Applied Rabbit Ethology

Question 1

What is the latin name for the domestic rabbit?

Answer 1

Oryctolagus cuniculus

Question 2

What is the domestic rabbit descended from?

Answer 2

European wild rabbit

Question 3

Where were rabbits domesticated?

Answer 3

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

Question 4

Give 3 reasons rabbits are good for meat production

Answer 4

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

Question 5

What 3 reasons were rabbits prime candidates for domestication?

Answer 5

Efficient meat production
Size - easily transported and maintained in small areas
Prolific - up to 40 kits a year

Question 6

Give 6 uses of rabbits over the centuries

Answer 6

Meat
Scientific model
Hobby
pet
Fur
Rabbit fancy - changes in anatomy so great they can't function any more

Question 7

Does the behavioural repertoire of wild and domestic rabbits differ?

Answer 7

Not really

Question 8

Which rabbits dig the burrows?

Answer 8

The does

Question 9

What is the average life span of a wild and captive rabbit?

Answer 9

1 year wild

10 years captive

Question 10

When are rabbits most active? What is this called?

Answer 10

Nocturnal/Crepuscular (Dawn/Dusk)

Question 11

What social groups do rabbits live in?

Answer 11

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

Question 12

When is territory defense more vigourous?

Answer 12

Run up to breeding season

Question 13

How are individuals within a group related?

Answer 13

Usually through the female line

Question 14

How long do kits remain in the natal group?

Answer 14

Until sexual maturity (4months)

Question 15

Are rabbit societies hierarchical?

Answer 15

Yes - higher ranking rabbits have priority access to food, shelter, breeding sites for females and females for males!
Female and male hierarchies are separate

Question 16

How much of the day will usually be spent grazing?

Answer 16

70%

Question 17

What happens if rabbits do not eat for ~24hours?

Answer 17

^bacterial count in GIT -> death

Question 18

What tooth structure do rabbits have?

Answer 18

Hypsodont - teeth constantly grow

Question 19

What are the 3 types of feeding behaviour?

Answer 19

Casual feeding near burrow
Voracious feeding - poor weather, dangerous location
Normal feeding - within territory, zigzagging, selecting best food

Question 20

When is the reproductive season?

Answer 20

Jan-July

Question 21

What age is sexual maturity?

Answer 21

4 months

Question 22

How many litters can a rabbit have per season?

Answer 22

5

Question 23

What type of ovulators are rabbits?

Answer 23

Copulation induced

Question 24

How long is rabbit gestation?

Answer 24

30 days

Question 25

What is the purpose of the dulap?

Answer 25

Fur picked out to make nest

Question 26

What is a nest stop?

Answer 26

A private burrow the doe digs to make a nest at the end of

Question 27

What type of neonates are kits?

Answer 27

Altricial

Question 28

What does altricial mean?

Answer 28

Born blind, without fur, immobile

Question 29

How does the mother care for the babies?

Answer 29

Absentee maternal care - only feeds them once a day

Question 30

What is the only functioning sense at birth? When do other senses develop?

Answer 30

Olfaction
7 days - hearing
10 days - vision

Question 31

At what age do kits emerge from the nest?

Answer 31

2-3 weeks

Question 32

What age are kits weaned?

Answer 32

4-5 weeks

Question 33

What is the socialisation period of kits?

Answer 33

< 2 weeks

Question 34

What is the major form of communication in rabbits?

Answer 34

Olfactory

Visual and auditory limited roles

Question 35

What behaviour demonstrates threat sensed nearby?

Answer 35

Flicking tail up (in wild rabbits would be white)

Question 36

How may visual communication occur?

Answer 36

Body language - tense/alert or calm/relaxed

Question 37

What types of auditory communication may rabbits use?

Answer 37

Throaty grunts for defence 
Thumping for dnager 
Squal in fear 
Purring at mating 
Teeth "gnashing" if RELAXED 
Teeth grinding if in pain

Question 38

What olfactory signals are used for communication?

Answer 38

Pheremones in urine and glands under tail and chin

Marking/spraying - territory/stress

Question 39

Why are the conditions rabbits generally kept in not ideal?

Answer 39

• 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!

Question 40

What behavioural problems may be displayed?

Answer 40

• 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

Question 41

Should tonic immobility be utilised?

Answer 41

NO! Still stressful.

Question 42

How should rabbits from other social groups be introduced?

Answer 42

Scent rubbing/mixing
Check no reaction to this
Postiive reinforcement
Visual contact before mixing

Question 43

How may territorial aggression be treated?

Answer 43

Neutering may help, but may have learned component

Question 44

How may behavioural problems be treated?

Answer 44

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