rabbit

Rabbits are small to medium-sized mammals in the family Leporidae, order Lagomorpha. They include many species, with the European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) being the best known; domestic rabbits are descended from this species. Rabbits are distinct from hares in several ways: they typically live in burrows and give birth to altricial young in sheltered nests, whereas hares are generally more solitary and give birth to precocial young above ground.

Physically, rabbits usually have long ears, strong hind legs, and a short, fluffy tail. Sizes vary across species, but many weigh between 0.5 and 2 kilograms. They have continuously growing incisors and a high-fiber diet adapted to processing plant material.

Rabbits are widely distributed and occupy a range of habitats, including meadows, forests, and deserts, as well as urban and agricultural areas. Their populations are influenced by habitat availability and predation.

Diet and digestion: rabbits are herbivores that primarily eat grasses, leaves, and vegetables. They rely on hindgut fermentation and practice coprophagy, reingesting certain fecal pellets (cecotropes) to extract additional nutrients.

Behavior and reproduction: rabbits are social or semi-social and most species are crepuscular or active at dawn and dusk. They reproduce rapidly: gestation lasts about 28–31 days, and a single female can produce multiple litters per year, with 1–12 kits per litter. Kits are born hairless and blind and are weaned after roughly four weeks.

Humans: domestic rabbits are kept as pets and livestock for meat or fur. In some regions, wild rabbit populations are considered pests and can impact ecosystems. Conservation status varies by species, with some populations threatened by habitat loss and disease in the wild.