Science lesson #135: Mammal Research Project

Rabbits

This essay is going to be divided into parts, in the list below.

  1. Domestic Rabbit Classification
  2. Habitat
  3. Diet
  4. Predators
  5. Features
  6. Method of reproduction
  7. My Image Gallery (we own rabbits)

Domestic Rabbit Classification

Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Mammalia
Order:Lagomorpha
Family:Leporidae
Genus:Oryctolagus
Species:O. cuniculus

My source for this section is Wikipedia.org

Habitat

Wild Rabbits

Wild Rabbits can live in many habitats from forests, to yards, to meadows and fields. They eat plants, so that is one reason they choose these habitats.

Rabbits As Pets

Rabbits as pets usually live in their owner’s house. Ours live in hutches in the yard.

Diet

Wild Rabbits

This list shows the foods rabbits will usually eat in the wild:

  • Grass
  • Clover
  • Your Garden veggies
  • Other Plants

Pet Rabbits

Rabbits that live in your house might eat salad or vegetables, or anything else you give them that is a plant. Your rabbit might eat your houseplant. Our rabbits eat pellet food.

Predators

Wild rabbits have many predators, from falcons, to cats, to Owls!

  • Dogs
  • Cats
  • Fox
  • Predatory Birds (Hawk, Owl, etc.)
  • Snakes

Features

Rabbits have tall ears, used to detect danger. They have that warm fur to keep warm in the winter. They also hop, by putting their front legs down and then moving the back legs forward. If you look at the second small picture, the right rabbit can be seen hopping a little bit.

Method of reproduction

Like most mammals, rabbits give live babies, and feed them milk when they are young. After the female gets pregnant, it is 30 days till she gives birth. They have no fur when the rabbits are born, but it grows later. Wild rabbits are usually born into an underground nest, and a domestic or farm rabbit might give birth in a nest-box.

My Image Gallery