Applied Rabbit Ethology Flashcards
What is the latin name for the domestic rabbit?
Oryctolagus cuniculus
What is the domestic rabbit descended from?
European wild rabbit
Where were rabbits domesticated?
Originated Iberian Peninsula (Spain and Portugal)
Romans kept for meat and fur - Roman Empire
Catholics banned in European monasteries from eating any meat apart from fish and baby rabbits - monks domesticated based on size and tameness
Give 3 reasons rabbits are good for meat production
Efficent plant -> meat conversion. Ceacotrophs
20% meat consumed converted to meat as opposed to 12% in cows
Can be fed on a wide variety of foodstuffs
What 3 reasons were rabbits prime candidates for domestication?
Efficient meat production
Size - easily transported and maintained in small areas
Prolific - up to 40 kits a year
Give 6 uses of rabbits over the centuries
Meat Scientific model Hobby pet Fur Rabbit fancy - changes in anatomy so great they can't function any more
Does the behavioural repertoire of wild and domestic rabbits differ?
Not really
Which rabbits dig the burrows?
The does
What is the average life span of a wild and captive rabbit?
1 year wild
10 years captive
When are rabbits most active? What is this called?
Nocturnal/Crepuscular (Dawn/Dusk)
What social groups do rabbits live in?
Colonies of ~70
Consists of distinct groups - 1 buck and several related does, each defending 0.5 - 15 acres territory
Also have home ranges outside of their individual territory which may overlap with other social groups
When is territory defense more vigourous?
Run up to breeding season
How are individuals within a group related?
Usually through the female line
How long do kits remain in the natal group?
Until sexual maturity (4months)
Are rabbit societies hierarchical?
Yes - higher ranking rabbits have priority access to food, shelter, breeding sites for females and females for males!
Female and male hierarchies are separate
How much of the day will usually be spent grazing?
70%
What happens if rabbits do not eat for ~24hours?
^bacterial count in GIT -> death
What tooth structure do rabbits have?
Hypsodont - teeth constantly grow
What are the 3 types of feeding behaviour?
Casual feeding near burrow
Voracious feeding - poor weather, dangerous location
Normal feeding - within territory, zigzagging, selecting best food
When is the reproductive season?
Jan-July
What age is sexual maturity?
4 months
How many litters can a rabbit have per season?
5
What type of ovulators are rabbits?
Copulation induced
How long is rabbit gestation?
30 days
What is the purpose of the dulap?
Fur picked out to make nest
What is a nest stop?
A private burrow the doe digs to make a nest at the end of
What type of neonates are kits?
Altricial
What does altricial mean?
Born blind, without fur, immobile
How does the mother care for the babies?
Absentee maternal care - only feeds them once a day
What is the only functioning sense at birth? When do other senses develop?
Olfaction
7 days - hearing
10 days - vision
At what age do kits emerge from the nest?
2-3 weeks
What age are kits weaned?
4-5 weeks
What is the socialisation period of kits?
< 2 weeks
What is the major form of communication in rabbits?
Olfactory
Visual and auditory limited roles
What behaviour demonstrates threat sensed nearby?
Flicking tail up (in wild rabbits would be white)
How may visual communication occur?
Body language - tense/alert or calm/relaxed
What types of auditory communication may rabbits use?
Throaty grunts for defence Thumping for dnager Squal in fear Purring at mating Teeth "gnashing" if RELAXED Teeth grinding if in pain
What olfactory signals are used for communication?
Pheremones in urine and glands under tail and chin
Marking/spraying - territory/stress
Why are the conditions rabbits generally kept in not ideal?
- single
- small area
- minimal forage
- no burrowing
- no hiding places
- kept near predators
- non-nocturnal schedule
- scent environment destroyed when cleaned out
- fed concentrates (gut stasis, teeth issues)
- kept with guinae pigs, rabbits will bully them!
What behavioural problems may be displayed?
- over grooming due to pain
- oral sterotypies
- territorial aggression
- anxiety aggression
- spraying (usually towards other rabbits from other social groups)
- intraspecies aggression if resources limited
Should tonic immobility be utilised?
NO! Still stressful.
How should rabbits from other social groups be introduced?
Scent rubbing/mixing
Check no reaction to this
Postiive reinforcement
Visual contact before mixing
How may territorial aggression be treated?
Neutering may help, but may have learned component
How may behavioural problems be treated?
Larger run - grass, forage, space
Chew toys are NOT GOOD - only grind front teeth
Puzzle feeder
Move food away from bed - poo as they eat
Do not give cat litter - may confuse for food and eat
Family groups better than random
Clicker training
Socialisation
Desensitisation and frequent positive interaction
