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Cosmopolitan mammalsExtant Ypresian first appearancesHerbivorous mammalsLeporidae

Rabbit

Adapted from Wikipedia · Explorer experience

A fluffy rabbit, also known as Oryctolagus cuniculus, hopping in its natural habitat.

Meet the Rabbit

Rabbits, or bunnies, are small, gentle animals found all around the world. They belong to a special family called Leporidae, which also includes hares. The most common rabbit is the European rabbit, which lives on every continent except Antarctica.

Rabbits are built for speed. Their long hind legs let them hop quickly to stay safe. They have big ears that help them hear danger from far away and keep them cool in warm weather. Rabbits often live in small groups in burrows, which are like underground homes.

People have kept rabbits for a very long time. In ancient Rome, rabbits were raised for food and fur. Today, many people keep rabbits as pets. Some special breeds, like the Angora rabbit, are raised for their wool, which can be made into soft yarn.

Rabbits are loved in stories and symbols. The Easter Bunny is a fun character that brings gifts at Easter time. Rabbits also appear in many children’s tales, like Bugs Bunny and the White Rabbit from Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. They are often seen as clever, gentle, and full of new life.

Images

A marsh rabbit, also known as Sylvilagus palustris, is a small mammal found in wetland areas of North America.
Illustration of an European rabbit from historical scientific archives.
Illustration of a mountain hare from a historical zoological collection.
A detailed scientific drawing showing the skeleton and anatomy of a European hare, created in 1752 by Johann Daniel Meyer.
A detailed scientific illustration of a rabbit skeleton from an 18th-century book.
Educational wax models showing how a rabbit's heart develops, from the University of Edinburgh.
A preserved rabbit showing how its skeleton fits inside the skin, helping us learn about animal anatomy.
A detailed diagram of a rabbit's hind limb skeleton, showing the bones of its back leg.
Diagram showing the anatomy of an animal’s ear, helpful for learning about how pets and other animals hear.
Diagram showing the male reproductive system of a rabbit for learning about animal biology.
A cute cottontail rabbit resting in its natural habitat.
Diagram showing the muscles of a rabbit's hind leg, useful for learning about animal anatomy.
A scientific illustration showing the branching structure of rabbit lungs, including bronchi, bronchioles, and alveolar ducts.

This article is a child-friendly adaptation of the Wikipedia article on Rabbit, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Images from Wikimedia Commons. Tap any image to view credits and license.