<#000000>Rabbit (domestic rabbit)
<#868686>(Oryctolagus cuniculus)
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<#000000>Description

<#868686>Rabbits are often mistaken for hares as they look very similar, except that hares are larger with longer ears. 

<#000000>Appearance
<#868686>Rabbits are mammals belonging to the lagomorph family; they are not rodents. There are different types of rabbit: 
small breeds, which weigh up to 6.6 lbs, 
medium-sized breeds, weighing up to 10 lbs, and
large breeds, which can weigh up to 18 lbs. 
However, the medium-sized breeds are now in danger of dying out.
Rabbits typically have black edges to their ears, although their fur color can vary: beige, brown, gray, black and white. One special characteristic of rabbits is that their incisors continue growing throughout their lives. <IMG=./Data/Lexicon/Kaninchen_Closeup02.dds>

<#000000>Origin
<#868686>Rabbits originate from the Iberian Peninsula (Spain and Portugal) and parts of northern Africa, but were introduced into France and the British Isles in the Middle Ages. Today rabbits are found throughout the entire world. 

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<#000000>Habitat
<#868686>Rabbits live in social groups and dig underground warrens in sandy ground, which can be up to 10 feet deep and 147 feet long. Rabbits are herbivores and feed on grasses and herbs. They inhabit grassy plains, parks, and thinly wooded areas.


<#000000>Species and breeds
<#868686>Our domestic rabbits are descended from the European wild rabbit which is now common throughout the world, having been introduced by humans. The first domestic rabbits were bred in the 16th century; at that time domestic rabbits were bred mainly for their meat and pelts. Later, domestic rabbits were bred in different sizes with a huge variety of fur types and colorings, and there are now over 100 different breeds of rabbit.



<#000000>Life expectancy  
<#868686>A rabbit's maximum life expectancy is normally 10 years, although they can live for up to 12 years.

<#000000>Behavior
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<#000000>Habits
<#868686>Rabbits are crepuscular animals, although they can sometimes be observed enjoying the sun in the early morning. When in danger, rabbits can squeak loudly and thump the ground hard with their hind legs to let their companions in the warren know that danger is still present. 
Rabbits may cover up to 3 miles in their search for food. They always follow the same routes, creating tracks in the grass known as "game paths."
Rabbits move by jumping and hopping. Their instinctive defense against predators is to flee and they can dart sideways as they run, by jumping and turning in mid-air. This enables them to make rapid changes of direction as they run to shake off the hunter. 
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Rabbits' excellent sense of hearing is vital to their survival and enables them to detect danger in the wild. This ability is enhanced by the fact that they can move both ears independently so that one ear can point forwards while the other listens out for predators behind.
They also have very good eyesight and an extremely keen sense of smell, so they don't miss a thing. 


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<#000000>Predators  
<#868686>Rabbits' natural enemies include foxes, birds of prey, owls, martens, weasels, polecats and stoats.

<#000000>Breeding habits
<#868686>The mating season can vary: in Spain it is between fall and spring and in Central Europe it is between February and July. Rabbits multiply very quickly: a female can give birth to between 5 and 7 litters each year, as the gestation period is only 4 or 5 weeks long and 5 or 6 young are born in each litter. 
The female digs a small burrow away from the communal warren to give birth, called a "stop." The young are blind and naked when they are born and weigh only a few ounces. They do not open their eyes until they are 10 days old and leave the stop for the first time shortly afterwards. They are weaned at about 4 weeks old, and generally reproduce for the first time in their second year.



<#000000>Ownership

<#000000>Diet
<#868686>Rabbits feed mainly on grasses, herbs, bark, roots, twigs and the leaves of some vegetables. The best feeding place for rabbits is a pleasant herb meadow, as herbs and grass contain all the nutrients they need. When rabbits are kept as pets, they must therefore have access to hay at all times to keep their digestive systems working properly. Of course rabbits also enjoy carrots, lettuce, apples, and pears, although too much fresh food is bad for them and may cause digestive problems which can even be fatal.
Rabbit owners should always buy commercial dry rabbit food mixes, as these contain all the vitamins and minerals the rabbit requires.

<#000000>Care
<#868686>Generally speaking, the larger the hutch the better, as this allows the rabbit a more natural lifestyle. A cage measuring approximately 5 by 4 feet is generally recommended, as this size is large enough to house two rabbits; rabbits should always be kept in pairs. It is a good idea to put a box in the hutch where the rabbit can take refuge. The floor of the hutch should be covered with a layer of hemp straw, straw pellets, beech chips, flax straw, or normal small animal straw, roughly 2 inches thick.  
However, a rabbit won't always want to sit in its cage and should be allowed out to run around. If it is brought into the house for the winter, it should not be allowed to roam around unsupervised, as it will nibble at anything in its path. In the summer the rabbit can be let out in an outdoor pen, although the pen should not be entirely exposed to the sun, as the rabbit will need some shade.<IMG=./Data/Lexicon/Kaninchen05.dds>