Rabbits are small mammals belonging to the order Lagomorpha, a group that also includes pikas and hares. These herbivores are characterized by continuously growing teeth and a unique digestive system optimized for processing fibrous plant matter. Found naturally across every continent except Antarctica, these animals have adapted to environments ranging from arid deserts to dense forests. This widespread global presence has resulted in a biological diversity, which can be broadly categorized into distinct wild species and numerous domesticated varieties.
The Fundamental Difference: Species vs. Breeds
Understanding the diversity of rabbits begins with the distinction between a species and a breed. A species is a biological grouping of organisms that can interbreed to produce fertile offspring, maintaining a shared genetic lineage in the wild. Conversely, a breed is a man-made variation within a single species, developed through deliberate selective breeding for specific traits like size, color, or coat type. This taxonomic difference explains why a wild cottontail and a domestic Flemish Giant are both rabbits, yet they are classified differently.
The vast majority of domestic rabbits descend from a single species, the European Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus). Native to the Iberian Peninsula and southwestern France, its social, burrowing nature made it suitable for domestication beginning in the medieval period. Over centuries, human intervention has molded this one species into hundreds of recognized types, all genetically compatible with the wild ancestor.
Wild rabbits encompass numerous distinct species across multiple genera, making them a much broader biological group. Unlike domestic rabbits, which are variations on one theme, wild rabbits such as the North American Cottontail species (Sylvilagus) are separate species that cannot interbreed with the domestic rabbit or each other.
Categorizing Domestic Rabbit Breeds
Domestic rabbit breeds, recognized globally by organizations like the American Rabbit Breeders Association (ARBA), are typically categorized by size and coat texture. The size spectrum is immense, demonstrating the power of selective breeding to dramatically alter the size of the ancestral European Rabbit. This range includes tiny dwarf varieties up to massive giant breeds, serving purposes from companionship to commercial production.
The Dwarf and Small categories weigh between 2 and 4 pounds, often bred for their compact size and pet appeal. Examples include the Netherland Dwarf (around 2.5 pounds) and the American Fuzzy Lop, known for its woolly coat and lopped ears. Medium breeds, weighing 5 to 10 pounds, are often considered the commercial type, balancing size with manageable care; the American Sable and Blue Holicer are in this group.
Large and Giant breeds exceed 11 pounds, sometimes significantly. The Flemish Giant can weigh 15 pounds or more, and the Checkered Giant is recognized for its distinctive bold markings. The second major classification focuses on the distinct texture of the rabbit’s fur, which is divided into four main types:
- Normal Fur, characterized by a longer guard hair layer that provides a protective “flyback” or “rollback” texture when stroked.
- Rex fur, which is exceptionally dense and velvety because the guard hairs are bred to be the same length as the undercoat.
- Satin fur types, which possess a unique, deep luster due to a gene mutation causing the hair shaft to be smaller and semi-transparent.
- Angora breeds, defined by their long, silky wool, which is often commercially harvested.
Major Wild Rabbit and Hare Species
The non-domesticated members of the family Leporidae include numerous wild rabbit species and all true hares, which are biologically distinct. A fundamental difference lies in their young: rabbits produce altricial young, meaning they are born blind, naked, and helpless in underground nests or burrows. Hares produce precocial young, which are born fully furred, with open eyes, and are capable of movement shortly after birth.
The wild European Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) is a true rabbit, living in complex, communal burrow systems called warrens. In North America, the most widespread group of true rabbits are the Cottontails, belonging to the genus Sylvilagus. This genus includes over a dozen species, such as the Eastern Cottontail and the Desert Cottontail. Cottontails generally do not dig their own extensive warrens, instead opting for shallow, above-ground nests or utilizing the abandoned burrows of other animals for shelter.
Hares belong exclusively to the genus Lepus and are not considered true rabbits, despite their similar appearance. They are typically larger than rabbits, possess longer ears with black tips, and have longer, more powerful hind legs adapted for high-speed running. Hares live solitary lives above ground, sheltering in a shallow depression called a “form,” relying on speed rather than burrows to evade predators. Even common names can be misleading, as North American Jackrabbits are actually species of hare. Hares possess 48 chromosomes, while the domestic rabbit species has 44, preventing the two groups from cross-breeding.