European rabbits are native to southern Europe and North Africa. During the Middle Ages, humans started to have a major impact on rabbit distribution by transporting animals to many other geographical areas and rabbits can nowadays be found almost all over the world, except Antarctica and Asia.
Rabbits have long hind legs and short front legs. They also have long ears and slightly protruding eyes on the sides of the head that give them panoramic vision to detect predators.
Wild European rabbit 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.
Rabbits are wary of new foods and changes to their environment. When threatened, they will crouch down and freeze or try to sneak away. If this fails, they will sprint for the warren or cover, with the white underside of the tail showing as a visual warning to other rabbits.
Desirable features of ideal rabbit habitat include an annual rainfall of <1000mm, a sunny aspect, light soil, and adequate cover close to feeding grounds kept closely grazed. Brushy fields are preferred for the cover they provide, but forests are also inhabited.
Soils have a strong influence on rabbit density with deep, well-drained soils (sands and light loams) being most productive. Rabbit warrens are also typically larger and more complex in deeper soils. Warrens not only provide rabbits with protection from predators but they also protect them from environmental extremes.
Rabbits eat grass and other herbaceous vegetation. They need a diet of less than 40% fibre, 10-20% protein for maintenance, and 14% protein for reproduction. They can be very selective in their choice of food, practise coprophagy, and ferment food in the hind gut.
Rabbits are well-known for their reproductive capacity. European rabbit is capable of reproducing year-round, but most breeding activity takes place in the first half of the year.
European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus)
