European Rabbit
Oryctolagus cuniculus
Where is it found?
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Farmland
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Grassland
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Scrubland
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Diet and foraging method
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Grazes on flowers and vegetation.
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Key adaptations
Rabbits have a large field of vision by having high set eyes and a weak, but flexible, neck so can easily rotate their head. They also have very strong legs so that they can run fast and change direction quickly.
Rabbits also have claws to help when burrowing in the ground and gripping the ground when running.
Rabbits also have claws to help when burrowing in the ground and gripping the ground when running.
Social organisation and mating system
Groups with up to ten individuals of each sex.
Promiscuous.
Did you know that...?
Rabbits have a very high rate of reproduction; a single female can produce up to thirty young per year.
Taxonomy
Picture credits:
Maps from: http://species.mol.org/species/
"Oryctolagus cuniculus Tasmania 2" by JJ Harrison ([email protected]) - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Oryctolagus_cuniculus_Tasmania_2.jpg#/media/File:Oryctolagus_cuniculus_Tasmania_2.jpg
"Oryctolagus cuniculus eating dandelions" by Gidzy - Young Wild Rabbit eating dandelion flower, Leighton Moss RSPB May 2009. Licenced under CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Oryctolagus_cuniculus_eating_dandelions.jpg#/media/File:Oryctolagus_cuniculus_eating_dandelions.jpg
"Oryctolagus cuniculus Finnish National Opera" by Thermos - Own work. Licensed under GFDL via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Oryctolagus_cuniculus_Finnish_National_Opera.jpg#/media/File:Oryctolagus_cuniculus_Finnish_National_Opera.jpg
"Oryctolagus cuniculus Tasmania 2" by JJ Harrison ([email protected]) - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Oryctolagus_cuniculus_Tasmania_2.jpg#/media/File:Oryctolagus_cuniculus_Tasmania_2.jpg
"Oryctolagus cuniculus eating dandelions" by Gidzy - Young Wild Rabbit eating dandelion flower, Leighton Moss RSPB May 2009. Licenced under CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Oryctolagus_cuniculus_eating_dandelions.jpg#/media/File:Oryctolagus_cuniculus_eating_dandelions.jpg
"Oryctolagus cuniculus Finnish National Opera" by Thermos - Own work. Licensed under GFDL via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Oryctolagus_cuniculus_Finnish_National_Opera.jpg#/media/File:Oryctolagus_cuniculus_Finnish_National_Opera.jpg
