Oryctolagus cuniculus

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Family

Lagomorpha

Genus

Oryctolagus

Species

cuniculus

Common name/s

European Wild Rabbit, Rabbit, Bunny

Distinguishing Features

This well-known species is shorthaired with light grey or brown fur colouring. Adults are between 30 and 40cm in size.

Similar Species

Hares (Lepus Europaeus) are larger and much less common.

Distribution

Wild Rabbits are very abundant in all areas of Australia except in the northernmost areas.

Country of Origin

Europe. Rabbits were bought to Australia as domestic pets on the first fleet, widely introduced from the 1850s.

Survey Techniques

Rabbits were identified during searches during both the day and night, finding traces from burrows and scats.

Conservation (Pet/Pest) Status - National

Introduced Pest. Competition and land degradation by feral rabbits is listed as a key threatening process under the EPBC Act 1999. It is one of the most abundant animals in Australia, causing severe damage to both the natural environment and to agriculture.

Conservation (Pet/Pest) Status - Regional

 

LSCCES Population

This species was found in high numbers across the Lower Sullivans Creek Catchment.

Associated vegetation community

Rabbits are well adapted to a wide range of habitats, from deserts to coastal plains. They thrive particularly well where soils are deep and sandy and green grass and herbage is readily available.

Limiting Resources

As long as suitable soil is available to dig warrens (rabbit holes), rabbits can live in extremely harsh environments. They do not depend on access to a water body if they can eat high moisture vegetation. They can eat a wide range of food species in response to scarcity and are only substantially limited by human control methods.

Breeding

The life cycle of rabbits provides a strong clue as to why they have become such a pest in Australia. They can breed when they are only four months old and a female rabbit can be continuously pregnant for 6-8 months of the year. They can produce up to five litters a year with up to seven young each litter. Because of this high reproductive potential a single pair of rabbits can produce up to forty offspring each year. The gestation period is about 30 days. One or two days before rabbits are born, the female constructs a small nest-like burrow lined with grass and fur. Young emerge from the burrow after 21 days.

Behaviour

This is a burrowing species, spending time in large social groups. During the breeding season, rabbits form territorial groups made up of one to three males with up to seven females, led by a dominant pair. After breeding, the groups break up again.

Functional Group

Herbivore

Food Species

In favourable conditions, rabbits prefer green grass and herbs and are nocturnal grazers. They can also dig below grasses to reach roots and seeds and can eat a wide range of food if resources are scarce due to drought bush fire events. Under these conditions they can ringbark trees and shrubs, and prevent regeneration by eating seeds and seedlings.

Predators

Foxes (Vulpes vulpes ), Cats (Felis catus ) and Dingoes (Canis lupus) predate rabbits. Humans are responsible for wide scale eradication projects, especially the release of the biological control Myxomatosis.

Interesting Fact

Rabbits have a special feature of their digestive process, called coprophagy. This allows the rabbit to eat a special pellet of their own poo, containing nutrients and B-group vitamins.