shared ancestry. The family Leporidae now contains more than 70 extant species across 11 distinct genera. One genus, Lepus, holds all hare species, while Oryctolagus includes the European rabbit. Another group, Sylvilagus, encompasses over 13 wild species including cottontails and tapetis. Some species like the pygmy rabbit or volcano rabbit have extremely limited geographic distributions.
Rabbits rely on large hind leg bones and well-developed musculature to escape predators quickly. Their ears contain a high density of blood vessels essential for thermoregulation since they lack sweat glands. A rabbit's panoramic field of vision covers nearly 360 degrees with only a blind spot at the bridge of its nose. They sleep with eyes open to detect sudden movements that might signal danger. Newborn rabbits spend 22 hours sleeping each day before leaving their nest. The epiglottis remains fixed to the soft palate except when swallowing, making rabbits obligate nasal breathers. This anatomical feature allows them to breathe through their nose while feeding without aspirating food. Rabbits cannot vomit, so intestinal blockages from low-fiber diets can become fatal. Their digestive system processes hard-to-digest fiber by fermenting it in the cecum and reingesting nutrient-rich droppings called cecotropes.
Humans kept European rabbits as livestock starting in ancient Rome during the first century BC. Selective breeding began in the Middle Ages to create breeds suited for meat or fur production. By the early 19th century, many domestic breeds were also kept as pets rather than just farm animals. The practice of raising rabbits for agriculture is known as cuniculture. Some strains like the New Zealand white serve specifically as research subjects today. Angora rabbit breeds produce wool that is sheared, combed, or plucked for spinning into yarn. In 1986, France produced 70 million rabbit skins annually compared to 25 million mink pelts. Rabbit fur often appears as a byproduct of meat production rather than the primary goal of farming. Modern breeds range in size from dwarf varieties to giants like the Flemish Giant stock used to develop the Belgian hare.
Feral European rabbits introduced to Australia caused severe environmental problems due to their rapid breeding rates. Landowners in Australia and New Zealand are legally required to control these invasive populations. Effective population control measures include diseases like myxomatosis and calicivirus alongside physical barriers such as fences. A 1905 image shows the rabbit-proof fence near Cobar, New South Wales designed to stop their spread. Rabbits have been launched into space orbit despite being small mammals. Their burrowing activities can weaken unstable quarry walls on the Isle of Portland in Dorset, leading to collapses that cause injuries or death. In Chile, feral rabbits are considered an invasive species though claims about them spreading wildfires remain unproven by forest experts. The average longevity of wild eastern cottontails ranges between one to five years while domesticated records show lifespans up to 18 years.
An estimated 1.2 billion rabbits are slaughtered each year worldwide for human consumption. China, Russia, Italy, France, and Spain lead global production of rabbit meat. Malta, Italy, and Cyprus recorded the highest per capita consumption figures in 1994. Rabbit meat features prominently in Moroccan cuisine cooked with raisins and grilled almonds in a tajine dish. Sichuan cuisine in China offers stewed rabbit, spicy diced versions, and even spicy rabbit heads compared to duck necks. An infectious disease called tularemia may be contracted from handling infected rabbits during skinning processes. Before antibiotics like doxycycline existed, the death rate from this infection reached 60 percent before dropping below 4 percent today. Secondary vectors include tick and fly bites present in fur that increase transmission risks. Wild leporids make up only a small portion of global rabbit-meat consumption compared to domestic livestock.
Scholars often interpret rabbits as symbols of fertility, sexuality, and spring across various cultures. Until the end of the 18th century, people widely believed rabbits were hermaphrodites due to their reproductive habits. The Easter Bunny originated from German folklore before spreading to America and other parts of the world. In Aztec mythology, four hundred rabbit gods known as Centzon Totochtin represented fertility and drunkenness under Ometochtli or Two Rabbit. Chinese folklore places rabbits on the Moon accompanying Chang'e during the Mid-Autumn Festival. Japanese tradition depicts rabbits making mochi rice cakes while pounding an usu mortar on the lunar surface. Jewish folklore associates rabbits with cowardice though early English translations confused the Hebrew word for hyrax with rabbit. The constellation Lepus bears the name given by Ptolemy honoring the hunting goddesses Artemis and Diana.
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Common questions
When did scientists move rabbits from the order Rodentia into Lagomorpha?
Scientists moved rabbits from the order Rodentia into Lagomorpha in 1912. This change recognized that rabbits possess two extra incisors behind their front teeth, a trait rodents lack entirely.
Where do fossil records trace the earliest ancestor of both rabbits and hares to?
Fossil records trace the earliest ancestor of both rabbits and hares to Mongolia, dating back 55 million years. Molecular biology studies from the 2000s confirmed a common lineage for lagomorphs and rodents within the clade Glires.
How many extant species does the family Leporidae contain today?
The family Leporidae now contains more than 70 extant species across 11 distinct genera. One genus, Lepus, holds all hare species, while Oryctolagus includes the European rabbit.
Why can rabbits not vomit and what happens if they consume low-fiber diets?
Rabbits cannot vomit so intestinal blockages from low-fiber diets can become fatal. Their digestive system processes hard-to-digest fiber by fermenting it in the cecum and reingesting nutrient-rich droppings called cecotropes.
When did humans keep European rabbits as livestock starting in ancient Rome?
Humans kept European rabbits as livestock starting in ancient Rome during the first century BC. Selective breeding began in the Middle Ages to create breeds suited for meat or fur production.
What is the average longevity of wild eastern cottontails compared to domesticated records?
The average longevity of wild eastern cottontails ranges between one to five years while domesticated records show lifespans up to 18 years. Rabbits have been launched into space orbit despite being small mammals.