European Rabbit

## Description

The European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus ) or coney is a species of rabbit native to the Iberian Peninsula (including Spain, Portugal, and southwestern France), western France, and the northern Atlas mountains in Northwest Africa. It has been widely introduced elsewhere, often with devastating effects on local biodiversity. However, its decline in its native range (caused by the diseases myxomatosis and rabbit calicivirus, as well as overhunting and habitat loss) has caused the decline of its highly dependent predators, the Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus ) and the Spanish imperial eagle (Aquila adalberti ). It is known as an invasive species because it has been introduced to countries on all continents with the exception of Antarctica, and has caused many problems within the environment and ecosystems; in particular, European rabbits in Australia have had a devastating impact, due in part to the lack of natural predators there.

The European rabbit is well known for digging networks of burrows, called warrens, where it spends most of its time when not feeding. Unlike the related hares (Lepus spp.), rabbits are altricial, the young being born blind and furless, in a fur-lined nest in the warren, and they are totally dependent upon their mother. Much of the modern research into wild rabbit behaviour was carried out in the 1960s by two research centres. One was the naturalist Ronald Lockley, who maintained a number of large enclosures for wild rabbit colonies, with observation facilities, in Orielton, Pembrokeshire. Apart from publishing a number of scientific papers, he popularised his findings in a book The Private Life of the Rabbit, which is credited by Richard Adams as having played a key role in his gaining "a knowledge of rabbits and their ways" that informed his novel Watership Down. The other group was the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) in Australia, where numerous studies of the social behavior of wild rabbits were performed. Since the onset of myxomatosis, and the decline of the significance of the rabbit as an agricultural pest, few large-scale studies have been performed and many aspects of rabbit behaviour are still poorly understood.

## Appearance

The European rabbit is a small mammal native to southwestern Europe and to northwest Africa. It is known as an invasive species because it has been introduced to countries on all continents with the exception of Antarctica, and has caused many problems within the environment and ecosystems. European rabbits are generally greyish-brown in color. The patch on their chest is brown, while the rest of the underparts are white or grey. A white star shape is often present on kits' foreheads but rarely occurs in adults. The whiskers are long and black, and the feet are fully furred and buff-colored. The tail has a white underside, which becomes prominent when escaping danger. This may act as a signal for other rabbits to run.

## Distribution

European rabbits are found in southwestern Europe (including Portugal, Spain, and western France) and in northwest Africa (including Morocco and Algeria). Their ideal habitat consists of short grasslands with secure refuge (such as burrows, boulders, hedgerows, scrub, and woodland) near feeding areas. In large coniferous plantations, European rabbits only occur in peripheral areas and along fire breaks and rides.

## Behavior

European rabbits are gregarious animals, which live in stable social groups centered around females sharing access to one or more burrow systems. Within these groups, there are dominance hierarchies for both bucks (males) and does (females). Warrens usually contain 2-10 individuals living in smaller groups to ensure greater breeding success. Does tend to be more territorial than bucks, although the areas most frequented by does are not defended. Territories are marked with dung hills. European rabbits are well known for digging networks of burrows, called warrens, where they spend most of their time when not feeding. They are active from late afternoon to early morning and rarely stray far from their burrow; when feeding on cultivated fields, they typically only move 25 meters away from the burrow, and rarely 50 meters. European rabbits are usually silent animals, though they have at least two vocalizations. The most well-known is a high treble scream or squeal. This sound is uttered when in extreme distress, such as being caught by a predator or trap. During the spring, bucks express contentment by emitting grunting sounds when approaching other rabbits. These grunts are similar to shrill hiccups and are emitted with the mouth closed. Aggression is expressed with a low growl.

## Diet

European rabbits are herbivores (graminivores) and coprophages. They eat a wide variety of herbage, especially grasses, favoring the young, succulent leaves and shoots of the most nutritious species. Hungry rabbits in winter may eat tree bark and blackberries. Like other leporids, European rabbits also consume their own faecal pellets, which are filled with protein-rich bacteria.

## Reproduction

European rabbits exhibit an interesting mating system; dominant bucks are polygynous, whereas lower-status individuals (both bucks and does) often form monogamous pairs. Rabbits signal their readiness to mate by marking other animals and inanimate objects with an odoriferous substance secreted through a chin gland; this process is known as "chinning". The breeding season usually takes place from January to August. Does give birth to 3-7 kittens after the gestation period of 30 days. Shortly before giving birth, the doe will construct a separate burrow known as a "stop" or "stab", generally in an open field away from the main warren. These breeding burrows are typically a few feet long and are lined with grass and moss as well as fur plucked from the doe's belly. The breeding burrow protects the kittens from adult bucks as well as from predators. Kittens are altricial, being born blind, deaf, and furless, and they are totally dependent upon their mother. The young born to the dominant buck and doe enjoy better nesting and feeding grounds; they tend to grow larger and stronger and become more dominant than kittens born to subordinate rabbits. Does nurse their kittens once a night, for only a few minutes. After suckling is complete, the doe seals the entrance to the stop with soil and vegetation. The kittens grow rapidly and their eyes open 11 days after birth. The ears do not gain the power of motion until 10 days of age and can be erected after 13. At 18 days, the kittens begin to leave the burrow and at 4 weeks they are weaned. Young bucks become reproductively mature at four months of age, while does can begin to breed at three to five months.

## Population

### Threats

The main threats to European rabbits include habitat loss and fragmentation, and diseases. These animals also suffer from hunting and trapping; they are known as invasive species because they have been introduced to countries on all continents with the exception of Antarctica, and have caused many problems within the environment and ecosystems. For instance, feral European rabbits in Australia have had a devastating impact, due in part to the lack of natural predators there.

### Number

The IUCN Red List and other sources don’t provide the number of the European rabbit total population size. Currently, this species is classified as Endangered (EN) on the IUCN Red List and its numbers today are decreasing.

## Domestication

The European rabbit is the only rabbit to be widely domesticated. It has been extensively domesticated for food or as a pet. It was first widely kept in ancient Rome, where fetal rabbits were known as laurices and considered a delicacy, and has been refined into a wide variety of breeds during and since the Middle Ages. Domesticated rabbits have mostly been bred to be much larger than wild rabbits, though selective breeding has produced a range of sizes from "dwarf" to "giant", which are kept as food animals and pets across the world. They have as much color variation among themselves as other livestock and pet animals. Their fur is prized for its softness; today, Angora rabbits are raised for their long, soft fur, which is often spun into yarn.

## Fun Facts

Another common name of the European rabbit is coney. The term "cony" or "coney" predates "rabbit", and first occurred during the 13th century to refer to the animal's pelt. Later, "cony" referred to the adult animal, while "rabbit" referred to the young.

The European rabbit's burrows occur mostly on slopes and banks. The burrow entrances are typically 10-50 cm in diameter and are easily recognizable by the bare earth at their mouths. Big burrows are complex excavations and are not constructed on any specified plan. Most burrows of the European rabbit are dug from the outside but some warrens feature holes dug from the inside; these act as emergency exits when escaping from predators below ground and their mouths lack the bare earth characteristic of burrow entrances.

Both, does and bucks dig burrows, however, does do so more skillfully, and for longer periods.

Kittens sleep in cozy chambers lined with grass and fur, while adults sleep on the bare earth, likely in order to prevent dampness, with warmth being secured by huddling.

Depending on the body's fat and protein reserves, European rabbits can survive without food in winter for about 2-8 days.

Although European rabbits are herbivores, they may occasionally eat snails.