European Rabbit

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Oryctolagus cuniculus

Upper body grey-brown, underparts pale grey. Ears long. Tail white. Body up to 45 cm long.

Details
Type
Mammal
Group
Animals
Placental
Biology

Mainly nocturnal. Shelters in burrows (warrens) during the day. Can breed from 4 months of age, at any time of the year. When conditions are good they can produce 5 or more litters a year, with 4 to 5 young in each litter. Their impact is greatest during drought and straight after a bushfire, when food is scarce and they eat whatever they can. They ringbark trees and shrubs, and prevent regeneration by eating seeds and seedlings.

Distinctive Markings

Ears shorter than length of head and without a black tip, short white tail.

Taxonomy
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Mammalia
Order
Lagomorpha
Family
Leporidae
Genus
Oryctolagus
Species
cuniculus
Throughout most of Australia including Victoria.

Source: Atlas of Living Australia

Interesting Facts
Diet

Herbivore. Eats green grass, herbs, fleshy plant roots and tubers. Digs below ground to reach roots of grasses and shrubs. Also eats bark and seeds.

Habitat

Habitats ranging from deserts to coastal plains, wherever there is suitable soft soil for digging their burrows (warrens).

Native Status
Introduced