![]() ![]() Havoc on the islands' small, limited ecosystems. Was brought to many islands by ship crews and wreaked The middle ages the rabbit kept spreading throughout Europe. In 1066 the Normans conquered England and introduced the rabbit there. (which was then part of the Roman Empire ), took it back to Italy for food. Responsible for its expansion were the Romans, who, having seen it in its To non-native areas is an historical phenomenon. ![]() Site and Date of Introduction: The European rabbit's introduction Particularly detrimental to the Australian ecosystem. It has recently been introduced to Southern South America North America Australia New Zealand and even, apparently, one Hawaiian Island. Including the Balearic Islands, Corsica, Sardinia, Sicily, and the British Rabbit now inhabits every continent except Asia and Antarctica. Ĭurrent Distribution: Highly adaptable, the European The last ice age confined it to the Iberian Peninsula and small areas of France and perhaps even Northwest Africa. European rabbits have a lifespan of about 9 years.Įuropean rabbit is the single common ancestor of all 80 or so varieties ofĭomestic rabbits today. They dig burrows called warrens for protection and breeding andĪre mostly nocturnal. Live in large communities in dry areas, grassland, some forests and near human This doubleĭigestion process is called refection. Since this diet is low in nutritional value and high inĭifficult-to-digest materials, they are known to reingest their feces to obtainĮxtra nutritional value from the food the second time around. European rabbits are ravenous eatersĪnd indulge in a diverse diet of grasses, roots, tree bark, leaves, grains,įruit, seeds, and buds. ![]() Therefore they can produce litters as muchĪs 6 times a year, each litter ranging from 3 to 8 young (called kittens) afterĪ gestation period of only 28 to 33 days. Only 3 months of age and, unlike most mammals, ovulate whenever triggered byĬopulation, rather than cyclically. Has been introduced, especially in Australia. ButĪlong with the other lagomorphs, the European rabbit is a famously prolificīreeder, which has turned it into a serious pest in the various areas where it Widely hunted by humans for sport, food, and its particularly soft fur. Its natural predators are carnivores and birds of prey, but it has also been The order of lagomorphs, along with hares and pikas. Ways (the perpetually-growing incisors come to mind), it actually belongs to Although the European rabbit looks like a rodent in many It ranges in weight from 2.25 to 5.5 lbs (1-2.5 kg), so it's aĭeceptively small and cuddly-looking little pest wherever it has been Has a small bushy tail that is 1.5 to 3.75 inches(4-8Ĭm) long. It ranges from 13.5 to 20 inches (34-50 cm) in length and Is grayish brown with mixed black, brown and reddish hairs on its back, lightīrown to beige fur on its underside, a beige ring around its eyes, and longīlack-tipped ears. Common Names: European Rabbit, Domestic Rabbit, Old World Rabbit ![]()
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