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Rabbits are small mammals in the family Leporidae (which also includes the hares), which is in the order Lagomorpha (which also includes pikas).They are familiar throughout the world as a small herbivore, a prey animal, a domesticated form of livestock, and a pet, having a widespread effect on ecologies and cultures.
Male rabbits are called bucks; females are called does.An older term for an adult rabbit is coney, while rabbit once referred only to the young animals. [1] Another term for a young rabbit is bunny, though this term is often applied informally (especially by children and rabbit enthusiasts) to rabbits generally, especially domestic ones.
Rabbits play an important part in the terrestrial food chain, eating a wide range of forbs, grasses, and herbs, and being part of the staple diet of many carnivorous species. Domestic rabbits can be litter box trained, and—assuming they are given sufficient room to run and a good diet—can live long lives as house pets.
The American Rabbit Breed Association and British Rabbit Council have more than 50 breeds on its books, and more than 500 varieties. Like other species, rabbits come in myriad shapes, sizes, and ...
Hares are generally larger than rabbits, with longer ears, and have black markings on their fur. Hares, like all leporids, have jointed, or kinetic, skulls, unique among mammals. They have 48 chromosomes, [10] while rabbits have 44. [11] Hares have not been domesticated, while some rabbits are raised for food and kept as pets.
Rabbits are the seventh most popular pet in the U.S. Whether you own a bunny or want to, you may wonder how long it'll live. Here's a timeline.
Both rabbits and hares are almost exclusively herbivorous (although some Lepus species are known to eat carrion), [4] [5] feeding primarily on grasses and herbs, although they also eat leaves, fruit, and seeds of various kinds. Easily digestible food is processed in the gastrointestinal tract and expelled as regular feces.
Different breeds of rabbit at an exhibition in the Netherlands, 1952. As of 2017, there were at least 305 breeds of the domestic rabbit in 70 countries around the world raised for in the agricultural practice of breeding and raising domestic rabbits as livestock for their value in meat, fur, wool, education, scientific research, entertainment and companionship in cuniculture. [1]