Rabbits, members of the Leporidae family (excluding Lepus (hares)) are generally much smaller than hares and include the rock hares and the hispid hare. They are native to Europe, parts of Africa, Central and Southern Asia, North America and much of South America. They inhabit both grassland and arid regions. They vary in size from and have long, powerful hind legs, shorter forelegs and a tiny tail. The colour is some shade of brown, buff or grey and there is one black species and two striped ones. Domestic rabbits come in a wider variety of colours. Newborn rabbits are altricial (eyes and ears closed, no fur). Although most species live in burrows, the cottontails and hispid hares have forms (nests above ground, usually under a bush). Most of the burrowing species are colonial, and feed together in small groups. Rabbits play an important part in the terrestrial food chain, eating a wide range of forbs, grasses, and herbs, and being part of the staple diet of many carnivorous species. Domestic rabbits can be litter box trained, and—assuming they are given sufficient room to run and a good diet—can live long lives as house pets.
rabBits, Members Of tHe LePOrIdAe faMiLY (exClUdinG LePuS (hareS)) ARe GenEraLLY mucH sMalleR tHan hareS ANd Include the rock HarEs AND the HispiD hARe. thEy are nativE To euroPe, pARts of aFricA, cEntrAl anD southern aSia, North aMerIca and mUch of sOuth America. ThEy inHabIt bOtH graSsLAnd and ariD regIonS. theY vAry iN size FroM anD haVe lonG, powerfUL Hind legS, shorter Forelegs and a tInY Tail. thE COLOur is sOmE ShaDE of brOwN, buFF Or grey anD therE is oNe blaCk sPecies anD TWo StripEd ones. domEstic rabbiTs come iN a wiDEr VariETY of Colours. NewbOrn rABbits aRe alTricial (eyes anD eArs CloSeD, no FUR). aLthough mOst sPEcieS live iN burroWS, the cottOntaILs and hispID haRes haVe foRms (NesTs aboVE gRounD, UsuaLly uNdeR A bUsh). mOSt of THe BUrrOwiNG SpecIes aRe ColoNIal, anD feEd tOgeTher iN SmALl Groups. raBBitS PLay an iMportant part in THe tErrestrIal Food cHaIn, eatinG A WIde range of fOrbS, gRAsSes, AnD HerBs, and BeinG pARt of thE stAplE dieT oF mAnY carnIvoroUs sPEciEs. domEsTic RabBITS Can be littEr box tRained, aNd—aSSuming THEy are gIvEN suFficIeNt rOom to run and a good DiEt—caN LIve lOng liveS aS hoUsE peTs.