RABBIT CHARACTERISTICS

Rabbits are rodents. it has two large incisors in front. it has two legs and two short
arms. it has a lot of color. but, in general, white rabbit, black and brown. it has long
ears. that's why he has a keen hearing.
Rabbits move by hopping. They have 4 toes on their hind feet that are long and
webbed to keep them from spreading apart as they jump. Their front paws have 5
toes each. Some species of rabbit can reach speeds of 35 to 45 miles per hour (55
to 70 kilometers per hour). Young rabbits seem to walk instead of hop.
They have 2 pairs of sharp incisors (front teeth), one pair on top and one pair on the
bottom. They also have 2 peg teeth behind the top incisors. Their teeth are
specifically adapted for gnawing and grow continuously throughout their lives.
Rabbits have an excellent sense of smell, hearing and vision. They have nearly 360
panoramic vision, allowing them to detect predators from all directions. They can see
everything behind them and only have a small blind-spot in front of their nose.
Rabbits have extremely strong hind limbs which allow them to leap great distances.
They can jump up to one metre high and three metres long.
Rabbits are territorial animals which live in loosely organised social groups. They live
in warrens comprising of an intricate series of underground tunnels with different
entrances and exits.
When rabbits binky, this is an expression of joy. They will run, jump into the air,
twist their body and flick their feet.
Rabbits are affectionate social animals that enjoy the company of other rabbits. They
will perform allogrooming where two individuals will simultaneously groom each
other.
Although typically very quiet, rabbits do communicate vocally, with varying types of
vocalisations communicating different messages, e.g. low humming when running
around an individual is a signal of affection.
Rabbits stand upright on their hind legs to give themselves a better vantage point to
look for predators. They alert other rabbits to the presence of danger by thumping
their hind legs.
Rabbits need an appropriate diet. Fibre, in the form of hay and grass, is the most
vital food for rabbits its essential for their digestive health, and they can die without
it. Whilst a small daily amount of green veg is good, a diet based solely on
vegetables, fruit and carrots does not provide all the nutrients that rabbits need,
leaving them malnourished.
Rabbits kept as pets should be offered shelter and hiding places - rabbits confined to
open spaces with no protection will feel threatened. Predators such as dogs may
also scare prey species such as rabbits.
In the wild, rabbits have plenty to keep them occupied, from foraging to reproduction
to territorial defence. Captive rabbits, on the other hand, often lack stimulation, which
can lead to behavioural problems and poor health. Much like humans, they need to
be kept physically and mentally active. A rabbits natural environment can be
imitated by providing enrichment such as tunnels and platforms for climbing, tree
stumps, twigs, suitable toys, and places to hide such as cardboard boxes.
Digging is an innate and favourite pastime of rabbits, both wild and domesticated. By
providing digging substitutes, such as a sand or earth pit, rabbits kept as pets will be
able to dig away without damaging your garden or escaping.
Just like humans, rabbits become bored if their environments remain the same, so
can benefit from variety and occasional change of scenery. However, too much
change can have adverse effects. A wild rabbits survival depends on an intimate
knowledge of its surroundings in order to escape from predators, so structural
changes to the warren of a rabbit kept as a pet should be kept subtle, such as
changing their toys and regularly providing new ones.
Its incredibly beneficial for rabbits kept as pets to start interacting with people, other
rabbits and also other pets such as cats and dogs from an early age. Familiarity with
other species will help rabbits develop into friendly and confident adults. Exposing
them to normal everyday sights and sounds is also important, so theyre relaxed and
happy in their environments.
Not many people know that rabbits can be trained. Those kept as pets can really
benefit from reward-based training. For example, they can be trained to exercise and
go over small jumps, which in turn is great for their health. Being active reduces the
risk of rabbits becoming overweight and even obese, as well as providing physical
and mental stimulation.
The gentle timid nature of rabbits saw them used by many Renaissance artists
representing purity and the unquestioning faith in religion, for example
Titians Madonna with Rabbit (1530).
Rabbits have long been recognised as symbols of fertility and rebirth, hence their
association with spring and Easter.
The rabbit is one of the 12 animals in the Chinese Zodiac. It represents
graciousness, kindness, sensitivity, compassion, tenderness and elegance.