Rabbit
The (European) Rabbit ranges from 13 to 20 inches in length, not counting a tail of 1.6 to 3.1 inches. It has grey/brown fur, white underparts, long ears, large hind legs and a short, white fluffy tail. As a lagomorph, it has four sharp incisors (two on top, two on bottom) that grow continuously throughout its life.
The Rabbit moves move by hopping, using its long and powerful hind legs. To facilitate quick movement, the hind feet have a thick padding of fur to dampen the shock of rapid hopping. The toes are long and are webbed to keep from spreading apart as the animal jumps.
The Rabbit is native to south west Europe (Spain and Portugal) and north west Africa (Morocco and Algeria). It is known as an invasive species because it has been introduced to countries on all continents, with the exception of Antarctica and sub-Saharan Africa, where it has often caused many problems within the environment and ecosystems.
The Rabbit was brought to England in the 12th century by the Normans and kept in captivity in warrens as a source of meat and fur. Many escaped into the wild and eventually become so common that farming them was no longer economic. Helped by fast breeding, a diet of virtually any vegetable matter and human persecution of their predators, the Rabbit slowly established itself in the wild in the UK despite originally favouring a warmer, drier climate. It is now widespread throughout the UK but absent from the Isles of Scilly and a few smaller islands and can be found almost anywhere that it can burrow. The most suitable areas are those where the burrow area and food supply are side-by-side, such as woodland edge and hedgerows. Open warrens are maintained where good burrowing conditions exist on areas of short grass, sand dunes, railway verges and even in urban areas. It is rarely found above the tree-line and it avoids damp conditions and areas deep in conifer woodland.
The Rabbit is a social animal and lives in medium-sized colonies comprising of a network of burrows known as warrens. It is largely crepuscular, being most active around dawn and dusk, although it is not infrequently seen and active during the day. During the day, it prefers to reside in vegetated patches which are used for protection from predators.
The Rabbit is essentially a mixed feeder, both grazing and browsing, but grass is the primary food source. However, it has a diverse diet of grasses, leaves, buds, tree bark and roots and will also eat lettuce, cabbage, root vegetables and grains.
The Rabbit is famed for its reproductive capabilities and the inspiration for the phrase "breeding like rabbits". The breeding season is mainly from January to August when 4 to 8 litters of 2 to 12 kittens are produced. The gestation period averages 31 days. The doe constructs a nest inside a burrow from grass bedding and lines it with soft fur from her chest and belly. The young kittens are born blind, deaf and almost hairless. Their eyes open at 10 days, they begin to appear at the burrow entrance at 18 days and are weaned at 21 to 25 days. They are self-supporting in one month but 90% die in the first year. Bucks are able to mate at 4 months, does at 3.5 months.
Birds of prey and carnivores such as the Fox, Stoat and Weasel are the primary predators of the Rabbit.
Date: 13th September 2013
Location: view from road to Embalse del Jándula, Sierra de Andújar, Andalucia, Spain
The Rabbit moves move by hopping, using its long and powerful hind legs. To facilitate quick movement, the hind feet have a thick padding of fur to dampen the shock of rapid hopping. The toes are long and are webbed to keep from spreading apart as the animal jumps.
The Rabbit is native to south west Europe (Spain and Portugal) and north west Africa (Morocco and Algeria). It is known as an invasive species because it has been introduced to countries on all continents, with the exception of Antarctica and sub-Saharan Africa, where it has often caused many problems within the environment and ecosystems.
The Rabbit was brought to England in the 12th century by the Normans and kept in captivity in warrens as a source of meat and fur. Many escaped into the wild and eventually become so common that farming them was no longer economic. Helped by fast breeding, a diet of virtually any vegetable matter and human persecution of their predators, the Rabbit slowly established itself in the wild in the UK despite originally favouring a warmer, drier climate. It is now widespread throughout the UK but absent from the Isles of Scilly and a few smaller islands and can be found almost anywhere that it can burrow. The most suitable areas are those where the burrow area and food supply are side-by-side, such as woodland edge and hedgerows. Open warrens are maintained where good burrowing conditions exist on areas of short grass, sand dunes, railway verges and even in urban areas. It is rarely found above the tree-line and it avoids damp conditions and areas deep in conifer woodland.
The Rabbit is a social animal and lives in medium-sized colonies comprising of a network of burrows known as warrens. It is largely crepuscular, being most active around dawn and dusk, although it is not infrequently seen and active during the day. During the day, it prefers to reside in vegetated patches which are used for protection from predators.
The Rabbit is essentially a mixed feeder, both grazing and browsing, but grass is the primary food source. However, it has a diverse diet of grasses, leaves, buds, tree bark and roots and will also eat lettuce, cabbage, root vegetables and grains.
The Rabbit is famed for its reproductive capabilities and the inspiration for the phrase "breeding like rabbits". The breeding season is mainly from January to August when 4 to 8 litters of 2 to 12 kittens are produced. The gestation period averages 31 days. The doe constructs a nest inside a burrow from grass bedding and lines it with soft fur from her chest and belly. The young kittens are born blind, deaf and almost hairless. Their eyes open at 10 days, they begin to appear at the burrow entrance at 18 days and are weaned at 21 to 25 days. They are self-supporting in one month but 90% die in the first year. Bucks are able to mate at 4 months, does at 3.5 months.
Birds of prey and carnivores such as the Fox, Stoat and Weasel are the primary predators of the Rabbit.
Date: 13th September 2013
Location: view from road to Embalse del Jándula, Sierra de Andújar, Andalucia, Spain
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Also in: South Spain - September 2013
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