Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus)
Rabbits are small mammals found throughout Britain. They have long ears and large front teeth. They have large back legs and move around on their tip-toes. Their fur is long and soft and colours range from brown, grey and buff, and t heir tail is short and brown.
Habitat
Rabbits are common in grasslands and woodlands, and they also live on sand-dunes, marshes, mountains and cliffs.
Behaviour
Rabbits live in warrens, which are made up of a many individual burrows that are up to 3m deep. They are most active at twilight and at night. They hop quickly away or enter their burrows when predators are near, such as stoats, owls, buzzards, hawks, crows, foxes and cats.
Feeding
Rabbits eat grasses and herbs, but they sometimes eat snails and earthworms. Plants are hard to digest so rabbits sometimes eat their own droppings to help them digest their food.
Breeding
Males mate with several females during the spring and summer, and females give birth to several litters a year, usually of 2-8 baby rabbits (kits). Kits are able to breed after 4-6 months.
