Mammals · Leporidae
Rabbits
Leporidae (family)
Least Concern
Rabbits are small mammals found on every continent except Antarctica, recognized by their long ears, short fluffy tails, and powerful hind legs built for quick, evasive hops.
Classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Lagomorpha
Family: Leporidae
Size
10-20 inches long depending on species, weighing 1-5.5 lbs in the wild (domestic breeds can be much larger).
Habitat
Found nearly worldwide in forests, grasslands, deserts, and wetlands.
Description
Long ears for detecting predators, large hind feet, and a short, fluffy tail.
Diet
Herbivores — grasses, clover, and other plants; a soft first dropping (cecotrope) is re-eaten to extract further nutrients.
Behavior
Thump their hind feet to warn others of danger; can reach speeds of up to 18 mph when fleeing predators.
Gestation
About 28-31 days — one of the shortest among mammals.
Birth
Litters (called kindles) of 4-12 kits, born blind and hairless.
Life Span
1-2 years in the wild; up to 8-12 years for well-kept domestic rabbits.
Did You Know?
A group of rabbits is called a "colony," and a group of baby rabbits is a "kindle."
Did You Know?
Wild rabbits can produce several litters per year, a key reason wild rabbit populations grow so quickly.
