| Size: | Standard |
| Weight: | The average weight is 4-8 pounds, but some people may go as high as 10 pounds |
| Lifespan: | Maximum 9 years |
| Type of body: | Semi-arch |
| Temperament: | Wild |
| Similar Breeds | All domesticated rabbits, except the Belgian Hares |
Oryctolagus Cuniculus is the original breed. It is the breed that got it all. As the common ancestor to almost every domesticated rabbit today, its genes have shaped history and developed rabbitry worldwide. Even the few Asian rabbit breeds that have been crossed with European rabbits have made it the most prolific rabbit breed in history!
These adaptable animals have made their way to every continent except Antarctica and Asia. They even reached Australia, where their growing population has caused havoc on local crops.
This guide to the European rabbit will answer all your questions about where your rabbit came from. We’ll be discussing the probable origins of the globetrotting rabbit, as well as their wild behavior. Let’s learn more about this fascinating ancestor of the domestic rabbit today!
The History and Origin of the European Rabbit
Oryctolagus cuniculus is a native of Southwest Europe. However, it is possible that the first rabbits of Oryctolagus Cuniculus were also native to Northern Africa. Portugal and Spain claim the largest number of rabbits in the early 1600s. This makes them the most likely origin countries for all American rabbit breeds.
Contrary to popular belief, rabbits are not rodents. They belong to a family called the lagomorphs. Most rabbit breeds are adapted to live on the land and will prefer running over swimming or climbing. They are a great pet or source of fur and meat, making them a popular breed.
The European Rabbit is the most popular of all rabbit breeds, nearly 400 years after the first domestication records were made. Its easy care, rapid maturation, and prolific fur production have always placed it in the good grace of human caregivers around the globe.
General Description and Behavior
European Rabbits, which are typically between 5 and 7 pounds in weight, are light and agile and can outmaneuver prey. This is due to their normal sleep/wake cycle. European rabbits and rabbits are more active at dawn and dusk when predators’ vision becomes less sharp.
To further protect themselves from predators, the wild European rabbit prefers to live in burrows. They will defend their territory by bunking up with anywhere from 2 to 12 other rabbits. Most European rabbits will live their entire lives within 200 feet of their burrows.
Although domestic rabbits can be made in a wide range of colors, wild European rabbits tend to stick with earth tones. This is to keep them from being easily spotted by predators. You can choose from a variety of browns and sometimes add white to protect you from the winter snow.
The European rabbit is a great forefather of domesticated breeds. This is due to its incredible rate of reproduction. European rabbits can reach sexual maturity in just three months. Their gestation period is only 30 days, from conception to birth.
Habitat, Diet, and Predators
Rabbits prefer to live in low-growth grasslands and will seek shelter in hillsides or burrows. Devoted plains animals will not build nests or burrows in forests.
Domesticated rabbits enjoy a predictable diet that is a result of their European rabbit ancestry. European rabbits live mainly on grasslands and plains and love to eat young grasses and shoots, vegetables, and leaves. Some rabbits will also eat bark from trees if food is scarce during winter.
We’ve already covered a few adaptations that European rabbits have made to survive in the wild. Rabbits are the most common prey animal, being hunted by any number of animals, including a fox or dog, cat, badger, or ferret.
Last Thoughts on European Rabbit
The European rabbit breed is a beloved companion of many rabbit lovers around the world. Its resilience, intelligence, and adaptability make it an enduring success wherever it lives. We can learn so much about our pets’ lives by studying their wild lives.
What is the name of a European rabbit?
The European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus), sometimes known as the coney, is a rabbit species endemic to the Iberian Peninsula (including Spain, Portugal, and southern France), western France, and the northern Atlas Mountains in northwest Africa.
Can you reintroduce a newborn rabbit into the wild?
If you have successfully healed an injured animal, it is better to release it back into the wild so that it can live out its days in its natural environment. Remember to release the bunny close to where you discovered it, as bunnies like to spend their entire lives in the same little region around their nest.
Are wild rabbits scared of people?
Pet rabbits have plumper cheeks and big, round eyes, whereas wild rabbits have long, narrow features. Non-domesticated rabbits, being prey animals, are scared of people and will never approach us.
Can a wild rabbit impregnate a pet rabbit?
Hybrids are not conceivable in the United States because pet rabbits are descended from European rabbits and are genetically incompatible with our wild rabbits.
How frequently do European rabbits breed?
When breeding conditions are favorable, a single doe can produce up to 30 kittens in six or seven litters each year. Female rabbits often conceive their first litters immediately after the first fall rain, ensuring that as many litters as possible are born when green forage is available.
How long do pet rabbits stay inside?
A rabbit raised in an outdoor hutch has an average lifetime of 3-6 years. An indoor house rabbit has an average lifetime of 8-14 years.
How long do captive European rabbits live?
It is thought that they seldom survive longer than 9 years in the wild or in captivity.
Are European rabbits suitable as pets?
European Rabbits are suspicious of humans and easily frightened as a non-domesticated animal. These rabbits are not intended to be pets, and being kept in captivity would drastically reduce their lifetime. Although not very friendly to humans, these rabbits are gregarious among other members of their breed.