European Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus)

About European Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus)

• Kingdom: Animals
• Phylum: Chordates
• Class: Mammals
• Order: Lagomorpha
• Family: Leporidae

Wild O. cuniculus weigh between 1.5 and 2.5 kg, and are from 38 to 50 cm long. Domestic individuals may be larger. The coat is generally grayish, with black and brown (and sometimes red) sprinkled throughout. The underside of the body is paler gray, and the underside of the tail is white. Melanistic specimens are not unusual. (Macdonald, 1984)

This species (and rabbit species generally) have smaller ears and shorter, less powerful legs than their hares.

Oryctolagus cuniculus is the ancestor of all domestic rabbits (about 80 varieties!). Domesticated O. cuniculus vary tremendously in size, fur type, coloration, and general appearance. (Nowak, 1999)

Range mass: 1.5 to 2.5 kg.

Range length: 38 to 50 cm.

Other Physical Features: endothermic ; homoiothermic; bilateral symmetry

Average basal metabolic rate: 7.395 W.

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