Rabbit

The European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) is a small mammal native to southwestern Europe and northwestern Africa that has been introduced to every continent except Antarctica. One of the world's most recognizable animals, rabbits have become globally important both as wild prey animals that support entire ecosystems and as domestic pets and livestock. Their rapid reproduction and adaptability have made them both ecologically vital and, in regions where they were introduced, a major invasive species.

Rabbits are small to medium-sized mammals with long, upright ears that can rotate independently to detect sounds from all directions. Their large hind legs are powerful and built for rapid acceleration and jumping. Soft, dense fur ranges from white and grey to brown and black. Their eyes are positioned on the sides of the head to give nearly 360-degree vision. Adult European rabbits weigh 1.5–2.5 kg.

Rabbits are social animals that live in groups within warrens. They have a complex dominance hierarchy and engage in mutual grooming to reinforce social bonds. When alarmed, they thump their hind feet on the ground to warn others and flee in a fast zigzag pattern. They are crepuscular, most active at dawn and dusk. Rabbits communicate through body language — ear position and tail movement convey emotion.

Rabbits are obligate herbivores with a specialised digestive system. They consume a wide variety of plant material, preferring grasses and leafy plants, but also bark, roots, and agricultural crops. Their unique two-pass digestive process allows them to extract maximum nutrition from tough plant cell walls. They require a high-fibre diet and can consume up to 200 different plant species.

Rabbits are famous for their rapid reproduction. Females (does) can produce 3–8 litters per year, with 4–12 kittens per litter. Gestation lasts just 28–31 days. Kittens are born blind and hairless (altricial), hidden in a fur-lined nest called a stop. They wean at 3–4 weeks and reach sexual maturity at 3–4 months, making population explosions possible under favourable conditions.

Rabbits have one of the most complex relationships with humans of any wild animal. They have been kept as livestock for meat and fur since the Middle Ages and became popular pets in the 20th century. In Europe, rabbit hunting is a significant cultural tradition. In Australia, introduced rabbits caused catastrophic damage to agriculture and ecosystems, leading to biological control programs using myxomatosis and calicivirus. Rabbits are also widely used in biomedical research.