Rabbit

Rabbit
Desert Cottontail (Sylvilagus audubonii) Desert Cottontail (Sylvilagus audubonii)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Lagomorpha Family: Leporidae in part
Genera
Pentalagus Bunolagus Nesolagus Romerolagus Brachylagus Sylvilagus Oryctolagus Poelagus

Rabbits are small mammals in the family Leporidae of the order Lagomorpha, found in several parts of the world. There are seven different genera in the family classified as rabbits, including the European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus), cottontail rabbit (genus Sylvilagus; 13 species), and the Amami rabbit (Pentalagus furnessi, endangered species on Amami Ōshima, Japan). There are many other species of rabbit, and these, along with cottontails, pikas, and hares, make up the order Lagomorpha. Rabbits generally live between four and twenty years. A rabbit's gestation period is 28 to 31 days (HRS1 2007).

Differences from hares

Rabbits are clearly distinguished from hares in that rabbits are altricial, having young that are born blind and hairless. In contrast, hares are generally born with hair and are able to see, called precocial. All rabbits with the exception of the cottontail rabbit live underground in burrows or warrens and in groups, while hares live in simple nests above the ground. Hares are generally larger than rabbits, with longer ears, and black markings on their fur. Hares have not been domesticated, while rabbits are often kept as house pets. In gardens, they are typically kept in hutches –small, wooden, house-like boxes– that protect the rabbits from the environment and predators.

Rabbit behaviour in the wild

For a detailed discussion of wild rabbit behaviour, see European rabbit.

Rabbits as food

Leporids such as European rabbits and hares are food for some in Europe, South America, North America, parts of the Middle East, and China, among other places.

Rabbit meat was once commonly sold in Sydney, Australia, but quickly became unpopular after the disease myxomatosis was introduced in an attempt to wipe out the feral rabbit population (see also Rabbits in Australia).

Rabbit is still commonly sold in UK butchers and markets, although not frequently in supermarkets. At Farmers markets and the famous Borough Market in London, rabbits will be displayed dead and hanging unbutchered in the traditional style next to braces of Pheasant and other small game.

Rabbits are both hunted and bred for meat, the practice of breeding known as cuniculture and still employed in many regions. Snares or guns along with dogs are usually employed when catching wild rabbits for food. Rabbits can be killed by striking the back of their heads, a practice from which the term rabbit punch is derived. Rabbit meat is a good source of high quality protein, can be used in most ways chicken meat is used, and is leaner than beef, pork, and chicken meat. Rabbit products are generally labeled in three ways, which include Fryer, a young rabbit between 1 1/2 and 3 1/2 pounds, up to 12 weeks in age with fine grained and tender meat, a Roaster, which are usually over 4 pounds and over 8 months in age, with less tender meat, firm flesh and is coarse grained, and then there are giblets which include the liver and heart. One of the most common type of rabbit to be bred for meat is the New Zealand white rabbit.

Rabbit pelts are sometimes used in clothing and accessories such as scarves or hats. They are very good producers of manure and their urine, being high in nitrogen, make lemon trees very productive. Their milk may also be of great medicinal or nutritional benefit due to its high protein content (see links below).

There are a number of health issues associated with the use of rabbits for meat, one of which is Tularemia or Rabbit Fever. Another is so-called rabbit starvation, due most likely to essential amino acid deficiencies in rabbit meat and synthesis limitations in human beings.

Rabbits as pets

Rabbits have been known to be a popular pet, particularly among children, due to being quiet, soft companions. However, in reality, rabbits are not the best pets for children, due to their independent and sensitive natures. In fact, rabbits can bond to humans just as dogs and cats do, and be just as affectionate toward humans. But sensitivity and gentleness toward the rabbit is essential for this, and children in particular must be taught not to physically dominate the rabbit, but to allow the rabbit to come to you, if this type of bonding is to be achieved.

Lifespan

A healthy indoor pet rabbit can live between 5 and 15 years. If a rabbit becomes bonded to its humans, the rabbit will often display affection by following, chasing, and eventually resting close beside their humans. In some home environments, they can develop an affinity with cats and even dogs. They can be caged indoors in a small area, but can also be trained to live as free-roaming pets, similar to cats and dogs, although they have a tendency to chew anything like carpets and electrical cords, which must be removed from the rabbit's reach, by running wires high along walls, or protected with rugs, mats, carpets and furniture. As pet-rabbit medicine, diet, and living environment improves, the rabbit's life span increases.

Housing

Rabbits of all ages can easily be litter-box trained, allowing them to live indoors where they can get much needed daily interaction. While inexpensive caging is readily available in most areas, it is important to consider both size and safety of the rabbit when choosing a cage. It is of paramount importance to provide proper ventilation for a rabbit, to prevent respiratory problems as a result of ammonia build-up caused by their urine. Cages constructed entirely of wire are commonly used for both ventilation and sanitation purposes. Solid bottom cages can be used with Giant breeds that require the solid floor to prevent sore hocks. Wire cages can pose risks to the animal, as wire mesh can be painful to their feet, and can cause the development of abscesses on the soles which can be fatal, as well as breaking their toes if their nails get caught in the mesh. Solid flooring is preferable, at least on a portion of the cage floor, to allow the rabbit to rest its feet. Wire cages are known to be easier to clean and sanitize than wooden hutches.

Rabbits have traditionally been housed outdoors and do produce quantities of waste that may be difficult to handle indoors, which can be measured in cubic yards per year. This waste is excellent for gardening and composting. The cage should be as large as possible, at least high enough for the rabbit to stand on its back legs without its head touching the ceiling. It should be able to take 4 or 5 hops along the cage.

Unless they are being used for breeding, it is generally agreed that female rabbits should be spayed, as unspayed rabbits have high incidences of ovarian cancer. Rabbits, unlike dogs or cats, don't go into heat, they are constantly ready for breeding as soon as they reach breeding age, thus the adage "breed like rabbits." There are some health and behavior benefits from the neutering of male rabbits as well.^{[citation needed]} If left intact, rabbits may spray urine in order to mark territory. Male rabbits and female rabbit spray as part of sexuality and will soil most of the food and water dishes of nearby rabbits, and the rabbits themselves. Rabbits can be very aggressive towards other rabbits unless they have bonded. Spaying or neutering both animals may help make this process successful. It is not recommended to house two unbonded rabbits together in the same cage and assume that they will cohabitate. Even normally docile rabbits can become violent when left with an unbonded partner. This is common, but does not always take place. Females especially are very territorial, and thus when breeding must be taken to the male's cage.

File:Squirt Rabbit.JPG

Domestic Rabbit

Unlike cats, rabbits cannot be declawed. Lacking pads on the bottoms of their feet, rabbits require their claws for balance, and removing a rabbit’s claws will render it unable to stand, permanently crippling the animal. Rabbits with access to rough surfaces will naturally keep their claws worn down to a certain extent when running, but pet rabbits will normally require their claws to be clipped regularly. This is especially true of house rabbits that only run on soft surfaces such as carpets. It is very important that claws are clipped by someone with experience (preferably a trained veterinary practitioner), as clipping the claws too short will damage them (MHR 2007).

If well cared for, rabbits make friendly and playful pets. They are kept as pets throughout the world, both indoors and out. Housed indoors and provided with adequate safety (especially from electrical cables and house plants that may be toxic to them), rabbits are relatively safe from predators, parasites, disease, and temperature extremes. Rabbits kept outdoors must be provided with shelter. This shelter may be heated in winter (although many rabbits can be kept outside with extra bedding even into temperatures below freezing ) but must be shaded in summer. One option is to use a garden shed or summer house as a 'rabbit shed', in which case roof insulation should be used to keep it cool in hot weather and warmer in cool weather. Note that anything with a large number of windows, such as a greenhouse, is unsuitable as temperature is not easily moderated. Large rabbits (New Zealand) do fine in -10 degree Celsius/15 degree Fahrenheit weather in a hutch with plenty of straw, if their needs for food and water are well met. Frozen water bottles need to be changed two or three times daily. Below this temperature it is necessary to shelter all animals in a barn or basement or garage. Covering cages three quarters of the way with a blanket, several cages grouped together generate a great deal of heat. One rule is at least eight pounds of animal per cage. Even newborn rabbits do well in cold if they have sufficient nest and many siblings to snuggle with. Keep mom with them longer in the winter for warmth. Domesticated rabbits are most comfortable in temperatures between 10 to 21 degrees C (50 to 70 degrees F), and cannot endure temperatures above 32 degrees C (90 degrees F) without assistance such as fans, frozen water bottles, and deep shade. Rabbits adore the shade of trees and bushes and love the taste of apple twigs and maple leaves and new grown grass, outdoor treats they seldom find in an apartment.

A common misconception about rabbit diet is that they 'eat their own poo'. This is in fact partly true, but only insofar that rabbits produce special partially-digested faecal matter called Cecotropes, often called cecals. This is an essential part of a rabbit's diet, and it is entirely normal that they regularly eat these small, well-formed pellets which, in shape, usually resemble a miniature, moist cluster of grapes. Rabbits will usually bend over and eat these as they are produced direct from their anus, and so it is not surprising that they are not generally seen intact in the rabbit's usual place of defecation.

Domestic rabbits should be examined daily as infections and illnesses can develop quickly. The eyes should be clean with no crust evident; ears should also be clean, along with any other part of the rabbit. Teeth should not be too long; teeth that are too long will not allow the rabbit to eat. However, it is not recommended that the keeper grind or clip a rabbit's teeth; seek a veterinarian's advice. A rabbit's teeth can grow as long as five inches per year, but must be worn down to maintain a healthy bite. While teeth clipping is an option, it should be used as a last resort, unless the rabbit suffers malocclusion. If concerned about the length of a rabbit's teeth, introduce oat hay into the diet. Wooden chew toys are also recommended. However, a rabbit's whiskers are a major sensory organ and should never be clipped.

Safe handling of rabbits is taught by rabbit breeders and specialists. Never pick a rabbit up by its ears. When holding a rabbit, be sure all four feet are supported so that the rabbit does not kick; kicking too forcefully can break a rabbit's back. It is advisable to pick up a rabbit with a scooping motion, bringing it to rest on a forearm while allowing it to tuck its head into an elbow. Note that covering a rabbit's eyes creates a sensation of safety for the animal, because the darkness is reassuring, as there is nothing to see and frighten them.

In the United States, the American Rabbit Breeders Association (ARBA) is a valuable resource for both pet and commercial breeders. The ARBA recognizes 47 different breeds of domestic rabbits, the Trianta and the Mini Satin being the two most recently accepted breeds, accepted in 2006. In the United Kingdom, the British Rabbit Council provides valuable information.

Food

The best food for rabbits would consist of what they generally feed on in the wild. This would consist predominantly of fresh grass with an additional mixute of other green plants. Grass/hay should comprise around 70% of the diet and a lack of grass/hay will in all likelihood lead to dental problems such as malocclusion, and digestive problems including problems in forming caecotrophes.

Dark green, leafy vegetables will also be much appreciated by rabbits. Individual rabbits vary in their preferences but vegetables such as romaine, escarole, turnip, collard, kale, parsley, thyme, cilantro, dandelion and basil can all be fed. These should be fed in small amounts and introduced slowly as rabbits have delicate digestive systems. Cauliflower and cabbage should be avoided because they cause gas and can lead to gi stasis which can be deadly. Fruits can be fed as treats approximately one tablespoon per four pounds (1 T per 4 lbs) of body weight , as they are high in sugars. Starchy vegetables such as potatoes or corn should be avoided. When feeding vegetables to a rabbit for the first time, begin with one type, then slowly introduce others, until the rabbit has become accustomed to at least three different kinds of vegetables per serving; a variety of food keeps the rabbit's interest. Once a rabbit is introduced to vegetables, it should be fed vegetables daily (keeping in mind that grass/hay should make up the bulk of the diet).

If fresh grass or hay is not available then a high quality pellet can be used. When choosing commercial feeds, choose those that do not include nuts, as nuts contain more fat than rabbits can easily metabolize, and may cause health problems, such as fatty liver. Nuts are commonly found in rodent food; as rabbits are not rodents, this food should be avoided.

Pellets should be fed one ounce per pound of body weight per day. However, pellets should be offered as a supplement to hay only - exclusively feeding a rabbit pellets can lead to life-threatening dental disease. Only by chewing hay or grass daily can a rabbit wear down their back teeth sufficiently (their teeth grow constantly, as with rodents). Traditionally, pellets are fed to rabbits bred for meat, and tend to cause excess weight gain. If a rabbit is fed pellets, a salt block is not necessary, as pellets are high in salt, though salt blocks are not otherwise harmful to rabbits.

Environmental problems

Rabbits have been a source of environmental problems when introduced into the wild by humans. As a result of their appetites, and the rate at which they breed, wild rabbit depredation can be problematic for agriculture. Gassing, barriers (fences), shooting, snaring, and ferreting have been used to control rabbit populations, but the most effective measures are diseases such as myxomatosis (myxo or mixi, colloquially) and calicivirus. In Europe, where rabbits are farmed on a large scale, they are protected against myxomatosis and calicivirus with a genetically modified virus. The virus was developed in Spain, and is beneficial to rabbit farmers. If it were to make its way into wild populations in areas such as Australia, it could create a population boom, as those diseases are the most serious threats to rabbit survival. Rabbits in Australia are considered to be such a pest that land owners are legally obliged to control them.

Classifications

Rabbits and hares were formerly classified in the order Rodentia (rodent) until 1912, when they were moved into a new order Lagomorpha. This order also includes pikas.

Order Lagomorpha

• Family Leporidae
  • Genus Pentalagus
    • Amami Rabbit/Ryūkyū Rabbit, Pentalagus furnessi
  • Genus Bunolagus
    • Bushman Rabbit, Bunolagus monticularis
  • Genus Nesolagus
    • Sumatran Striped Rabbit, Nesolagus netscheri
    • Annamite Striped Rabbit, Nesolagus timminsi
  • Genus Romerolagus
    • Volcano Rabbit, Romerolagus diazi
  • Genus Brachylagus
    • Pygmy Rabbit, Brachylagus idahoensis
  • Genus Sylvilagus
    • Forest Rabbit, Sylvilagus brasiliensis
    • Dice's Cottontail, Sylvilagus dicei
    • Brush Rabbit, Sylvilagus bachmani
    • San Jose Brush Rabbit, Sylvilagus mansuetus
      File:Pepsi 01.JPG

      A French lop rabbit
    • Swamp Rabbit, Sylvilagus aquaticus
    • Marsh Rabbit, Sylvilagus palustris
    • Eastern Cottontail, Sylvilagus floridanus
    • New England Cottontail, Sylvilagus transitionalis
    • Mountain Cottontail, Sylvilagus nuttallii
    • Desert Cottontail, Sylvilagus audubonii
    • Omilteme Cottontail, Sylvilagus insonus
    • Mexican Cottontail, Sylvilagus cunicularis
    • Tres Marias Rabbit, Sylvilagus graysoni
  • Genus Oryctolagus
    • European Rabbit, Oryctolagus cuniculus
  • Genus Poelagus
    • Central African Rabbit, Poelagus marjorita
  • Three other genera in family, regarded as hares, not rabbits

Naming

Rabbits are often known affectionately by the pet name bunny or bunny rabbit, especially when referring to young, domesticated rabbits. Originally, the word for an adult rabbit was coney or cony, while rabbit referred to the young animals. Coney was abandoned as a term for the animal after it was co-opted in the eighteenth century as a synonym for the word cunt, widely considered vulgar (OED 2007). More recently, the term kit has been used to refer to a young rabbit. Young hares are called leverets, and this term is sometimes informally applied to any young rabbit. Male rabbits are called bucks and females does.

Rabbits in culture and literature

Rabbits are often used as a symbol of fertility or rebirth, and have long been associated with spring and Easter as the Easter Bunny. The species' role as a prey animal also lends itself as a symbol of innocence, another Easter connotation. Additionally, rabbits are often used as symbols of playful sexuality, which also relates to the human perception of innocence, as well as its reputation as a prolific breeder.

Folklore and mythology

The rabbit often appears in folklore as the trickster archetype, as he uses his cunning to outwit his enemies.

• In Chinese literature, rabbits accompany Chang'e on the Moon. Also associated with the Chinese New Year (or Lunar New Year), rabbits are also one of the twelve celestial animals in the Chinese Zodiac for the Chinese calendar. It is interesting to note that the Vietnamese lunar new year replaced the rabbit with a cat in their calendar, as rabbits did not inhabit Vietnam.

• In Japanese tradition, rabbits live on the Moon where they make mochi, the popular snack of mashed sticky rice. This comes from interpreting the pattern of dark patches on the moon as a rabbit standing on tiptoes on the left pounding on an usu, a Japanese mortar (See also: Moon rabbit). A popular culture manifestation of this tradition can be found in the character title character of Sailor Moon, whose name is Usagi Tsukino, a Japanese pun on the words "rabbit of the moon." Similarly, Japanese-American Stan Sakai's comic book character Usagi Miyamoto from Usagi Yojimbo is an anthropomorphized rabbit who is a samurai, based loosely on Japanese swordsman Miyamoto Musashi.

• In Aztec mythology, a pantheon of four hundred rabbit gods known as Centzon Totochtin, led by Ometotchtli or Two Rabbit, represented fertility, parties, and drunkenness.

• In Native American Ojibwe mythology, Nanabozho, or Great Rabbit, is an important deity releated to the creation of the world.

• In the folklore of the United States, a rabbit's foot is frequently carried as an amulet, and is often used as keychain, where it is thought to bring luck. The practice derives from the system of African-American folk magic called hoodoo.

• In Central Africa "Kalulu" the rabbit is widely known as a tricky character, getting the better of bargains. ^{[citation needed]}

• In Jewish folklore, rabbits (shfanim) are associated with cowardice.

On the Isle of Portland in Dorset, UK, the rabbit is said to be unlucky and speaking its name can cause upset with older residents. This is thought to date back to early times in the quarrying industry, where piles of extracted stone (not fit for sale) were built into tall rough walls (to save space) directly behind the working quarry face; the rabbit's natural tendency to burrow would weaken these "walls" and cause collapse, often resulting in injuries or even death.

The name rabbit is often substituted with words such as “long ears” or “underground mutton”, so as not to have to say the proper name and bring bad luck to one’s self. It is said that a Public House (on the Island) can be cleared of people by calling out the word rabbit and while this was very true in the past, it has gradually become more fable than fact over the past 50 years.

Other fictional rabbits

The rabbit as trickster appears in American popular culture; for example the Br'er Rabbit character from African-American folktales and Disney animation; and the Warner Brothers cartoon character Bugs Bunny. Anthropomorphized rabbits have appeared in a host of works of film, literature, and technology, notably the White Rabbit in Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland; in the popular novel Watership Down, by Richard Adams; Cream the Rabbit, daughter to Vanilla the Rabbit, from the Sonic the Hedgehog video game series; and in Beatrix Potter's Peter Rabbit stories. Also they appear as Rabbids in the Ubisoft game Rayman Raving Rabbids and in the movie Monty Python and the Holy Grail, there is the Killer Rabbit of Caerbannog which is killed by the Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch, and rabbits are featured in both The Goodies episodes (Invasion of the Moon Creatures and Animals). Rabbits are also the subject of one of the first children's stories The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams, as well as the Little Golden Books story "The Lively LIttle Rabbit". The Pokémon franchise has also released two new rabbit pokémon, Buneary and its evolution Lopunny.

Urban legends

It was commonly believed that pregnancy tests were based on the idea that a rabbit would die if injected with a pregnant woman's urine. This is not true. However, in the 1920s it was discovered that if the urine contained the hCG, a hormone found in the bodies of pregnant women, the rabbit would display ovarian changes. The rabbit would then be killed to have its ovaries inspected, but the death of the rabbit was not the indicator of the results. Later revisions of the test allowed technicians to inspect the ovaries without killing the animal. A similar test involved injecting Xenopus frogs to make them lay eggs, but animal assays for pregnancy have been made obsolete by faster, cheaper, and simpler modern methods.

Trivia

• Rabbits are incapable of vomiting due to the physiology of their digestive system (HRS2 2007).
• Rabbit meat sellers named the rugby league team of Sydney, Australia the South Sydney Rabbitohs

References

ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

• House Rabbit Society (HRS1). 2007. Rabbit development. What's the Gestation Period of a Rabbit?. Retrieved July 28, 2007.

• House Rabbit Society (HRS1). 2007. Rabbit trivia. Do Rabbits Vomits. Retrieved July 28, 2007.

• My House Rabbit (MHR). 2007. Rabbit pedicure. Clipping Your Rabbit's Nails. Retrieved July 28th, 2007.

• Online Etymology Dictionary (OED). 2007. A look back at words. Another Name for Rabbits. Retrieved July 28, 2007.

External links

Wikibooks Cookbook has more about this subject:

Rabbit

• American Rabbit Breeders Association
• Russian Branch of the WRSA
• The (mostly) silent language of rabbits
• Rabbits as Cultural Symbols in Narrative
• http://www.bunniwerks.org/lore.htm Rabbits as Archetypal Symbols in Literature
• Rabbit Care Sheets & Pictures
• http://www.binkybunny.com Dedicated to sharing tips and tricks for living with house rabbits, includes a forum & chat

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