Rabbits, Rats, Gerbils, Hamsters. Flashcards
How were rabbits originally classified as?
Rodents.
What Order are Rodents?
Rodentia.
What are Rabbits now classified as?
Lagomorpha.
Why cant rabbits be rodents?
They have 4 upper incisor teeth, where rodents only have two.
WHy did we not originally notice that rabbits were not rodents?
Their second pair of upper incisor is stacked behind the first pair.
Fossils of rabbit-like animals date back to when?
30-37 million years
How do these fossils of the rabbit-like animals compare to our modern day wild rabbits and hares?
They are very similar.
Where were the first recorded reports of rabbits made?
Phoenician traders that visited Spain
When were the first recorded reports of rabbits made?
3000 years ago (1100 BC.)
What were the phoenicians responsible for?
Transporting rabbits to many parts of the world.
Why were rabbits able to spread so fast? (3)
They are useful to use as a meat source.
They grow quick and reproduce rapidly.
Who first domesticated rabbits?
The french monks in the middle ages.
(about 1500 years ago)
When were rabbits introduced into autralia and new zealand?
The latter portion of the 19th century.
ABout how many breeds are recognized by rabbit breeders?
45
Of the breeds, how do we divde them into classifcations? How many?
By size and weight. there are 5
What are the five classifications?
Dwarf (miniature), small, medium, large, giant.
Termnology:
What is an adult male called?
An adult female?
The young?
A buck
A doe
Kits or bunnies.
What is the birth process called in rabbits?
Kindling.
Why do we called the birth process kindling?
When close to birth, the mama will pull fur and nest.
What can be dangerous for rabbits? Why?
Antibiotics! They are very sensitive to them.
Why might happen if you give a rabbit too many antibiotics?
May kill the bacteria in the cecum. This is very bad.
What is recommened of all female rabbits kept as pets.
Neutering!
Why should female rabbits get spayed?
High incidence of uterine cancer
Which mammal has the highest amount of uterine cancer?
Rabbits.
Averahe lifespan of a rabbit?
5-12 years.
WHen do rabbits reach puberty?
5 to 9 months.
How long is the gestation period?
30-34 days.
Describe the estrus of rabbits.
No known period. They are induced ovulatiors with no consistent estrous cycle.
What are bunny bucks? What do these show?
Jump up in the air and kick rear feet out.
This shows happiness.
Describe the grooming behavior in rabbits.
Shows affection and is important for preventing external parasites.
Describe the circling behavior in rabbits.
Hop in cicrlces around owners.
Shows happiness.
How might a rabbit show contentment?
Low grunt with rhythmic grinding of teeth.
If a rabbit is in pain, what will they do?
Scream.
What does it mean when a rabbit nips?
Somethimes its playful, other times its a warning.
If a rabbit is angry, what might it do?
bite.
What is a common rabbit behavior as a pet?
Nibbling.
What does nibbling entail?
Nibbling on electrical cords, furniture, carpets, ect.
What can rabbits be trained to do pretty successfully?
Use a litter box.
How do rabbits behave around each other socially?
They establish peak orders and typically fight to the death.
What is a trait in rabbits that is similar to cats?
They can sometimes create bonded pairs.
How might you get a rabbit to create a bond?
Drive two of them together. They will bond through fear.
Describe the digestive system of a rabbit. .
They are monogastric and have a well developed cecum.
Describe the digestive system path of a rabbit. Fully.
The food goes through the esophagus into the stomach. Goes into the right part and goes through the system.
When soft pellets are reeaten, they go to the left part of the stomach.
What do rabbits do?
Refection or coprophagy.
What is coprophagy?
Voluntarily consume their own feces.
What will rabbits eat?
Only their soft pellets (The waste that has only through the digestive system once.)
Through coprophagy, what can rabbits do?
Recycle certain nutrients, especially vitamins and minerals.