AnimalTracks.wiki

What the sources say

Domestic RabbitOryctolagus cuniculus domesticus

Every figure, record and mechanism on the Domestic Rabbit profile was written from a source, and this is the working table behind it: 55 claims checked word for word against these sources. The left column is what the page says. The right column is the source's own words, copied, not paraphrased; a ... marks a cut and[brackets] an insertion. Open any source and check it yourself.

Profile updated

Source
01

RSPCA

Pet rabbits: care, behaviour and welfare. RSPCA.

The page saysSees almost all the way around
The source saysThey can see in almost every direction with their nearly 360° vision.Note: tagline
The page saystwists in midair when happy
The source saysHave you ever seen them leap really far, twisting and kicking midair? That’s called a ‘binky’.Note: tagline
The page sayseats its own droppings for a second pass at its food
The source saysRabbits eat their own droppings: Food is passed through their gut and special droppings (‘caecotrophs’) are produced. Rabbits eat these, allowing the food to be re-ingestedNote: tagline
The page saysKept as pets indoors or outside; domestic rabbits can be found worldwide
The source saysWith a safe, comfortable and enriching environment , rabbits can happily live both indoors or outside.Note: stats.habitat
The page saysHay, leafy greens and other vegetables, and pellets
The source saysFood (hay, vegetables, rabbits pellets/nuggets, the occasional treat)Note: stats.diet
The page saysleafy greens
The source saysfrom leafy greens to fresh hayNote: stats.diet
The page saysNearly 360-degree vision from eyes set on the sides of its head
The source saysBecause rabbit eyes are on the sides of their head, they have a blind spot just under their chin and directly in front of their nose.Note: stats.superpower
The page saysNearly 360-degree vision
The source saysThey can see in almost every direction with their nearly 360° vision.Note: stats.superpower
The page saysSometimes a rabbit leaps really far, twisting and kicking in midair. That is a binky, a sign that the rabbit is very happy.
The source saysHave you ever seen them leap really far, twisting and kicking midair? That’s called a ‘binky’.
The page saysa sign that the rabbit is very happy
The source saysThe leap-twist that a rabbit does midair – the binky – is a sign that they’re very happy.
The page saysWhen a rabbit thumps its hind legs, danger may be nearby. It can also be a "grump thump", and the rabbit is mad at you.
The source saysWhen a rabbit thumps their hind legs, it can actually mean that danger is nearby – or it’s a ‘grump thump’, and they’re mad at you.
The page sayssees in almost every direction with nearly 360 degree vision
The source saysThey can see in almost every direction with their nearly 360° vision.
The page saysA rabbit's eyes sit on the sides of its head
The source saysBecause rabbit eyes are on the sides of their head
The page saystwo blind spots: just under the chin and directly in front of the nose
The source saysthey have a blind spot just under their chin and directly in front of their nose
The page saysIts ears can turn through 180 degrees to locate sound.
The source says180 degrees A rabbit’s ears can turn to locate sound
The page saysRabbits are most active at dusk and dawn, which is called being crepuscular.
The source saysRabbits are most active at dusk and dawn: This is called being ‘crepuscular’
The page saysHeld on its back, a rabbit often lies still and looks relaxed. That is tonic immobility, an involuntary fear response to extreme stress
The source saysRabbits held this way often remain still and appear relaxed. This is called tonic immobility – sometimes described as ‘playing dead’ – which is actually an involuntary fear response that occurs when a rabbit feels under extreme stress
The page saysthe RSPCA says never to hold one that way
The source saysNever hold rabbits on their backs.
The page saysRabbits eat their own droppings The gut makes special droppings called caecotrophs. Rabbits eat these, allowing the food to be re-ingested for maximum nutrition.
The source saysRabbits eat their own droppings: Food is passed through their gut and special droppings (‘caecotrophs’) are produced. Rabbits eat these, allowing the food to be re-ingested, getting maximum nutrition.
The page saysHay, vegetables and pellets make up a pet's menu.
The source saysFood (hay, vegetables, rabbits pellets/nuggets, the occasional treat)
The page saysRabbit teeth never stop growing. The front ones gain 2 to 3 mm a week. That is why hay is essential for dental health: it promotes constant, side-to-side chewing that wears them down.
The source saysRabbit teeth never stop growing: Their front teeth grow at a rate of 2-3mm a week! This is why hay is essential for rabbit dental health; it promotes constant, side-to-side chewing that wears down their constantly-growing teeth
The page saysA happy rabbit's teeth chatter gently into a soft purr, though grinding can also signal pain.
The source saysWhen they’re happy their teeth chatter gently, creating a soft purr (but teeth grinding can also be a sign of pain).
The page saysA doe is pregnant for 30 to 33 days
The source saysBIRTH & GESTATION Can last between 30-33 days
The page saysan average litter is 5 to 6 kits
The source saysAn average litter of rabbits is between 5 to 6 kits.
The page sayscan get pregnant again within hours of giving birth
The source sayscan get pregnant again within hours of giving birth!
The page saysIn one year, two rabbits could multiply to 82.
The source saysin one year, two rabbits could multiply to 82 rabbits!
The page saysThe RSPCA puts a pet rabbit's typical life at 8 to 12 years.
The source saysa rabbit can typically live for 8 to 12 years – but some may live longer.
The page saysA binky is a leap in which a rabbit twists and kicks in midair, and it is a sign that the rabbit is very happy.
The source saysThe leap-twist that a rabbit does midair – the binky – is a sign that they’re very happy.
The page saysA thump of the hind legs is a different message. It can warn that danger is near, or it can be a "grump thump" aimed at you.
The source saysWhen a rabbit thumps their hind legs, it can actually mean that danger is nearby – or it’s a ‘grump thump’, and they’re mad at you.
The page saysAbout 2 to 3 millimetres a week at the front, and they never stop.
The source saysRabbit teeth never stop growing: Their front teeth grow at a rate of 2-3mm a week!
The page saysthe RSPCA calls hay essential for dental health because it keeps a rabbit chewing constantly, side to side, and that wears the teeth down.
The source saysThis is why hay is essential for rabbit dental health; it promotes constant, side-to-side chewing that wears down their constantly-growing teeth
The page saysIn a safe, stimulating home with good food, health checks and company, a rabbit can typically live 8 to 12 years, and some live longer.
The source saysIf they live in a safe and stimulating environment, with a nutritious diet, regular health checks and appropriate companionship, a rabbit can typically live for 8 to 12 years – but some may live longer.
The page saysThe RSPCA counts a rabbit as senior from 5 to 8 years old.
The source says5–8 YEARS old Rabbits become senior
The page saysRabbits can do more than hop.
The source saysRabbits can do more than just hop
The page saysLong Commitment
The source saysThis means that pet rabbits are a long term commitment, as much as any pet cat or dog might be.
The page saysA happy rabbit sometimes leaps really far, twisting and kicking in midair: a binky.
The source saysHave you ever seen them leap really far, twisting and kicking midair? That’s called a ‘binky’.

Source
02

O'Neill et al. 2020

O'Neill et al. (2020). Morbidity and mortality of domestic rabbits ( Oryctolagus cuniculus ) under primary veterinary care in England. Veterinary Record.

The page saysIn vet records for 6,349 rabbits in England, the median adult bodyweight was 2.1 kg
The source saysanonymised clinical records of 6349 rabbits attending 107 primary veterinary care clinics. Results The median age was 3.2 years (interquartile range (IQR) 1.6–5.1), and the median adult bodyweight was 2.1 kgNote: 6,349 rabbits
The page saysadults ranged from 0.7 to 6.3 kg
The source saysThe median adult bodyweight overall was 2.1 kg (IQR 1.7–2.6, range 0.7–6.3).
The page saysthe 370 rabbits that died during that English study
The source saysThe median age at death of the 370 rabbits that died during the study was 4.3 years
The page sayswhich covered 2013
The source saysThe study population included all rabbits under primary veterinary care at clinics in England participating in the VetCompass programme during 2013.
The page sayshad a median age at death of 4.3 years
The source saysFor those rabbits that died during the study period, the median age at death was 4.3 years

Source
03

Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan

Oryctolagus cuniculus (European rabbit). Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan.

The page saysNot Evaluated
The source saysOryctolagus cuniculus is the ancestor of all domestic rabbitsNote: conservationStatus: the domestic form is not on the Red List; the wild ancestor's assessment is cited separately in the body
The page saysdomestic rabbits can be found worldwide
The source saysDomesticated O. cuniculus may be found worldwide.Note: stats.habitat
The page saysTheir wild ancestor, the European rabbit, is 38 to 50 cm long and weighs 1.5 to 2.5 kg.
The source saysWild O. cuniculus weigh between 1.5 and 2.5 kg, and are from 38 to 50 cm long.
The page saysTheir wild ancestor, the European rabbit
The source saysOryctolagus cuniculus is the ancestor of all domestic rabbits
The page saysThe species has a very large caecum, a gut pouch where bacteria ferment material that would otherwise be indigestible.
The source saysThe species has a very large caecum, in which bacterial fermentation of otherwise indigestible material occurs.
The page saysDomestic rabbits can be found worldwide.
The source saysDomesticated O. cuniculus may be found worldwide.
The page saysAnimal Diversity Web places the European rabbit in the order Lagomorpha, which it describes as "hares, pikas, and rabbits".
The source saysOrder Lagomorpha hares, pikas, and rabbits
The page saysPet breeds vary a lot.
The source saysDomesticated O. cuniculus vary tremendously in size, fur type, coloration, and general appearance.
The page saystags: herbivore
The source saysOryctolagus cuniculus is a generalized herbivore, eating a diverse diet of grasses, leaves, buds, tree bark, and roots.

Source
04

Ohio State University Extension, Ashtabula County 4-H 2016

Study Tips for Rabbit Breeds. Ohio State University Extension, Ashtabula County 4-H, 2016.

The page saysamong five lops, which are rabbits with ears that hang down
The source saysLops – Rabbits whose ears hang down, there are only 5 currently recognized: American Fuzzy Lop, English Lop, French Lop, Holland Lop, Mini Lop
The page saysA 2016 4-H study sheet lists the Holland lop among the small breeds
The source saysSmall Rabbits: American Fuzzy Lop, Dutch, Dwarf Hotot, Florida White, Havana, Himalayan, Holland LopNote: 2016: the sheet is headed 'Revised: 2016'

Source
05

Gawriluk et al. 2016

Gawriluk et al. (2016). Comparative analysis of ear-hole closure identifies epimorphic regeneration as a discrete trait in mammals. Nature Communications.

The page saysNew Zealand white rabbits completely closed 8 mm holes in their ears by day 85
The source sayswe created a larger, 8-mm hole in O. cuniculus and found they completely closed these holes by D85Note: New Zealand White strain per the paper's methods
The page saysregenerating tissue with no evidence of scarring
The source sayswe analysed the dermis at D85 and found no evidence for scarring in Acomys spp. and O. cuniculus

Source
06

Hackländer 2025

Hackländer (2025). Oryctolagus cuniculus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2025: e.T41291A217911810.

The page saysthe Red List rates the European rabbit Endangered.
The source saysIUCN Red List category: Endangered (EN). Oryctolagus cuniculus (Linnaeus, 1758), IUCN taxon 41291.Note: status of the wild European rabbit only, not the domestic form. GBIF's copy of the Red List gives the category for taxon 41291 (Oryctolagus cuniculus), checked against the taxon id in the DOI.

How the table was made: a writer drafted the profile from these sources and logged each claim with its quote, a reviewer with nothing but this table checked every sentence said no more than its quote, and a script confirmed each quote appears word for word in the source. The method is in the site'sAbout page.