Mary Malano

About

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There are seven different genera in the family classified as rabbits, including the European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus), Cottontail rabbit (genus Sylvilagus; 13 species), and the Amami rabbit (Pentalagus furnessi, endangered species on Amami Oshima, Japan). There are many other species of rabbit and these, along with pikas and hares, make up the order Lagomorpha. All breeds of domestic rabbit originate from the European.

In the 1950s, the disease myxomatosis was introduced to curb their numbers and the rabbit almost became extinct, however, it is once again a common animal of the British countryside although it can be a serious pest for farmers for eating and damaging crops.

The main predators of rabbits are the stoat and the fox, although young rabbits also fall to birds of prey and weasels.

The rabbit pre-breeding season population is estimated to be 40 million.