Rabbit |
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Desert Cottontail
(Sylvilagus audubonii) |
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Scientific classification |
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Genera |
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Pentalagus |
Rabbits are small mammals in the family Leporidae
of the order Lagomorpha, found in several parts of the world. There are seven
different genera in the family classified as rabbits, including the European
Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus), cottontail rabbits (genus Sylvilagus;
13 species), and the Amami Rabbit (Pentalagus furnessi, an endangered
species on Amami Oshima, Japan). There are many other species of rabbit, and
these, along with cottontails, pikas and hares make up the Order Lagomorpha. Rabbits
generally live between four and 10 years. A rabbit's gestation period is 31
days.[1]
Rabbits are clearly
distinguished from hares in that rabbits are altricial, having young that are
born blind and hairless. In contrast, hares are generally born with hair and
are able to see. All rabbits (except the cottontail rabbit) live underground in
burrows or warrens, while hares live in simple nests above the ground (as does
the cottontail rabbit), and usually do not live in groups. Hares are generally
larger than rabbits, with longer ears, and have black markings on their fur. Hares
have not been domesticated, while rabbits are often kept as house pets. In
gardens, they are typically kept in hutches, small, wooden, house-like boxes
that protect the rabbits from the environment and predators.
Humans' relationship with
the European (sometimes called true) rabbit was first recorded by the
Phoenicians earlier than 1000 BCE, when they termed the Iberian Peninsula i-shfaním
(literally, the land of the hyraxes). This phrase is pronounced
identically in modern Hebrew, i (אי) meaning island and shafan (שפן) meaning hyrax; shfaním
(שפנים) is the plural form. Phoenicians called the local rabbits hyraxes
because hyraxes resemble rabbits in some ways, and were probably more common
than rabbits in their native land Levant at the time. Hyraxes, like rabbits,
are not rodents. The Romans converted the phrase i-shfaním to its Latin
form, Hispania, which evolved into the modern Spanish word España,
English Spain and such other variations of modern languages.
The European Rabbit (Oryctolagus
cuniculus) is the only species of rabbit to be domesticated. All pet breeds
of rabbits, such as dwarf lops, and angoras, are of this species. However,
rabbits and humans interact in many different ways beyond domestication. Rabbits
are an example of an animal which is treated as food, pet, and pest by members
of the same culture.
When used for food, rabbits
are both hunted and bred for meat. Snares or guns along with dogs are usually
employed when catching wild rabbits for food. In many regions, rabbits are also
bred for meat, a practice called cuniculture. Rabbits can then be killed by
hitting the back of their heads, a practice from which the term rabbit punch
is derived. Rabbit pelts are sometimes used in for clothing and accessories,
such as scarves or hats. Rabbits are very good producers of manure;
additionally, their urine, being high in nitrogen, makes lemon trees very
productive. Their milk may also be of great medicinal or nutritional benefit
due to its high protein content (see links below).
There are a number of
health issues associated with the use of rabbits for meat, one of which is Tularemia
or Rabbit Fever. Another is so-called rabbit starvation, due most likely to
essential amino acid deficiencies in rabbit meat and synthesis limitations in
human beings.
A healthy indoor pet rabbit
can live up to 10 years and longer. They enjoy throwing around toys and chewing
on cardboard. In some home environments, they can develop an affinity with cats
and even dogs. Though they are often caged in small areas, they can be trained
to live as free-roaming pets, similar to cats and dogs. As pet rabbit medicine,
diet and living environment improves, the rabbit's life span increases.
While inexpensive caging is
readily available in most areas, it is important to consider the safety of the
rabbit when choosing a cage. It is of paramount importance to provide proper
ventilation for a rabbit, to prevent respiratory problems as a result of
ammonia build-up caused by their urine. Cages constructed entirely of wire are
commonly used for both ventilation and sanitation purposes. Wire cages can pose
risks to the animal, as wire mesh can be painful to their feet, as well as
breaking their toes if their nails get caught in the mesh. Solid flooring is
preferable, at least on a portion of the cage floor, to allow the rabbit to
rest its feet. Wire cages are known to be easier to clean and sanitize than
wooden hutches.
Unless they are being used
for breeding, it is generally agreed that female rabbits should be spayed, as
unspayed rabbits have high incidences of ovarian cancer. There are some health
and behavior benefits from the neutering of male rabbits as well. If left
intact, rabbits may spray urine in order to mark territory.
Rabbits tend to be
aggressive towards other rabbits unless they have bonded. Spaying or neutering
both animals may help make this process successful. It is not recommended to
house two rabbits together in the same cage and assume that they will
cohabitate. Even normally docile rabbits can become violent when left with an
unbonded partner. This is common, but does not always take place. Many rabbits
that are indifferent to each other can live together peacfully.
Domestic
Rabbit
Unlike cats, rabbits cannot
be declawed. Lacking pads on the bottoms of their feet, rabbits require their
claws for balance, and removing rabbit’s claws will render it unable to stand,
permanently crippling the animal.
If well cared for, rabbits
make friendly and playful pets. They are kept as pets throughout the world,
both indoors and out. Housed indoors and provided with adequate safety
(especially from electrical cables and house plants that may be toxic to them),
rabbits are relatively safe from predators, parasites, disease, and temperature
extremes. Rabbits kept outdoors must be provided with shelter. This shelter may
be heated in winter (although many rabbits can be kept outside with extra
bedding even into temperatures below freezing ) but must be shaded in summer. Domesticated
rabbits are most comfortable in temperatures between 10 to 21 degrees Celsius
(50 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit), and cannot endure temperatures above 32 degrees
Celsius (90 degrees Fahrenheit) without assistance such as fans, frozen water
bottles, and deep shade.
A rabbit should be given
plenty of clean fresh water and grass hay daily. Dark green, leafy vegetables
may be fed, such as: romaine and escarole lettuces; turnip, mustard, and collard
greens; kale, parsley, cilantro, dandelion and basil. Carrots and fruits should
be fed sparingly (approximately one tablespoon per pound of body weight every
two days), as they are high in sugars. Starchy vegetables such as potatoes
should be avoided. When feeding vegetables to a rabbit for the first time,
begin with one type, then slowly introduce others, until a the rabbit has
become accustomed to at least three different kinds of vegetables per serving;
a variety of food keeps the rabbit's interest. Once a rabbit is introduced to
vegetables, it should be fed vegetables daily, along with timothy, brome, or oat
hay.
When choosing commercial
feeds, choose those that do not include nuts, as nuts contain more fat than
rabbits can easily metabolize, and may cause health problems, such as fatty
liver. Nuts are commonly found in rodent food; as rabbits are not rodents, this
food should be avoided. Pellets should be fed one ounce per pound of body
weight per day. Traditionally, pellets are fed to rabbits bred for meat, and
tend to cause excess weight gain. If a rabbit is fed pellets, a salt block is
not necessary, as pellets are high in salt, though salt blocks are not
otherwise not harmful to rabbits.
Domestic rabbits should be
examined daily as infections and illnesses can develop quickly. The eyes should
be clean with no crust evident; ears should also be clean, along with any other
part of the rabbit. Teeth should not be too long; teeth that are too long will
not allow the rabbit to eat. However, it is not recommended that the keeper
grind or clip a rabbit's teeth; seek a veterinarian's advice. If clipping is
recommended, yet not an immediate threat to the rabbit's health, it is
recommended that the keeper use a natural remedy, because once a rabbit's teeth
are clipped, they will need to be clipped regularly. A rabbit's teeth can grow
as long as five inches per year, but must be worn down to maintain a healthy
bite. While teeth clipping is an option, it should be used as a last resort,
unless the rabbit suffers malocclusion. If concerned about the length of a
rabbit's teeth, introduce oat hay into the diet. Wooden chew toys are also
recommended. However, a rabbit's whiskers are a major sensory organ and should
never be clipped.
Safe handling of rabbits is
taught by rabbit breeders and specialists. Never pick a rabbit up by its ears. When
holding a rabbit, be sure all four feet are supported so that the rabbit does
not kick; kicking too forcefully can break a rabbit's back. It is advisable to
pick up a rabbit with a scooping motion, bringing it to rest on a forearm while
allowing it to tuck its head into an elbow. Note that covering a rabbit's eyes
creates a sensation of safety for the animal, because the darkness is
reassuring, as there is nothing to see and frighten them.
In the United States, the American
Rabbit Breeders Association (ARBA) is a valuable resource for both pet and
commercial breeders. The ARBA recognizes 47 different breeds of domestic
rabbits, the Trianta and the Mini Satin being the two most recently accepted
breeds, accepted in 2006. In the United Kingdom, the British Rabbit Council
provides valuable information.
Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rabbit&action=history
http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html