The scientific name of the domestic rabbit is Oryctolagus cuniculus . There are over 80 breeds of rabbit and they bear little resemblance to their wild ancestor, the European rabbit. Domestic forms have been selectively bred for fur, meat and as pets. The hair color ranges from white to black and in some breeds there is a mixture of colors. The fur of rabbits is the principal component of felt.
Wild rabbits prefer sandy, hilly terrain with lots of shrubs and woody plants.
They eat grasses and herbaceous plants, and if those foods are not available will even eat bark and twigs. Rabbits have a remarkable way of getting the maximum food value from what they eat. In order for some of the vitamins to be derived, the food must pass through the digestive system a second time. Wild rabbits live in colonies in a complex system of burrows called warrens. They warn each other of danger by thumping their hindlimbs on the ground.