Rabbits are animals classified in the Phylum of Chordata, Class of Mammals and Order of lagomorphs. For many years they were classified as rodents because they have the habit of constantly gnawing.
However, the number of incisor teeth between rodents and lagomorphs is different. Lagomorphs have four incisor teeth of constant growth, while rodents, only two.
The main domestic species in Brazil is the rabbit of the breed New Zealand, whose scientific name is Oryctolaguscuniculus. They are believed to have originated through the management of the wild species. Lepus cuniculus, the European rabbit.
Characteristics, genera and species of rabbits
The Order of Lagomorphs includes rabbits, hares and ocotonids. However, rabbits and hares are classified in the family leporidae and account for approximately 60 species.
Rabbits are furry animals, with long ears, short tails, short thoracic limbs, and long pelvic limbs. A thoracic limb is understood to be something similar to an arm, and a pelvic limb something similar to a leg. For this reason, rabbits are animals that move by jumping.
Unlike rodents (Order Rodentia), males have testicles positioned in front of the sexual organ. The gestational cycle of a female lasts about 30 days, which ends up arousing commercial interest for rural breeders.
The care, creation, management and commercialization is the responsibility of the rabbit breeders. Rabbit farming is an area of zootechnics that, therefore, raises rabbits on a large scale to meet human demands in the most varied sectors.
The wild European rabbit is native to the Iberian Peninsula and North Africa and appeared approximately 2 million years ago. They are believed to have been domesticated in monasteries in France in the 14th century.
The animals known as rabbits are organized into 10 genera, they are:
- Pentalagus - (ex. Pentalagus furnessi - amami rabbit);
- Sylvilagus - (ex. Sylvilagus bachmani - American rabbit);
- Romerolagus - (ex. Romerolagus diazi - rabbit-zacatuche);
- Pronolagus - (ex. pronolagus randensis - red rabbit);
- Caprolagus - (ex. caprolagus hispidus - Asian rabbit);
- Oryctolagus - (ex. Oryctolagus cuniculus - new zealand rabbit);
- Brachylagus - (ex. Brachylagus idahoensis - pygmy rabbit);
- Bunolagus - (ex. Bunolagusmonticularis - bushman rabbit);
- Nesolagus - (ex. Nesolagusnetscheri - Sumatran striped rabbit);
- Poelagus - (ex. Poelagus marjorita - Bunyoro rabbit).
Rabbits are very fast animals, even with a difference in size between their paws, they can reach 70 km/h when fleeing a predator.
Facts about rabbits
Rabbits, in general, are docile and friendly in the treatment, but they can bite or scratch if they are handled incorrectly. It is essential to avoid leaving two males in a closed place, such as cages, as there may be disputes over territory.
These animals are more sensitive to heat than to cold, the ideal temperature for rabbits ranges from 17°C to 21°C and relative humidity from 40% to 60%.
Nocturnal coprophagy is common, that is, these animals ingest their own feces during the night, collecting them directly from the anus.
Their feces are surrounded by a mucous membrane and, it is believed, their ingestion provides the necessary amounts of B vitamins.
See too:
- Food chain and web;
- herbivorous animals;
- viviparous animals.
Bibliographic references
Borges, A.P.S., 2017. Arterial supply of the thyroid gland in New Zealand rabbits (Master's Dissertation). Federal University of Uberlandia, Uberlandia.
Cardoso, C.C. by C.G., 2010. Proposal of an expansion model for the classification of breed rabbits in the Universal Decimal Classification - CDU (Monograph). Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza - CE.
CASTILHO, Rubens. Rabbits: characteristics, curiosities and species (with image).All Matter, [n.d.]. Available in: https://www.todamateria.com.br/caracteristicas-dos-coelhos/. Access at:
See too
- Cats
- All about the Jaguar and why it is endangered
- Exercises on classification of living beings
- Endangered Animals in the World
- reptiles
- White shark
- Commemorative dates March 2023: what to learn about them
- Tasmanian Devil
