Mammals · Lagomorpha · Leporidae

European Rabbit

Oryctolagus cuniculus

Near Threatened

It could become endangered in the near future if current threats go unchecked. See full glossary

It is the ancestor of every domestic rabbit breed in the world. It is an induced ovulator: it releases eggs only in direct response to mating.

Weight

1.2 kg – 2.5 kg

Size

34 cm – 50 cm

Lifespan

2 years

Diet

Herbivore

Feeds mainly on plants.

Activity

Crepuscular

Active above all at dawn and dusk.

Social structure

Colony

Lives in large concentrations, often for breeding reasons.

Sighting difficulty

Moderate

DesertGrasslandHerbivore Crepuscular Colonial Near Threatened Desert Grassland Mammal

49countries 105parks11same family

Fun facts

It is the ancestor of every domestic rabbit breed in the world.
It is an induced ovulator, releasing eggs only in direct response to mating.
A female can produce 30 to 50 young a year in good conditions.
fisiologíaIt practises caecotrophy: it re-eats special soft droppings to take a second pass at the nutrients its first digestion missed.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (mammal)
Habitat & environment: Open woodland, scrub, dunes and farmland of the Iberian Peninsula and south-western Europe, widely introduced to other continents
Birth weight: Born blind, naked and wholly helpless in a burrow
Size at birth: Tiny at birth
Sexual maturity: 3-4 months
Gestation / incubation: ~30 days
Litter / clutch size: 3 to 9 young per litter (4-6 on average), and 15-45 young a year per female depending on the climate

Sources consulted: Animal Diversity Web; GBIF; Mammal Society; ResearchGate (longevity record South Australia study); Springer (European Rabbit chapter)