Domestic Rabbitアナウサギ(カイウサギ)

Oryctolagus cuniculusNE— Not Evaluated

The domestic rabbit descends from the European rabbit of Iberia and northwestern Africa, first domesticated by the Romans roughly 2,000 years ago and since bred into more than 300 recognized breeds worldwide. A social, burrowing herbivore, it thrives on a diet of hay and fresh vegetables and remains one of the most popular companion animals globally. As a domestic species it falls outside IUCN evaluation, though its wild ancestor is now classified as Endangered due to disease and habitat loss.

Domestic Rabbit (reference photo)
Photo: Kiraface / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Source / cropped

Species Data

Classification
Lagomorpha / Leporidae Source
Distribution
The domestic rabbit descends from the European rabbit, native to Iberia, western France, and northwestern Africa, and was first domesticated by the Romans around the 1st century BC. It is now kept worldwide, with hundreds of breeds recognized across more than 70 countries. Source

Did You Know?

  • In 1859, Australian settler Thomas Austin released just 24 rabbits for hunting, and their explosive population growth caused severe agricultural and ecological damage across the continent. Source
  • In Japan, a feral rabbit population on the Nanatsu Islands descended from just four escaped animals was targeted for eradication starting in 1990, with success declared on May 21, 2019. Source
  • By 2017, at least 305 recognized breeds of domestic rabbit existed, varying widely in size, coat color, and ear shape. Source

Where to See This Species

1 facilities · 0 individuals

東京都恩賜上野動物園 (Toukyoutoonshiueno Doubutsuen)TokyoOpened in 1882

子ども動物園内の「うさぎひろば」(2009年開設)でカイウサギを展示している Source

Conservation Story

Conservation Status

飼育品種であるカイウサギはIUCN評価の対象外です。野生のアナウサギはENに分類されています。

Habitat

野生のアナウサギは草地や低木地で巣穴を掘って生活します。

Threats

Conservation & Breeding Efforts

Sources

ja.wikipedia.org

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FAQ

Where did domestic rabbits originally come from?
They descend from the European rabbit, native to the Iberian Peninsula, western France, and parts of northwestern Africa, and were first domesticated by the Romans around the 1st century BC. Source
Why did rabbits become such a problem in Australia?
In 1859, a settler released just 24 rabbits for hunting purposes. With no natural predators and ideal breeding conditions, their population exploded and caused widespread agricultural and ecological damage that continues to be managed today. Source
How many breeds of domestic rabbit are there?
At least 305 breeds were recognized as of 2017, varying widely in size, coat color, and ear shape, and they are kept in more than 70 countries. Source

Source: ja.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org