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Rabbits are warm-blooded creatures and belong to the Kingdom Animalia, Phylum Chordata and Class Mammalia. Phylum Chordata indicates that these animals have a backbone, and Class Mammalia indicates that these animals (females) have a special gland called mammary glands. These glands help to feed milk to their offspring.
The mammary gland is the striking feature of mammals, making them the most advanced group in the animal kingdom. In this topic, we are going to study the common rabbit, Oryctolagus cuniculus.
Oryctolagus cuniculus
Taxonomic position of Oryctolagus cuniculus (Rabbit):
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Subphylum | Vertebrata |
| Class | Mammalia |
| Order | Lagomorpha |
| Family | Leporidae |
| Genus | Oryctolagus |
| Species | cuniculus |
Habit and habitat of rabbit:
- Habit refers to the characteristic shapes and behaviour of the organism.
- Habitat refers to the natural environment of the organism.
Habit:
Rabbits are gregarious animals. They live and move in huge groups.
Habitat:
Grasslands, forests, meadows, mountains, and other similar regions are commonly considered rabbit habitats. Rabbits are organisms that like to live in more specialised and comfortable environments.
Distribution:
Rabbits are distributed all over the world.
Characteristics, movement and dwelling of rabbit:
Rabbits are timid and gentle creatures. They move by leaping and dwell in burrows.
Rabbit burrow entrance
Diet:
Types of animals based on food habits:
Omnivores, carnivores and herbivores are the three categories of animals that exist based on their food habits.
The video explaining the omnivores, carnivores and herbivores
- Carnivores are creatures that only eat meat.
Example:Lion, tiger, eagle, snake, cheetah, wolf, and fox
- Animals that eat both vegetation and meat are known as omnivores.
Example:Crow, sparrow, dog, mouse, pig, human being, rats and bear
- Animals that eat only plants are known as herbivores.
Example:Cow, buffalo, deer, goat, sheep, and elephant
A herbivore is a creature that obtains its energy only from eating plants.
Rabbit is also an example of a herbivore. They eat a plant-based diet and do not consume meat, as previously stated. Grass and vegetables like turnips, carrots, and lettuce are part of their diet.
Rabbit eating vegetables
The pygmy rabbit (Brachylogies idahoensis) as designated as an endangered species in Washington in \(1990\) because of population size and distribution declines due to habitat destruction. The Columbia Basin Pygmy Rabbit was federally categorised as an endangered species in March \(2003\).
Left to right: Distribution of Pygmy rabbit and Brachylagus idahoensis
Reference:
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Oryctolagus_cuniculus_Tasmania_2.jpg
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Rabbit_burrow_entrance.jpg
https://www.maxpixel.net/Shopping-Cart-Vegetables-Color-Dwarf-Dwarf-Rabbit-4845651
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pygmy_rabbit
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/44/Pygmy_Rabbit_area.png
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